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Jan 3, 2011, Volume xvii, #1
“What fantasy will I use today to stave off madness?”
—Dilbert (aka Scott Adams, American cartoonist, 1957- )
Castle strengthens hardlines supply with Orgill, TSC deals
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Two deals announced recently by Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. have established the LBM buying group’s hardlines sourcing capabilities for the coming year.
Castle announced, within the space of a few days, a major partnership with U.S. hardware wholesaler Orgill to be that company’s “feet on the street” for hardlines in Canada. Castle is actively hiring hardlines specialist representatives to serve the Central Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
But Castle is also relying on a company much closer to home for some of its front-end needs: London, Ont.-based TSC Stores has created a wholesale division of its own, TSC Country Pro Services. That company, under newly appointed president Greg Hicks, will supply Castle dealers in Ontario and Manitoba with many of the products that just don’t ship well across the border, including fertilizer and chemicals. TSC can also be relied on for product that is argo or farm related.
Castle went shopping for alternative sources of supply following the acquisition of its major hardlines supplier, CanWel Hardware, by competing buying group TIM-BR MARTS Ltd., last fall. While supply agreements made last fall remain in place with CanWel, newly named Chalifour Canada, the decision to stay loyal to those deals will be a decision for the independent Castle dealers themselves.
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Home Depot launches online how-to community
ATLANTA — Home Depot has launched an online “how-to” community where do-it-yourselfers can discuss home improvement projects and share their expertise with other members.
The how-to community features a number of experienced Home Depot store associates from around the country who are prepared to help consumers with their home repair projects. Armed with a range of multi-media technologies, they each take turns sitting online a couple of days each week, in addition to their duties on the store floor.
The company has even gone multi-media in its promotion of the new service, complete with an online video of its own.
Discussions are organized in categories such as paint, tools and hardware, garden and yard, do-it-yourself and repair. The community also features a “Meet Our Experts” section that spotlights the community's store associates; a “What's New in Our Aisles” section highlights new products.
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CanWel, retailers honoured at NHS-co-sponsored event
TORONTO — HARDLINES presented its 2010 Newsmaker Award and Hardware Merchandising magazine handed out seven Outstanding Retailer awards to Canadian hardware and home improvement retailers during the annual HARDLINES Conference in Toronto. All awards were co-sponsored by the National Hardware Show, with each of the Outstanding Retailers also winning a trip for two to the 2011 National Hardware Show, to be held May 10-12 in Las Vegas.
“We at the National Hardware Show are very proud to be part of these awards, which honour the best of Canada’s home improvement-hardware companies and retailers,” said Ed Several, senior vice-president and show manager, National Hardware Show. “We are thrilled that each of the Outstanding Retailers will get a chance to come to the 2011 National Hardware Show, where they will see the latest in product innovation.”
CanWel Building Materials, honoured with the 2010 Newsmaker Award, made news earlier this year with the acquisition of rival building materials wholesaler Broadleaf Logistics and, more recently, with the sale of its Hardware Division to the building materials buying group TIM-BR MARTS Ltd.
The Newsmaker of the Year Award is presented each year as part of the HARDLINES Conference, an annual information and networking event for members of the hardware and home improvement industry. Each year, the conference hosts an international roster of speakers who offer insights into trends affecting the industry and provide proprietary data about consumer shopping preferences. The 2010 event, held Oct. 28-29, featured the theme “Make the Most of the Recovery.”
Each year Hardware Merchandising magazine relies on a panel of industry experts to select Outstanding Retailers in seven categories. The nominees are judged on sales growth, customer service, overall store appearance, merchandising and marketing, employee management and community involvement. This year’s recipients were honoured at a gala held in conjunction with the HARDLINES Conference.
Along with their award, this year’s outstanding retailers received a trip for two to the 2011 National Hardware Show, which will be held in conjunction with the NRHA All-Industry Convention, including the Young Retailer of the Year and Retail Innovators of the Year awards.
“A New Way to Market” will be the theme of the 2011 event, drawing on a list of global attendees, not only from traditional retail and wholesale outlets but grocery, mass, drug, catalogue and the internet, representing almost $240 billion in sales revenue.
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Classifieds
Brand Manager – Skil Tools
Taking on the role of partner, you will assume overall business responsibility for the assigned products. This entails proactively developing and implementing a brand strategy to achieve sales, market share and margin targets. You will accomplish this by creating and implementing a marketing plan, which includes the definition of targets, budgets and strategies, and managing all aspects of entire marketing mix. As a result, you must be a strong communicator and creative entrepreneur with initiative, a commitment to teamwork, and 3 to 5 years of experience in marketing and sales. A Business Administration degree or diploma, with specialisation in marketing, preferably industrial consumer products, is also required.
We offer a competitive salary and an excellent group benefit and vacation plan. If you are a team player looking to demonstrate your drive and initiative, please send your resume, in confidence, to: Robert Bosch Inc., Human Resources, 6955 Creditview Road, Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 1R1. E-mail: Chrissy.Stanesic@ca.bosch.com No agencies, please.
We appreciate your response, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.
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