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March 14, 2016 Volume
xxii, #11
“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”
—James Madison (American statesman and fourth president of the United States, 1751-1836)
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Canadians connect with the world at Cologne Hardware Fair
COLOGNE, Germany ― For many vendors, North America has plenty of trade shows, thank you very much. But for about a dozen Canadian companies that braved the overseas travel―and attached costs―to attend Eisenwarenmesse, the International Hardware Fair, the results have paid off with often surprising effectiveness.
The International Hardware Fair was held last week in this city that flanks the Rhine in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region. It attracted buyers from more than 50 countries, giving Canucks here a bonanza of potential new home improvement customers. Not only that, but Canadian buyers were well-represented here, as well.
Vendors included veterans of the event, such as Pierre Filiatrault of Montreal-based Cobra Anchors. “For us it is a very, very busy show,” he said, noting that the last time he was at the show he managed to secure German DIY retailer Bauhaus as a customer. His company sells wall anchors that are compatible with drywall, a technology that is slowly catching on in Europe. This, he says, puts his company in a good position to offer a solution to European buyers. This year, he’d already seen representatives from Leroy Merlin and Castorama, in addition to buyers from Turkey, China, France, and Eastern Europe. “We sell all over the place,” he added.
Other Canadian companies were also excited about their presence at the Cologne Fair. Representatives from Yardlock, a Mississauga, Ont.-based company with an innovative DIY gate lock, managed to pick up customers from six new countries on the first day alone.
Dave Martin of Home Hardware Stores Ltd. shared that, as the tool buyer, it made sense for him to represent his company at this show. “I’m always surprised at the potential suppliers you meet from countries you wouldn’t expect to see,” he observed, adding that the surprise factor is part of the appeal of the show. “Whether a meeting materializes into a solid connection remains to be seen,” but he added that he’d seen some interesting products, including a range of coloured plastic toolboxes from Poland. Even one good new vendor makes the trip worthwhile, Martin added.
An important aspect of the Hardware Fair for Canadians is the Canada Night International Reception, held at the end of day one of the fair. The event, hosted by HARDLINES and sponsored by the show's organizers, Koelnmesse, attracted about 75 people. Manufacturers included Task Tools and Swift Greenfilters from Vancouver, Cobra Anchors of Montreal, Ben-Mor from Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., Ingersoll Products from Ingersoll, Ont., and TC Tools out of Edmonton, who all got the chance to drink some German beer and meet buyers from Canadian Tire, Sears Canada, True Value, and Home Hardware.
The evening was rounded out by an enthusiastic HARDLINES-style rendering of “O Canada,” a requisite part of Hardlines Canada Nights everywhere!
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RONA, Lowe’s buyers to outline opportunities at Meet the Buyers
WORLD HQ, TORONTO — At the next Hardlines Meet the Buyer’s Breakfast, April 28 in Toronto, you will hear from senior merchants from two of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers: Lowe’s Canada and RONA inc.
Nick Malone, merchandising director, seasonal for Lowe’s Canada, will present. Malone will be accompanied by Igor Halencak, head of marketing and merchandising, and Neil Calhoun, merchandising director, home décor.
From RONA, we are pleased to announce that Marie-Soleil Tremblay, senior merchandising director, will also present. As senior merchant for RONA, she’ll represent the company’s entire buying team.
These buyers will explain to vendors what it takes to get―and stay―listed in their stores. They will represent their respective merchandising teams to tell vendors first-hand what preparations they need to make and what expectations they should have when they sit down with someone from their buying team.
The 2016 Hardlines Meet the Buyers Breakfast will be held April 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Mississauga Meadowvale Hotel, near Toronto Pearson Airport. For more information, click here or contact: kate@hardlines.ca.
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Lowe’s Canada president connects with Ace execs
BUTLER, Ill. & TORONTO — The countless Ace dealers in Canada who may be worried about the future of their banner now that it belongs to Lowe’s Canada got some reassurance last week.
Lowe’s Canada president Sylvain Prud’homme spoke with the president and CEO of Ace Hardware, John Venhuizen, and Jay Heubner, president of Ace International, the division that liaises with Ace Canada. In the call, Prud’homme reiterated his commitment to the Ace brand (see our February 15, 2016 edition. —your ever-helpful Editor), adding that Lowe’s intends to maintain the master license for Ace in Canada and “to support independent hardware retailers.”
The Ace executives were so heartened by the call that, at the urging of Prud’homme, they sent out a letter to all Ace dealers in Canada recapping the highlights of the call. “Frankly, we were very encouraged after our discussion with Lowe’s Canada,” said the letter, which was signed by Ace’s Heubner, along with Ace Canada President Bill Morrison.
The letter goes on to state Ace’s commitment to keep growing the brand here: “For now, we want to underscore our commitment to advancing the Ace brand in Canada and our support of you. As previously stated, our allegiance and loyalties remain in support of our existing and prospective independent Ace owners.”
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CanWel will acquire forest products producer Jemi Fibre
VANCOUVER ― CanWel Building Materials has reached an agreement to acquire forest products firm Jemi Fibre Corp. The transaction will result in Jemi Fibre becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of CanWel and will combine Jemi Fibre’s operations with CanWel’s distribution platform.
With the addition of this forestry products company, CanWel will become a vertically integrated enterprise, with access to raw materials, value-added production, and full distribution capabilities to dealers across Canada.
Jemi Fibre has extensive holdings of forests and facilities. It owns about 136,000 acres of private timberlands, strategic crown licenses and tenures, log harvesting and trucking operations, several post and pole peeling facilities, two pressure-treated specialty wood production plants, and one specialty saw mill.
The deal involves CanWel acquiring all of Jemi’s common shares, which will be exchanged for CanWel shares on the basis of 31.13:1 basis. Approximately 2.53 million CanWel shares will be issued to Jemi shareholders.
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Julie Pinard is now vice president of sales at Globe Electric Company. She’s been with the Montreal-based lighting company for more than 10 years, most recently as director of sales.
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CLASSIFIED ADS
Senior director – Business development
Under the supervision of the CEO, the candidate selected will assume the following responsibilities:
- Creating and contributing to the implementation of strategies to develop the hardware and LBM market (Quebec, Ontario, Maritime Provinces);
- Making sure our dealers receive a high-quality service and maintaining a high level of loyalty;
- Optimizing and developing marketing on the territory (analyzing market studies to optimize store localization, participating to store expansions and acquisitions, etc.);
- Managing and mobilizing a team of advisors, merchandisers and customer service clerks;
- Monitoring and developing the sales of Groupe BMR;
- Contributing to the improvement of the corporate image of Groupe BMR stores;
- Other related duties.
Required skills:
- Client oriented
- Business development
- Strategy development
- Leadership and courage to take action
- Persuasion skills
- Good judgement
- Ability to motivate and mobilize a team
- Ability to monitor performance indicators
- Interpersonal communication skills
Must have:
- Excellent knowledge of the retail market
- Great IT skills: MS Office Suite
- Bilingualism: Mandatory
Training and experience:
A combination of:
Bachelor's degree in business administration or the equivalent, and a minimum of 10 years of experience in the retail industry.
Groupe BMR offers a competitive total compensation package
Please email your candidacy at the following address: rh@bmr.co.
Thank you for your interest; however, only selected candidates will be contacted.
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