The latest edition of Hardlines HR Advisor hits inboxes tomorrow. In this issue, we look at sensory-friendly store hours, the use of body camera technology to protect retail managers, and how to avoid a summer slump. HR Advisor is monthly and it’s free: click here to sign up today!

Matériaux Pont-Masson celebrated its 45th anniversary with a private event on Aug. 15. More than 500 guests joined the BMR member’s founding family, Monique, Richard, Éric, and Stéphane Bailey. The event featured a sale for contractor clients and anniversary festivities.

Severe storms across southern Ontario damaged a Home Hardware in Ayr, Ont., outside Cambridge, on Saturday. Environment Canada issued a region-wide tornado warning that morning and staff were quick to respond, moving customers to safety.

According to a statement from Waterloo Regional Police, the roof of the store was partially torn off. The business was evacuated, and all employees and customers were able to exit safely

This is the second Home Hardware store damaged due to a natural disaster this month. Earlier in August, the Home Hardware store in Jasper, Alta., was destroyed by the wildfires in that area.

Sarah McGoldrick

Investment in building construction grew by 2.8 percent to $21.4 billion in June, StatCan reports, after a slight increase of 0.8 percent in May. The increase was primarily driven by the residential sector, where spending was up 3.8 percent to $15.0 billion. Every province but Nova Scotia and each territory except Nunavut logged gains in residential construction spending. Quebec led the way at $3.3 billion, an increase of $265.0 million.

A RONA affiliate dealer has purchased an existing store in Charlottetown, representing the introduction of the RONA brand to the province of Prince Edward Island.

The business was acquired by Adam Barrett (shown here) of Terraine Capital, a property development and investment company that already has three RONA stores in Nova Scotia. The latest store is 33,000 square feet in size, with an indoor LBM section and a large outdoor lumberyard.

PrimeSource Brands has acquired Cobra Anchors, the Montreal-based fastener maker. Cobra has over 1,000 SKUs of hollow-wall, universal, and masonry anchors. The transaction is PrimeSource’s fifth acquisition since partnering with investment firm Clearlake Capital Group in December 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Talks with the Teamsters Union and two major railways, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), are deadlocked, and companies are concerned that supply chains will be logjammed.

Hopes for a quick resolution were further dampened when labour minister Steven MacKinnon rejected a request from CN to impose binding arbitration on the talks before the contract deadline. MacKinnon told the media he expects both sides to negotiate in good faith. CN could lock out its employees as early as Aug. 22.

Since 2019, Target’s food and beverage sales have surged by over $8 billion, reaching $24 billion. In a recent video post, the retailer highlighted that changes in product assortment, online sales, and labour contributed to this growth. With over 55 percent of its customers purchasing food and beverages, it’s clear that the grocery category significantly boosts store visits.

Rebecca Dumais  

Retailers have been locking up more products in response to persistent shoplifting issues. However, this strategy is deterring some customers, who opt to shop online instead, like at Amazon. Locked-up items, such as dish detergent and water at stores like CVS and Walmart, not only frustrate in-store shoppers but also disrupt deliveries through services like Instacart, which are often time-sensitive.

Rebecca Dumais  

Housing starts in Canada rose by 16 percent in July to an annualized rate of 279,509 units, from 241,643 in June, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. The rate of single-detached urban starts was up two percent to 43,828 units. Rural starts were estimated at a rate of 18,375 units.