ATLANTA & TORONTO — Jeff Kinnaird has been promoted to executive vice president of merchandising at The Home Depot. Most recently, he was president of The Home Depot Canada.

Michael Rowe (shown here) has been promoted to replace Kinnaird as president of The Home Depot Canada.

Kinnaird joined The Home Depot in 1996, starting in the lumber yard at the Richmond, B.C., store. He worked his way through various roles, including store manager and district manager, to become Regional VP of operations in 2005. After that, he oversaw divisional product assortment and innovation as the VP of merchandising for five years until he was appointed president of the Canadian business in 2016.

As part of the restructure, Home Depot has confirmed that Kinnaird will move to Atlanta eventually to assume his EVP merchandising role.

Prior to getting the top job in Canada, Rowe was vice president of e-commerce, marketing and contractor services, where he led all marketing and advertising efforts across Canada, as well as e-commerce, installation services, contractor services and strategy. Prior to that, he served as CFO for The Home Depot Canada. Rowe joined the company in 2006.

The changes in Canada are part of a wider executive reorg within the company out of its head office in Atlanta. Company head Craig Menear has served as CEO and president of The Home Depot since November 2014 and added the chairman title early in 2015. He has handed the president’s role to Ted Decker. A 20-year veteran of the company, Decker served most recently as EVP merchandising, before that job was handed off to Kinnaird, and now holds the COO title in addition to being named president.

RED DEER, Alta. — The acquisition of TSC Stores by Peavey Industries has created a juggernaut in the farm and ranch sector, with stores that now reach from Ontario to British Columbia. With two exceptions, the TSC stores are all in Ontario and starting this week, their signage is being switched to the Peavey Mart banner.

Doug Anderson, president and CEO of parent company Peavey Industries, is excited about the latest step in consolidating the TSC business. He’s also positive about the farm and ranch sector in general. “It’s stable. It’s strong. It’s growing, especially in the U.S.,” where, he notes, there are still lots of regional players.

Anderson sees strong growth in Canada, as well, with several smaller retailers operating. “But Peavey has established itself as the country’s leading farm and ranch retailer,” he says. And the sector has seen strong sales over the past six months. “Both Peavey and TSC saw significant increases during COVID.”

Peavey began the takeover of TSC in 2016, buying up full ownership over the following year. The union was a natural fit between the two privately held retail chains that shared a similar retail model, while being distinct geographically. TSC Stores was based in London, Ont. and Peavey is based in Red Deer, Alta. At the time of the takeover, Peavey had 36 stores ranging in size from 10,000 to 35,000 square feet. The stores feature a wide assortment of hardware, farm and pet, automotive and home improvement products. Serving Western markets, most of Peavey’s stores are in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The TSC acquisition added 51 stores that average 16,000 square feet in size. Except for two stores in Manitoba, all of its business is based in Ontario. Those two Manitoba stores turned out to be the testing ground for Peavey’s plan to switch out the TSC banner. The locations, in Winkler and Brandon, were converted to Peavey Mart soon after the initial takeover.

According to Jest Sidloski, vice president marketing, e-commerce and customer experience at Peavey, the success of the transition wasn’t a given, as the retailer did not have any of its own stores in that province. “It was not really Peavey country,” he says.

Nevertheless, the company did get feel for the viability of a wholesale switch of the TSC banner. “We got some learnings from that and saw some great success,” Sidloski continues.” It was really Peavey’s introduction to Manitoba and it was received very well.”

The conversion process is expected to be completed by early 2021.

Anderson adds that the entire process of the TSC takeover gave him and his team a chance to dig deeper into the Peavey business. “Both companies are similar on the surface. But there are differences in how they were built up. The structure of TSC was a huge opportunity for us to really grow as a combined entity.”

NORWALK, Conn. — The National Hardware Show is starting today, and you can still attend, as it’s a virtual event. It runs until October 15.

A virtual exhibitor directory of NHS suppliers and manufacturers will showcase products and brands across a range of categories. Other highlights of the event include a new product showcase, which will allow buyers to source and expand their current product offerings, and a “Pitch Panel” hosted by the United Inventors Association.

A big part of the show is the educational aspect, hosted mainly by the North American Hardware and Paint Association, through its All-Industry Conference.

“We are pleased to be able to host NHPA virtually, as the full program will offer a mix of keynotes and panel presentations from an all-star roster of industry professionals with different perspectives and valuable insight to help evolve and propel businesses forward,” says Rich Russo, the NHS’s industry VP.

As keynote presentations, NHPA executive VP Dan Tratensek will hold a conversation with Dan Starr, CEO and president of Do it Best Corp., on “How Independents Are Still Disrupting”. Kevin Hancock, chairman and CEO of Hancock Lumber, will deliver a talk entitled “Employees First: Disrupting Assumptions for More Loyal Customers and Stronger Sales.”

(Click here for full program details and dates.)

WINNIPEG — For the first time in its history, the Western Retail Lumber Association’s Building & Hardware Showcase in-person event has been cancelled, a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The show was originally scheduled for January 21 to 22, 2021 in Winnipeg.

