IN THIS ISSUE

• Western dealers gather for buying show
• Castle causes stir at Western show
• Walmart Canada to open 40 supercentres
• TIM-BR MART offers in-store customer TV
• PLUS: AFA to open in Saskatoon, Pantelides promoted at TSC, U.S. housing makes gains, DeWalt sponsors NASCAR, Laurentide makes acquisition, Grainger ends year strong —and more!

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A new magazine for home improvement retailers

Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly is the new print trade journal for decision makers in home improvement retail. Four times a year dealers, buyers and executives across Canada will receive the latest news, information and research to help you make the decisions that will build your sales and increase your profits. To ensure you receive your personal copy of HHIQ, click here. If you are an advertiser looking for an outstanding vehicle to deliver your message to the retail decision makers, well-researched vehicle in which to get your message to the retail decision makers, call Beverly Allen, our Illustrious Publisher: bev@hardlines.ca.

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DID YOU KNOW...?

… that we are less than two weeks away from the LBMAO’s Canadian Home Improvement Show? This important buying show for Ontario and region dealers is being held at the Toronto Congress Centre Feb. 10-11. On Friday, Feb. 11 start your day with a hot breakfast at the Johns Manville HARDLINES Dealer Conference Breakfast, an incredible morning session with two keynote speakers on Feb. 11: Retail Consultant and big box expert Doug Stephens; and Ted Tsiakopoulos, CMHC’s main man in Ontario. for more info and to register, Click here —Michael)

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NEWS IN BRIEF

VANCOUVER — AFA Forest Products Inc. has announced it will open a new distribution centre in Saskatoon. It is expected to be up and running by the end of February. Located at 602-43rd St. E., this facility will have a team dedicated to service, sales, customer support and promotional activities throughout the region. This location reinforces AFA’s strategic plan to create a truly national building materials distribution network and brings to 13 the number of divisions it has across the country. It also operates a facility in Portland, Ore., and a Visulam melamine plant in Lachute, Que.

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — Power tool company DeWalt will sponsor Marcos Ambrose, driver of the No. 9 Ford Fusion, for the 2011-2012 NASCAR season. The car, part of the Richard Petty Motorsports team, will brandish the DeWalt logo. DeWalt likes to sponsor event marketing both locally and nationally.

MONTREAL — Tembec, the forest products company, had consolidated sales for the first quarter ended Dec. 25 of $422 million, up from $412 million in the comparable period a year earlier. Despite the increase in sales, Tembec suffered a net loss of $12 million, compared with a loss of $9 million in 2009. The Forest Products segment generated negative EBITDA of $11 million on sales of $113 million. This compares with negative EBITDA of $5 million on sales of $113 million in the prior quarter. Demand for SPF lumber remained relatively weak with shipments equal to 54% of capacity.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Company farm and ranch retailer had a fourth-quarter net sales increase of 19.7% to $1.03 billion from $862.5 million. Same-store sales increased 13.1%, driven by continued strength in consumable, usable and edible products, principally animal and pet-related merchandise. Seasonal items, predominantly heating and insulated outerwear, also performed well during the quarter. Net income for the quarter was $50.2million, up from $37.3 million. For fiscal 2010, net sales increased 13.5% to $3.64 billion from $3.21 billion. Same-store sales increased 7.0%. Net income was $168.0 million, up from $119.7 million. During fiscal 2010, the company opened 74 new stores and closed three.

MONTREAL — SIE, an industrial, commercial and residential plumbing and heating agency in Baie-D’Urfé, Que., has become a division of Laurentide Controls Ltd. This will now enable both Laurentide and SIE to leverage complementary product lines, services, and expertise. SIE will continue to operate out of its current location.

CHICAGO — For the year ended Dec. 31, wholesale supplier Grainger reported sales of $7.2 billion, up 15% vs. $6.2 billion in 2009. Net earnings of $511 million were up 19% from $430 million. For the 2010 fourth quarter, sales reached $1.8 billion, an increase of 12% over the 2009 quarter. Net earnings of $132 million increased 36% vs. $97 million in 2009. The company has forecasted sales growth of 5-9% for 2011.

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Andrew Pantelides is now managing the categories of hardware, electrical, plumbing, paint, fencing and wire at TSC Stores Ltd. He was most recently category manager for work wear, safety wear, hunting and apparel, camping, fishing and ammunition at the London, Ont.-based farm and hardware chain. (519-453-5270; apantelides@tscstores.com)

Walmart U.S. has appointed Duncan Mac Naughton to chief merchandising officer for U.S. stores, effective immediately. Mac Naughton will oversee all merchandise categories across more than 3,700 stores in the U.S. business. He joined the company in 2009 as chief merchandising officer for Walmart Canada, and was later named executive vice-president of merchandising for Walmart U.S. He will continue to report to Bill Simon, Walmart U.S. president and CEO.

UFA, the Calgary-based agro co-op and retailer, has begun making changes in its senior management team. Richard MacMillan, senior vp of shared services, and Jeff Urquhart, director of real estate, environment, health and safety, are no longer with UFA. According to an internal memo, more changes will occur in coming weeks “to align our structure with our priorities for the next 12 to 24 months.”

Woodbridge, Ont.-based Royal Group has appointed three new members to its management team for its Building Products division. Adrien Pilon has been named general manager of Distribution. He has assumed responsibility for Royal’s Boncor and Residentiel businesses. Prior to joining Royal Group, he was vp and general manager with Emco Corporation … Peter Orebaugh is now business director of Royal Outdoor Products. He assumes responsibility for Royal Group’s Outdoor Products Division. Orebaugh was most recently vp at First Florida Companies, a private equity firm … Doug Kissick has been appointed marketing director for Building Products & Outdoor Products. He has served in senior marketing roles at Owens Corning, BPB Gypsum (Saint Gobain) and USG.

At forest products company Tembec, John Valley, executive vice-president, business development and corporate affairs, will retire effective Jan. 31. An industry veteran, Valley joined Tembec in late 2005.

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ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Consumer prices rose 2.4% in the 12 months to December, following the 2.0% increase posted in November. The 0.4 percentage point gain was mainly a result of higher gasoline prices. Between December 2009 and December 2010, gasoline prices increased 13.0%. Excluding gasoline, the Consumer Price Index rose 1.8% in December, identical to the increase recorded in November. Overall, energy prices rose 10.5% during the 12 months to December. (Stats Canada)

Retail sales increased 1.3% to $37.3 billion in November, reflecting growth at most store types. This marks the sixth consecutive mnthly rise in sales and was the largest increase since March 2010. Gains were reported in eight of 11 sub-sectors representing roughly 90% of total sales. In dollar terms, the largest increase was a 2.7% rise in sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. (Stats Canada)

Sales in the U.S. of new single-family homes in December reached 329,000 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, 17.5% above the revised November level, but only 7.6% below their year-ago level. New housing stock fell to 6.9 months at the current sales rate, the lowest since April. ( U.S. Commerce Dept.)

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May 10-12
Las Vegas, Nevada.

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OVERHEARD...

“The message is, ‘Anybody who can deliver opening price point [goods] for us will become a vendor – anybody who can't, can leave.’ ” —A longtime Walmart supplier, quoted in the New York Post regarding the retailer’s renewed efforts to offer the lowest prices, with the subsequent pressure that brings to bear on vendors.

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