HARDLINES
Canada’s electronic information service for the home improvement industry
August 6, 2001
Volume vii, #33
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher
Phone: 416.489.3396
Fax: 416.489.6154
email: mike@hardlines.ca
hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/>
* * * * * *
SUMMER PUBLISHING SCHEDULE:
Hardlines will not publish on August 13th and August 27th … But don’t worry, we’re in the office (or at the Chicago show!), getting ready for the Hardlines Marketing Conference. — MM
* * * * * *
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Home Depot’s new buying structure puts Canadian in question
* Amazing facts! Big box sales totals now greater than hardware stores
* Exclusive: women are involved in 75% of home improvement decisions
* Kent gets online with vendors via LBMX portal
* * * * * *
DEADLINE NEARS FOR LOW CONFERENCE HOTEL RATE:
The Retail Strategies Symposium (September 12) and the Hardlines Marketing Conference (September 13) will be the most incredible combined event of the year — so book now: to get our special hotel rate of $149 at the Four Points Sheraton, call 1-800-737-3211.
Call for details!
PLEASE NOTE: our special low room rate ends August 14th!
* * * * * *
INDUSTRY NEWS. EVERY DAY — Our website has daily updates on retail and industry news that matter to you. Keep informed. Visit hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/> . Every day.
______________________________________________
HOME DEPOT CENTRALIZES MOST BUYING TO ATLANTA
Home Depot Inc. is realigning its merchandising operation in a move that concentrates core assortment selection and purchasing to the Atlanta headquarters. Most buying functions from the nine North American regional offices will be moved, effective immediately. The move will result in about 80% of the company’s buying becoming centralized.
Regional merchandising teams will be in charge of tailoring assortments and sourcing locally for each store.
The reorganization renders 140 buying jobs redundant. However, these people will be offered other positions with the company, says Jerry Shields, a spokesperson for Home Depot in Atlanta.
Store merchandising responsibility will move to a vice-president, merchandising sales and services, supported by a divisional sales merchant with departmental merchandising responsibility.
The impact on Home Depot’s Canadian operations remains unclear. The reorganization does not affect operations, under the aegis of Home Depot Canada’s president, Annette Verschuren. And for the near term, at least, no changes will be made to the team of Eric Peterson, vice-president merchandising.
"After the program restructuring is implemented in the U.S., we’ll do a study and see how we can integrate into Canada," says Shields.
Home Depot says it is pitching the change as a means of helping vendors. "We wanted more of a centralized buying team," says Jerry Edwards, senior vice-president of merchandising, in a prepared statement. Rather than making nine pitches, one for each division, they can now develop programs centrally through Atlanta. Regional merchants will be freed to develop customized product mixes, working with teams of merchants who will extract specific area preferences.
(For a more complete listing of recent changes in Home Depot’s U.S. personnel, "People on the Move" in the July 30 issue of Hardlines. — Michael)
______________________________________________
CANADIAN TIRE REPORTS INCREASED PROFITS IN 2Q
Canadian Tire Corp. reported second-quarter consolidated net earnings of $53.4 million, up 8.9% from $49.0 million during the same period in 2000. Sales by Canadian Tire associate dealers were up 12.9%, while same-store sales increased 7.0% after dropping 2.3% during 1Q 2000. Net shipments to dealers were up 7.3%. Consolidated gross operating revenue for the second quarter was $1.499 billion, up 7.2% from $1.398 billion in 2000.
CTC finished the first six months with consolidated net earnings of $82.1 million, up 12.2%. First half results reflect increased profits in all businesses, as well as an $8 million first-quarter pre-tax gain on the sale of its third-party credit card receivables business in Financial Services.
For the first half of the year, retail sales were up 8.1%. Same-store sales rose 2.3%. During the period, Sales per square foot, calculated on a rolling 12-month basis, for CTC’s traditional stores was $8.4, while new-format stores achieved $14.9 per square foot.
Twelve new-format stores were opened during the second quarter, bringing to 249 the total number of new-format stores that have been opened since the rebuilding program was initiated in 1994.
