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October 10, 2016 Volume
xxii, #38
“Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.”
— Anais Nin (author, essayist, and lecturer, 1903-1977)
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Hardlines Conference will unveil important new home improvement research
SPECIAL REPORT — This year’s Hardlines Conference has a heavyweight lineup of retail speakers, including Ron Beal of Orgill, Jay Heubner of Ace International, Nicolas Couture, an important TIMBER MART dealer, and Robin Lee of Lee Valley Tools.
But this year’s event will also feature tons of data. Drawing on the theme, “Renovating the Art of Retail,” presentations will include results of a special study of millennial shopping and renovation habits. The Hardlines Conference takes place October 18 to 19 at the Sheraton on the Falls hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Drawing on brand-new research sponsored by HARDLINES, Sean Copeland from the Parent Life Network will give delegates the scoop on how retailers can cater to the growing millennial demographic. From shopping habits and the brands they prefer to who they look to for renovation tips and their future home project plans, Copeland will fill us in on what these young, savvy shoppers seek from their hardware stores.
Dan Tratensek, vice president of publishing for the North American Retail Hardware Association, will present brand-new data regarding which areas of their business retailers are investing money and manpower. This NRHA survey will shed light on what challenges and opportunities take precedence for independent retailers on both sides of the border.
Al Meyers of Kalypso will weigh in on the importance of e-commerce and how retailers can deliver the omnichannel experience consumers have come to expect. What does it take to make your customer drive past your competition to buy from you? Drawing on his years of experience in retail planning, Meyers will tell us about the different approaches high-performance retailers are using to innovate—and stay afloat—in today’s tough retail environment.
Emceed by Mag Ruffman, acclaimed television personality of Road to Avonlea and ToolGirl fame, and located in Niagara Falls, Ont., the 21st annual Hardlines Conference will give you two days of business-building insights, networking, and some fun surprises.
(Hurry and register right now! Visit hardlines.ca/events/hardlines-conference.)
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TIMBER MART strengthens commercial dealer base in Atlantic Canada
VAUGHAN, Ont. — TIMBER MART has signed a new dealer in Atlantic Canada. City Drywall Ltd., in Notre-Dame, N.B., is a specialty gypsum and roofing dealer, and the latest member to join the ranks of TIMBER MART’s commercial arm.
In business since 1973, City Drywall specializes in the sale of drywall, blue board, roofing, insulation, T-bar, and steel studs, as well as ceiling tiles and accessories to contractors, builders, and DIYers in the Moncton area. The business has four warehouses and retail space with 40 full- and part-time staff year round.
“As soon as we joined the group last month, we were able to take advantage of multiple buying programs in our key categories and saw immediate value,” says Ricky Boucher, owner of City Drywall. “We were looking for a buying group who could offer us better buying and connections to more vendors—and we found it.”
City Drywall is the second commercial member for TIMBER MART in Atlantic Canada, “which will,” says Mark Finucane, vice-president of TIMBER MART’s commercial division, “strengthen our commercial arm in the region and fortify our national dealer network.” The other member is Coastal Drywall, which has three locations, in Dieppe and Hanwell, N.B.; and in Dartmouth, N.S. The business is owned by the father-and-son team of Claude and Marc Comeau.
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Home Hardware dealers enjoying strong sales as co-op looks to urban growth
ST. JACOBS, Ont. ― With the arrival of autumn, most dealers at the recent Home Hardware Fall Market reported that business was looking strong coming into the fourth quarter. Home Hardware CEO Terry Davis underscored that healthy outlook, while pointing out the regional differences in dealers’ experiences across the country.
In conversation with HARDLINES, he said that the oil and gas based markets, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador, which has been a source of workers for the Alberta oil fields, are down. And the province of Quebec is a bit slower than its neighbour in Central Canada, Ontario, to recover. But the rest of the country is generally strong.
While Home Hardware has long supported dealer growth in traditional hardware and building centre stores in largely rural and secondary markets, it is actively pursuing new areas of growth—which includes focusing more on urban stores. This market, historically most vulnerable to the big box invasion, has become a renewed opportunity, especially for hardware stores, as urban centres keep growing. Urban stores are establishing themselves as integral parts of neighbourhoods within cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.
One such store, a startup in Toronto’s Liberty Village, which is a condo development inhabited by a predominantly young, millennial demographic, opened just over a year ago. Under dealer-owner Todd Coffell, the store has flourished selling everything from kitchenwares and lighting to electric barbecues (gas and charcoal are banned from most high-rise condo balconies). Davis was also eager to share details of another new store, which opened in Vancouver’s Davie Village this past summer. Dealer-owner Jeffrey Ho already owns two other Home Hardware stores in the city.
Looking ahead, Davis said he is “much more optimistic about Home Hardware’s performance for 2016, after hearing from dealers at the show,” despite some anticipated headwinds: “I think the Canadian economy is not going to slow down before the end of the year.” And his dealers, he adds, expect business into the fall season to remain strong.
