Lowe’s next Canadian location is east of Toronto

TORONTO — Lowe’s Canada has received the go-ahead for a store in Belleville, Ont., a mid-sized community almost two hours east of Lowe’s Canadian head office in Toronto. A re-zoning request was approved last week, giving the world’s second-largest retailer the go-ahead to break ground on its fifth store in Canada. According to the Belleville Intelligencer, the store will be 142,000 square feet in size, slightly larger than Lowe’s standard footprint of 138,000 square feet, and have parking for 700 cars. Lowe’s has been so tight-lipped about its plans for Canada that even senior merchandising staff have been kept in the dark about when or where stores will open. Four other sites have been confirmed so far: one in Metro Toronto’s west end, the other three in Hamilton, Brampton, and Brantford, Ont. The latter stores will all be west of Toronto. Belleville, which is east of the city, already has a Home Depot. Hardlines had originally estimated that Lowe’s would begin opening stores here by August 2007. Based on the rate at which Lowe’s Canada has been obtaining approvals for its sites, those openings are now expected to occur later in the fall.

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TIM-BR MARTS rolls out energy awareness program

NORTH VANCOUVER — TIM-BR MARTS Ltd. has developed a program to promote energy awareness among its member dealers. Called EnerGrade, the program provides members with resources and training tools to help their customers make informed choices about energy efficient and ecologically friendly renovations. The EnerGrade program is also designed to help homeowners navigate various government energy efficiency rebate and incentive programs, and facilitate installation of projects by qualified contractors. One of the key programs that EnerGrade will tap into is the ecoENERGY Retrofit for Homes program, a federal program of the Office of Energy Efficiency that had been cancelled and then resuscitated under a new name early in 2007. Under the program, funds will be available to more than 140,000 homeowners contemplating an energy efficiency upgrade. ecoENERGY will be launched this Wednesday, April 11, by The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, at Standard Building Supplies, a TIM-BR MART dealer located here. "It’s really about educating our dealer-members about the importance of taking a holistic approach to energy efficiency and the sale of energy efficient products," says Steve Stremecki, vice-president, retail at Calgary based TIM-BR MARTS Ltd. "And since we have 611 locations across the country we are a really good vehicle for the government to send their message and to promote their program."  

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New RONA store emphasizes décor

SCARBOROUGH, Ont. —  More focus on décor products displayed in discrete boutiques, more private label and premium products, and enhanced signage and lighting define the new RONA Home & Garden that opened here last week. The new store is 103,892 square feet, and includes a 14,564 square-foot drive-through lumberyard, and a 4,000 square-foot greenhouse that will operate all-year round. Better lighting, revamped signage and high-gloss flooring all contribute to a prettier, more female-friendly shopping environment, reflecting the company’s bid to prepare for the arrival of Lowe’s. While store management suggested that the store design perfectly balances lumber and building materials with décor and paint assortments, the added emphasis on softlines appeared to come at the expense of the LBM department, which was missing some core products such as cedar planks. Local demographics are reflected in the stores’ bilingual signage in Chinese and English, and approximately 60% of the store staff is fluent in Chinese. The store will also include a number of floating staff, who will be available for customers who need "project assistance." Borrowing a page from the Lowe’s playbook, the move is part of a focus on providing better customer service.  

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Quebec renovation market remains strong

MONTREAL  —  Quebec’s renovation market is showing continued strength, according to Renovex, a quarterly survey by the Building Materials Retailers Association of Quebec (ADMACQ). In the fall of 2006, for the second consecutive time, four out of five Quebec households said they intended to do DIY renovations, or hire a contractor for a project. The Renovex ADMACQ index has been moving upward since it was established in March 2004, at which time 76% of households surveyed said they intended to do reno work. The proportion of people doing work themselves remained above 50% for all of 2006, indicating the need for expert advice from retailers for consumers. "The Renovex ADMACQ index is constantly moving upward, since the first measurement was established in March 2004, at which time 76% of the households surveyed said that it was their habit to renovate, engage in construction or do-it-yourself projects," says Donald O’Hara, president and general manager of ADMACQ.

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