______________________________________________
HQR SURVEY SHEDS LIGHT ON FEMALE
DIY SHOPPING HABITS
A national consumer survey conducted for Hardlines Quarterly Report reveals the scope of female influence when it comes to home improvement. Women are involved, either by themselves or with their partners, in about three-quarters of most home improvement project decisions, according to the survey, done by ACNielsen exclusively for Hardlines.
They also have their own preferences when it comes to shopping for hardware and home improvement products. Of the women surveyed, 42% said they usually made home improvement purchases at Canadian Tire, 25% said they preferred to shop at big-box stores and 21% said their first choice was their neighbourhood hardware store.
Women are changing the DIY arena. Their store preferences — and the reasons behind them — shed light on recent initiatives of many retailers, from the softening of Home Depot’s décor categories to Rona’s efforts to up the ante in the shopability of its stores.
(Read the comprehensive results of this survey in the 3Q issue of Hardlines Quarterly Report, available in a few days.)
______________________________________________
BIG BOXES NOW GENERATE MORE
SALES THAN HARDWARE STORES
Sales by traditional hardware stores account for almost one fifth of the retail home improvement market in Canada. But, according to a new Hardlines study, sales from Canadian big boxes accounted for 21.5% of all home improvement sales, ahead of hardware stores, at 19.7%.
In 2000, there were 125 big boxes in Canada. The total size of the retail hardware and home improvement market has increased 6.7% over 1999.
(For the full story on this report, see the 3Q issue of Hardlines Quarterly Report, available soon, only from Hardlines. — MM)
______________________________________________
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Home Depot plans to open 14 stores in Canada next year. Initial expansion will focus on Québec (St. Bruno, West Central Montréal, St. Henri) and then Western Canada (including Red Deer, AB).
Kent Building Supplies in Saint John and London, ON-based LBMX have joined forces to create a private electronic trading community to facilitate the exchange of electronic documents between Kent and its suppliers. The Kent trading community will be implemented in phases, starting with the exchange of electronic invoices from suppliers to the Kent head office. Kent is a member of ILDC.
Sodisco-Howden Group has selected Partner Dedicated Services Inc., a subsidiary of Pollock NationaLease, to continue providing dedicated transportation services to support their distribution from their London, ON warehousing facility.
Weyerhaeuser Co.’s Forestlands operations in the Okanagan and Boundary Timber Supply Areas have been certified to the Canadian Standards Association’s Sustainable Forest Management system standard. The certification covers approximately 324,200 hectares of Crown and private forests that Weyerhaeuser manages or owns in the Vernon, Penticton and Boundary Forest Districts. The same forestlands were certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in 1999.
Wal-Mart Canada will build a 129,000-sq.ft. store in Mount Pearl, NF. The new facility is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2002 and will replace the Wal-Mart at The Village Mall in St. John’s.
Domtar Inc. has obtained Forest Stewardship Council certification for its forest management practices in the Gilmour Forest near Trenton, ON. In April 2000, Domtar obtained a similar certification for its private lands in New York state.
Canfor Co. reported a net income of $10.1 million for the second quarter of 2001, citing hampered results due to the deteriorating pulp market and the uncertainty arising from the Canada/U.S. softwood lumber dispute. Net sales during the quarter were $511.2 million, an increase of $29.6 million over the previous quarter, largely the result of higher lumber prices and a weaker Canadian dollar.
Lafarge Co. experienced a decline in net income for the second quarter of 2001 as depressed pricing continued to negatively impact its gypsum division. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2001, the company had net sales of US$929.8 million from US$774.7 million last year.
The Nu-Gro Co. has completed the acquisition of 70% interest of EroGreen Seeds Inc. Nu-Gro announced the acquisition of the Brampton, ON business from its owner, Paul Eros. Eros will retain 30% interest and continue as the general manager for the business.
Home Depot in the U.S. has unveiled a website devoted to hurricane planning and clean-up. In addition to weather alerts and general hurricane facts, the site provides instructions on what to do before and after a storm, including installing storm shutters and storm panels, and recovering damaged lawns and gardens. Suggestions are available on safety products such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits and light sticks, instead of candles.
