March 27, 2000 - Volume vi, #12 Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher Ph: 416-489-3396 Fx: 416-489-6154  
Check out our incredible Classifieds section at the end of this issue!
* * * * * * * IN THIS ISSUE: * Hensall's Do-it stores sold to RONA * Recruitment key for Home Depot * Building Box store openings remains on track * VP leaves Building Box * Home Depot U.S. will begin testing flooring store * Retail trade remained unchanged in January * * * * * *   HENSALL STORES SOLD TO RONA CASHWAY RONA Inc. has continued its expansion into the Ontario market with the acquisition of five Do-it centers owned by Hensall District Co-Operatives. Hensall owns a chain of 10 co-op stores, in addition to six home centres flying the Do-it banner, all in southwestern Ontario. Earl Wagner, general manager of Hensall, says the stores no longer fit in with Hensall's core business strategy, which focuses on agri-business, including crop products, grain and beans, and petroleum and natural gas. Annual sales from these categories total about $120 million for Hensall. The Do-it stores, meanwhile, will add about $20 million to RONA Cashway's sales. The sixth Do-it store, in Parkhill, Ont., does about $1 million in sales, but doesn't carry lumber, so it was not picked up by RONA. It is still for sale, says Wagner. The new stores are currently being remerchandised and will adopt the RONA Cashway banner, bringing the number of RONA Cashway stores to 66. The Cashway purchase is part of RONA's stated plan to expand aggressively throughout Canada over the next five years. * * * * * * * RECRUITMENT KEY FOR HOME DEPOT Home Depot Canada says it intends to hire 13,000 people in Canada over the next 2 * years. Home Depot expects to have up to 110 stores in this country by then, with as many as 120-125 stores here in total eventually. Jack Hayes, vice-president of marketing and distribution, says the company is looking for "good people, people who can manage people and can excel in a multiple of roles." The president of Home Depot Canada, Annette Verschuren, has stated before that hiring is one of the company's biggest challenges. There are currently 56 Home Depot stores in Canada. The next one will open in Belleville, Ont., in July.  
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS   The Building Box announces it remains on track to open stores in the Greater Toronto Area this year and next. Three stores will open in September 2000 in Scarborough, Brampton and Cambridge, Ont. A fourth store will open a month later in Mississauga. Another store is planned for Belleville, Ont., as well. Home Depot in the U.S. will begin testing a flooring concept store later this year aimed at both DIYers and contractors. The store will be in or near Dallas, Tex., and offer carpet, area rugs, ceramic tile, laminates, wood, vinyl and flooring installation products. Plumbeeze/Boshart Industries Inc. has appointed D.A. Marriner Sales Ltd. of Calgary as its retail sales agent for Alberta. LMBX Inc. and ChanneLinx.com have launched "LBMXchange.com," an Internet marketplace for the Canadian home improvement industry that will electronically link suppliers, distributors, buying groups and dealers. The Lumber and Building Materials Exchange (LBMX) is an outgrowth of Dimensions Retail Systems, a provider of computer systems to the Canadian hardware and building materials industry. Trading through LBMXchange.com will commence in June 2000. International Paper, Georgia-Pacific and Weyerhaeuser will form a global business-to-business marketplace for buying and selling paper and forest products on-line. The online marketplace is intended to create a foundation for industry standards and to accelerate its adoption of electronic commerce. The marketplace will operate as an independent entity with its own board of directors and management team. Initially, each company will each have an equal equity position, but it is expected that more partners will join the initiative.  
  CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
COMPANY 52-WEEK HIGH 52-WEEK LOW CLOSE (FRI.)
