Home Hardware Stores Ltd. and the Toronto Blue Jays have launched the BeautiTone Balcony at Toronto’s Rogers Centre (formerly the SkyDome). Located on the 100 level directly above the BeautiTone Marquee Sign in left field, the BeautiTone Balcony features two tiers of standing room and a reserved group space for up to 40 guests. BeautiTone, Home Hardware’s private label paint brand, is the Jays’ official paint.

Lee Valley Tools is opening its Auto-Store, a “micro-fulfilment centre” in Carp, a rural community in eastern Ontario that has been part of the city of Ottawa since 2001. The facility will allow Lee Valley to consolidate 36,000 square feet of picking locations into 6,000 square feet, freeing up space to expand manufacturing.

It will also boast 18,000 bin locations and 42 shuttles on top of the structure to retrieve products for warehouse pickers. In a release, president and COO Jason Tasse said the DC is “more than a business decision: it’s a commitment to our roots here in Ottawa and prosperity for the Canadian economy.”

The latest edition of Hardlines Dealer News hits inboxes tomorrow. In this issue, we look at how one dealer in the Maritimes contended with both flooding and wildfires. We also look at Orgill’s new loyalty program and how robots are being deployed in hardware stores. Hardlines Dealer News is monthly and it’s free: click here to subscribe now!

The Air Miles loyalty program, which filed for bankruptcy on both sides of the border last year, was acquired by Bank of Montreal last June. And it appears the new ownership is prompting Air Miles to try out some radical new ideas, as well.

Maclean’s, in an in-depth look at Air Miles in its April 5 issue, reports on a concept called Air Miles Receipts, launched in November. Targeted at the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, “layering over” existing retailer programs, Air Miles Receipts allows consumers to “effectively reap the rewards twice on a single basket.” Consumers scan their receipts with an in-program app and they can win bonus points and offers.

To celebrate National Woodworking Month, Lee Valley Tools has a new branding campaign: Making Happiness. Throughout the month of April, the specialty tool and woodworking retailer is hosting in-store events and interactive workshops, while releasing original content intended to inspire the Lee Valley community of woodworkers, hobbyists, and garden enthusiasts.

The company launched the campaign last week with a series of online and in-store activations, including power tool demos, giveaways, and contests.

(Full story on Lee Valley’s latest promotional activities in today’s edition of our legacy newsletter, Hardlines Weekly Report. To get a free trial subscription to HWR, click here now!)

Dollarama reported Q4 net earnings of $323.8 million, or $1.15 a share. That was up from $261.3 million ($0.91) a year earlier. Sales for the quarter rose by 11.3 percent to $1.6 billion. For the full fiscal year, sales jumped 16.1 percent to almost $5.9 billion. Net earnings of $1.0 billion, or $3.57 per share, were up from $801.9 million ($2.77).

Numerous media outlets are reporting this week—unconfirmed by a Canadian Tire Corp. spokesperson—that the retailer gave its top executives no bonuses for its disappointing 2023 performance. Retail (excluding petroleum) same-store sales declined 2.9 percent at CTC in 2023 and total earnings were $604 million, versus $1.01 billion in earnings in 2022. CEO Greg Hicks received a bonus of $983,976 from the company’s annual incentive plan for total compensation of $6.49 million in 2022. In 2023, he received no bonus, according to reports, and his total compensation fell to $6.04 million.

The Retail Council of Canada will hold a Retail Human Resources Conference on April 25 at the International Centre, opposite Toronto Pearson International Airport. The event will focus on harnessing the combined potential of AI tech and employee engagement to transform HR in the retail sector. Keynote speakers will address workforce development and talent management strategies.

The conference will explore the pressing issues shaping the future of retail HR. Attendees will learn to strike a balance between leveraging AI and other technologies for operational efficiency and the critical task of engaging with employees to nurture thriving workplaces. Discussions will encompass AI’s impact on workforce development, the nuances of compensation and labor relations, and inventive tactics for attracting talent, enhancing employee experiences, and boosting retention.

Featured sessions include:
Just announced! Mastering Finance for HR: Winning Executive Buy-In for Change:
Robert Laufer CFO of Browns Shoes Inc. and RCC President and CEO Diane J. Brisebois discuss crafting a compelling HR investment proposal, focusing on alignment with leadership and demonstrating HR’s role in supporting organizational growth and change.

What Employees are Seeking Beyond “Competitive Pay”:
John Mortimer and Shelly Patel from LabourWatch present frontline strategies to enhance retail workers’ daily experiences, boosting engagement, customer loyalty, and business performance.

Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Empowering your DEI Strategy:
Rochele Padiachy, Learning Manager at the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion will lead a session on transformative DEI strategies and their integration into business plans for an inclusive future.

AI-Driven Innovations for Tomorrow’s Workforce:
David Lloyd, Chief Data and AI Officer at Ceridian, examines the role of AI in retail HR, from streamlining tasks to providing actionable insights and improving workforce efficiency.

Revitalizing Inspired Employee Engagement:
Deb Craven of Longo’s shares their journey in enhancing employee engagement, highlighting key lessons, accountability, and the positive impact on workplace dynamics.

Additionally, RCC’s Retail Human Resources Conference offers extensive networking opportunities, complete with delicious snacks and a filling lunch. It’s the perfect setting for participants to connect with peers, meet other HR professionals, exhibitors, and solution providers. This year introduces peer-to-peer learning and roundtable discussions, providing a unique forum for sharing ideas and addressing common industry challenges.

(Secure your spot at this unmissable conference at www.rcchrconference.ca. Groups of five or more can enjoy a 20% discount, making it an ideal opportunity for team building and mentoring junior HR professionals.)

Saint-Gobain has announced that its building materials subsdiary CertainTeed Canada will acquire The Bailey Group of Companies. The Vaughan, Ont.-based manufacturer of commercial metal framing and building products was founded in 1950.

A family-owned company, it counts just under 700 employees at locations in multiple provinces. It consists of Bailey-Hunt Ltd. and its subsidiaries, including Bailey Metal Products. Under the agreement, Saint-Gobain will also complete the purchase of the remaining equity and assets of The Grid Company, its ceiling grid manufacturing joint venture with Bailey.

Throwback Thursday is a regular weekly feature in which we dip into the archives of the Hardlines Weekly Report.

Last year was notorious for the number of floods, fires, and other disasters that hit North America. In Canada, wildfires cast a toxic pall over the summer landscapes of major cities, and floods wreaked havoc.

Yet this is not a new phenomenon. Ten years ago, on April 7, 2014, we reported from the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas that “Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Recovery” was a new category at that year’s show.

We quoted Richard Russo, vice president of the National Hardware Show, saying that the decision to feature the new category was a natural extension of the show. “We have a fantastic representation of manufacturers that understand the importance of providing products that help communities when disaster strikes.”