The ten-year low for lumber prices reached in early 2001 has taken a major bite out of overall first quarter production value for Alberta forest products. Statistics released by the Alberta Forest Products Association show that show that total value of forest products produced by AFPA members in the first quarter of 2001 was $766 million. This represents a decline of $224 million or 23% from the first quarter 2000 total of $989 million.
A Sears Furniture and Appliances store has opened in Victoria. The 43,000-sq.ft. outlet includes a Whole Home selection of furniture, rugs and accent décor items and emphasis on appliances with a selection of its Brand Central department’s major appliances.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. has announced an income fall of 44% in the second quarter, meeting its lowered expectations due to economic sluggishness and restructuring actions. Company sales fell 3.5% to US$1.72 billion from US$1.79 billion for the corresponding time in 2000.
______________________________________________
CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
| COMPANY |
52-WK HIGH |
52-WK LOW |
CLOSE (FRI) |
| Canadian Tire |
25.20 |
15.05 |
26.50 |
| Canfor |
16.95 |
7.65 |
11.00 |
| Emco |
7.50 |
2.60 |
6.70 |
| Goodfellow |
11.00 |
8.00 |
9.00 |
| Home Depot |
49.74 |
47.61 |
49.13 |
| Hudson's Bay |
17.65 |
12.40 |
17.75 |
| Lowe's |
64.90 |
34.25 |
36.93 |
| Sears Canada |
37.25 |
18.55 |
23.60 |
| Taiga Forest |
10.00 |
6.80 |
9.95 |
| West Fraser |
36.50 |
21.00 |
34.50 |
______________________________________________
"When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty."
— George Bernard Shaw (Irish playwright)
______________________________________________
MARKET INDICATORS
Gross domestic product advanced 0.3% in May, the strongest showing in seven months. Manufacturing of food and wood products also increased. Overall, 14 of 22 major industry groups, which accounted for 81.8% of the factory sector's output, increased production in May. The largest declines were reported by makers of furniture and beverages.
U.S. consumer spending increased 0.4% in June, up from a 0.3% gain in May. Incomes increased 0.3% compared with 0.2% in the previous month, the Commerce Department said. Both numbers were higher than Wall Street had expected.
The University of Michigan's final July consumer sentiment index edged down to 92.4 from 92.6 in June, but was well above a five-year low of 90.6 struck in February. The preliminary index, released mid-month to subscribers only, read 93.7; economists had forecast the final index to read 93.6.
______________________________________________
NOTED …
… The CHHMA’s annual Maple Leaf Night will be held August 13, 2001, at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Many vendors fly down to the National Hardware Show just for this event. For retailers and CHHMA members only — so make sure you’ve registered! And make sure you’re dressed appropriately: dress is smart business casual, so be creative! For more info, go to: http://www.chhma.ca/events/events.html
______________________________________________
* * * * HARDLINES MARKETPLACE* * * *
Check out Hardlines Classifieds on the web: https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
______________________________________________
NORAL INSTORE:
BOOST your retail profile with instore sales support for your products and merchandising.
Visit http://www.noralmarketing.com/ or call 519-439-6800 ext. 201
* * * * * *
RETAIL SALES CONSULTANT:
Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., a worldwide leader in hardware supply and distribution with operations in Markham, Brantford and Calgary has an immediate opening for a Retail Sales Consultant — Nova Scotia Region.
As the successful candidate you will have five or more years of sales experience in the wholesale hardware or LBM Industry with extensive knowledge of how to provide effective support to retail hardware customers. At Ace Canada "effective support" means listening and responding to the needs of our customers; attending to details and providing consistent follow-up. You have a reasonable knowledge of how to use computers to advantage. Most of all, you are highly organized and capable of working both independently and as part of the team.
Ace Canada offers a competitive compensation package and career potential. If you are qualified for this position please fax or e-mail your résumé, including salary history/expectations to: vice-president, operations and administration, Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., 80 Micro Court, Third Floor, Markham, ON; L3R 9Z5; fax 905-475-2721; e-mail: stan.sauer@acehardware.ca
______________________________________________
THE HARDLINES MARKETPLACE: just $16 per line.
