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November 2, 2015 Volume
xxi, #41
“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.”
—John Maynard Keynes (British economist, author and financier, 1883-1946)
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Castle’s Ken Jenkins stakes future of industry on independents
TORONTO ― Anybody who still wonders why so much of this industry remains in the hands of independents needed only to listen to a recent presentation by Ken Jenkins, president of Castle Building Centres Group Ltd.
In an era when other sectors have consolidated so heavily, said Jenkins, independent hardware and building materials dealers can stay ahead of larger businesses that get bogged down by layers of red tape, endless meetings, and processes that prevent fast decision making. “The most dynamic, the most effective, the most profitable people in this industry are the independents,” he said.
Jenkins was speaking last month at the 20th annual Hardlines Conference. Before an audience of almost 200 retailers, wholesalers, and vendors, he expressed his belief that the continued corporate investments that have resulted in so many takeovers in recent years will slow down. “The largest consolidation in coming years will be independents buying up other companies.”
Part of the success of the independent is their resilience―their ability to weather the ups and downs of their local economy. The ability to deliver “exceptional customer service will set a successful independent apart. It’s always built on great customer service. We see this as the great differentiation.”
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TIM-BR MART dealer wins eBay award for e-commerce excellence
VAUGHAN, Ont. — The driving force behind the online sales growth at LumberMart TIMBER MART in Dartmouth, N.S., has won eBay Canada’s Exporter of the Year Award for 2015. LumberMart’s Online Sales and Marketing Manager Kimberley Wotherspoon managed to increase online sales by more than 1,000% since she started there a year ago—with more than 60% of those sales being shipped around the world to countries like Australia, the UK, Sweden, Norway, Italy, France, and the U.S.
The eBay Entrepreneur of the Year Awards recognize Canadian entrepreneurs who harness e-commerce opportunities to build their business through three individual awards: Entrepreneur of the Year, Exporter of the Year, and Made in Canada Entrepreneur.
“It is an honour to be recognized by eBay Canada as the Exporter of the Year in their annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards,” says Wotherspoon. She adds that the platform “allows businesses of any size to remain competitive in the global retail world through e-commerce.”
“We’re extremely proud of Kimberley and the LumberMart staff who’ve introduced ecommerce to their business and leveraged it so effectively,” says Bernie Owens, president of the TIM-BR MART Group. “They are a great example of how independent entrepreneurs can use ecommerce in tandem with brick-and-mortar selling to be successful in today’s retail landscape.”
(Click here to visit LumberMart’s online store for yourself!)
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Housing starts expected to moderate in 2016
OTTAWA — Housing activity is forecast to slow down in 2016 and 2017, reports Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in its latest Housing Market Outlook.
“In 2015, increased housing market activity in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia―provinces that have benefitted from declining energy prices, a lower Canadian dollar and continued low mortgage rates―offset slowdowns in oil-producing provinces like Alberta,” said Bob Dugan, CMHC chief economist. “We expect, however, that this counterbalancing effect will decrease over time. As such, housing starts and MLS [multiple listings of existing homes] sales are projected to moderate in 2016 and 2017.”
CMHC expects new home construction to slow down in the coming years as high levels of completed but unsold condo units will encourage some builders to sell off existing inventory.
House price growth is expected to slow down as MLS sales will favour moderately priced homes.
For 2015, housing starts are expected to range between 162,000 and 212,000 units in 2015, with a point forecast of 186,900 units. For 2016, housing starts are forecast to range from 153,000 units to 203,000 units, with a point forecast of 178,150 units. Looking out to 2017, CMHC expect starts to range between 149,000 and 199,000 units, with a point forecast of 173,650 units.
MLS sales are expected to range between 444,000 and 546,000 units in 2015, with a point forecast of 494,700 units. MLS sales are forecast to range from 425,000 units to 534,000 units in 2016 and from 416,000 units to 536,000 units in 2017, with respective point forecasts of 479,500 and 476,000 units.
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Best Buy invests heavily in smart home products
TORONTO — Best Buy Canada hosted an event last month in Toronto, showcasing 13 different smart home suppliers, with products ranging from entry locks and surveillance cameras to smart LED light bulbs.
