March 23, 2015 Volume
xxi, #12
“Well, we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun. ” —John Lennon (musician and poet, 1940-1980)
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Associations align along regional concerns
SPECIAL REPORT — The notion of a strong national association for home improvement dealers has received a mixed reception from the various regional associations across the country. In the wake of a call earlier this year by the Western Retail Lumber Association to forge closer ties among the groups, some see the value of working more together, but they are unanimous in preferring to maintain the status quo.
The idea of a national organization has been hotly debated behind closed doors for years. Dave Campbell, president of the LBMAO, sees “some benefit” to the groups working together more closely, especially as they currently meet informally under an umbrella group, the Canadian Retail Building Supply Council. “Some of us have been vocal about trying to strengthen the position of the CRBSC on a national basis, but without consensus, it isn’t going to work,” he concedes.
The Quebec association, AQMAT, has been perhaps the most vociferous in its reaction. A blog issued by that association’s president and CEO, Richard Darveau, states, “ If the intention is laudable, the realities overtake the theory.” He pointed out some examples of “regional differences” that divide the groups, including AQMAT’s lobbying mandate and an annual conference that both take “strong positions to defend against the government. None of the four other associations take such foundations.”
He adds that the training provided by the different regions is not transferable, “because the standards of construction and renovation techniques are not exactly the same.”
Thomas Foreman, president of the BSIA of B.C, heads up what may be the smallest group in terms of membership. But the organization is healthy, he says. “BSIA is stable and has a good strategic plan,” he says, adding that the organization has added staff. Judith McLean has been recruited as training co-ordinator and Alex Taylor has joined as director of member services. He travels the province to ensure existing members are getting full benefit of their involvement with the association, while recruiting new dealers.
That includes what Foreman calls an “allied membership” of anyone in construction, such as architects, spec writers, contractors. That’s in addition to the traditional building supply and home centre members, and the suppliers and manufacturers.
“We don’t want to be the biggest,” says Foreman. “We just want to be the best.”
One controversial part of the “allied membership” has been the contractors. This has, for example, proved a stumbling block for WRLA to admit any BSIA member to its show, since that show has taken steps to prevent contractors from having access to the products and pricing available to its dealers. On the other hand, BSIA’s own show, being held this week, will host a walk-through for dealers and their preferred contractor customers.
At the other end of the country, the Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association has a new president—and a new mandate. Denis Melanson took over from Don Sherwood late last summer and when Sherwood passed away suddenly before Christmas, Melanson was faced with overseeing the association’s own buying show less than two months later.
Despite bad weather that hampered attendance at the show, Melanson says the event garnered “good feedback” and he used the event to re-launch the association’s brand. “In my view, I was brought on to bring new views and new life to our association, which is very strong,” he says.
However, he agrees that it’s time for the associations to share more. “It’s time for the associations to talk more and to collaborate on certain issues.”
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Vancouver-area dealer uses 50 Shades of promotion
LADNER, B.C. — Because his store is a fixture on the main street of the village of Ladner, just south of Vancouver, James Price is used to movie scouts using his ’hood as a film set. But the latest shoot was perhaps the most notorious yet.
 Ladner Hardware became the locale for the most infamous movie scene of the year. The erotic movie “50 Shades of Grey” features a kinky billionaire playboy who draws a young woman into his life of bondage. One of their first meetings is at the hardware store, where he asks her to lead him to an unusual collection of hardware items. Price, well known for his upbeat personality and trademark Hawaiian shirts, comments that, “she doesn’t quite see how these random products—rope, tape, and zip ties—go together.” (Admittedly, we don’t have an NRHA training course that covers that project! —Editor.)
“She finds out later on in the movie,” he adds dryly.
The movie production company took over his store for almost two full weeks, including setting up the aisles with their own racks and products. “They brought in their own shelving because they wanted to shoot through a mesh, rather than solid racks.” Then, when filming was finished, the film makers returned the store to its original state. That included repainting the front of the store.
Price has made the most of the notoriety generated by the movie. When it opened 14 months later (on Valentine’s Day, 2015), he made sure the store had a window display that tied in with the movie’s theme. And he was contacted by the Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail, the Daily Mail in the U.K. He even got interviewed on the CBC news.
His store has become something of a tourist destination as fans come from all over the world to see where the film was shot. “People come right into the store and look for the aisles the scenes were shot in.” And so they don’t go away empty handed, Price even offers a 50 Shades of Grey “starter kit,” complete with a length of rope, some coloured duct tape, and zip ties.