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Four top retailers keep growing as industry consolidation continues
SPECIAL REPORT — The large home improvement retailers in Canada just keep getting bigger. However, that consolidation has been accelerated by Lowe’s takeover of RONA earlier this year. As a result, the market share of just four retail groups got bigger than ever in 2015, according to the latest findings in a new report.
The latest Hardlines Retail Report reveals that Home Depot remains number one with sales exceeding $7 billion. However, Big Orange faces tough competition: Lowe’s $3.2 billion acquisition of RONA inc. moved Lowe’s Canada up into the number-two spot with combined sales of approximately $6.6 billion.
That merger also helped increase the overall heft of the Top Four retailers. Their collective sales at retail increased by more than 8% and their market share grew by more than 6% in 2015.
According to the Hardlines Retail Report, even though two U.S.-based companies now dominate the scene here, the number-three position is held by a group of independents. Through a combination of aggressive dealer recruitment, in combination with growth by existing dealers, Home Hardware Stores Ltd. maintains third place in the Top Four. Following in fourth place is Canadian Tire Retail.
(Find out how much the Top Four Retailers have grown—and are forecast to grow. Order the 2016-2017 Hardlines Retail Report, along with our incredible Hardlines Market Share Report, for a special low price! Click here to buy them both and save big! —Editor)
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Spectrum Brands Canada, which manages the Pfister and FORTIS plumbing brands, has appointed Emily Milford-Clare as associate national account manager for Spectrum’s Wholesale Plumbing division. She will be responsible for working with wholesalers, while establishing relationships with the builder community across Canada for Pfister and Fortis. Prior to joining Spectrum Brands, she worked as a retail sales specialist for Saint-Gobain’s CertainTeed Gypsum division, and at plumbing wholesaler Wolseley as a category manager and field marketing co-ordinator.
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CLASSIFIED ADS
WANTED: VENDORS INTERESTED IN INCREASING THEIR E-COMMERCE SALES
We’re seeking vendors who want to meet top North American e-Retailers. HARDLINES is hosting meetings with senior buyers at the first-ever Home Improvement eRetailer Summit.
The eRetailer Summit, October 26-28, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has been developed to connect home improvement manufacturers and distributors with prominent online retailers who are interested in increasing online sales of home improvement products.
The Summit will provide a forum for eRetail leaders to share their vision and objectives with a select group of vendors, who will get face time and the chance to share strategies. The intimate environment of the eRetailer Summit will help all sides work better together to optimize the Internet as a distribution channel. Click here to see the full lineup of eRetailers confirmed so far: http://eretailersummit.com/.
This is an invitation-only event that will be held at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, October 26 to 28, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Special Introductory rates for Hardlines Subscribers. Contact Beverly Allen: 1-647-880-4589 or bev@hardlines.ca.
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HOME HARDWARE STORES LIMITED
RETAIL SALES AND OPERATIONS MANAGER – NOVA SCOTIA
About Home Hardware:
Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada’s largest Dealer-owned cooperative with close to 1,100 Stores and annual retail sales of nearly $5.8 billion. Located in rural St. Jacobs, Ontario, Home Hardware remains 100% Canadian owned and operated. Home Hardware has received designations as one of Canada’s Best Corporate Cultures and Best Managed Companies and is committed to providing local communities with superior service and expert advice.
Job Description:
Responsible to the Director, Retail Operations Atlantic for the implementation of Home Hardware’s strategic growth plan, as well as, developing, expanding and supporting company programs in the area by providing store assistance, recommendations and standards, by encouraging profitable store expansion and growth, by seeking Dealer and company growth opportunities and initiatives in both new and existing markets and across all banners, and by making recommendations concerning product selections.
Assists and educates new and existing Dealer-Owners on Retail operations and Home’s Systems & Services.
Prepares and submits quarterly industry updates and objectives.
Evaluates stores on an annual basis.
Conducts Sales and Dealer meetings.
Visits Dealers on a scheduled basis providing guidance and assistance, serving as a liaison between them and Home Office and building strong valuable relationships with Dealer-Owners and store Staff.
Maintains an up-to-date knowledge in retail methods and systems.
Coordinates occasional direct ship buys between area stores.
Assist with special projects as requested.
Qualifications:
Results-oriented individual with a strong understanding of retail operations and the strategy needed to succeed in a highly competitive market.
Must be self-motivated, results-oriented and organized, with excellent time management skills.
Post-secondary education or equivalent. Business financial knowledge would be an asset.
Retail or sales experience at a supervisory or managerial level. Home Hardware experience preferred.
Willingness and flexibility to travel extensively and work varying hours.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Knowledge of Account Management an asset.
Good computer skills including MS Outlook, Word and Excel.
Successful applicant must be willing to locate centrally within the area.
Interested applicants, please submit your resume to:
Dayna Weber, Recruitment, Human Resources
hr@homehardware.ca
Fax: 519-664-4711
Phone: 519-664-4975
34 Henry St W, St. Jacobs, ON, N0B 2N0
*While we appreciate all applications received, only those to be interviewed will be contacted. |