The setting for the event was a home in Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood. The owner opened up his house to the company, which dispersed 60 smart home devices from the various suppliers throughout the home’s four floors.
Zayn Jaffer, the director of emerging businesses for Best Buy Canada, says smart home technology is something the company is really focusing on. “It’s a category that continues to double in every direction,” says Jaffer. “We’ve got a lot invested in it.”
The majority of the devices showcased work with Nest, which is a producer of programmable, self-learning, sensor-driven, wifi-enabled home automation products. Many, such as garage door openers from Chamberlain to the new Nest Learning Thermostat, are also controllable through mobile apps.
One common characteristic of all the devices is giving homeowners peace of mind—whether their major priorities are safety, security, or environmentalism. From viewing video footage of your garage or entryway to ensure their kids get home from school, to smoke detectors that can tell you specifically where the smoke is coming from, the smart products don’t just talk to each other, they’re designed to make things as easy as possible for the end user.
Elliott Chun, the communications manager for Best Buy Canada, says the company also provides their customers with the option of installing the products for themselves, or, in line with the “do-it-for-me” trend, installed by the members of Best Buy’s own tech team, the Geek Squad.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES: This week in 1995
The sluggish economy continues to take its toll exactly two decades ago. IRLY Distributors puts office expansion plans on hold and CMHC reports ongoing slow housing starts. Plus: RONA begins a TV ad campaign to promote its big box stores in Quebec. Click here to read these blasts from the past!
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The Western Retail Lumber Association has announced Victor Lemieux, past president of Econo Lumber, as the recipient of its 45th annual Industry Achievement Award. The award has recognized WRLA members who contribute to the industry, the association, and their communities, since 1970. Lemieux, who founded Econo Lumber, then grew it into a 75,000-square-foot store on 8.5 acres in Prince Albert, Sask., said he was “honoured and very excited” to be selected. The award will be presented during the 2016 WRLA Buying Show’s Awards Banquet on January 21 in Calgary.
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CLASSIFIED ADS
Bilingual Sales Coordinator
Positec manufactures and markets the Rockwell and Worx line of home improvement tools and accessories to professional contractors and home improvement enthusiasts around the world. We are currently seeking a Bilingual Sales Coordinator to be responsible for supporting the sales team in attaining annual sales targets and operates with management and clients to determine business requirements. This position is instrumental in assuring focused and productive communication with the new and existing clients, as well marketing & logistics departments. Resolves all complex inquiries from the clients and ensures customer satisfaction. The Sales Coordinator is responsible for various administrative functions. Previous Sales Coordinator experience is a must. This is a remote position. Ideal candidate will have a proven track record of effectively working from a remote location. Please send resumes & salary requirements to kammi.parker@positecgroup.com.
Account Manager
Positec manufactures and markets the Rockwell and Worx line of home improvement tools and accessories to professional contractors and home improvement enthusiasts around the world. We are currently seeking an Account Manager to be responsible for supporting the company's sales goals through professional sales techniques and good customer service, maintaining quality relations with existing accounts, and providing sales and marketing coverage. 75% of focus will be on managing assigned account responsibility 25% focused on internal support and assigned tasks. Ideal candidate must have industry related outside sales experience. Please send resumes & salary requirements to kammi.parker@positecgroup.com.
Customer Service Representative - Canada
The Customer Service Representative is responsible for achieving customer satisfaction within defined objectives for the company. Includes managing customer accounts via orders, complaints and problem resolution, customer communication, invoicing and responding to literature requests. High level of professional communication required.
The role requires a developed ability to accomplish a variety of complicated tasks in a high volume, fast-paced environment. Communication and organizational skills are at a premium in this role. Success in this position will require the balance between thinking, listening, and speaking in a purely positive way while following the rules and policies of the Company.
Primary duties and responsibilities:
- Answer all incoming customer calls and e-mails in order to resolve any issues or questions related to customer orders as well as enter all order requests
- Maintain accurate customer pricing and resolve pricing inaccuracies by researching
discrepancies
- Create and compile necessary documentation for the direct import program to ensure
that all items are invoiced correctly
Our ideal candidate will possess the following:
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- 5 –7 years customer service experience
- Exceptional communication and problem solving skills
- French speaking is required
Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities
Apply online at https://fiskars.applicantpro.com/jobs/
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