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

In our Feb 4, 2014, edition of the Hardlines Weekly Report, we reported that Sears Canada, because of dropping sales—and anticipating the arrival in this country of more Target stores—had decided to cut its significant red ink by eliminating 700 jobs.

Sears Canada’s remaining stores closed their doors for good four years later, in 2018. But at least the venerable department store, which had opened in Canada 65 years earlier, lasted longer in this country than Target. That chain had a two-year history in Canada, from 2013 to 2015.

As of Monday January 1, 2024, Nucor Harris Rebar, a division of Harris Steel ULC, has changed its name to Nucor Rebar Fabrication, a Division of Nucor Steel ULC. This announcement is a change in name only and there is no change to the corporate structure. For details, check out our Classifieds page.

RONA has announced it would convert one of its Réno-Dépôt stores to the new RONA+ banner. That store, in Hull, across the Ottawa River from the nation’s capital, is one of 21 stores carrying the Réno-Dépôt banner, which exists only in Quebec.

“The conversions to the RONA+ banner that took place in other Canadian provinces had a very positive impact on store performance,” said a spokesperson from RONA.

But first, another 15 of RONA’s big box stores are scheduled to make the switch to RONA+ in the coming weeks.

(Find out what will happen to the Réno-Dépôt banner, and learn when and where the next stores will be converted to RONA+ in Monday’s brain-searing edition of our keystone publication, Hardlines Weekly Report. It’s an exclusive to our Hardlines Premium Members!)

The Greater Toronto Area logged 6,448 home resale transactions in January, according to new data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. The 9.6 percent monthly increase (seasonally adjusted) is the second in a row, following November’s 19.5 percent hike. Jason Mercer, the board’s chief market analyst, said “a lot of would-be homebuyers” are waiting for interest rate cuts before making a purchase.

Castle Building Centres Group is seeking an Estimating/Design Manager, who will be responsible for providing support to the estimating/design team by performing a variety of tasks related to the development of cost estimates and designs for various construction projects through its member network. For details, check out our Classifieds page!

The A.R.E.N.A. Alliance announced that it has welcomed Kent Building Supplies as a partner. Kent is the purchasing alliance’s ninth partner and its second in Canada (BMR Group came aboard last June). Others include Groupement Les Mousquetaires in France and Germany’s hagebau.

“We look forward to leveraging our volume and category management experience to support A.R.E.N.A. negotiating strategies and provide improved deals to all partners,” said Michael Simms, VP retail at Kent parent J.D. Irving Ltd. (shown here). “Our intention is to become a very active and supportive member.”

The RONA store in La Ronge, Sask., has new owners. Matthew Klassen and Krista Funk have taken over the 2,700 square-foot proximity store, which serves pros with building materials, as well as continuing to serve the community of La Ronge supplying hardware, paint, and plumbing. The pro assortments will be expanded with new products, such as standard windows and doors, metal products, and various types of insulation.

“The RONA banner allows us to offer a wide selection of materials and services for pros with the VIPpro program,” said Klassen, who has worked for over 30 years in various trades in construction. “We want to offer a best-in-class turnkey service for our customers who own homes, commercial buildings, cottages, or restaurants,” Funk added. The couple also owns Highmark Holdings Ltd. and Drifters Motel.

Canadian Tire has been running multicultural OLVs (online videos) and commercials for years, so it’s no surprise that they are back this winter with a new campaign.

Under the theme “Canada’s Winter Store,” an apparently immigrant family gets their initial experience of a Canadian winter. The Message, a leading marketing e-news site, said that the campaign was handled by Canadian Tire’s creative agency of record, Publicis. The 30-second spots are in English, French, and Hindi. The campaign is running from Jan. 8 through Feb. 11.

The total value of building permits in Canada decreased 14 percent from November to $9.2 billion in December, StatCan reports, the lowest monthly level since October 2020. Declines were recorded in both the residential and non-residential sectors. The value of residential permits fell 17.9 percent to $5.7 billion, driven by a significant decline in multi-unit construction intentions.

Construction intentions in single-family dwellings, however, edged up 0.8 percent to $2.9 billion in December. A 15.3 percent ($84.4 million) gain in Alberta more than offset declines in seven provinces.

The 37th edition of the Pedlars & Grinders Golf event will take place June 6 at Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ont., with an online auction in preceding days. It’s all in support of Sleeping Children Around the World, a Canadian organization providing bed kits to children who need them in countries including Honduras, Rwanda, and the Philippines. From last year’s events, P&G were able to donate $30,000 to Sleeping Children Around the World, their largest donation ever, representing 750 bed kits.