March 21, 2016 Volume xxii, #12

“It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves—in finding themselves.”
—André Gide (French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1869-1951)

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Canac continues expansion with push into Montreal area

L’ANCIENNE-LORETTE, Que. — Canac, the Quebec City-based independent hardware chain, is pouring $100 million over the next five years into expansion in the suburbs of Montreal. It’s even hired a public relations firm, Turbulences, to boost the launch of its first Montreal-area store, opening later this year in Beauharnois, Que.

In December, the company made a bid for a 540,000-square-foot lot in Sorel-Tracy, with a view to installing a store there by the end of this year. Construction on the store in Beauharnois, which is about half an hour from the Ontario border, is slated to wrap this summer. It is the 24th location for the chain known until 2010 as Canac-Marquis Grenier.

Last summer, Canac broke ground on its third distribution centre at a 350,000-square-foot site in Drummondville, near Sherbrooke, to relieve pressure on its overburdened existing facilities in L’Ancienne-Lorette and Saint-Augustine-de-Desmaures.

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Lowe’s will maintain vendor relationships with RONA acquisition

TORONTO — While there’s been much talk about the future of RONA and Ace dealers once Lowe’s takeover of RONA is approved by shareholders and the Canadian Competition Bureau, vendors to both companies have concerns of their own.

But ownership of RONA by Lowe’s will not mean a betrayal of the Canadian vendor community, says Lowe’s Canada President Sylvain Prud’homme. He talked with HARDLINES recently about the commitment he and his company have to maintain existing relationships with both RONA and Lowe’s vendors.

Lowe’s will keep its office in Toronto, but on a smaller scale. Most of the Lowe’s team, including its buyers, are being asked to relocate to RONA’s head offices and distribution centre in Boucherville, Que. Depending on completion of the acquisition, that move could begin as early as July, say some insiders.

But would RONA, which will continue to supply a network of independent dealers, have its own buying team? “It’s too early to say,” Prud’homme admits, noting that details of the integration still have to be worked out. He does look forward to tapping the knowledge and contacts of the RONA buyers. “We’ll have access to the team in Boucherville’s expertise.”

Prud’homme also insists that the Lowe’s Canada buyers are masters of their own domain. “All our decision-making by our merchants is being [made] in Canada. That’s the model we’re taking going forward.”

With the recent addition of Alan Blundell in a newly created role as divisional vice president, merchandising (see our January 18 edition—your helpful Editor), Lowe’s Canada is reviewing its category management and line review processes. Blundell will focus on the vendor community in Canada, working to improve internal practices.

The multiple store formats that Lowe’s will own with the RONA acquisition will provide a growth platform, not just for the retailers, but for vendors, says Prud’homme. He is comfortable with the vendor relationships that currently exist and expects those relationships will continue, both through its bricks-and-mortar locations and online.

(Senior buyers from Lowe’s and RONA will present at our Meet the Buyers Breakfast, April 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. It’s at the Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale Hotel, 6750 Mississauga Road, L5N 2L3. No surprise: this one is filling up fast, so click here now to reserve your spot!)

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Coast Distributors celebrates 30 years with new lines, expanded focus

NANAIMO, B.C. — West Coast hardware distributor Coast Distributors has weathered the ups and downs of Canada’s fickle hardware wholesaling sector to celebrate 30 years in business.

Established in 1986, Coast Distributors began in founder Alex Guy’s backyard garage on Vancouver Island. With a vision to become a complete hardware supply source on the West Coast, Guy steadily built the business—and his team. In 1993, Alex’s brother Scott and brother-in-law Ken opened a second location in Kelowna.

Basing its reputation on “good old-fashioned service,” Coast has grown to become one of Western Canada’s largest independent two-step hardware and building supply distributors. Boasting a team of 10 outside sales representatives in British Columbia and Alberta, the company has since grown to three locations with an office in Vancouver, and offers more than 17,000 SKUs and its own fleet of trucks.

In recent months, it has rounded out its offering with the addition of Reliable Fasteners, filling a niche following the withdrawal of Stanley/National from Canada. Coast has also added rods and shapes from Onward, Madico casters, chair tips, glides, and felts.

The company plans to celebrate its anniversary with a number of special promotions throughout 2016.

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Home Depot Canada goes upscale with spring collections

TORONTO ― Home Depot Canada gave the media a sneak preview of its spring outdoor living collections last week, with everything from “English garden” and European-inspired furniture to what the company claims is the largest assortment of Weber barbecues in the country.

Besides the more traditional English styles, furniture design embraced bold “Parisian” styling, with aluminum-framed chairs and tables that look like wood, finished with black and white webbing. And style complemented technology, as Home Depot’s Ego line of outdoor power equipment sported a heavy-duty 18-volt lithium-ion battery, while a portable propane gas oven lets outdoor chefs cook a pizza right in the yard.

Besides product, the event managed to highlight a new Home Depot service: a heavy-duty, four-foot-high nylon bag for soil and stones that can be delivered right to one’s own driveway or front lot.

Furniture, outdoor power equipment, and barbecues were rounded out by decorative accessories, including flameless candles. All the lines are available in stores now.

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TIMBER MART has announced the addition of two industry veterans to its recruitment team in Quebec. Berchmans Vignola and Ronald Dion join TIMBER MART as membership development managers and will be responsible for building the group’s membership in the province. Both have more than 40 years of sales experience in the building materials industry. For more than 15 years they were territory managers for CertainTeed Saint-Gobain in Quebec. The appointments “reflect our group’s commitment to the Quebec independent market and our aim to grow our membership in the province,” said TIMBER MART president Bernie Owens.

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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.