HARDLINES™ Five years serving Canada's home improvement industry June 26, 2000 - Volume vi, #25 Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher Ph: 416-489-3396 Fx: 416-489-6154 E-mail: buzz@hardlinesfax.com  
Check out our incredible Classifieds section!
* * * * * * * IN THIS ISSUE: * Sodisco-Howden buys Weber's retail division * EXPO stores here part of 3-year plan, says Home Depot president * Johns Manville to merge with investor group * LP and Slocan form OSB joint venture * Canfor modernizes its Grande Prairie mill * * * * * * HOTEL ROOMS AT OUR 5th ANNUAL HARDLINES MARKETING CONFERENCE: September 14, 2000. We have a limited number of rooms set aside for this incredible one-day symposium featuring some of North America's leaders in retail! To make your reservation, call the Eaton Centre Marriott Hotel: 1-800-905-0667; refer to the Hardlines Marketing Conference and/or McLarney Communications. * * * * * * SODISCO-HOWDEN BUYS WEBER'S RETAIL DIVISION Sodisco-Howden Group has signed a letter of intent to acquire the hardware related assets of Weber Supply's Retail Sales Division in Kitchener, ON. The transaction will be paid in cash and is subject to due diligence. Since 1855, Weber has specialized in selling residential and architectural hardware to lumber yards in Ontario. The company went beyond the provincial border last summer, when St. John, NB-based Thornes exited the retail business in Atlantic Canada. Weber was one of the companies that developed a sales team in that market in an attempt to fill the void. But despite this initiative and progressive online ventures, including an e-catalogue with the Castle Building Centres group, Weber's retail business has gradually shrunk over the years, from as high as $30 million to an estimated $10 million. The big box battle that's heating up in Ontario will continue to accelerate the consolidation of Weber's dealer base, says David Weber, president of Weber Supply. For the sake of both the business and the people in the retail division, he says the timing was good to make the deal with Sodisco-Howden. He adds that the the company had been in talks with Tony Molluso, CEO of Sodisco-Howden, for some time before the death of David's father and company chairman, Jack Weber, on May 2. Even though Jack had a special place in his heart for the retail division, which was the foundation of the Weber company 145 years ago, he was "onside with the deal," says David Weber. Despite the shrinking customer base in Ontario, the business has remained steady due to new business in Atlantic Canada, says David Weber. Sodisco-Howden picks up five sales people in Ontario and four down east. The deal takes one more competitor out of the marketplace for Sodisco-Howden, and strengthens its presence in Central and Eastern Canada. The sale is expected to close mid-July. Weber will continue with its industrial division, Weber Construction Products Group, which has 13 distribution centres in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and estimated sales in excess of $100 million. HOME DEPOT PRESIDENT OUTLINES CANADIAN EXPANSION Home Depot will double its number of stores worldwide within the next 3* years, according to Arthur Blank. But, he adds, it's NOT talking with French retailer Castorama. Blank was drawn to Canada last week to speak at the annual convention of the Retail Council of Canada. The company currently has 980 stores in North and South America, including 56 in Canada. Blank says that number will reach 1,900. He confirmed Canadian president Annette Verschuren's statements in an earlier interview with Hardlines that 110-120 of them will be erected in this country eventually. But other store formats will take a while to get here. Home Depot has announced it will expand both its Villager's Hardware and EXPO store formats in the U.S., but no date has been set for a Canadian introduction. However, Blank said the EXPO stores are part of a three-year plan for this country, where he expects as many as 20. Two more Villager's Hardware stores will be added to the two inaugural stores in New Jersey, where they will be scrutinized until the end of this year before a rollout is approved. Fuelling Home Depot's expansion is 21%-22% annual growth, a figure being matched or bettered by the Canadian division. However, Blank told me that expansion in Europe at this time does not include any imminent acquisitions. "We have not had any conversations with Castorama," he said. He also said growing contractor sales in Canada is important, although the DIYer remains Home Depot's base customer. Contractor sales company-wide are about 35% of overall sales, while Canada's are closer to 30%. The introduction of a "pro initiative," already in six stores in Canada, offers more focused services to contractors. JOHNS MANVILLE TO MERGE WITH INVESTOR GROUP In a deal valued at approximately US$3 billion, Denver, CO-based Johns Manville Corp. has entered into a definitive merger agreement with an investor group led by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc. and Bear Stearns Merchant Banking. The investor group will provide approximately US$565 million in equity capital and has received commitments for senior and subordinated debt financing amounting to US$2.35 billion through affiliates of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year, subject to various conditions, including receipt of financing and shareholder and regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, which was approved by the company's board