April 9, 2018 Volume xxiv, #14

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (American Baptist minister and civil-rights activist, 1929-1968)

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Sexton Group expands in Ontario with two new dealer members, new rep

WINNIPEG — Sexton Group has announced the addition of two Ontario members, reports President Steve Buckle. Tarpin Lumber & Truss, one of Ontario’s largest family-owned building supply companies, is based in Innisfil and has been owned and operated by Dave Pratt and family since 1986. Tarpin’s production team develops custom prefabricated wood roof trusses for its customer base of architects, project engineers, and other professionals.

Tampa Hall Ltd., which manufactures structural wood framing systems, has supplied framing construction technology to home builders since its inception in 1960. The Ayr, Ont.-based company, headed by Jordan Rothwell, holds patents for wall assemblies and prides itself on its developments in wall framing and roof truss technology.

“I am thrilled with these recent developments,” says Buckle. “Dave Pratt and Jordan Rothwell are talented entrepreneurs and their organizations are influential in Ontario. I appreciate their confidence in Sexton Group.”

At the same time, the group has announced that Mike Fraser has taken on the newly created role of commodity wood products manager, Eastern Canada. Fraser has spent 30 years in the industry, most recently as senior panel and lumber buyer for Alpa Forest Products. “The ability to add someone of Mike Fraser’s calibre and acumen to our team is a real coup and will accelerate our progress in Eastern Canada,” Buckle adds.

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With the heart of an entrepreneur, Richelieu CEO stakes growth on innovation

MONTREAL — Richelieu Hardware is celebrating a number of milestones this year. It’s been a quarter of a century since the hardware and fastener company went public. Its president and CEO, Richard Lord, has been with Richelieu for three decades. And the company itself is celebrating its 50th year.

Not bad for a fastener and cabinet hardware maker that was doing $30 million in sales when Lord took the helm in 1988. By the end of this year, Richelieu will be a $1 billion company with 110,000 SKUs, and 80,000 customers.

But more important than the growth, the market dominance, and the national presence of Richelieu is perhaps the fact that it remains a Canadian company. In an era that sees more and more Canadian companies being swallowed up by larger players, most of them from south of the border, Richelieu has set itself apart as the one doing the acquisitions, many of them in the U.S.

Lord talks of these accomplishments with the enthusiasm of an entrepreneur. And in many ways Lord is an entrepreneur at heart. A former EVP with RONA, with experience in manufacturing in Asia, he says, “My dream was to be an entrepreneur.”

When he joined Richelieu, he saw the potential and wanted the company to operate in a way that would maximize that potential and be a leader in hardware production in Canada. “Richelieu was very small and it fit my dream,” he adds.

“I took the responsibility to change the market in Canada.”

Today, Richelieu works hard to be a market leader, and its range of products reflects the company’s adherence to innovation. And much of that is aimed at the commercial market that comprises 85% of its business.

Walking through the company’s showroom at head office in Saint-Laurent, on the northwest side of Montreal, one can see first-hand the range of unique space-saving and convenience-driven products for cabinet manufacture, as well as for home owners looking to create a shelf, closet, or kitchen cupboard that works best for their home.

“Richelieu’s strength is that we have access to anything around the world,” says Lord. That has enabled the company to stay on top of, and lead, product trends. “For example, when we started, we sold plastic cabinet knobs for fifteen cents. Now the world has changed, with knobs that now sell for $10.”

(Part two of our interview with Richard Lord will appear in next week’s blazing edition of Hardlines!)

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Conference Board presents mixed forecast for construction in Canada

OTTAWA — After posting its strongest growth since 2013 last year, Canada’s residential construction industry is forecast to see a small contraction in 2018. Meanwhile, non-residential construction is expecting a modest turnaround this year, according to The Conference Board of Canada’s latest outlooks for the two industries. 

“Spending on new housing and renovations will likely slow this year as Canadians become more cautious under new mortgage rules and interest rate increases. This will put downward pressure on new residential construction,” says Michael Burt, director, industrial economic trends, at The Conference Board. He adds that non-residential construction is expected to bounce back this year, after slowing in 2017.

Here are some highlights of The Conference Board’s outlook:

• Housing starts are forecast to drop by 2.9% in 2018, led in large part by a 4.3% drop in Toronto and a 6.5% drop in Vancouver in 2018.
• Spending on new homes is expected to fall next year.
• Following two years of contractions, Canada’s non-residential construction industry will rebound in 2018. However, weak business investment intentions are limiting industry prospects.
• Pre-tax profits in Canada’s non-residential construction industry are expected to rise by 8.0% to reach $2.3 billion this year.

Following growth of 4.9% last year, GDP growth in Canada’s residential construction industry is forecast to fall by 0.3% in 2018. As homeowners become more cautious under new mortgage rules and rate hikes, real expenditures on new housing are expected to slow from 5.8% in 2017 to 3.4% in 2018 and then drop by 3.0% in 2019. On a national basis, housing starts are forecast to drop by 2.9% in 2018. The decline in starts will be led in large part by a 4.3% drop in Toronto and a 6.5% drop in Vancouver in 2018.

