LAVAL, Que. — RONA has ended its contract for its in-store merchandising services, called the “IMAGINE” program. Developed by RDTS, a Laval, Que.-based merchandising services company, IMAGINE is a unique program whereby all vendors involved received a range of services in-store through RDTS.
RDTS serviced all of RONA’s big box stores under the IMAGINE program, and for the past two years the service was provided to all its other stores across Canada, as well. IMAGINE represented some 450 vendors across the country.
RONA will continue to maintain its stores through a new program, RONA Merchandising Services (RMS), using a North American company, Match Marketing Group. With Canadian offices in Toronto, Match MG has a strength in the grocery channel. Its contract commences March 1, 2016. RDTS will continue to support RONA stores until then.
RDTS is currently expanding the IMAGINE program with home improvement retailers in Europe, while its core merchandising services here in Canada, which also include audits, store performance analysis, and surveys, will continue to be offered to Canadian retailers and vendors.
RONA acknowledged its partnership with RDTS, calling it “a company with which RONA has enjoyed a close collaboration over the past seven years … RONA offers its sincerest thanks to RDTS for their dedication and support over the years.” (Full story in the Dec. 21 edition or our weekly HARDLINES e-newsletter! For a free trial subscription, click here!)