Canadian Tire 46.00 19.10 21.95
Canfor 19.25 4.25 16.40
Goodfellow 12.25 7.50 10.70
Home Depot 64 9/16 61* 63 3/8
Hudsons Bay 23.85 12.70 15.20
Lowe's Cos. 51 13/16 49 1/8 53*
Sears Canada 42.50 18.25 36.50
Taiga Forest 14.75 9.40 10.95
West Fraser 41.00 28.00 34.25
    "The young man who has not wept is a savage, and the old man who will not laugh is a fool." … George Santayana
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE   Dennis Kennedy has left The Building Box. A veteran of Home Depot, Kennedy had originally been hired by parent company Réno-Dépôt as part of the company's expansion into Ontario. His duties are currently being handled by Marvin Ettinger, Réno-Dépôt's vice-president of operations, who comes in weekly to Ontario from head office in Montréal. (905-479-2500) Fred Archer has joined Balmer Studios Inc. as director of sales - retail division. He was formerly with Florida Lighting Inc. (416-495-6425) The following appointments have been made at Cameron Ashley Building Products: Dave Parliament has been named district manager of British Columbia. He will be responsible for overall operations at Cameron Ashley's five B.C. branches. Parliament was most recently general manager, Canadian distribution, at Weyerhaeuser Canada … Don Hryn, formerly assistant branch manager of the Calgary branch, has been appointed key account manager … Western Canada. He started his career 26 years ago with Boyd Distributors, which was later bought by Cameron Ashley … Replacing Hryn as assisant branch manager of the Calgary branch is Roger Lemieux. He was formerly owner of a building centre in Alberta … Bruce Howlett, formerly the branch manager in Saskatoon, has been appointed the branch manager for Edmonton … Replacing Howlett as branch manager in Saskatoon is Chris Jacobs. He comes over from CanWel, where he was a branch supervisor. The following appointments have been made by Cameron Ashley Building Products in Québec: Robert Champagne has been appointed branch manager for Ste-Pierre-Les Becquets. A 34-year veteran of the company, his experience spans all aspects of the branch operations … Yvan Gilbert has been appointed branch manager for Cameron Ashley in Boucherville. He was most recently door facility manager in Boucherville.  
Overheard… "We're definitely going full-steam ahead."- James Jones, general merchandising manager for The Building Box, on the company's plans to expand into Ontario, and specifically the Greater Toronto Area, over the next two to three years.    
MARKET INDICATORS   Retail trade in Canada from December to January remained unchanged at $22 billion, according to Stats Canada. The general merchandise sector was strong, however, and department store sales alone were up 5%.Other durable goods stores, which includes hardware stores, saw sales rise 2.1%. From January 1999 to January 2000, retail sales were up 6.7%. Wholesale sales were up 0.2% in January over December, according to Stats Canada. Inventories also increased 0.2%. Metals, hardware plumbing and heating products were down 0.4% while lumber and building materials were up 2.6% from December to January. From January 1999 to January 2000, hardware and plumbing was up 6.6% and LBM sales were up 15%.  
Hardlines Classifieds   Need to build your sales team? Looking for agents or new lines? Use Hardlines classified ads. They're read by more than 3,000 people every week &emdash; and they get results fast. Only $16 per line for two weeks. Call Beverly Allen 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: hardline@terraport.net © 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  
  March 27, 2000 - Volume vi, #12 Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher Ph: 416-489-3396 Fx: 416-489-6154  
Check out our incredible Classifieds section at the end of this issue!
* * * * * * * IN THIS ISSUE: * Hensall's Do-it stores sold to RONA * Recruitment key for Home Depot * Building Box store openings remains on track * VP leaves Building Box * Home Depot U.S. will begin testing flooring store * Retail trade remained unchanged in January * * * * * *   HENSALL STORES SOLD TO RONA CASHWAY RONA Inc. has continued its expansion into the Ontario market with the acquisition of five Do-it centers owned by Hensall District Co-Operatives. Hensall owns a chain of 10 co-op stores, in addition to six home centres flying the Do-it banner, all in southwestern Ontario. Earl Wagner, general manager of Hensall, says the stores no longer fit in with Hensall's core business strategy, which focuses on agri-business, including crop products, grain and beans, and petroleum and natural gas. Annual sales from these categories total about $120 million for Hensall. The Do-it stores, meanwhile, will add about $20 million to RONA Cashway's sales. The sixth Do-it store, in Parkhill, Ont., does about $1 million in sales, but doesn't carry lumber, so it was not picked up by RONA. It is still for sale, says Wagner. The new stores are currently being remerchandised and will adopt the RONA Cashway banner, bringing the number of RONA Cashway stores to 66. The Cashway purchase is part of RONA's stated plan to expand aggressively throughout Canada over the next five years. * * * * * * * RECRUITMENT KEY FOR HOME DEPOT Home Depot Canada says it intends to hire 13,000 people in Canada over the next 2 * years. Home Depot expects to have up to 110 stores in this country by then, with as many as 120-125 stores here in total eventually. Jack Hayes, vice-president of marketing and distribution, says the company is looking for "good people, people who can manage people and can excel in a multiple of roles." The president of Home Depot Canada, Annette Verschuren, has stated before that hiring is one of the company's biggest challenges. There are currently 56 Home Depot stores in Canada. The next one will open in Belleville, Ont., in July.  