of directors, JM's public shareholders will receive, for each share of JM stock held, US$13.625 in cash and a 13% pay-in-kind preferred stock with a liquidation preference of US$2.00. The transaction value is based on approximately 155 million shares. The Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, which holds approximately 76% of JM's common stock, has agreed to vote its JM shares for the merger, subject to certain conditions. Following closing, the Trust will hold approximately 8.5% of the company's common equity. In addition, JM has agreed to pay the Trust US$90 million in settlement of JM's obligation for future income taxes of the Trust. The Trust and members of JM management, including Chairman and CEO Jerry Henry, will retain an equity stake in the post-merger company. Johns Manville is a 142-year-old fiberglass insulation and roofing manufacturer with sales of US$2.2 billion in 1999. It employs approximately 9,700 people and operates 56 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. LOUISIANA-PACIFIC FORMS OSB JOINT VENTURE WITH SLOCAN Louisiana-Pacific Corp. has teamed with Slocan Forest Products in a 50-50 joint venture to build a 700 million-sq.ft. OSB mill in British Columbia. The deal emerged when both companies were planning to build their own OSB plants. Instead, they agreed to combine resources, investing $200 million to form a new company called Slocan-LP OSB Corp. The new mill will be located in the Fort St. John area, designed as a low-cost operation that will meet long term market demand both in North America and in Asia. Ike Barber, chairman of Slocan Forest Products, will serve as president of the new company. Following completion of the environmental assessment process, construction of the new mill is expected to be completed within 12-18 months. The company anticipates the creation of more than 500 direct jobs in manufacturing and forestry related activities. An estimated 750 indirect jobs during construction will also be created. The project is expected to contribute more than $110 million annually to the local economy. ONLINE RETAILERS FEAR U.S. COMPETITORS According to a new study to be released last week by The Boston Consulting Group and Retail Council of Canada, Canadian retailers are focused largely on the domestic market, earning 96% of revenues from Canadian consumers. The Canadian Online Retailing Report, which is based on first quarter survey responses from 66 Canadian online retailers, suggests that online retailers need to act quickly to stay ahead of U.S. competitors. Canada stands second only to Sweden among developed countries in Internet adoption, and well above the U.S. However, while Canadians have embraced the Internet, both consumers and retailers have yet to fully adopt online retailing. A key perception, widely held by study participants, is that domestic online players are not their primary competition. Nearly half the retailers surveyed perceive U.S. online retailers as their primary competitors, followed by Canadian online retailers (29%) and traditional Canadian retailers (19%).  
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS For the second quarter ended April 30, 2000, Matco Ravary achieved sales of $13.6 million, up 10% over $12.3 million for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Net earnings totalled $98,828, compared with $333,496 for the second quarter of 1999. Sales for the first half of the fiscal year rose 10% to $25.2 million, compared with $22.9 million for the same period last year. The net loss amounted to $94,036, compared with $322,631 for the six months ended April 30, 1999. Canfor Corp. has completed a $22-million modernization project for its Grande Prairie sawmill. The project is expected to increase lumber production at the 11-year-old plant by 14% to 25 million board feet per year, while processing the same amount of logs, and to shave $4.5 million off Canfor's operating costs. Revy Home & Garden really did open its fourth store in the GTA on Saturday, this one in Scarborough. The 150,000-sq.ft. outlet, which employs 250, had both entrances blocked by picketers who protested the use of non-union out-of-province workers to erect the store. Rona Cashway has renovated its stores in Exeter, Forest, Ilderton, Seaforth and Zurich, ON. The former Do-it centers, purchased by Cashway just before it was in turn bought up by Rona, feature new store layouts with expanded assortments of hardware and LBM. Canadian Tire opened a new "next generation" store last Thursday, this one in Ajax, ON. The 85,000-sq.ft. store has 53,000 sq.ft. of retail. Home Depot Inc. plans a major expansion of an in-store financing program for home improvement loans to its DIY customers. The loan program is currently being tested in 65 stores and is expected to be rolled out to all Home Depot and Expo stores in Canada and the U.S. Credit lines of up to $30,000 will be available. In-store approvals were pioneered by the AWARD buying group in Atlantic Canada two years ago and other groups, including Castle and Tim-BR-Mart, have been working on programs of their own. Sears, Roebuck and Co. has launched an appliance parts and accessories website for contractors, builders and property managers who buy in volume. The site - www.spdcommercial.com - offers businesses access to more than 4.2 million parts from over 400 manufacturers and includes owner's manuals for most major brands, including Sears'Kenmore brand, Whirlpool, Amana, Kitchen Aid, Maytag, Briggs & Stratton and Black & Decker.
CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
COMPANY 52-WEEK HIGH 52-WEEK LOW CLOSE (FRI.)
Cameron Ashley 18.31 7.25 18 5/16
Canadian Tire 46.00 19.10 22.50
Canfor 19.25 4.25 14.00
Goodfellow 12.25 7.50 9.50
Home Depot 70.00 35.75 48
Hudsons Bay 23.85 12.70 16.60
Lowe's Cos. 67.25 40.75 42 1/8
Sears Canada 42.50 29.00 35.80
Taiga Forest 14.75 8.90 8.90
West Fraser 41.00 28.00 30.00
"Is life not a hundred times too short for us to bore ourselves?" - Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Bob Schippanoski at Honeywell sent me an e-mail asking for help to track down a former colleague, Ken Gamble. "I worked with him at Amerock from 1985-1988. He and I both left Amerock at about the same time. Ken went to Feeney Manufacturing, which I believe was later acquired by Knape & Vogt. I know he went to the U.S. operations for a while and then came back to Canada to run the Feeney operation before K&V acquired them. I am sure he is still kicking around the industry …" If anyone can help Bob out, please call him at: 508-490-7184 or email: bob.schippanoski@honeywell.com  
OVERHEARD... "The most important thing we've sold people on is the confidence to take on projects to improve their homes." - Arthur Blank, chairman of The Home Depot Inc., during his presentation at last week's annual convention of the Retail Council of Canada.  
MARKET INDICATORS The consumer price index increased 2.4% in May, compared with the same month a year earlier, according to Stats Canada. Higher prices for energy remain the largest contributor to the index's annual increase. However, excluding energy, the cost of goods and services to consumers went up 1.3%. The CPI increased 0.5% from April to May.  
UNDERSTANDING THE CANADIAN MARKET: Seminar and reception for foreign consulates, international trade offices, commercial services and potential importers: June 28, 2000, in Toronto. Presented in partnership with the Canadian Hardware and Building Materials Show. If you're one of the above and didn't get an invite, call us! HARDLINES WHO'S WHO: Directory of Canadian Hardware & Home Improvement Retailers, Wholesalers, Buying Groups and Mass Merchants. This has become an industry standard. With more than 100 listings of the key companies in the country, including executives, buyers, sales and more. No salesperson should be without this little beauty in their briefcase. Third edition available in July. HARDLINES INDUSTRY REPORT: HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAILING IN CANADA: Back by popular demand! This incredible report is a soup-to-nuts on how the home improvement business works in Canada. It tells who the players are, what the trends are, how the industry is responding to the big boxes, etc. It also updates home improvement and renovation spending and figures out just how big this business is! FIFTH ANNUAL HARDLINES MARKETING CONFERENCE: September 14, 2000. An incredible one-day symposium featuring some of North America's leaders in retail, including Home Depot, McMillan/Doolittle, Gardener's Supply, J&H Builder's Warehouse and much more! Expect about 200 retail and vendor executives to attend! THE WOMEN'S CONSUMER PRODUCTS NETWORK June 27: WCPN Golf Tournament (Sorry - sold out!). August 15: Breakfast meeting during the CGTA Show. Featuring the proven communication methods of Robin Kennedy, vice-president of Communicare. For more information about these events, please phone: (905) 212-3826; fax: (905) 274-7646; email:wcpn99@yahoo.com, or check out their website: www.wcpncanada.org  
Hardlines Classifieds Got new products? Looking for new staff or lines? Hardlines Classifieds are read each week by North America's key decision makers in home improvement retailing and manufacturing. If you want to build your sales team or find new agents or new lines, this is the place! Only $16 per line. Call Beverly at 416-489-3396, ext. 2, for more details. * * * * * * * HARDLINES the electronic newsletter. Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher. Published weekly (except monthly in December and August) by McLARNEYCOM 283 Belsize Dr., Toronto, ON Canada M4S 1M5. 416-489-3396; fax: 416-489-6154. E-mail: bev@hardlinesfax.com © 2000 by Michael McLarney. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden. Subscription: $185+$12.95 GST = $197.95 (or $27.75 HST=$212.75) per year (GST #13987 0398 RT). Please make cheque payable to McLarneyCom.  
