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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Registration is open for the 29th annual Hardlines Conference. Please join us!
- UFA relocates with bigger store in Alberta’s Gasoline Alley
- Strong pro sales temper DIY headwinds at Lowe’s
- NHPA’s retailer convention confronts challenges of a slow market
PLUS: New owners for Montreal’s Cobra Anchors, Home Depot down to skeleton inventory, Matériaux Pont-Masson celebrates 45th, Costco’s next location confirmed, Loblaw rolls out value-based “no name” stores, stores damaged by severe weather, retail sales, and more!
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Registration is open for the 29th annual Hardlines Conference. Please join us!
It’s a great way to learn what the best retailers in this industry are doing to win. It’s an important platform for finding out what’s new in hardware and home improvement retail. It’s a valuable opportunity to meet and network face to face with key dealers and retail executives who make up this industry.
Oh, yeah, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun.
These are just some of the reasons why people attend the Hardlines Conference every year. They help explain why so many familiar faces return year after year. We invite you to become part of this group of forward-thinking individuals who want to make their companies—and themselves—better through learning and knowledge.
The 29th annual Hardlines Conference is being held at one of Canada’s outstanding locations, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, from Oct. 22 to 23.
Just look at the lineup of speakers we have for you this year:
- Michelle Chouinard-Kenney, CEO of Gibson Building Supplies, a chain of yards throughout southern and central Ontario that sells roofing and related materials.
- Alain Ménard, vice-president at RONA inc., who heads up the affiliate dealer division and will explain how RONA is investing in independents.
- Charles Grégoire-Béliveau, vice-president merchandising at BMR Group, will discuss how the Quebec-based wholesaler and buying group is rolling out services and support for dealers in new markets.
- Jason Tasse, president and CEO of Lee Valley Tools, the innovative head of a very innovative niche hardware and tools company.
- Heléne Loberg, sustainability manager for IKEA Canada. We are thrilled to have IKEA join us this year: the company’s dedication to sustainability goes way beyond lip service.
- Richard Darveau, president of AQMAT and head of “Well Made Here.” His message about the importance of buying Canadian will resonate with dealers and vendors alike.
- Pierre Battah, nationally recognized HR advisor and workplace expert. This guy rocks. Want to hear about how best to take care of your people? Pierre will keep you riveted.
- Sherri Amos, director of dealer support, Home Hardware Stores Ltd., will moderate a panel of retail merchants from some of this industry’s top retail groups. Not to be missed.
- Peter Norman, vice-president and chief economist at Altus Group, our favourite housing and numbers expert—and truly one of the country’s top housing economists.
If you’ve never been to the Hardlines Conference, make this the year you join us. As the key annual gathering point for top retail executives, leading dealers, major vendors, it will provide tremendous networking and career opportunities. For the first time, we’re offering simultaneous translation in English and French.
You will save money as a Premium Member. Thanks to your subscription to this newsletter, you have front-of-the-line access to this year’s conference and registration that’s 20 percent off the regular price. For more information and to reserve your spot, click here.
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UFA relocates with bigger store in Alberta’s Gasoline Alley
United Farmers of Alberta opened a new UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store and Cardlock on Aug. 23. It’s located in Gasoline Alley West just outside the city of Red Deer, making it accessible for highway traffic in the area.
This outlet replaced an existing store nearby. That store remained open during the construction of the new location, closing its doors when the grand opening took place at the new store. UFA has been operating in Red Deer since 1961.
The new location features a 16,000-square-foot store with an expansive yard, a chem shed on site, and a three-bay drive-through warehouse. The cardlock features state-of-the-art high-speed pumps offering both clear and dyed fuel, including UFA’s own premium diesel fuel, Dieselex. This brings the number of Red Deer UFA cardlock locations to four.
UFA considers this newest project a powerful example of how the
co-op reinvests in the communities where members live and work. UFA is also giving back to the areas where it does business through a community investment program. In Red Deer, UFA supports Ronald McDonald House Charities and UFA said it would match all cash donations made on site at the UFA grand opening event, up to a maximum of $5,000.
