March 30, 2015 Volume xxi, #13

“A business must have a conscience as well as a counting house. ” —Montague Burton (Lithuanian-born British clothing retailer, 1885-1952)

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Call for Entries: Outstanding Retailer Awards

NEW WORLD HQ, Toronto — Hardlines is pleased to announce the call for entries for the 2015 Outstanding Retailer Awards.

The Awards, which recognize the finest retail accomplishments in our industry, are national in scope and all Canadian home improvement retailers and managers who have operated under their current ownership for at least two years are eligible.

Dealers may submit their entries directly or their chain or buying group head offices may select their best dealer(s) and prepare their entries for them, in collaboration with the dealer. Head offices may enter more than one store per category. In addition, vendors may identify specific outstanding retailers for entry. ORA submissions are due July 31st, 2015.

Categories to enter:
1. Best Hardware Store (any size);
2. Best Building Supply/Home Centre (under 15,000 square feet);
3. Best Building Supply/Home Centre (over 15,000 square feet);
4. Young Retailer Award (a store manager 35 or under; entrants may be owners or chain employees);
5. Marc Robichaud Community Leader This award is open to all stores. Its purpose is to celebrate the outstanding contributions, events, charitable donations, etc., made by a store’s staff/managers/owners to the community they serve;
6. Best Large Surface Retailer (over 65,000 square feet);
7. Best Contractor Specialist Store.

Winners will receive a trip for two to Toronto, including one night’s accommodation at the Westin Bristol Place Airport Hotel, to attend the Hardlines Conference on October 21 and 22 and the ORA Gala Dinner on October 21. In addition, winners will receive an inscribed plaque; a write-up in our sister publication, Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly magazine; and a customized video and photo ready to be sent to local media.

(Click here for more info and to enter your store!)

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WRLA chair advocates more sharing among associations

CAMROSE, Alta. — The Western Retail Lumber Association has come under scrutiny in recent months since announcing a desire for more unified action among the regional building supply associations.

Rob Hauser, owner of Hauser Home Hardware Building Centre in Camrose, Alta., is the chair of the WRLA. During the association’s annual gala dinner late in January, he expressed from the podium a desire to work more closely with his fellow associations. Hauser says his comments came from a desire to facilitate a conversation around their common goals and challenges.

“I get that there are differences and I respect that,” he says. “But on the same note, is it wrong to think we can have a national voice to address government issues?”

The five associations—the ABSDA in Atlantic Canada, AQMAT in Quebec, LBMAO in Ontario, WRLA in the West, and BSIA in British Columbia—currently band together under a collective organization, the Canadian Retail Building Supply Council. However, the groups have not met for a CRBSC meeting in more than two years.

As one of the largest associations in the country, with a healthy trade show to generate revenue, WRLA’s efforts have been seen by some as hostile. Hauser says that’s simply not the case. Some of the issues all groups are facing, he says, include attracting a new generation of dealers and government lobbying. The next step, he says, is to find out what is important to each group. “We need to explore that.

“We have to remain focused on what’s in the best interest of the whole industry.”

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Ace execs emphasize service and relationships

LAS VEGAS — Ace Hardware held its spring convention last week, where executives from the co-op emphasized relationships and service to keeping retailers’ businesses successful. Retail profit dollars increased by 5% and total retail sales went up by about 10% in 2014, according to John Surane, executive vice president of marketing, merchandising and sales. Retailers grew foot traffic, transaction sizes, and sales, he said.

But service is more important than the dollars earned, and is key to retailers’ continued success, said president and CEO John Venhuizen.

Ace Hardware hosted the three-day convention In Las Vegas, offering training, networking, and buying opportunities to about 5,500 attendees. More than 1,200 manufacturers and vendors staffed booths at the event.

Venhuizen acknowledged that Ace stores compete against huge, well-funded corporations, but the independent retailers’ service and passion to help position them against these giants, he says. “Face-to-face interactions and personal relationships will always stir the human soul.”

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Home Depot increases proprietary brands

ATLANTA — The Home Depot has been increasing the number proprietary and exclusive brands across a wide range of departments and plans to keep looking for more such opportunities.

In 2014, these products included Husky hand tools and tool storage, Defiant door locks, Everbilt hardware fasteners, Hampton Bay lighting and fans, and lawn care products by Vigoro. Some other well-known brands available only at Home Depot that got beefed up last year were Ridgid and Ryobi power tools, Glacier Bay bath fixtures, and the Home Decorators Collection of furniture and home décor.

In fiscal 2014, Home Depot acquired one of its main fasteners suppliers, Crown Bolt, which provides sourcing, distribution, and in-store servicing support for the retailer’s Everbilt fasteners program.

Vendors have an opportunity to create partnerships with the giant retailer as it actively seeks more exclusive brands. Home Depot says it “will continue to assess strategic alliances and relationships with suppliers and opportunities to expand the range of products available under brand names that are exclusive to The Home Depot.”

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: This week in 1995



History repeats itself as a weak Canadian dollar throws up a challenge for Ace Hardware, which was developing its distribution relationship with CanWel Building Materials. This was Ace’s first foray into Canada. The idea at the time was to use CanWel’s own logistics infrastructure in this country to get Ace products into stores in Canada. The program was the developed under the leadership of CanWel CEO Tom Longworth. Click here to see the issue!

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CLASSIFIED ADS

General Paint Brand Manager
Vancouver, Canada
30% Travel

Apply to Hiring Mgr: Ahin Bose

Key responsibilities include:

1. Drive profitable growth, market share, consumer awareness and brand equity against a brand asset management strategy, to maximize the strength and value of the General Paint brand.
2. Deliver annual business strategy for short-term and long-term objectives
3. Develop and execute all trade-related objectives, programs, and communications
4. Oversee the rebranding strategy of General Paint away from Comex. Build the future of the General Paint and Federated Coop brands
5. Manage all existing products including new product/packaging launches through the product commercialization process
6. Spend time in the market and have highly competent grasp of the competitive landscape

5+ years successful marketing experience including; developing and implementing marketing programs, preferably within the paint retailer and dealer channels. Experience with designing promotions,programs and tools that will ultimately grow sales and gain market share through these channels. Experience with end-user/field interaction a plus as well as managing others.

Experience with new product commercialization preferred.

Bachelor Degree in related field or equivalent experience. MBA considered a plus.

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