BOUCHERVILLE, Que. ― Anthony T. (Tony) Hurst has been appointed president, Lowe’s Canada. His placement is pending the finalization of authorization to work in Canada, a process which is expected to be completed this month.

Based in Boucherville, Que., Hurst will report to President and CEO Marvin Ellison at Lowe’s head office in Mooresville, N.C. He replaces Sylvain Prud’homme, who held the CEO title in addition to president of Lowe’s Canada until his departure in the fall of last year.

Tony Cioffi will continue as interim president until Hurst gets settled in, then resume his previous role as group financial officer and leader of the affiliated dealers, real estate and Dick’s Lumber businesses.

Hurst joined Lowe’s one year ago as division president for the West region. Then, in November 2019, he was appointed senior vice president of enterprise and strategy transformation. Once Hurst was in that role, the Canadian division began reporting to him. His background also includes time with J.C. Penney and Home Depot in the U.S.

“With more than 25 years of retail and home improvement experience, Tony Hurst is a knowledgeable and effective leader who was already working closely with the Canadian leadership team in his former role," said Ellison.

The confirmation of Hurst came with other staff changes in Boucherville, including the departure of Igor Halencak, who had headed up marketing and merchandising for Lowe’s Canada. A seven-year veteran of the company, Halencak had been in charge of its buyer teams. Speaking with Hardlines, he said, “I fully believe in the strategy plan for Lowe’s Canada and I wish the new team the very best going forward.”

Hurst's working relationship with Ellison dates back to their days at The Home Depot. Ellison joined in 2002, while Hurst was working as a store manager in California, before moving to head office in Atlanta in 2009. When Ellison moved to J.C. Penney in 2014, Hurst followed six months later, working as senior vice president of stores and operations. Ellison became chairman and CEO of Lowe’s Cos. in 2018 and Hurst moved over at the beginning of 2019.

BOLTON, Ont. ― Bob Holmes, general manager of the TORBSA buying group, has confirmed that he will retire at the end of 2020.

The group, which started in 1966, consists of about two dozen members representing some 45 stores. With the exception of the group's largest member, Crown Building Supplies in Surrey, B.C., all are located in Ontario. The majority of TORBSA dealers are commercial, or heavily contractor oriented. Together, they generated $525 million in sales in 2018 (Source: the incredible Hardlines Retail Report).

Holmes started with TORBSA in 1994, taking over from Ted Howes, who was with the group from the onset. “I was in equipment rentals for 10 years,” Holmes recalls. “I started at TORBSA as Ted’s right-hand man, until taking over six years later.”

Known for his enthusiasm for people and for the business, Holmes is also trained as a chef, something he pursued through his love of good, healthy food. He is also infamous for his “shaggy dog” jokes when emceeing group events like the members’ annual Christmas gala. And the home improvement industry is in the family: his brother Jim was at Builders Supply, a TORBSA member that was recently bought by Foundation Building Materials, a chain of commercial yards based in the U.S.

His group saw other defections last year, as well, including Rigney Building Supplies in Kingston, Ont. It was bought by WSB Titan, which is, in turn, owned by another U.S. chain, GMS. However, Holmes takes pride in the fact that these dealers were successful enough within TORBSA that they were suitable candidates for takeover, a succession strategy that many dealers would welcome.

Holmes offers some guidance for whoever will take over from him. The group will have to remain focused on new products and innovation, “to keep members ahead of the curve,” he says.

“I really think the whole focus of this job—and of the overall industry—is relationships. [The new person] has to have a good handle on that,” he adds. “The rest will take care of itself.”

DALLAS — In its ongoing effort to cater more effectively to contractors and builders, Home Depot has opened the first of a new type of distribution centre that can handle large, bulk products for direct shipment to pro customers.

Called a “flatbed distribution centre” (FDC), it’s designed to quickly load everything from concrete blocks and bags of concrete to an order of lumber or drywall for same- and next-day delivery.

The first FDC has been opened in Dallas, Texas. The 800,000-square-foot facility is one of several new types of delivery centres being developed by Home Depot as part of a $1.2 billion investment to build about 150 new facilities across the U.S. The aim is to be able to reach 90 percent of its U.S. customers quickly.

That goal includes reaching pros and contractors, which the FDCs are designed to do. The Dallas facility will deliver construction and building materials directly to those pro customers. Home Depot has reported in the past that professional customers represent only four percent of its customers, but account for 45 percent of overall sales.

“We expect to build 40 flatbed distribution centres in the 40 largest markets, so we can bring those products to customers on a same-day, next-day basis,” says Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Product Development Mark Holifield. “Our flatbed distribution centres help us provide the tools and materials pros need for their jobs, where and when they need it.”

COLOGNE, Germany ― The unique depth and range of products provided by the exhibitors offers compelling reasons for vendors and buyers alike to attend Eisenwarenmesse, International Hardware Fair. The show, being held from March 1 to 4, also offers an event program for trade visitors visiting Cologne.

The show, held every two years in the German city of Cologne, drew 47,000 visitors in 2018 from 143 countries to visit 2,770 vendors. The event offers a forum to learn about current developments and trends internationally. It’s also an important platform for professional exchange within the industry.

Over the years, the show has expanded its mandate beyond new products. Today, it features innovations and trends through a series of special events and showcases. The DIY Boulevard gives exhibitors the opportunity to present their innovations in an authentic POS environment, with 62 participating companies from the construction, home and garden industries.

The EISENforum will once again offer an event program, which will include lectures, panels, meetings with start-up companies and an awards ceremony that recognizes the latest in new-product developments. All nominated products and concepts will be presented to the international trade audience on the first day of the show, during a networking party for delegates.