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS   The Building Box announces it remains on track to open stores in the Greater Toronto Area this year and next. Three stores will open in September 2000 in Scarborough, Brampton and Cambridge, Ont. A fourth store will open a month later in Mississauga. Another store is planned for Belleville, Ont., as well. Home Depot in the U.S. will begin testing a flooring concept store later this year aimed at both DIYers and contractors. The store will be in or near Dallas, Tex., and offer carpet, area rugs, ceramic tile, laminates, wood, vinyl and flooring installation products. Plumbeeze/Boshart Industries Inc. has appointed D.A. Marriner Sales Ltd. of Calgary as its retail sales agent for Alberta. LMBX Inc. and ChanneLinx.com have launched "LBMXchange.com," an Internet marketplace for the Canadian home improvement industry that will electronically link suppliers, distributors, buying groups and dealers. The Lumber and Building Materials Exchange (LBMX) is an outgrowth of Dimensions Retail Systems, a provider of computer systems to the Canadian hardware and building materials industry. Trading through LBMXchange.com will commence in June 2000. International Paper, Georgia-Pacific and Weyerhaeuser will form a global business-to-business marketplace for buying and selling paper and forest products on-line. The online marketplace is intended to create a foundation for industry standards and to accelerate its adoption of electronic commerce. The marketplace will operate as an independent entity with its own board of directors and management team. Initially, each company will each have an equal equity position, but it is expected that more partners will join the initiative.  
  CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
COMPANY 52-WEEK HIGH 52-WEEK LOW CLOSE (FRI.)
Canadian Tire 46.00 19.10 21.95
Canfor 19.25 4.25 16.40
Goodfellow 12.25 7.50 10.70
Home Depot 64 9/16 61* 63 3/8
Hudsons Bay 23.85 12.70 15.20
Lowe's Cos. 51 13/16 49 1/8 53*
Sears Canada 42.50 18.25 36.50
Taiga Forest 14.75 9.40 10.95
West Fraser 41.00 28.00 34.25
    "The young man who has not wept is a savage, and the old man who will not laugh is a fool." … George Santayana
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE   Dennis Kennedy has left The Building Box. A veteran of Home Depot, Kennedy had originally been hired by parent company Réno-Dépôt as part of the company's expansion into Ontario. His duties are currently being handled by Marvin Ettinger, Réno-Dépôt's vice-president of operations, who comes in weekly to Ontario from head office in Montréal. (905-479-2500) Fred Archer has joined Balmer Studios Inc. as director of sales - retail division. He was formerly with Florida Lighting Inc. (416-495-6425) The following appointments have been made at Cameron Ashley Building Products: Dave Parliament has been named district manager of British Columbia. He will be responsible for overall operations at Cameron Ashley's five B.C. branches. Parliament was most recently general manager, Canadian distribution, at Weyerhaeuser Canada … Don Hryn, formerly assistant branch manager of the Calgary branch, has been appointed key account manager … Western Canada. He started his career 26 years ago with Boyd Distributors, which was later bought by Cameron Ashley … Replacing Hryn as assisant branch manager of the Calgary branch is Roger Lemieux. He was formerly owner of a building centre in Alberta … Bruce Howlett, formerly the branch manager in Saskatoon, has been appointed the branch manager for Edmonton … Replacing Howlett as branch manager in Saskatoon is Chris Jacobs. He comes over from CanWel, where he was a branch supervisor. The following appointments have been made by Cameron Ashley Building Products in Québec: Robert Champagne has been appointed branch manager for Ste-Pierre-Les Becquets. A 34-year veteran of the company, his experience spans all aspects of the branch operations … Yvan Gilbert has been appointed branch manager for Cameron Ashley in Boucherville. He was most recently door facility manager in Boucherville.  
Overheard… "We're definitely going full-steam ahead."- James Jones, general merchandising manager for The Building Box, on the company's plans to expand into Ontario, and specifically the Greater Toronto Area, over the next two to three years.    
MARKET INDICATORS   Retail trade in Canada from December to January remained unchanged at $22 billion, according to Stats Canada. The general merchandise sector was strong, however, and department store sales alone were up 5%.Other durable goods stores, which includes hardware stores, saw sales rise 2.1%. From January 1999 to January 2000, retail sales were up 6.7%. Wholesale sales were up 0.2% in January over December, according to Stats Canada. Inventories also increased 0.2%. Metals, hardware plumbing and heating products were down 0.4% while lumber and building materials were up 2.6% from December to January. From January 1999 to January 2000, hardware and plumbing was up 6.6% and LBM sales were up 15%.  
Hardlines Classifieds   Need to build your sales team? Looking for agents or new lines? Use Hardlines classified ads. They're read by more than 3,000 people every week &emdash; and they get results fast. Only $16 per line for two weeks. Call Beverly Allen 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: hardline@terraport.net © 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