October 22, 2012, Volume xviii, #40
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. ” — John F. Kennedy (WW II war hero and 35th president of the United States, (1917-1963)
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Prairie Showcase to move to Calgary in 2015
WINNIPEG — The Western Retail Lumber Association has announced it will move its venerable buying show, the Prairie Showcase and Convention, to Calgary in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The show, which has been in Saskatoon since its inception, will try out the new location and new facility — the BMO Centre — to accommodate the growth of the event.
One of the largest shows of its kind in Canada, it features some 650 booths and more than 265 exhibiting companies. However, the show’s booth space is regularly sold out, leaving a waiting list of vendors that wish to get in.
“As this event continues to expand, not only in size but in relevance and scope, it made sense to bring it to Calgary,” said Gary Hamilton, president of the WRLA. “This event is an integral part of the WRLA and enables our members to effectively compete and grow their business in a rapidly changing business environment.”
The show dates for 2015 are Jan. 21-23.
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Home Depot stores in GTA carrying compact power equipment
Home Depot Canada has been experimenting with rentals of compact power equipment at many of its retail sites. The rollout follows a trial that began in the U.S. in partnership with Compact Power, a rental supplier of compact and medium-heavy equipment, in 2008 and enjoyed a wider rollout last year. To date, Home Depot has Compact Power Equipment Centres within its Home Depot Tools Rental departments in some 400 stores.
According to Jamal Hamad, director of commercial and tool rental sales and operations for Home Depot Canada, the rental program, which includes Bobcats, trenchers, multi-purpose tractors, and backhoes, is now in more than a dozen stores, which, based on a website search, all appear to be in the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario.
The program is aimed at contractors, landscapers and heavy DIYers and is part of a larger initiative by Home Depot Canada to improve its relationship with contractors, making each store as much of a “one-stop-shop” as possible.
(Jamal is one of our amazing keynote speakers at the 17th Annual Hardlines Conference, Oct. 25-26. To learn more about the conference, click here.)
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TIM-BR MART helps members identify “succession opportunities”
CALGARY ― Helping dealers find new acquisitions on the one hand, and succession opportunities on the other, is a program that TIM-BR MARTS Ltd. has been facilitating for more than a year.
Steve Stremecki, a former vice president at TIM-BR MARTS Ltd., left the head office environment last fall to join Highland TIM-BR MART, a retail group in Southwestern Ontario that has been actively consolidating. Stremecki says this growth strategy has been the right thing for his new company, which now has five stores. “But,” he says, “it’s not for everyone.”
TIM-BR MARTS goes so far as to put business leaders from within its membership in touch with one other. And while it offers no direct financial involvement, the group does help out dealers who go through the transition of new ownership in other ways, ranging from re-merchandising programs to forums for owners to share best practices and ideas.
“I think what you have to do is look at regional opportunities, and ask yourself, ‘can you take advantage of size?’ ” Stremecki adds.
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RONA will roll out first contractor stores later this year
TORONTO ― RONA’s new-format store that focuses on its contractor customers may only be in the test stage right now, but the company sees room for up to 60 locations for the new concept.
Called “Contractor First by RONA,” the new store format is being launched in two versions, as a stand-alone outlet and as a store-within-a-store in select big boxes. Two pilot stores, in Calgary and in Edmonton, will have soft openings in December, with grand openings planned for March 2013.
Stores that have been identified to switch to the new banner will get support from RONA’s head office, and be paired with a dedicated marketing program to support the new pro network.
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Do it Best announces double-digit growth at latest market
INDIANAPOLIS —Do it Best Corp.’s fall market, held Oct. 12-15 at the Indiana Convention Centre, attracted thousands of retailers looking to take advantage of buying programs and rebates. In fact, many retailers and vendors on the floor noted that their business has been improving as the housing market and weather conditions have become more favourable.
Those sales gains hold true across the board at Do it Best: Not only did the co-op announce a double-digit growth in sales for the 2012 fiscal year, but it had a total member rebate of $115.7 million, with five members receiving rebates of more than $1 million each.
For its fiscal year ending June 30, Do it Best reported total sales of $2.68 billion, an 11.2% increase from its last fiscal year and the largest increase in eight years. The member rebate is an increase of 9.4% from the previous fiscal year.
The co-op has had a “nice bump economically” this past year, says Do it Best COO Dan Starr, as new home construction numbers and housing sales have increased. Sales growth in the lawn and garden, wild bird, and bulk paint categories have also spurred growth.
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Classifieds
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Moffat & Powell - Manager
Moffatt & Powell RONA is in search of a Manager
for our new store in Tillsonburg, Ontario.
Interested candidates can send their resumes to hr@moffattandpowell.com.
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Program Manager Assistant - Lumber & Building Materials
CASTLE BUILDING CENTRES GROUP LTD. is the premier, independently owned buying group of lumber and building materials in Canada. Located in Mississauga, Ontario, Castle has an immediate opening for a Program Manager Assistant - Lumber & Building Materials.
Job Duties/Responsibilities:
- Execute, prepare, and organize all information flow between the Members, Vendor Partners with respect to programs and products. Liaise with members, Buyers and vendors in various program and product categories
Qualifications:
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills, excellent communication skills and strong organizational skills are a must.
- Bilingual, English & French both written and spoken would be an asset.
- Knowledge of lumber and building material products would be an asset.
Qualified applicants are invited to submit their resumes and salary expectations in Microsoft Word or PDF format to jobs@castle.ca . We thank you for your interest in this position however, only the most qualified applicants will receive responses.
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Member Support Assistant - Hardlines Quebec
CASTLE BUILDING CENTRES GROUP LTD. is the premier, independently owned buying group of lumber and building materials in Canada. As a result of the rapid growth of our Hardware Solution in Quebec, Castle has an immediate opening for a Member Support Assistant - Hardlines Quebec. This position will be based in the province of Quebec.
Job Duties/Responsibilities:
- Execute, prepare, and organize all information flow between the Members Vendor Partner with respect to Hardlines programs and products, in the Province of Quebec
- To manage product assortment needs in a growing Hardware environment.
Qualifications:
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills, excellent communication skills and strong organizational skills are a must.
- Bilingual, English & French both written and spoken.
- Knowledge of Hardlines products would be a distinct asset.
Qualified applicants are invited to submit their resumes and salary expectations confidentially, in Microsoft Word or PDF format to jobs@castle.ca We thank you for your interest in this position however, only the most qualified applicants will receive responses.
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Resumés
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