To ensure that the WRLA can safeguard the health and safety of members, the association has developed a platform that will include its publication, Yardstick, supported by an app. With these tools, the WRLA intends to provide a new platform to engage vendor and dealer connections, offer education opportunities and build industry awareness.

“The WRLA board and staff are disappointed that we had to cancel one of the industry’s largest shows,” says WRLA President Liz Kovach. “We recognize this event is important to members’ business development and these alternatives will allow everyone to still collaborate, network and showcase innovation to the industry.”

The January issue of the association’s bi-monthly Yardstick magazine will contain a special product showcase section. Through the publication and app, members can participate in:

• member “booths” with company profiles, product info and staff intros created by the members;
• a new products feature area;
• show specials;
• warehouse sales;
• opportunities to connect with other members;
• in-app contests.

Members can also have virtual product knowledge sessions hosted by the WRLA. The association will hold various education sessions on industry and business topics from January 18 to 29, 2021.

(For more information on the show publication and app, download the media kit here.)

Greg Muir has been named west region sales manager at Allegion, PLC. He is based in Okotoks, Alta.

Steve Guterres has been promoted to director of sales in Canada for BLANCO. He will report to Garth Wallin, president and CEO of BLANCO North America. Guterres joined the BLANCO Sales team in 2011 as a key account manager before being promoted to national sales manager. He was made senior national sales manager in 2017.

... that just two provinces account for more than half of all retail home improvement sales in Canada? Or that one retailer has twice the share of the market in British Columbia than the nearest competitor? It’s all in the new Hardlines Market Share Report. Hardlines subscribers save more than 20 percent on pricing, so be sure and take advantage of this! Click here now to learn more and order yours!

BOUCHERVILLE, Que. — Lowe’s Canada will pay a discretionary bonus to all eligible full-time, part-time and seasonal associates working at Lowe’s, RONA, or Reno-Depot corporate stores, contact centres, and supply-chain facilities in Canada in the latter half of October. Full-time hourly workers will receive $300, and part-time and seasonal associates will receive $150. The October bonus is in addition to the discretionary bonuses paid in March and August, and to the special $2-per-hour wage premium paid from April through July.

WINNIPEG — Sexton Group has announced the addition of three new members. Urban Windows & Doors in Sudbury, Ont., was founded in 2006. Midwest Island Woodworking Inc. is located in Nanaimo, B.C., and offers environmentally friendly flooring. Rounding out the new recruits is 16 Lumber, located in Russell, Man., near the Saskatchewan border.

BOUCHERVILLE, Que. — BMR Group has added Centre de rénovation Port-Daniel in the Gaspé as a member in Quebec. Richard Briand is the store owner. With a sales area of 2,800 square feet and a 15,000-square-foot lumber yard, the overhauled store will offer nearly 6,000 products.

OTTAWA — Lee Valley Tools is taking its in-store COVID-19 precautions a step further with the launch of a new mobile shopping tool. Integrated with the LeeValley.com website, it allows for mobile contactless shopping in each of the company’s 20 locations. Customers do not need to download a separate app to use the mobile feature. They simply visit LeeValley.com when they enter the store and click a barcode icon, select their store location and start shopping.

SUPPLIER NEWS

OSAKA — OLFA Corp. has announced the establishment of two new companies in North America: OLFA North America Inc., based in Oakville, Ont., and OLFA U.S.A. Inc. in Terre Haute, Ind. The move aims to strengthen OLFA’s sales and marketing capabilities and product development. Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of OLFA and sales activities will commence December 7. OLFA has been selling products in North America through its distributor, Corelle Brands, but effective December 5, the distribution of OLFA products will transition from Corelle Brands to the two new companies. (For Canadian inquiries regarding OLFA products, contact: Sales Canada.)

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Housing starts in September slid to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 208,980 units, down 20.1 percent from 261,547 units in August. The SAAR of urban starts decreased by 21.1 percent to 195,909 units. Multiple urban starts decreased by 27 percent to 146,005 units while single-detached urban starts increased by 3.4 percent to 49,904 units. Rural starts were estimated at a SAAR of 13,071 units. (CMHC)

Total investment in building construction increased five percent to $16 billion in August. Residential-sector investment increased 8.2 percent to $10.8 billion, while non-residential investment decreased 1.2 percent to $5.2 billion. Investment in residential construction rose for the fourth month in a row in August, with a 5.4 percent increase in the single-family sector to a total of $5.4 billion. (StatCan)

OVERHEARD...

“This new format is actually a really exciting opportunity for members. This is a fresh way for vendors to reach people they would have seen at the show, plus they can also connect with others who may not normally travel to the show. … This is the next-best thing to an in-person event.”
—Joel Seibert, chair of the board of the Western Retail Lumber Association, on the WRLA’s move to a virtual buying show in January.

“We continue to grow our diverse member base across Canada, and our three new members from eastern and western provinces reflect that.”
—Eric Palmer, vice president and general manager of the Sexton Group, on the recruitment of three new member dealers.