“We look forward to opening the doors to our newest UFA location in the heart of the Red Deer community and continuing to deliver exceptional customer service that goes above and beyond,” said UFA president and CEO Scott Bolton. “It’s what sets our co-operative apart from our competitors.”
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Strong pro sales temper DIY headwinds at Lowe’s
As the industry continues to wade through a sluggish time, Lowe’s Cos. reported in August that its second-quarter sales were down 5.6 percent. Like its rival Home Depot, which reported a week earlier, it was impacted by interest rates and consumer hesitancy around discretionary spending. Revenues took a hit from high borrowing costs, falling to US$23.59 billion.
Same-store sales for the quarter declined by 5.1 percent, a larger drop than the 4.43 percent expected by Wall Street. The retailer however reported positive comps in pro sales and e-commerce. Earnings fell by 10.1 percent to $4.10 per share, topping estimates of $3.97 per share.
Contractor and loyalty customers were critical to Lowe’s performance in the quarter. “We’re very pleased with our MyLowe’s Rewards loyalty program which just launched nationwide in March,” CEO Marvin Ellison said on an analyst call.
“Through this program, we’ve learned more about our customers’ lifestyle and purchasing trends, which will allow us to curate meaningful offers for them now and in the future.”
Joseph McFarland, executive vice-president of stores, said, “We continue to gain momentum with our core small-to-midsize pro customer as we delivered mid-single digit positive pro comps this quarter,” stressing the importance of the smaller contractor to the company. “The recent investments we’ve made in jobsite delivery and high-velocity pro SKUs are paying dividends, making easier for us to fulfill larger orders and quickly replenish inventory within our store.”
For William Boltz, EVP of merchandising, Lowe’s strong pro sales are evidence that “our efforts to transform the pro customer experience are working.” According to him, growth in comp sales of building materials was “driven by continued growth in pro across all building materials subdivisions.”
Lowe’s private labels also played a key role, said Boltz. “In tools, we’re expanding our collection of private-branded Kobalt tools with a 24-volt paint sprayer, multi-material cutter, and finish nailer.”
In summing up, Ellison was cautious but upbeat, saying the “core drivers of our business remain strong,” adding that “we remain optimistic about the medium- to long-term outlook of the home improvement industry.”
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NHPA’s retailer convention confronts challenges of a slow market
Last week, Hardlines went south to attend the Independent Home Improvement Conference in Marco Island, Fla. The event was presented by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA), in partnership with The Hardware Conference.
About 800 dealers from across the U.S. were in attendance. In addition, some Canadian dealers were there, including a contingent of Home Hardware dealers from Canada. They joined the conference, along with dozens of suppliers, many of whom had exhibition space on the conference floor.
The biggest news from the conference was that Joel Pletch of Walkerton Home Hardware in southwestern Ontario was the Canadian recipient of the NHPA’s Young Retailer of the Year award. Under his guidance, the store saw big increases. These included 426 percent growth in the store’s tool category and a 300 percent increase in overall store transactions—all from a store that’s only 3,300 square feet in size. Pletch was store manager when he got the news of the award in the spring. Since then, he has also become owner of the store.
The first day, Aug. 27, featured a series of information seminars from sponsors, including hardware distributor Orgill. Day two featured a series of breakout sessions and keynotes. Themes included effective marketing on a shoestring budget and how to keep good staff and cultivate top talent.
A keynote by business expert Al Comeaux (shown here) focused on how to master and implement change. Comeaux said business history is strewn with the long line of failed companies. They may have had an effective strategy and execution, but the winning companies back that strategy and execution with a mindset. “The attitudes of the company’s leaders are what set the winners apart.”
The mood at the conference and the prospects for dealers looking forward were summed up by Orgill CEO Boyden Moore. In conversation with Hardlines, he said that indicators such as falling interest rates are good signs for the industry.