    HARDLINES™ Five years serving Canada's home improvement industry June 26, 2000 - Volume vi, #25 Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher Ph: 416-489-3396 Fx: 416-489-6154 E-mail: buzz@hardlinesfax.com  
Check out our incredible Classifieds section!
* * * * * * * IN THIS ISSUE: * Sodisco-Howden buys Weber's retail division * EXPO stores here part of 3-year plan, says Home Depot president * Johns Manville to merge with investor group * LP and Slocan form OSB joint venture * Canfor modernizes its Grande Prairie mill * * * * * * HOTEL ROOMS AT OUR 5th ANNUAL HARDLINES MARKETING CONFERENCE: September 14, 2000. We have a limited number of rooms set aside for this incredible one-day symposium featuring some of North America's leaders in retail! To make your reservation, call the Eaton Centre Marriott Hotel: 1-800-905-0667; refer to the Hardlines Marketing Conference and/or McLarney Communications. * * * * * * SODISCO-HOWDEN BUYS WEBER'S RETAIL DIVISION Sodisco-Howden Group has signed a letter of intent to acquire the hardware related assets of Weber Supply's Retail Sales Division in Kitchener, ON. The transaction will be paid in cash and is subject to due diligence. Since 1855, Weber has specialized in selling residential and architectural hardware to lumber yards in Ontario. The company went beyond the provincial border last summer, when St. John, NB-based Thornes exited the retail business in Atlantic Canada. Weber was one of the companies that developed a sales team in that market in an attempt to fill the void. But despite this initiative and progressive online ventures, including an e-catalogue with the Castle Building Centres group, Weber's retail business has gradually shrunk over the years, from as high as $30 million to an estimated $10 million. The big box battle that's heating up in Ontario will continue to accelerate the consolidation of Weber's dealer base, says David Weber, president of Weber Supply. For the sake of both the business and the people in the retail division, he says the timing was good to make the deal with Sodisco-Howden. He adds that the the company had been in talks with Tony Molluso, CEO of Sodisco-Howden, for some time before the death of David's father and company chairman, Jack Weber, on May 2. Even though Jack had a special place in his heart for the retail division, which was the foundation of the Weber company 145 years ago, he was "onside with the deal," says David Weber. Despite the shrinking customer base in Ontario, the business has remained steady due to new business in Atlantic Canada, says David Weber. Sodisco-Howden picks up five sales people in Ontario and four down east. The deal takes one more competitor out of the marketplace for Sodisco-Howden, and strengthens its presence in Central and Eastern Canada. The sale is expected to close mid-July. Weber will continue with its industrial division, Weber Construction Products Group, which has 13 distribution centres in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and estimated sales in excess of $100 million. HOME DEPOT PRESIDENT OUTLINES CANADIAN EXPANSION Home Depot will double its number of stores worldwide within the next 3* years, according to Arthur Blank. But, he adds, it's NOT talking with French retailer Castorama. Blank was drawn to Canada last week to speak at the annual convention of the Retail Council of Canada. The company currently has 980 stores in North and South America, including 56 in Canada. Blank says that number will reach 1,900. He confirmed Canadian president Annette Verschuren's statements in an earlier interview with Hardlines that 110-120 of them will be erected in this country eventually. But other store formats will take a while to get here. Home Depot has announced it will expand both its Villager's Hardware and EXPO store formats in the U.S., but no date has been set for a Canadian introduction. However, Blank said the EXPO stores are part of a three-year plan for this country, where he expects as many as 20. Two more Villager's Hardware stores will be added to the two inaugural stores in New Jersey, where they will be scrutinized until the end of this year before a rollout is approved. Fuelling Home Depot's expansion is 21%-22% annual growth, a figure being matched or bettered by the Canadian division. However, Blank told me that expansion in Europe at this time does not include any imminent acquisitions. "We have not had any conversations with Castorama," he said. He also said growing contractor sales in Canada is important, although the DIYer remains Home Depot's base customer. Contractor sales company-wide are about 35% of overall sales, while Canada's are closer to 30%. The introduction of a "pro initiative," already in six stores in Canada, offers more focused services to contractors. JOHNS MANVILLE TO MERGE WITH INVESTOR GROUP In a deal valued at approximately US$3 billion, Denver, CO-based Johns Manville Corp. has entered into a definitive merger agreement with an investor group led by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc. and Bear Stearns Merchant Banking. The investor group will provide approximately US$565 million in equity capital and has received commitments for senior and subordinated debt financing amounting to US$2.35 billion through affiliates of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year, subject to various conditions, including receipt of financing and shareholder and regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, which was approved by the company's