During the first two days of the fair, a Digital Summit will be held in co-operation with digital expert Michael Atug. The lecture program, on the opportunities and risks of e-commerce, as well as payment, multichannel and logistics, highlights the facets of digitalization and aims to promote the exchange between suppliers, retailers and service providers.

Canadian visitors will have other ways to network and connect with the international marketplace, as well. Hardlines will once again host a Canada Night International Reception onsite at the show. It’s a great way for Canucks to gather and meet colleagues from around the world. (Email Michael to RSVP for Canada Night!)

Cologne is a compelling destination for any buyers or retailers looking for the latest product trends or vendors looking to expand their markets. (The complete program of events and lectures at the International Hardware Fair can be found here.)

Igor Halencak, EVP merchandising and marketing at Lowe’s Canada, is no longer with Lowe’s Canada. A former senior merchandising VP at Sears Canada, Halencak joined Lowe’s Canada seven years ago as head of merchandising. Over that time, he held a series of increasingly senior positions, before being put in charge of the combined merchandising and marketing roles just over a year ago.

Kelley Scott has been promoted at Alexandria Moulding. Previously director of marketing, she has moved into the role of director of sales, Western Canada. Scott has been with Alexandria for 10 years.

Eric Cantin is now national sales director at EcoWater Systems, a manufacturer of residential water treatment systems. There, he will manage sales for its dealer network, wholesale distributor and retail channel. He was formerly at Honeywell, where he spent eight years as a national sales manager.

Freud Canada has added to its sales team with the appointment of Frank Lepore as national account manager for the Co-op Channel. He comes over from Karcher Canada. In his new role, Lepore will focus on LBM, key regional chains and the hardware channel. He replaces Luciano Iaboni, who retired at the end of 2019 after 20 years with Freud.

DID YOU KNOW...

... Eisenwarenmesse, the International Hardware Fair in Cologne, Germany, is on this year from March 1 to 4. It’s one of the world’s largest trade shows for the hardware and home improvement industry. Hardlines will once again host a Canada Night International Reception onsite at the show. It’s a great way for Canucks to gather and meet colleagues from around the world. (Email Michael for more info or to RSVP!)

RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP, Que. — A new Canac location has cleared a significant administrative hurdle as this city’s council approved an easement related to a parcel of land within the Rivière-du-Loup Golf Club. Under an agreement between the two parties, the club is to transfer a parcel of land to Canac in exchange for a wetlands site where the hardware chain wants to build a new outlet. Canac will pay the club to symbolically transfer two of its fairways. The deed of easement is an administrative step toward receiving the necessary certificate of authorization from Quebec’s environment ministry for the project to proceed. 

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. ― Tractor Supply Co. reported that Q4 net sales increased 2.7 percent to $2.19 billion, from $2.13 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. Comparable store sales increased 0.1 percent. Net income was $144.2 million, compared to net income of $136.9 million. Net sales for the year increased 5.6 percent to $8.35 billion from $7.91 billion in fiscal 2018, while net income was $562.4 million, up from $532.4 million. Comparable store sales for the year increased 2.7 percent.

CANORA, Sask. — The new owners of Home Hardware here are Graham and Sam Profit, who have taken the reins from Graham’s father, Kris. Sam has assumed primary responsibility for managing the store, which has been in the Profit family since 1994.

SUPPLIER NEWS

MONTREAL — Richelieu Hardware reported Q4 sales of $265 million, up $6.2 million or 2.4 percent from $258.8 million a year ago, including three percent resulting from acquisitions. In Canada, Richelieu recorded sales of $179 million, an increase of $4.1 million over the fourth quarter of 2018. Net earnings per share rose to $0.34 basic and diluted, compared with $0.32 for the previous fiscal year, an increase of 6.3 percent.

WINNIPEG — Barry Allen Marketing Ltd. is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The Winnipeg-based rep agency, led by President and Partner Barry Beznoski, represents more than a dozen lines across Western Canada, with the slogan, “Helping you sell what we sell.”

MALVERN, Pa. — DBMP LLC, an affiliate of CertainTeed LLC that holds the legacy asbestos liabilities of the former CertainTeed Corp., announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 relief in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court. DBMP’s asbestos liabilities relate primarily to various products manufactured and sold by CertainTeed Corp., which last manufactured products containing asbestos in 1992. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, DBMP had more than 60,000 claims, more than 32,000 of which are in active litigation.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Milwaukee Tools announced it will open a manufacturing plant in West Bend, Wis. Located near the company’s headquarters, the facility will manufacture new-to-market hand tools for professional customers. The company will break ground on the new plant in April, with an initial expected investment of about $26 million, and expects mass production to begin in early 2021.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

November retail sales rose 0.9 percent to $51.5 billion, largely offsetting the 1.1 percent decline in October. The increase was primarily attributable to higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers and at food and beverage stores, both of which were down in October. Sales at building materials and garden equipment and supplies dealers were up for the first time in the last five months, rising 2.1 percent. (StatCan)

Sales of existing U.S. homes jumped in December to their highest level in nearly two years, suggesting lower mortgage rates are benefiting the market. December’s sales rose 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.54 million units. Not since February 2018 has the pace risen so high. (National Association of Realtors)

OVERHEARD...

“We remain confident in the long-term potential of our Canadian business, and I know Tony is the right person to lead Lowe’s Canada into an exciting new chapter for our customers and associates across Canada.”
―Marvin Ellison, president and CEO of Lowe’s Cos., on the appointment of Tony Hurst as president of the retailer’s Canadian division.