“We think that’s good news. The challenge now is to make sure your business is ready for the good times. This is important,” Moore said. “We see good things ahead. Things are going to get better.”
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Simpson Strong-Tie has promoted Scott Lang to the newly-created role of VP of market development for residential digital solutions. Lang has been with Simpson Strong-Tie for seven years, most recently as technology sales manager for national builder/pro supply.
Stanley Black & Decker has appointed Deborah Wintner as SVP and chief human resources officer (CHRO). Wintner, previously SVP of HR operations and CHRO for tools and outdoor, is now part of the executive team. In her new role, she reports to CEO and president Donald Allan, Jr., and succeeds John Lucas.
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DID YOU KNOW…?
… that you can register now for this year’s Hardlines Conference? The 29th annual Hardlines Conference is being held at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, from Oct. 22 to 23. For more information and to reserve your spot,
click here!
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RETAILER NEWS
A RONA Inc. affiliate dealer has purchased an existing store in Charlottetown, representing the introduction of the RONA brand to the province of Prince Edward Island. The business was acquired by Adam Barrett of Terraine Capital, a property development and investment company that already has three RONA stores in Nova Scotia. The latest store is 33,000 square feet in size, with an indoor LBM section and a large outdoor lumberyard.
Matériaux Pont-Masson celebrated its 45th anniversary with a private event on Aug. 15. More than 500 guests joined the BMR member’s founding family, Monique, Richard, Éric, and Stéphane Bailey. The event featured a sale for contractor clients and anniversary festivities.
The Home Depot launched its 2024 Halloween lineup online last month. “This year we increased our realism, created some impressive, licensed [NBCUniversal] characters and even brought back some fan favorites,” Lance Allen, senior merchant of decorative holiday, said in a release. “Skelly,” the perennially-popular 12-foot skeleton, is also back, complete with a “haunted” accessory kit that includes a wig.
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Costco Wholesale Corp. has received approval for the construction of a 160,000-square-foot store in the west end of Regina, its second in Saskatchewan’s capital. Costco’s other Regina location, near the Sakimay First Nation reserve, opened its doors in 2018, replacing a smaller store dating to 1993.
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is rolling out a new concept of value-based “no name” stores this month in three Ontario markets: Windsor, St. Catharines, and Brockville. The no name store will have lower operating costs and carry only a targeted assortment of products. The company plans to keep costs down by shortening hours, offering limited selection, no refrigeration, and reduced logistical costs.
Luxury banner Perigold, which falls under Wayfair Inc.’s brand portfolio, announced that it has plans to open its first physical retail store. The first opening is slated for 2025 in West Palm Beach, Fla., within the CityPlace shopping centre. The store’s total square footage will be nearly 30,000 over two floors.
Severe storms across southern Ontario damaged a Home Hardware in Ayr, Ont., outside Cambridge, late last month. Environment Canada issued a region-wide tornado warning that morning and staff were quick to respond, moving customers to safety. According to a statement from Waterloo Regional Police, the roof of the store was partially torn off. The business was evacuated, and all employees and customers were able to exit safely. Earlier in August, the Home Hardware store in Jasper, Alta., was destroyed by the wildfires in that area.
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SUPPLIER NEWS
PrimeSource Brands has acquired Cobra Anchors, the Montreal-based fastener maker. Cobra has over 1,000 SKUs of hollow-wall, universal, and masonry anchors. The transaction is PrimeSource’s fifth acquisition since partnering with investment firm Clearlake Capital Group in December 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed. PrimeSource Brands owns a portfolio of branded products including Grip-Rite, Pro-Twist, Top Knobs, Hardware Resources, Atlas Homewares, North Pointe Cabinets, and Wolf Home Products.