A classified ad with Hardlines is the most direct way to industry eyes.
Over 3,000 executives in the industry come in contact with our email and fax publications … and have you seen our Marketplace in our new website? https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
Publish your ad where it matters. Get industry exposure today.
Contact us at 416-489-3396 or email: buzz@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
DOING YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY? PLANNING THE BUDGET?
THEN YOU WILL NEED HARDLINES INDUSTRY REPORT:
"Home Improvement Retailing in Canada" is a comprehensive overview of the size of the market, how many stores are out there, who the key players are, their market position, the size and growth of the big boxes, the trends in housing and renovations, market trends — and much, much more! 120-plus pages filled with charts, graphs and photos. Regular price: $945, only $750 for subscribers! For more information, contact Nancy Wright at nancy@hardlines.ca; phone: 416-489-3396.
(go to https://hardlines.ca/html/industry_report.html)
______________________________________________
Hardlines is published weekly (except monthly in December and August)
by McLARNEYCOM
542 Mount Pleasant Rd., Suite 302, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4S 2M7
© 2001 by Michael McLarney.
HARDLINES™ the electronic newsletter hardlines.ca
Phone: 416.489.3396; Fax: 416.489.6154
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher: mike@hardlines.ca
Eugenia Canas, Assistant Editor: buzz@hardlines.ca
Beverly Allen, Marketing Manager: bev@hardlines.ca
Nancy Wright, Circulation Manager: nancy@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
THE HARDLINES "FAIR PLAY" POLICY:
Reproduction in whole or in part is very uncool and strictly forbidden and really and truly against the law. So please, play fair! Call for information on multiple subscriptions or a site license for your company. We do want as many people as possible to read Hardlines each week — but let us handle your internal routing from this end!
______________________________________________
Subscription: $199+$13.93 GST = $212.93 (or $29.85 HST = $228.85) per year (GST #13987 0398 RT). Secondary subscriptions at the same office are only $28 + $1.96 GST = $29.98. You can pay online by VISA at our secure website or send us money. Please make cheque payable to McLarneyCom.
:
HARDLINES
Canada’s electronic information service for the home improvement industry
August 6, 2001
Volume vii, #33
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher
Phone: 416.489.3396
Fax: 416.489.6154
email: mike@hardlines.ca
hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/>
* * * * * *
SUMMER PUBLISHING SCHEDULE:
Hardlines will not publish on August 13th and August 27th … But don’t worry, we’re in the office (or at the Chicago show!), getting ready for the Hardlines Marketing Conference. — MM
* * * * * *
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Home Depot’s new buying structure puts Canadian in question
* Amazing facts! Big box sales totals now greater than hardware stores
* Exclusive: women are involved in 75% of home improvement decisions
* Kent gets online with vendors via LBMX portal
* * * * * *
DEADLINE NEARS FOR LOW CONFERENCE HOTEL RATE:
The Retail Strategies Symposium (September 12) and the Hardlines Marketing Conference (September 13) will be the most incredible combined event of the year — so book now: to get our special hotel rate of $149 at the Four Points Sheraton, call 1-800-737-3211.
Call for details!
PLEASE NOTE: our special low room rate ends August 14th!
* * * * * *
INDUSTRY NEWS. EVERY DAY — Our website has daily updates on retail and industry news that matter to you. Keep informed. Visit hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/> . Every day.
______________________________________________
HOME DEPOT CENTRALIZES MOST BUYING TO ATLANTA
Home Depot Inc. is realigning its merchandising operation in a move that concentrates core assortment selection and purchasing to the Atlanta headquarters. Most buying functions from the nine North American regional offices will be moved, effective immediately. The move will result in about 80% of the company’s buying becoming centralized.
Regional merchandising teams will be in charge of tailoring assortments and sourcing locally for each store.
The reorganization renders 140 buying jobs redundant. However, these people will be offered other positions with the company, says Jerry Shields, a spokesperson for Home Depot in Atlanta.
Store merchandising responsibility will move to a vice-president, merchandising sales and services, supported by a divisional sales merchant with departmental merchandising responsibility.