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Home heating systems vary across the country
OTTAWA — How Canadians keep their homes warm in winter depends on which part of the country they are in. Data from StatCan’s 2013 Households and the Environment Survey reveal that homes in Ontario and the West mostly opt for forced air furnaces burning natural gas. In Quebec and in the East, electric-powered baseboard heaters and furnaces using heating oil are in an overwhelming majority of households.
Forced air furnaces were the most common type of heating system, used by 53% of Canadians, followed by electric baseboard heaters, used by 28%. Those figures were unchanged from 2011. Forced air furnaces were the dominant type of heating system in Ontario (73%) and the Prairie Provinces (between 73% and 83%).
However, 64% of households in Quebec, 59% in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 52% in New Brunswick were all more likely to use electric baseboard heaters. Forced air furnaces and boiler systems each were used by about one-third of households in Prince Edward Island.
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Lumber Liquidators defends emissions charges against lawsuit
NEW YORK — A heated debate between the CBS program “60 Minutes” and Lumber Liquidators has ensued following an episode of the television show. And now the flooring retailer faces a class-action lawsuit.
The CBS report claims Lumber Liquidators sold laminate flooring with higher levels of formaldehyde than permitted by California’s health and safety standards. In the aftermath of the report, the flooring company has made several statements about its safety policies. Lumber Liquidators emphasizes that it complies with product regulations and it believes “60 Minutes” used an improper testing method.
“These attacks are driven by a small group of short-selling investors who are working together for the sole purpose of making money by lowering our stock price,” the company says in a statement.
On March 12, a class-action suit was filed against Lumber Liquidators. The complaint charges that from October 2013 through November 2014 three certified labs tested the formaldehyde emissions of laminate wood flooring purchased from several nationwide retail outlets, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Lumber Liquidators. The highest formaldehyde levels were found in laminate by Lumber Liquidators that was produced in China.
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CLASSIFIED ADS
National Account Manager
MAKITA CANADA
Calgary, AB, CANADA
Description:
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Makita Canada Inc., and with three to five years’ account management and business development experience in the power tool industry, the National Account Manager is responsible for the growth and expansion of Makita’s business partnerships and sales with key national account(s) headquartered predominantly in western Canada.
Key Responsibilities:
- Travels throughout Western Canada for store visits, events, field work and other activities in relation to assigned account(s).
- Represents Makita as the key head office contact for assigned national account(s).
- Assists other National Account Managers, the Regional Managers and Sales Representatives in building our national success (with a particular focus on your assigned and/or shared accounts).
- Develops and recommends for approval customized programs, presentations and promotions for assigned account(s).
- Communicates and shares pricing programs, promotional plans and other pertinent competitor / dealer information with head office, senior management and other departments as necessary.
- Various other activities, duties and assignments as may be assigned by senior management.
Travel requirements of the National Account Manager include regular and scheduled travel throughout the specific assigned region as well as other regions of Canada to visit store locations, events and to work with local territory representatives and as such, frequent overnight travel is required.
Qualifications:
- 3 to 5 years account management and business development experience in the power tool industry.
- Post-secondary education or combination of education and experience.
- Valid Driver’s License .
- Knowledge and experience with MS Office Suite and other sales-related software.
Makita Canada Inc. offers a competitive base salary; a generous quarterly bonus/commission structure; company vehicle (including associated operating costs); notebook computer and cellular phone; full travel and work-related expense reimbursement; and a generous company-paid benefits program including retirement plan.
Interested, qualified candidates should email resumes (including salary expectations) prior to April 10, 2015, to k.pringle@makita.ca or by fax to Kim Pringle at 905-571-7434.
We thank all candidates for their interest but advise that only those under consideration will be contacted. No telephone calls please
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General Paint Brand Manager
Toronto, Canada
30% Travel
Apply to Hiring Mgr: Ahin Bose
Key responsibilities include:
1. Drive profitable growth, market share, consumer awareness and brand equity against a brand asset management strategy, to maximize the strength and value of the General Paint brand.
2. Deliver annual business strategy for short-term and long-term objectives
3. Develop and execute all trade-related objectives, programs, and communications
4. Oversee the rebranding strategy of General Paint away from Comex. Build the future of the General Paint and Federated Coop brands
5. Manage all existing products including new product/packaging launches through the product commercialization process
6. Spend time in the market and have highly competent grasp of the competitive landscape
5+ years successful marketing experience including; developing and implementing marketing programs, preferably within the paint retailer and dealer channels. Experience with designing promotions,programs and tools that will ultimately grow sales and gain market share through these channels. Experience with end-user/field interaction a plus as well as managing others.
Experience with new product commercialization preferred.
Bachelor Degree in related field or equivalent experience. MBA considered a plus.
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