The latest issue of Hardlines HR Advisor hit inboxes this week. In this edition, we look at IKEA Canada’s affordability strategy, how to check references when hiring, and navigating inter-generational working relationships. If you’re not already receiving HR Advisor, click here to sign up for free!

Taiga Building Products reported Q3 sales of $456.6 million, down 14 percent or $76.5 million from $533.1 million a year earlier. The decline was attributed largely to lower selling prices for commodity products. Net earnings for the quarter rose to $21.4 million from $18.6 million in the previous Q3, thanks to income tax recoveries from the prior year.

Some Amazon unions have sprung up in the past few years, but Amazon delivery workers have always remained union-free. Until, that is, 84 Amazon delivery drivers in Palmdale, California, formed a union in June. They were employees of a firm called Battle Tested Strategies (BTS), one of 3,000 “delivery service partners” (DSPs) that works with Amazon around the world. Amazon subsequently cancelled their agreement with BTS and the drivers went on strike. The drivers claim they are joint-employees of Amazon. Amazon claims they are not their employees. Pickets have sporadically been set up, supporting the drivers, at Amazon DCs in Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. No Canadian DCs have been affected

Quebec industry organization AQMAT held its 11th Recognition Gala on the weekend at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Awards were presented to 54 employees, products, and companies in front of a record audience of 530 guests. AQMAT president Richard Darveau was joined by actor Jeff Boudreault of TV’s District 31 as co-host.

The gala will take a break next year as AQMAT collaborates with the Hardlines Conference to create a national event in La Malbaie, Que. The next Recognition Gala will be held March 27, 2025 at the Fairmont Château Frontenac in Quebec City. On account of the smaller venue, AQMAT CEO Crystelle Cormier said in a release that the organization may limit the number of seats available to each company.

BMR Group held its annual gala Friday night at Quebec City’s Centre des congrès. Vendor awards were presented to Duchesne et fils (LBM), Ipex (hardware), Tolko (forest products), and Garant (agriculture/horticulture). Among BMR’s member retailers, Marianne and Mathieu Moisan of BMR Paulin Moisan were honoured with the Ambassador Award. (The Moisans were previously Young Retailers of the Year at the 2022 Outstanding Retailer Awards).

Finally, new dealers who joined BMR over the past year were inducted with a fun NHL-style “draft” announcement. The co-hosts of the fully bilingual event were strongman Hugo Girard and comedian Korine Côté. Some 1000 people attended this year’s gala, out of a record 1,500 participants in the 2023 Buying Show.

BMR Group kicked off its 2023 Buying Show yesterday at Quebec City’s Centre des congrès. Dealers and vendors have converged on the historic city to share hot products and services, as well as to showcase private-label brands. The event concludes tonight with a gala evening hosted by strongman and brand ambassador Hugo Girard and comedian Korine Côté.

(Premium Member-Subscribers will see further coverage of the show in a forthcoming issue of Hardlines Weekly Report. Not yet registered? Sign up today to begin your free trial!)

Discount retailers TJ Maxx and Marshalls will close additional stores in Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania by the end of next year. That’s after closures this year in Philadelphia and in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Parent company TJX said it had been “assessing and reviewing our real estate strategies, and our decision to close this store reflects that thinking.”

Technical problems on the part of our email distribution service prevented some Daily News subscribers from receiving updates in their inbox this week. Those issues have now been resolved, and we apologize for the inconvenience of any duplicate emails. Please note that our Daily News updates are always accessible from our home page.

Canadian Tire Corp. reported a Q3 net loss of $66.4 million or $1.19 per diluted share, compared to earnings of $184.9 million ($3.34 per share) a year earlier. That loss includes $328 million in costs related to CTC’s buyback from Scotiabank of a minority stake in its Canadian Tire Financial Services business. Revenues for the period rose 0.5 percent to $4.25 billion, while comp sales at the Canadian Tire banner dropped by 0.6 percent.

In announcing the results, the company also said it is eliminating three percent of its work force, with some cuts already happening this week. The redundancies affect the equivalent of 200 full-time corporate positions. It is also cancelling “the majority of current vacancies” in its ranks, which amounts to an additional three percent reduction in its human resources.

Castle growth continues in Ontario with its newest member location, Windeco Building Supply in London, Ont. The full-service lumber, building materials, and hardware retailer is getting set to open its doors with a large full-service retail storefront in addition to its lumberyard. Owners Peng Yi Chen, Ri Kai He, Tong He, and Xian Yi Jiang will target home renovation contractors and DIYers in London and the surrounding area with their new store.