TORONTO — Ken Jenkins, president of Castle Building Centres Group Ltd., says that the people his group works with are dealers who have taken the risk with their business and succeeded. “I look at the risk taker, the innovator.” Jenkins was speaking to a group of vendors and retailers at the latest Hardlines Executive Breakfast, held last week. He further explained how Castle is recruiting independents from the traditional retail sector, but also finding innovators from the commercial and specialty channels who fit with Castle’s independent model. (A full report on Jenkins’ amazing presentation in the next equally amazing issue of Hardlines!—Michael) CALGARY — The latest results from Superior Plus reflect the performance of its Construction Products Distribution business, which includes Winroc and Allroc. EBITDA from all operations were $7.1 million in the third quarter, a decrease of $1.0 million, and $11.9 million year-to-date, a decrease of $12.0 million. Gross profits in the third quarter and year-to-date 2009 were $26.9 million and $75.6 million, a decrease of $8.3 million and $24.3 million, respectively due primarily to continued declines in drywall sales volumes, which fell 31% in the third quarter, and to a rapid deterioration of the residential and commercial construction activity. On Sept. 24, Superior completed its acquisition of a U.S. chain of commercial outlets, Specialty Products & Insulation Co., for CDN$141.8 million. TORONTO — Total revenues for Sears Canada Inc. in its third quarter ended Oct. 31 were down 9.2% to $1.31 billion from $1.44 billion. Same-store sales decreased 6.3%. Operating net earnings for the third quarter were $47.1 million, compared with $58.2 million in the third quarter last year. Operating EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $103.7 million for the quarter compared to $115.5 million for the same period last year, a decrease of 10.2%. Total revenues for the 39-week period were $3.68 billion, down from $4.12 billion. Year-to-date same-store sales decreased 8.8%. OAK BROOK , Ill. — The dealer-owned co-op Ace Hardware generated $26.7 million in net income during the third quarter of 2009, or about $300,000 more than it did in the same period a year ago. During the three months, Ace’s revenue was down 13.9% to $832.6 million. It added 24 stores to its membership and cancelled 43 others, ending the quarter with 4,511 stores in its distribution network. For the first nine months, Ace’s sales were down 8.5% to $2.7 billion, and its net income was up 18% to $83.3 million. McCALLA, Ala. — The Home Depot continues to redirect the flow of products into its stores through its growing network of Rapid Deployment Centers, which can feed its stores quicker and allows the stores to cut down on their back-up inventory. Last week, the retailer opened its 11th RDC, a 657,000-square-foot facility in this town south of Jefferson County. The RDC opened with 179 employees and will service 150 of Home Depot’s stores in the Southeast and Midwest. Home Depot officials have stated their company’s intention to open a total of 20 RDCs that would have the capacity to service all of its U.S. stores. ATLANTA — In an effort to create a new revenue stream, Home Depot is selling sections of its stores’ parking lots to other dealers, such as fast-food restaurants or auto parts stores, that potentially can draw customers from the giant home improvement dealer’s warehouses. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reports that most of the parcels being offered are at least one-half acre. A Home Depot typically sits on between 12 and 15 acres. A 140,000-square-foot-store would consume 3.2 acres, and other portions devoted to covered selling areas and receiving and loading might take up another half acre. The bulk of what’s left is used for parking, and on most days much of that area is vacant.