As part of IKEA Canada’s ongoing commitment to keep prices down for Canadian consumers (including lowering prices on 1,500 products this year), the retailer has introduced new financial services for customers shopping online. Using Pay in 4 by Afterpay, customers can split purchases into four interest-free payments. The first payment is taken when the order is placed and the remaining three are automatically processed every two weeks. The service is available for purchases between $50 and $1,000 and is currently available for online purchases only.

Retail sales edged down by 0.1 percent to $66.7 billion in February, according to the latest StatCan data. Sales were down in five of nine subsectors, led by a 2.2 percent decline at gasoline stations and fuel vendors. Core retail sales, which exclude automotive and fuel categories, were unchanged. Sales in the LBM and garden subsectors fell by 0.4 percent.

Joel Pletch, store manager at Walkerton Home Hardware, in southwestern Ontario, has won the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) 2024 Young Retailer of the Year Award. “Joel has always had a passion for working in the retail industry,” the company said on LinkedIn.

“Since starting at Walkerton Home Hardware five years ago, Joel has championed several projects including growing the company’s tool category by 426 percent and overall transaction size by 300 percent.”

The latest instalment of our podcast series What’s In Store goes live tomorrow! In this episode, we talk with Tanja Fratangeli, IKEA Canada’s head of people and culture. She will share her perspective as a leader who promotes IKEA’s values of inclusivity, openness, and honesty. Sign up now to get updates about the latest free podcasts in your inbox!

Medicine Hat Home Hardware Building Centre and Alta-Wide Home Building Centre, respectively in Medicine Hat and Vegreville, Alta., have recently converted to the banner. They are owned by Lisa and Mark Brumm, who also own a third store in the province, Sylvan Lake Home Hardware Building Centre (pictured), which became a Home store in 2023. The Brumms have been business partners for 20 years.

As the federal government moves to lower the intake of temporary residents, a CIBC report is calling on policymakers to maintain a “balancing act” between housing and labour needs. “With so much attention focused on the link between immigration, population growth and housing affordability, it is easy to lose sight of the positive impact that newcomers into the country are having, particularly in the labour market,” the report, by economist Andrew Grantham, cautions.

In Grantham’s ideal scenario, government economic incentives would have a chance to kick into gear as interest rates fall, giving the government the opportunity to import the number of workers needed.

West Fraser Timber Co. has announced the completion of the sale of its Quesnel River, B.C., and Slave Lake, Alta., pulp mills to an affiliate of a fund managed by Atlas Holdings. The mills will be operated by Millar Western Forest Products, which joined Atlas in 2017. Both facilities produce bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp for the manufacture of paper products.

Castle Building Centres welcomed nearly 500 shareholders, vendors, and staff to the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa for its 61st annual general meeting earlier this month. The four-day event included presentations by marketing expert Ron Tite and Australian surfer Mark Mathews. At the closing gala, dealers and vendors were recognized during an awards presentation, while hockey great Hayley Wickenheiser delivered a keynote address.

RONA inc. has completed the sale of its distribution centre in Terrebonne, a suburb of Montreal, to BMTC Group, a holding company in Montreal. The imminent cessation of regular operations at RONA’s Terrebonne facility had been announced back in January. BMTC, in a release, said that the deal cost $96 million before taxes—and RONA has a lease-back agreement, the details of which were not specified.

Home Hardware Stores Ltd. has announced a series of events to celebrate its 60th anniversary this year. From April 25 through May 8, an anniversary sale will feature deals such as 25 percent off BeautiTone Designer paints and 60 percent off the Mosaic kitchen brand.

A promotion from April 25 to 28 will allow Scene+ cardholders to earn 60 bonus points on purchases of $50 or more. Contests will also feature in the celebrations. From April 25 to May 22, customers can enter for a chance to win one of two $5,000 grand prizes or one of 50 $1,000 gift cards. Starting April 26, social media users can win prizes for answering Home Hardware trivia questions or sharing their favourite Home Hardware memories.