The impact on Home Depot’s Canadian operations remains unclear. The reorganization does not affect operations, under the aegis of Home Depot Canada’s president, Annette Verschuren. And for the near term, at least, no changes will be made to the team of Eric Peterson, vice-president merchandising.
"After the program restructuring is implemented in the U.S., we’ll do a study and see how we can integrate into Canada," says Shields.
Home Depot says it is pitching the change as a means of helping vendors. "We wanted more of a centralized buying team," says Jerry Edwards, senior vice-president of merchandising, in a prepared statement. Rather than making nine pitches, one for each division, they can now develop programs centrally through Atlanta. Regional merchants will be freed to develop customized product mixes, working with teams of merchants who will extract specific area preferences.
(For a more complete listing of recent changes in Home Depot’s U.S. personnel, "People on the Move" in the July 30 issue of Hardlines. — Michael)
______________________________________________
CANADIAN TIRE REPORTS INCREASED PROFITS IN 2Q
Canadian Tire Corp. reported second-quarter consolidated net earnings of $53.4 million, up 8.9% from $49.0 million during the same period in 2000. Sales by Canadian Tire associate dealers were up 12.9%, while same-store sales increased 7.0% after dropping 2.3% during 1Q 2000. Net shipments to dealers were up 7.3%. Consolidated gross operating revenue for the second quarter was $1.499 billion, up 7.2% from $1.398 billion in 2000.
CTC finished the first six months with consolidated net earnings of $82.1 million, up 12.2%. First half results reflect increased profits in all businesses, as well as an $8 million first-quarter pre-tax gain on the sale of its third-party credit card receivables business in Financial Services.
For the first half of the year, retail sales were up 8.1%. Same-store sales rose 2.3%. During the period, Sales per square foot, calculated on a rolling 12-month basis, for CTC’s traditional stores was $8.4, while new-format stores achieved $14.9 per square foot.
Twelve new-format stores were opened during the second quarter, bringing to 249 the total number of new-format stores that have been opened since the rebuilding program was initiated in 1994.
______________________________________________
HQR SURVEY SHEDS LIGHT ON FEMALE
DIY SHOPPING HABITS
A national consumer survey conducted for Hardlines Quarterly Report reveals the scope of female influence when it comes to home improvement. Women are involved, either by themselves or with their partners, in about three-quarters of most home improvement project decisions, according to the survey, done by ACNielsen exclusively for Hardlines.
They also have their own preferences when it comes to shopping for hardware and home improvement products. Of the women surveyed, 42% said they usually made home improvement purchases at Canadian Tire, 25% said they preferred to shop at big-box stores and 21% said their first choice was their neighbourhood hardware store.
Women are changing the DIY arena. Their store preferences — and the reasons behind them — shed light on recent initiatives of many retailers, from the softening of Home Depot’s décor categories to Rona’s efforts to up the ante in the shopability of its stores.
(Read the comprehensive results of this survey in the 3Q issue of Hardlines Quarterly Report, available in a few days.)
______________________________________________
BIG BOXES NOW GENERATE MORE
SALES THAN HARDWARE STORES
Sales by traditional hardware stores account for almost one fifth of the retail home improvement market in Canada. But, according to a new Hardlines study, sales from Canadian big boxes accounted for 21.5% of all home improvement sales, ahead of hardware stores, at 19.7%.
In 2000, there were 125 big boxes in Canada. The total size of the retail hardware and home improvement market has increased 6.7% over 1999.
(For the full story on this report, see the 3Q issue of Hardlines Quarterly Report, available soon, only from Hardlines. — MM)
______________________________________________
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Home Depot plans to open 14 stores in Canada next year. Initial expansion will focus on Québec (St. Bruno, West Central Montréal, St. Henri) and then Western Canada (including Red Deer, AB).
Kent Building Supplies in Saint John and London, ON-based LBMX have joined forces to create a private electronic trading community to facilitate the exchange of electronic documents between Kent and its suppliers. The Kent trading community will be implemented in phases, starting with the exchange of electronic invoices from suppliers to the Kent head office. Kent is a member of ILDC.
