November 13, 2017 Volume xxiii, #43

“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.”
—Napoleon Hill (American self-help author, 1883-1970)

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Groupe BMR celebrates 50th anniversary with annual buying show

QUEBEC CITY — Delegates from nearly 350 stores and 300 exhibitors gathered in Quebec City last week for Groupe BMR’s annual trade show. 

Marking its 50th anniversary, the show’s theme was Expo 67, referencing the international exposition that took place in Montreal the same year BMR was founded. The show, which is widely recognized by vendors for its lively atmosphere and the thought and creativity put into the décor, was packed on day one with dealers eager to make purchases.

New to the show this year was an expanded seasonal selection, a category in which the company has been gaining traction. Located at the front of the show floor, the patio furniture also offered a convenient and comfortable spot for dealers to pause and have a conversation. 

The company’s commitment to its independent dealers was also on display. Another new feature this year was a dealer services desk on the show floor where retailers could go and ask questions or have any concerns addressed. 

Heading into 2018, e-commerce is a major priority for the company. The marketing team was on hand to help dealers navigate the new website and develop individualized strategies based on their store size and geographical location. 

Dealers on the floor expressed that they were happy with the show and the business opportunities it offered. Vendors were happy, as well, as they kept busy taking orders and getting that face time with retailers.

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New digital platform helps RONA affiliates tap lucrative appliance category

MONTREAL — With the demise of Sears Canada, hardlines retailers are all eyeing the potential for heavy appliance sales. For example, Lowe’s Canada has been converting its RONA big boxes to the Lowe’s banner and revamping assortments in the aisles. And appliances are getting a big push.

But these large-ticket items are not reserved solely for big boxes. RONA’s independent, or affiliate, dealers are giving the new category careful scrutiny. The first affiliate dealer to take on appliances in a big way was RONA Lespérance, with two stores in Blainville, Que., and a third in nearby Ste-Thérèse.

Now, 60 dealers are carrying appliances in some form or another. That includes online sales, which dealers can be part of as RONA introduces its new platform to allow them to tap into the digital world.

André Lespérance, president of RONA Lespérance, didn’t want to comment just yet on the new lines, saying it was too soon to properly evaluate their success. But on the show floor at the recent Lowe’s buying show for its RONA and Ace dealers, Roy Perkins, of the RONA in Cornwall, Ont., and one of RONA’s earliest independents in Ontario, said the appliance category could be a positive one for many dealers. He further noted, however, that the category would require a real commitment both in terms of selling space in the store and knowledgeable sales people to handle it.

The new online platform should help, says Annick Day, director of wholesale and dealer support for Lowe’s Canada. She explains that dealers can update and personalize their assortments themselves. “We have access to their inventory. We’ve built the interface with the vendors and now we’re onboarding the dealers.”

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Notes from the Do it Best Market: How tariffs are affecting U.S. dealers

INDIANAPOLIS — Anyone curious about how softwood lumber tariffs and duties are affecting dealers south of the border had only to eavesdrop on the lumber panel discussion at the recent Do it Best show in Indianapolis. The main topic of conversation there was the shortage of supply from Canada.

Demand is being driven from at least two directions. First is on the supply side, as prices for Canadian product have been driven up by almost 20% for most mills. But scarcity has been exacerbated by the forest fires in British Columbia. According to Gary Nackers, VP of lumber and building materials for Do it Best Corp., the equivalent of 200,000 carloads of softwood, or about a year’s supply, was damaged in the B.C. fires.

Devastation following one of the worst hurricane seasons in memory in the U.S. has driven demand up considerably—and further impacted softwood lumber prices. Other building materials are up, as well. Insulation sales were up 21% in September, following the hurricanes. Products like drywall were being shipped to Houston, which was devastated by flooding, while roofing materials were being diverted to Florida, where high winds had caused damage to roofs. Nackers said at least 13,000 additional truckloads of roofing were expected to be needed to meet demand in that state.

Do it Best is working hard to position itself as an LBM distributor, not just a hardware wholesaler. The company shipped $700 million in lumber over the past year. And Lumber sales were up 29% in the third quarter. “More and more dealers across the country are turning to Do it Best for lumber and building materials,” said Nackers.