board of directors, JM's public shareholders will receive, for each share of JM stock held, US$13.625 in cash and a 13% pay-in-kind preferred stock with a liquidation preference of US$2.00. The transaction value is based on approximately 155 million shares. The Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, which holds approximately 76% of JM's common stock, has agreed to vote its JM shares for the merger, subject to certain conditions. Following closing, the Trust will hold approximately 8.5% of the company's common equity. In addition, JM has agreed to pay the Trust US$90 million in settlement of JM's obligation for future income taxes of the Trust. The Trust and members of JM management, including Chairman and CEO Jerry Henry, will retain an equity stake in the post-merger company. Johns Manville is a 142-year-old fiberglass insulation and roofing manufacturer with sales of US$2.2 billion in 1999. It employs approximately 9,700 people and operates 56 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. LOUISIANA-PACIFIC FORMS OSB JOINT VENTURE WITH SLOCAN Louisiana-Pacific Corp. has teamed with Slocan Forest Products in a 50-50 joint venture to build a 700 million-sq.ft. OSB mill in British Columbia. The deal emerged when both companies were planning to build their own OSB plants. Instead, they agreed to combine resources, investing $200 million to form a new company called Slocan-LP OSB Corp. The new mill will be located in the Fort St. John area, designed as a low-cost operation that will meet long term market demand both in North America and in Asia. Ike Barber, chairman of Slocan Forest Products, will serve as president of the new company. Following completion of the environmental assessment process, construction of the new mill is expected to be completed within 12-18 months. The company anticipates the creation of more than 500 direct jobs in manufacturing and forestry related activities. An estimated 750 indirect jobs during construction will also be created. The project is expected to contribute more than $110 million annually to the local economy. ONLINE RETAILERS FEAR U.S. COMPETITORS According to a new study to be released last week by The Boston Consulting Group and Retail Council of Canada, Canadian retailers are focused largely on the domestic market, earning 96% of revenues from Canadian consumers. The Canadian Online Retailing Report, which is based on first quarter survey responses from 66 Canadian online retailers, suggests that online retailers need to act quickly to stay ahead of U.S. competitors. Canada stands second only to Sweden among developed countries in Internet adoption, and well above the U.S. However, while Canadians have embraced the Internet, both consumers and retailers have yet to fully adopt online retailing. A key perception, widely held by study participants, is that domestic online players are not their primary competition. Nearly half the retailers surveyed perceive U.S. online retailers as their primary competitors, followed by Canadian online retailers (29%) and traditional Canadian retailers (19%).  
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS For the second quarter ended April 30, 2000, Matco Ravary achieved sales of $13.6 million, up 10% over $12.3 million for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Net earnings totalled $98,828, compared with $333,496 for the second quarter of 1999. Sales for the first half of the fiscal year rose 10% to $25.2 million, compared with $22.9 million for the same period last year. The net loss amounted to $94,036, compared with $322,631 for the six months ended April 30, 1999. Canfor Corp. has completed a $22-million modernization project for its Grande Prairie sawmill. The project is expected to increase lumber production at the 11-year-old plant by 14% to 25 million board feet per year, while processing the same amount of logs, and to shave $4.5 million off Canfor's operating costs. Revy Home & Garden really did open its fourth store in the GTA on Saturday, this one in Scarborough. The 150,000-sq.ft. outlet, which employs 250, had both entrances blocked by picketers who protested the use of non-union out-of-province workers to erect the store. Rona Cashway has renovated its stores in Exeter, Forest, Ilderton, Seaforth and Zurich, ON. The former Do-it centers, purchased by Cashway just before it was in turn bought up by Rona, feature new store layouts with expanded assortments of hardware and LBM. Canadian Tire opened a new "next generation" store last Thursday, this one in Ajax, ON. The 85,000-sq.ft. store has 53,000 sq.ft. of retail. Home Depot Inc. plans a major expansion of an in-store financing program for home improvement loans to its DIY customers. The loan program is currently being tested in 65 stores and is expected to be rolled out to all Home Depot and Expo stores in Canada and the U.S. Credit lines of up to $30,000 will be available. In-store approvals were pioneered by the AWARD buying group in Atlantic Canada two years ago and other groups, including Castle and Tim-BR-Mart, have been working on programs of their own. Sears, Roebuck and Co. has launched an appliance parts and accessories website for contractors, builders and property managers who buy in volume. The site - www.spdcommercial.com - offers businesses access to more than 4.2 million parts from over 400 manufacturers and includes owner's manuals for most major brands, including Sears'Kenmore brand, Whirlpool, Amana, Kitchen Aid, Maytag, Briggs & Stratton and Black & Decker.
CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
COMPANY 52-WEEK HIGH 52-WEEK LOW CLOSE (FRI.)
Cameron Ashley 18.31 7.25 18 5/16
Canadian Tire 46.00 19.10 22.50
Canfor 19.25 4.25 14.00
Goodfellow 12.25 7.50 9.50
Home Depot 70.00 35.75 48
Hudsons Bay 23.85 12.70 16.60
Lowe's Cos. 67.25 40.75 42 1/8
Sears Canada 42.50 29.00 35.80
Taiga Forest 14.75 8.90 8.90
West Fraser 41.00 28.00 30.00
"Is life not a hundred times too short for us to bore ourselves?" - Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Bob Schippanoski at Honeywell sent me an e-mail asking for help to track down a former colleague, Ken Gamble. "I worked with him at Amerock from 1985-1988. He and I both left Amerock at about the same time. Ken went to Feeney Manufacturing, which I believe was later acquired by Knape & Vogt. I know he went to the U.S. operations for a while and then came back to Canada to run the Feeney operation before K&V acquired them. I am sure he is still kicking around the industry …" If anyone can help Bob out, please call him at: 508-490-7184 or email: bob.schippanoski@honeywell.com  
OVERHEARD... "The most important thing we've sold people on is the confidence to take on projects to improve their homes." - Arthur Blank, chairman of The Home Depot Inc., during his presentation at last week's annual convention of the Retail Council of Canada.  
MARKET INDICATORS The consumer price index increased 2.4% in May, compared with the same month a year earlier, according to Stats Canada. Higher prices for energy remain the largest contributor to the index's annual increase. However, excluding energy, the cost of goods and services to consumers went up 1.3%. The CPI increased 0.5% from April to May.  
UNDERSTANDING THE CANADIAN MARKET: Seminar and reception for foreign consulates, international trade offices, commercial services and potential importers: June 28, 2000, in Toronto. Presented in partnership with the Canadian Hardware and Building Materials Show. If you're one of the above and didn't get an invite, call us! HARDLINES WHO'S WHO: Directory of Canadian Hardware & Home Improvement Retailers, Wholesalers, Buying Groups and Mass Merchants. This has become an industry standard. With more than 100 listings of the key companies in the country, including executives, buyers, sales and more. No salesperson should be without this little beauty in their briefcase. Third edition available in July. HARDLINES INDUSTRY REPORT: HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAILING IN CANADA: Back by popular demand! This incredible report is a soup-to-nuts on how the home improvement business works in Canada. It tells who the players are, what the trends are, how the industry is responding to the big boxes, etc. It also updates home improvement and renovation spending and figures out just how big this business is! FIFTH ANNUAL HARDLINES MARKETING CONFERENCE: September 14, 2000. An incredible one-day symposium featuring some of North America's leaders in retail, including Home Depot, McMillan/Doolittle, Gardener's Supply, J&H Builder's Warehouse and much more! Expect about 200 retail and vendor executives to attend! THE WOMEN'S CONSUMER PRODUCTS NETWORK June 27: WCPN Golf Tournament (Sorry - sold out!). August 15: Breakfast meeting during the CGTA Show. Featuring the proven communication methods of Robin Kennedy, vice-president of Communicare. For more information about these events, please phone: (905) 212-3826; fax: (905) 274-7646; email:wcpn99@yahoo.com, or check out their website: www.wcpncanada.org  
Hardlines Classifieds Got new products? Looking for new staff or lines? Hardlines Classifieds are read each week by North America's key decision makers in home improvement retailing and manufacturing. If you want to build your sales team or find new agents or new lines, this is the place! Only $16 per line. Call Beverly at 416-489-3396, ext. 2, for more details. * * * * * * * HARDLINES the electronic newsletter. Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher. Published weekly (except monthly in December and August) by McLARNEYCOM 283 Belsize Dr., Toronto, ON Canada M4S 1M5. 416-489-3396; fax: 416-489-6154. E-mail: bev@hardlinesfax.com © 2000 by Michael McLarney. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden. Subscription: $185+$12.95 GST = $197.95 (or $27.75 HST=$212.75) per year (GST #13987 0398 RT). Please make cheque payable to McLarneyCom.