Sodisco-Howden Group has selected Partner Dedicated Services Inc., a subsidiary of Pollock NationaLease, to continue providing dedicated transportation services to support their distribution from their London, ON warehousing facility.
Weyerhaeuser Co.’s Forestlands operations in the Okanagan and Boundary Timber Supply Areas have been certified to the Canadian Standards Association’s Sustainable Forest Management system standard. The certification covers approximately 324,200 hectares of Crown and private forests that Weyerhaeuser manages or owns in the Vernon, Penticton and Boundary Forest Districts. The same forestlands were certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in 1999.
Wal-Mart Canada will build a 129,000-sq.ft. store in Mount Pearl, NF. The new facility is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2002 and will replace the Wal-Mart at The Village Mall in St. John’s.
Domtar Inc. has obtained Forest Stewardship Council certification for its forest management practices in the Gilmour Forest near Trenton, ON. In April 2000, Domtar obtained a similar certification for its private lands in New York state.
Canfor Co. reported a net income of $10.1 million for the second quarter of 2001, citing hampered results due to the deteriorating pulp market and the uncertainty arising from the Canada/U.S. softwood lumber dispute. Net sales during the quarter were $511.2 million, an increase of $29.6 million over the previous quarter, largely the result of higher lumber prices and a weaker Canadian dollar.
Lafarge Co. experienced a decline in net income for the second quarter of 2001 as depressed pricing continued to negatively impact its gypsum division. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2001, the company had net sales of US$929.8 million from US$774.7 million last year.
The Nu-Gro Co. has completed the acquisition of 70% interest of EroGreen Seeds Inc. Nu-Gro announced the acquisition of the Brampton, ON business from its owner, Paul Eros. Eros will retain 30% interest and continue as the general manager for the business.
Home Depot in the U.S. has unveiled a website devoted to hurricane planning and clean-up. In addition to weather alerts and general hurricane facts, the site provides instructions on what to do before and after a storm, including installing storm shutters and storm panels, and recovering damaged lawns and gardens. Suggestions are available on safety products such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits and light sticks, instead of candles.
The ten-year low for lumber prices reached in early 2001 has taken a major bite out of overall first quarter production value for Alberta forest products. Statistics released by the Alberta Forest Products Association show that show that total value of forest products produced by AFPA members in the first quarter of 2001 was $766 million. This represents a decline of $224 million or 23% from the first quarter 2000 total of $989 million.
A Sears Furniture and Appliances store has opened in Victoria. The 43,000-sq.ft. outlet includes a Whole Home selection of furniture, rugs and accent décor items and emphasis on appliances with a selection of its Brand Central department’s major appliances.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. has announced an income fall of 44% in the second quarter, meeting its lowered expectations due to economic sluggishness and restructuring actions. Company sales fell 3.5% to US$1.72 billion from US$1.79 billion for the corresponding time in 2000.
______________________________________________
CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
| COMPANY |
52-WK HIGH |
52-WK LOW |
CLOSE (FRI) |
| Canadian Tire |
25.20 |
15.05 |
26.50 |
| Canfor |
16.95 |
7.65 |
11.00 |
| Emco |
7.50 |
2.60 |
6.70 |
| Goodfellow |
11.00 |
8.00 |
9.00 |
| Home Depot |
49.74 |
47.61 |
49.13 |
| Hudson's Bay |
17.65 |
12.40 |
17.75 |
| Lowe's |
64.90 |
34.25 |
36.93 |
| Sears Canada |
37.25 |
18.55 |
23.60 |
| Taiga Forest |
10.00 |
6.80 |
9.95 |
| West Fraser |
36.50 |
21.00 |
34.50 |
______________________________________________
"When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty."
— George Bernard Shaw (Irish playwright)
______________________________________________
MARKET INDICATORS
Gross domestic product advanced 0.3% in May, the strongest showing in seven months. Manufacturing of food and wood products also increased. Overall, 14 of 22 major industry groups, which accounted for 81.8% of the factory sector's output, increased production in May. The largest declines were reported by makers of furniture and beverages.
U.S. consumer spending increased 0.4% in June, up from a 0.3% gain in May. Incomes increased 0.3% compared with 0.2% in the previous month, the Commerce Department said. Both numbers were higher than Wall Street had expected.