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ECONOMIC INDICATORS
Retail sales declined by 0.3 percent in June from the previous month, dragged by lower automotive sales. LBM and garden sales however bucked the trend with a 0.6 percent increase. Seven provinces logged declines, with the steepest in Ontario. Core retail sales, which exclude fuel and automotive categories, rose by 0.4 percent. (StatCan)
The annual rate of inflation fell to 2.5 percent in July, signalling a possible interest rate cut in September. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.5 percent on a year-over-year basis, the slowest rate of increase since March 2021, and down from a 2.7 percent gain in June 2024. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.4 percent in July, after falling 0.1 percent in June. (StatCan)
NOTED
The latest instalment of our podcast series What’s In Store is live! In this episode, Hardlines president Michael McLarney takes us behind the scenes of the creation of the 2024 Hardlines Retail Report. Find out how we gather our data, why it matters, and what we forecast for the coming year in the industry. Sign up now to get updates about the latest free podcasts in your inbox!
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OVERHEARD…
“Keep setting the bar high, not just for yourselves, but for all of us.”
—Ned Green, owner of Weiders Paint & Hardware in Rochester, N.Y., and chair of the North American Hardware & Paint Association, at the NHPA’s Young Retailer of the Year Awards, held last week in Marco Island, Fla. |
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Gentek is a leading manufacturer and distributor of vinyl/aluminum siding, windows, and other exterior home improvement products. With 3 manufacturing facilities and 22 distribution branches in Canada, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with superior service. This can only be achieved by having a fantastic group of employees and we know that they deserve a great work experience, which we strive to provide.
We are currently seeking a Marketing Coordinator to join our corporate office, located in Burlington, Ontario. Reporting to the Marketing Manager, the Marketing Coordinator will play a key role in ongoing projects, initiatives, programs, and campaigns. The Marketing Coordinator will drive seamless interactions and coordination among internal teams and external vendors and partners, and deliver high quality service to our sales teams, channel partners and customers. This role is perfect for someone who’s detail-oriented, organized, and passionate about marketing.
We are happy to provide a compensation package that reflects your value to the team, including:
- Straight weekday work schedule. Evenings and weekends are all yours to unwind and do the things you love!
- Some flexibility to allow for a Hybrid work location arrangement between the office and home office, if desired.
- Competitive benefits package: health, dental, life, paramedical, EAP.
- Savings plan with matching company contributions. A competitive salary.
Responsibilities
Marketing Campaigns/Initiatives
- Manage day-to-day campaign requirements in Salesforce. Including, logging customer and prospect contact information, input, tracking and analysis of marketing campaigns
- Work with third party vendors on execution of marketing initiatives
- Support various marketing and cross-functional team members related to website updates, data collection, internal communications, etc.
Inventory & Marketing Materials
- Organize activities related to trade-shows and our own marketing events, including assisting with scheduling, vendor/employee communication and coordination
- Manage marketing samples programs to ensure supply centers and sales teams have in hand what is needed to drive the business
- Maintain inventory of promotional sales support materials, ensuring all are current and accurate, and coordinate the creation of new materials when necessary
Administration
- Monitor website inboxes and reply to/route inquiries to appropriate sales team members or internal departments
- Manage execution of all channel marketing activations included in retail and buying group marketing agreements
- Distribute marketing qualified leads from third party sites
- Update and maintain marketing calendar
- Track and maintain annual marketing budget
Preferred Qualifications
Educational/Experience/Skill
- Degree/Diploma in Marketing, Communications, Business or related field
- Minimum 2 years of relevant experience
- Experience with Salesforce.com or similar CRM tool
- Proficient in Microsoft suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Bilingual (French/English) an asset
Behavioural/Mental/Physical Effort
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment
- Poised under pressure
- Must be detail oriented
- Sporadic mid-stress level related to multi-tasking and project management
- Dexterity and coordination required for computer and phone use
- Occasional travel may be required
Aptitude
- Reasoning and Judgement – hold information and solve problems
- Perceptual Speed – in recognizing detail including error/accuracy
- Numeracy – comfort with quantitative concepts, handling numbers
Click here to apply! |
Looking to post a classified ad? Email Jillian for a free quote. |
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