ST. JACOBS, Ont. — Duncan Wilson, senior director of business development for Home Hardware Stores Ltd., will retire officially tomorrow. Wilson has been a respected member of the Canadian home improvement industry for 50 years and has worked in marketing, merchandising, and dealer development. He got his start at Morgans in Ottawa in 1969, before joining F.W. Woolworth in 1970. From there, he moved to Ace Hardware in 1992 as director of inventory management and merchandise services. At that time, Beaver had adopted Ace as hardlines supplier of choice. He eventually earned the title of vice president of merchandising and marketing.
Wilson left there when Beaver was acquired by Home Hardware. He got involved briefly on a consulting basis with the Homecare buying group (now part of TIMBER MART) and in 2002 he joined Groupe BMR, where he led the dealer development team that broadened BMR’s presence outside its home province of Quebec.
In 2008, he moved over to Home Hardware Stores Ltd. At the time, Home Hardware was getting serious about expanding its dealer ranks nationally. Wilson was put in charge of creating a dealer development team for the company, which resulted in solid growth within Home’s ranks, both in numbers and regional diversity.
“I want to thank Dunc for helping to lead and grow this business, and for being a role model and friend for the many years we have worked together,” said Darrin Noble, Home Hardware’s vice president of operations. “I am fortunate to have learned from Dunc’s years of expertise and advice and have truly enjoyed working with him.”
Wilson’s service to the industry goes beyond this CV. He was a founding member of the Hardlines Conference Committee, providing valuable input and perspective to that event. In 2019, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association.