Renovation activity will perform better, but will also see a deceleration to 1.8% growth in 2018 from 4.5% last year.

On a brighter note, Canada’s backlog of unsold new homes is falling. The diminishing supply of new homes on the market will encourage building activity in the long run, propelled further by strong population growth in some regions and strengthening labour markets around the country.

Following two years of contractions, Canada’s non-residential construction industry is forecast to grow by 1.9% in 2018. The value of new non-residential building permits increased by an estimated 15% last year to reach $35 billion, indicating a healthy number of non-residential projects in the pipeline.

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NRHA plans extensive educational program for dealers at National Hardware Show



NORWALK, Conn. — Expect more than products when you head to Las Vegas next month for the National Hardware Show. Information, education, and inspiration will also be available, thanks to the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) All-Industry Conference. This feature of NHS takes place May 8 to 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

NRHA is a trade association whose guiding vision is to educate, advocate, and associate on behalf of independent hardware and home improvement business owners. (NRHA is represented in Canada by Hardlines.) Through the All-Industry Conference, visitors will benefit from a series of educational seminars and networking opportunities. Each year, these sessions attract manufacturers, wholesaler representatives, and industry professionals alike.

Attendees registered for the National Hardware Show can attend the Conference at no additional cost.

“Though breadth of product, exhibitors from all over the world, and inventors make the Show one of the most efficient trips for industry professionals to make, the added benefits of attending the complimentary NRHA All-Industry Conference really help attendees to maximize their time and move their businesses forward,” says Rich Russo, vice president of the National Hardware Show.
 
Three keynote sessions will help attendees stay informed and inspired:

• Meet the Stars of HGTV’s “Good Bones”. Mother-daughter duo Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk, the show’s stars, will share their story of how they began rehabbing homes in their own community and how their passion led to a successful construction company—and a hit television show.

• Hear From TreeHouse Co-Founder and President Jason Ballard. TreeHouse is the world’s first home upgrade company and Ballard knows what the home of the future looks like. He will share what retailers can do to best meet customers’ growing smart home product needs.

• Discover the Next Big Thing With The Grommet CEO Jules Pieri. Pieri will explain how her company chooses which products to champion and how Ace Hardware’s recent acquisition of a majority stake in The Grommet influences its path forward.

Join NRHA to discover what’s next for the independent home improvement and hardware channel! Retailers who register for the National Hardware Show also gain free entry to the NRHA All-Industry Conference. Register right here.

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The Canadian Hardware and Housewares Manufacturers Association awarded its 2018 Hall of Fame recipients at the association’s AGM and annual convention last week. The vendor recipient was Gerry Byle, former general manager of Kaz Canada and the Canadian division of Honeywell Consumer Products. He is also the former president of Bionaire. Vaughn Crofford, retired president of the CHHMA, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame for his leadership of the association over almost a quarter of a century. This year’s retail inductee was Yves Gagnon, former president and CEO of Groupe BMR.

BMR has named James (Jim) Hall, formerly a sales manager at Goodfellow, as sales manager. In this role, he will be the buying group and wholesaler’s point person to liaise with the English-speaking market in Eastern Canada. The company is actively expanding its dealer recruitment and wholesale distribution of building materials, hardware products, and farming supplies, particularly in the Ontario market.

Al Holton has joined Norske Tools as account manager to help recruit new dealers in Ontario and to grow the Norske and Trade-A-Blade brands. An industry veteran, he brings a wealth of industry experience and knowledge with a career that includes working at Castle, BMR, RONA, and Beaver Lumber. (Al.Holton@norsketools.com)

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CLASSIFIED ADS

Sales Territory Managers | Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Western Canada

Regal Ideas is the innovative leader in Aluminum Railing and associated outdoor living products to the Canadian Home improvement Industry. We require experienced Building Materials Professionals to expand our sales team and drive sales growth across Canada. If you are a motivated and highly organized team player then we want to speak with you.

Please send resume and salary expectations to Marketing@regalideas.com  and you will be contacted if qualifications are commensurate with our requirements.

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Key account Manager
Davidson sales and marketing a national sales agency with over 40 years in the LBM / Hardware market is  searching for a seasoned senior representative to call on Quebec and Atlantic hardware dealer head offices such as Patrick Morin, Canac, Kent, Bonhomme, Materiaux Laurentien and independent distributors for major brands.  If you want to join a winning team and have a entrepreneurial spirit we will provide you with the challenges and the tools for you to succeed. 
Please apply at: keyaccount@jobposition.ca

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FCL invites applications for the position of Director, Home and Building Solutions (HABS) in our home office located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 

Under the Direction of the Associate Vice President of Ag and Home, the HABS Director is responsible for all aspects of the HABS Department. This includes developing and communicating to all stakeholders, the long term strategic direction, fostering strong operational results, and partnering with retails to deliver a consistent, differentiated customer experience. The HABS Director is responsible for assembling and mentoring a professional, technically competent and highly engaged team, as well as building and maintaining strong relationships with both Co-op and industry colleagues. 

To see a full position description and to apply directly, please click the following link to be taken to our career page: https://www.fcl.crs/careers/current-opportunities/job/HO-Director-Home-and-Building-Solutions-R1

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