May 16, 2016 Volume xxii, #20

“I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.”
—Lou Reed (American musician, songwriter, and founder of the proto-punk band Velvet Underground, 1942-2013)

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Innovation front and centre at Vegas hardware show

LAS VEGAS ― Lots of Canadian companies were exhibiting at the National Hardware Show last week, while a number of Canadian agents and reps were walking the show looking for new lines to bring back home.

The show, spread over 600,000 square feet, played host to 2,700 vendors. Feedback overall from the event was positive, with most Canadian vendors pleased with the attendance by key buyers from the Canadian retail groups.

Canadian companies used the event as a venue for showcasing, or even launching, new products. Names like Task Tools, EAB, and Nour were there in force, and Duschesne et fils was exhibiting for the first time. Andrew Pantiledes of Regal explained that his company owns its own factory in China, so everything is made right there, and to spec exclusively for Telesteps products. Asher Peres and Jennifer Cave of Toolway Industries kept busy showing the Goldblatt brand to Canadian buyers.

Industry veteran Christian Nadeau (shown here) was exhibiting with his company, CTM, showing a new line of hardwood countertops for kitchens. “This is something no one is doing right now,” he said enthusiastically. His enthusiasm was shared by the many visitors in the booth, including a representative from HGTV, who wanted more information about the 60 species of wood that are available.

Rammie Kamal, general manager of Dover Finishing, was promoting a line of wood treating products. Response, he noted, was very positive. “It’s way up over last year. Whether it’s Home Hardware or Home Depot or Canadian Tire, everyone is coming in and they’re all asking about our new offerings.”

Newcomer SciCorp International from Barrie, Ont., reported similar good results. The company introduced an odour-eliminating spray for composters and recycling bins licensing the WM/Waste Management name. “We launched yesterday,” said Bill Waters, director of marketing. “Ace Hardware wants us in immediately. True Value wants us in every one of their stores; Kent wants us in every one of their stores.”

(We’ll wrap up our report on the Vegas show in next week’s blazing edition! —Editor)

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Peavey Mart’s 35th store to open in High Prairie, Alta.

RED DEER, Alta. — Amidst the gloom of the Alberta economy, farm and hardware retailing is shining a bright light on High Prairie, Alta., where Peavey Mart will open its 35th store location in fall 2016.

Peavey Mart stores, which are part of Peavey Industries, feature a range of farm, hardware, pet, workwear, outdoor living, and automotive across Western Canada. The newest location will be about 16,000 square feet and create 12 jobs. The store and adjoining greenhouse will be the anchor tenant of the first phase of the East Gate retail development, which will eventually cover five acres.

“High Prairie is a central hub for a large trade area of about 30,000 people,” says Peavey Industries President Doug Anderson. “The farming history and solid trades sector attracted us, because we have a unique mix of items to serve the people of the area.”

Peavey was designated as one of Canada’s Top 10 Corporate Cultures in 2015. Besides offering traditional farming, hardware, trades and housewares products, stores offer unique items such as honey bees, chicks, and a free electric car-charging service. The company began fine-tuning the look of its stores last year with a store in Strathmore, Alta. (shown here). The High Prairie store will be modeled after that one, albeit slightly smaller.

Peavey Mart already has stores in Northern Alberta, in Grande Prairie and Westlock. According to Anderson, they have provided years of experience there for the retailer. “We feel High Prairie and the surrounding area are a perfect fit for Peavey Mart, and we are a perfect fit for the community.”

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RONA will host show in Montreal for affiliated dealers

BOUCHERVILLE, Que. — RONA inc. has confirmed it will hold another market for its independent or affiliated dealers, and for store managers of its corporate stores. The 2016 Buying Show will be held August 31 to September2 at the Palais de congrès in Montreal.

The show will take up 125,000 square feet and feature about 300 vendors. Day one will be devoted to seminars and presentations from RONA management, including a general session in the morning. The show floor will open the following day.

According to Philippe Element, vice president sales and dealer support, 85% of the dealer base of 250 independents across Canada is expected to attend, many with their buyers and managers. Like last year, the show will feature special promotions and “power buys,” and dealers will be equipped with iPads for placing orders electronically on the spot. The range of RONA services for its independent dealers will also be featured.

An LBM product auction, which proved very successful in 2015, will be reprised this year, while enhancements will include expanded space for new products, especially in outdoor living and patio furniture.

(Check out RONA’s promo video for the show here.)

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Titan partners with investor with an eye to more acquisitions

VAUGHAN, Ont. — WSB Titan, the giant commercial drywall operation headquartered just north of Toronto, is on the acquisition trail again, thanks to a partnership with a new investment group. Effective April 29, Titan has entered into a relationship with a “market-leading financial investor.”

According to Doug Skrepnek, one of the principals of WSB Titan, and president of Watson Building Supplies, “We were dealing with conventional banking. But we’ve been expanding at an extremely rapid rate over the past four to five years.” The bank, he says, was happy with Watson’s current status and did not want to provide money for further growth. However, Skrepnek says he has his eye on at least two more acquisitions, “so we went to the street.”

WSB Titan (WSB stands for Watson-Shoemaker-Beauchesne), is the result of a merger of some of Canada’s largest gypsum-supply dealers (GSDs) and represents almost 40 locations across the country. Nor is the company a stranger to big deals. In 2014, Titan acquired Slegg Lumber, the leading dealer on Vancouver Island. Last year it became an equity partner in BC Ceiling Systems, a West Coast distributor with locations in Vancouver, Richmond, and Langley, B.C., and in Calgary. 

Skrepnek won’t put a timeline on the next big deal, but expects to see something happen over the next three to six months. Nor would he name the potential candidates for acquisition, but he did narrow down the geographic possibilities. “We see opportunities in B.C. We’re definitely looking in B.C. That’s our number-one priority.”

However, he makes a point to discount any notion that Titan would acquire Pacific West Systems Supply Ltd., a TIMBER MART dealer which has five locations in British Columbia and two in Alberta. Those rumours, he says, are “completely false.”

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Cheryl Allen is the new territory manager in Atlantic Canada for insulation maker Johns Manville, reporting to Canadian Sales Manager Gino Allegro. Allen previously owned a Benjamin Moore signature store in Amherst, N.S., and then went to work for Sherwin Williams as a territory manager in Atlantic Canada. (cheryl.allen@jm.com; 902-614-9545)

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CLASSIFIED ADS

Sales Representative North Saskatoon

Sherwin-Williams is hiring a Sales Rep in N. Saskatoon.  This position is responsible for increasing sales and profit by growing key, targeted independent dealers within an assigned territory.

The position will service and grow existing customers; develop and implement business plans, oversee program implementation and develop customer relationships to expand product offerings. The sales representative will also be
responsible to grow the business through prospecting new customers, presenting sales opportunities, product training and CRM utilization.

- This position will cover the following geography: Northern Saskatchewan
- Candidate must live within the geography/territory stated above
- Travel % = 60%
- 2+ years of outside sales experience with a proven track record of sales success.  Preferred experience selling to independent paint dealers,
co-op’s/hardware stores, distributors, contractors or architects.

Please state "to apply for this position visit http://careers.sherwin-williams.com/careers/openings/, click on Careers@Sherwin-Williams and search req # 16000668".

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