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Home Depot to ditch chemicals in an effort to go green


ATLANTA — Home Depot is following in the footsteps of its big box competitors like Walmart and Target to disclose the chemicals found in the products it sells. It intends to begin removing them and replacing them with more green alternatives.

This news comes out of the company’s updated environmental policies, included in its 2017 Responsibility Report. The report says that Home Depot is “increasing its protection of high conservation value forests and pulling substances like formaldehyde and lead in several of its categories in an effort to meet demands for greener products.”

Home Depot says it’s strengthening chemical oversight practices in paint, carpet, vinyl and laminate flooring, and insulation. The strategy includes “commitments to increase the assortment of products that have transparency of product ingredients and third-party certification of chemical ingredients,” the company says.

Home Depot says it has “significantly improved” its paints in the past decade, removing triclosan, lead, and formaldehyde from the latex-based wall paint it sells in the U.S. and Canada.

Many other home improvement retailers have started implementing these new alternatives, especially after U.S. flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators was investigated for selling laminate flooring with higher levels of formaldehyde than permitted by California’s health and safety standards.

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CLASSIFIED ADS

Sales Service Representative(Quebec, Quebec City) 

Sherwin Williams Consumer Brands Group Canada 

Sherwin-Williams is the largest paint and coatings company in the world. With $15.8 billion in sales, more than 4,100 stores and 140 manufacturing and distribution centers worldwide. Our 60,000 employees across the globe are diverse, innovation and passionate. With a variety of rewarding and challenging opportunities, Sherwin-Williams is a great place to launch and grow a career. Find yours and join us today. 

Job Responsibilities: 

This position is required to grow top lines sales at assigned home improvement stores within a geographic territory. Provide merchandising and sales support at Home Centre(s) that carry Consumer Brands products. Conduct product knowledge training and in store demo’s . Shelf maintenance including down stockings, inventory management and installing/maintaining promotional displays. Complete weekly paperwork including expense reports and call schedules. Utilize the CRM system to document sales calls and store visits. Sales Service Representatives will also gather and document competitor intelligence information in the CMR. Ability to conduct product demos to support selling process. 

As Consumer Brands sales professional you will have the opportunity to drive sales, and grow your territory and contribute to the achievement of organizational goals. You will learn a wide variety of selling related skills including planning and conducting effective sales calls, identifying and exceeding customer needs and sales opportunities, inventory systems knowledge, management, expense management, as well as promotional selling and basic marketing. 

Job Requirements: 

Prior experience in Customer Service, Sales, Marketing or other Business related field. 
Ability to work a flexible work schedule which includes evening and weekends. 
Must have a valid driver’s license. 
Strong Organizational & Communication Skills. 
Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship now or in the future for employment visa status. 
Must be at least 18 years of age. 
Must have a valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle and insurance. 
Must be able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. 
Must be able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to work all schedule hours, which may include evenings and weekends. 
The territory for this position includes Quebec City, Lac St-Jean, Cote-Nord and Bas du Fleuve et Gapesie. 
Preferred that applicant lives near Quebec City. 

Education Required: 
High School Diploma or Equivalent 

Preferred Qualifications: 
Bachelors Degree Preferred 

You can search https://jobsearch.sherwin.com/en/job-description?jobNumber=17000G0Q

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Home Hardware Building Center is looking for a managing partner in a new business in Central British Columbia.  We are looking for a person to grow this business with and ownership will be discussed.

We are looking for an individual that that has had at least 5 years of management, which includes hiring,  wage costing, merchandising, product ordering and inventory management, blue print estimation.

The incumbent will have excellent organizational and problem skills as well as the ability to develop and maintain a positive rapport with staff and customers.

Please forward résumés to grant@centralpg.ca

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JELD-WEN Windows & Doors recruiting for two Territory Sales Manager positions located in both the Regina and Saskatoon regions respectively.

For a complete job description or to submit a résumé please contact Lauren Sabeski at lsabeski@jeldwen.com.

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