The University of Michigan's final July consumer sentiment index edged down to 92.4 from 92.6 in June, but was well above a five-year low of 90.6 struck in February. The preliminary index, released mid-month to subscribers only, read 93.7; economists had forecast the final index to read 93.6.
______________________________________________
NOTED …
… The CHHMA’s annual Maple Leaf Night will be held August 13, 2001, at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Many vendors fly down to the National Hardware Show just for this event. For retailers and CHHMA members only — so make sure you’ve registered! And make sure you’re dressed appropriately: dress is smart business casual, so be creative! For more info, go to: http://www.chhma.ca/events/events.html
______________________________________________
* * * * HARDLINES MARKETPLACE* * * *
Check out Hardlines Classifieds on the web: https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
______________________________________________
NORAL INSTORE:
BOOST your retail profile with instore sales support for your products and merchandising.
Visit http://www.noralmarketing.com/ or call 519-439-6800 ext. 201
* * * * * *
RETAIL SALES CONSULTANT:
Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., a worldwide leader in hardware supply and distribution with operations in Markham, Brantford and Calgary has an immediate opening for a Retail Sales Consultant — Nova Scotia Region.
As the successful candidate you will have five or more years of sales experience in the wholesale hardware or LBM Industry with extensive knowledge of how to provide effective support to retail hardware customers. At Ace Canada "effective support" means listening and responding to the needs of our customers; attending to details and providing consistent follow-up. You have a reasonable knowledge of how to use computers to advantage. Most of all, you are highly organized and capable of working both independently and as part of the team.
Ace Canada offers a competitive compensation package and career potential. If you are qualified for this position please fax or e-mail your résumé, including salary history/expectations to: vice-president, operations and administration, Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., 80 Micro Court, Third Floor, Markham, ON; L3R 9Z5; fax 905-475-2721; e-mail: stan.sauer@acehardware.ca
______________________________________________
THE HARDLINES MARKETPLACE: just $16 per line.
A classified ad with Hardlines is the most direct way to industry eyes.
Over 3,000 executives in the industry come in contact with our email and fax publications … and have you seen our Marketplace in our new website? https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
Publish your ad where it matters. Get industry exposure today.
Contact us at 416-489-3396 or email: buzz@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
DOING YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY? PLANNING THE BUDGET?
THEN YOU WILL NEED HARDLINES INDUSTRY REPORT:
"Home Improvement Retailing in Canada" is a comprehensive overview of the size of the market, how many stores are out there, who the key players are, their market position, the size and growth of the big boxes, the trends in housing and renovations, market trends — and much, much more! 120-plus pages filled with charts, graphs and photos. Regular price: $945, only $750 for subscribers! For more information, contact Nancy Wright at nancy@hardlines.ca; phone: 416-489-3396.
(go to https://hardlines.ca/html/industry_report.html)
______________________________________________
Hardlines is published weekly (except monthly in December and August)
by McLARNEYCOM
542 Mount Pleasant Rd., Suite 302, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4S 2M7
© 2001 by Michael McLarney.
HARDLINES™ the electronic newsletter hardlines.ca
Phone: 416.489.3396; Fax: 416.489.6154
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher: mike@hardlines.ca
Eugenia Canas, Assistant Editor: buzz@hardlines.ca
Beverly Allen, Marketing Manager: bev@hardlines.ca
Nancy Wright, Circulation Manager: nancy@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
THE HARDLINES "FAIR PLAY" POLICY:
Reproduction in whole or in part is very uncool and strictly forbidden and really and truly against the law. So please, play fair! Call for information on multiple subscriptions or a site license for your company. We do want as many people as possible to read Hardlines each week — but let us handle your internal routing from this end!
______________________________________________
Subscription: $199+$13.93 GST = $212.93 (or $29.85 HST = $228.85) per year (GST #13987 0398 RT). Secondary subscriptions at the same office are only $28 + $1.96 GST = $29.98. You can pay online by VISA at our secure website or send us money. Please make cheque payable to McLarneyCom.
: