HARDLINES
Canada’s electronic information service for home improvement industry
September 24, 2001
Volume vii, #39
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher
Phone: 416.489.3396
Fax: 416.489.6154
email: mike@hardlines.ca
hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/>
* * * * * *
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Rona to announce new branding strategy for Ontario stores
* Dekor chain folds its doors in the U.S.
* Rona buys Stockyards store from West Fraser
* Home Hardware puts push on Home Furniture stores
* * * * * *
DOING YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY? PLANNING THE BUDGET?
THEN YOU WILL NEED:
HARDLINES RETAIL REPORT 2001 — a turnkey PowerPoint presentation to wow your boss at planning time. This handy little presentation will give you an instant overview of the size of the market complete with charts and photos. Includes provincial breakouts, market share by retail format, growth of the big boxes, top 10 home improvement retailers and ranking of buying groups. A MUST for anyone trying to explain the Canadian market. Only $179 + taxes for Hardlines subscribers! Call 416.489.3396 to order your CD now.
"HARDLINES INDUSTRY REPORT - HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAILING IN CANADA"
This huge report offers a comprehensive overview of the size of the market, how many stores are out there, who the key players are, their market position, the size and growth of the big boxes, the trends in housing and renovations, market trends — and much, much more! 120-plus pages filled with charts, graphs and photos. Regular price: $945, only $750 for subscribers! For more information, contact Nancy Wright at nancy@hardlines.ca; phone: 416-489-3396.
(go to https://hardlines.ca/html/industry_report.html)
______________________________________________
RONA PREPARES TO SWITCH LANSING AND REVY
Rona will unveil its brand strategy for English Canada this week. The official announcement will come during the Toronto Home Show on Wednesday. However, Rona chairman Henri Drouin gave a preview of the plan to delegates at the Hardlines Marketing Conference two weeks earlier.
The announcement will involve change of Ontario Revy stores to Rona Home & Garden. The Lansing banner, a familiar one in the Toronto market since its inception in 1951, will also get consolidated, re-emerging as Rona Lansing. Revy and Revelstoke stores in Western Canada, where the name is well established, will convert on a more gradual basis.
Debate has surrounded the switching of the Lansing name. However, Cashway, another venerable name in Ontario, quickly got switched to Rona Cashway, following that takeover back in February 2000. Rona also has more than 100 traditional hardware stores and building centres in Ontario.
Rona’s experimental Home Solutions concept will not be rolled out beyond the one store in Brampton, ON. However, it has become a case study for the outer limits of "soft-DIY" merchandising, with aspects of women-friendly, style-oriented décor that will be carried over into its new big box Rona Warehouse stores, which are scheduled to open in Mississauga, Gloucester and Kingston, ON by Spring 2002.
______________________________________________
DEKOR CALLS IT QUITS BUT
OUTLOOK FOR SOFT DIY REMAINS STRONG
Dekor, the soft-DIY chain opened by former Home Depot executives Herb Biggers and Jim Inglis, has closed its doors. "We ran out of money in time to make it work," Biggers told an Atlanta newspaper.
Dekor touted itself as the harbinger of an industry-wide shift from do-it-yourself stores executed as warehouses. Averaging 80,000-sq.ft., the Dekor stores were designed to create to a women-oriented, "do-it-for-me" shopping experience.
The chain wowed the Atlanta scene when it opened four stores last January. But by early July, Dekor had laid off about 20% of its staff, closed its Douglasville, GA store, and postponed plans to expand in the Nashville area. Employees showed up for work last Monday morning only to find that the stores had been closed. Severance packages were not offered.
Biggers said Dekor has options and is exploring alternatives. Dekor could consider selling the chain or filing for bankruptcy. "We anticipate a resolution in a week," Biggers said. "We have very large investors. Selling the company is clearly one of the options we have been pursuing."
The financial difficulties have occurred despite a recently announced investment in the company by U.K. retail giant Kingfisher.
______________________________________________
RONA BUYS STOCKYARDS REVY STORE
Rona has taken back one maverick store not included in the original purchase from West Fraser Timber. An agreement in principle took effect September 19th whereby Rona purchased all the assets, including an estimated $6 million in inventory, of the Revy Home & Garden warehouse at Toronto’s Stockyards property. The deal does not include the building or the land, which is leased. The amount of the deal was not disclosed.
Sylvain Morissette, director of communications at Rona, originally said the store did not meet performance levels considered acceptable by Rona. Its sales are reportedly below $20 million. In addition, the store sits in a power centre alongside one of the highest-performing Home Depot stores in Canada and a Canadian Tire that also has reportedly high sales. Unfortunately, the Revy store sits at the end of a lane past its competitors and has yet to capitalize fully on the site’s location. A cutback in Revy’s advertising in the Toronto area has further challenged the store’s ability to grow its sales.
When Rona completed its acquisition of Revy Home Centres, there were six stores not included in the deal. The rest of the stores are in the West and remain in the hands of West Fraser.
_____________________________________________
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Home Hardware cut the ribbon on the latest expansion of its St. Jacobs, ON distribution centre this morning. The size of the Henry Sittler Building was increased by 96,000 sq.ft. to a total of 230,000 sq.ft., in part to accommodate the growth of Home Hardware’s semi-annual dealer markets. The Fall market is on currently and features more than 850 vendors.
Sears has opened its 118th store, this one in North Bay, ON. The 90,000-sq.ft. outlet reflects a $13 million investment that will include a "Brand Central" store-within-a-store featuring national brand appliances.
Kindred Industries, owned by the Franke Group of Switzerland, has announced a four-year investment plan that will put $25 million into its 124,000-sq.ft. facility in Midland, ON.
Shares of Lowe’s Cos. Inc. rose last week after a Deutsche Bank report raised its rating on the retailer. The report said Lowe's has reduced its operating return-on-assets gap with Home Depot over the past seven quarters, and added that in the first half of 2001, Lowe's new store productivity averaged 76%, compared with 60% for Home Depot. Lowe's is currently opening stores in major metropolitan markets where Home Depot has had a presence for years. Currently, just 20% of Lowe's stores are in major markets, compared with 43% of Home Depot's stores.
Lowe's Cos. in the U.S. has announced that all 713 stores nationwide will serve as official cash donation sites for the American Red Cross. The retailer joins an extensive list of companies contributing to U.S. relief efforts.
______________________________________________
CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
| COMPANY |
52-WK HIGH |
52-WK LOW |
CLOSE (FRI) |
| Canadian Tire |
25.20 |
15.05 |
21.29 |
| Canfor |
16.95 |
7.65 |
9.50 |
| Emco |
7.50 |
2.60 |
5.30 |
| Goodfellow |
11.00 |
8.00 |
8.65 |
| Home Depot |
49.74 |
47.61 |
33.11 |
| Hudson's Bay |
17.65 |
12.40 |
14.31 |
| Lowe's |
64.90 |
34.25 |
31.86 |
| Sears Canada |
37.25 |
18.55 |
13.20 |
| Taiga Forest |
10.00 |
6.80 |
7.60 |
| West Fraser |
36.50 |
21.00 |
32.50 |
______________________________________________
"Never think that war, no matter necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime."
— Ernest Hemingway
______________________________________________
MARKET INDICATORS
Retail sales fell for the second month in a row in July, says Stats Canada, reflecting lower sales by gas stations in both months. Retailers sold $24.1 billion worth of goods and services in July, 0.5% less than in June. The declines in July and June were preceded by six months of rapidly advancing sales. From January to July, retailers have sold 5.2% more than in the first seven months of 2000. This compares with a 6.6% increase in the same period of 2000.
Sales by the group of 80 large retailers in Canada totalled $6.4 billion in July, a 3.2% increase over July 2000, according to Stats Canada. Increases in health and personal care products, other goods and services, and home furnishings and electronics led the way. Excluding the clothing and food commodity groups, sales by the group of large retailers rose 6.9% compared with July 2000.
Consumers paid 2.8% more for the goods and services included in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August than they did in August 2000, says Stats Canada. While this was lower than the 3.9% increase posted in May, it was higher than July’s rate of 2.6%. The increase in the CPI partly reflects the renewed impact of energy prices, which accounted for about 16% of the all-items increase.
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.1% in August after a decline of 0.3% in July says Stats Canada, less than the 0.2% gain economists polled by Reuters had expected. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the index rose 0.2%, in line with economists’ forecasts after the same rise in July.
U.S. chain store sales slumped in the latest week, as consumers shied away from stores following terrorist strikes on New York and Washington, D.C., according to two recent reports. The Redbook Average fell 3.2% during the first two retail weeks of September, a bigger fall than last week’s 0.7% loss and compared with a target of flat sales, Redbook said.
* * * * * *
INDUSTRY NEWS. EVERY DAY —
Our website has daily updates on retail and industry news that matter to you.
Keep informed. Visit hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/> . Every day.
* * * * * *
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Goodfellow Inc. has appointed four new vice-presidents, effective immediately. Out of the Campbellville, ON office, Mary Lohmus is now vice-president, building materials … James Hutton is vice-president, industrial ... Dave Warren has been named vice-president, Atlantic Canada. He will operate from the Dartmouth, NS office ... Mike Faccal, now vice-president, hardwood lumber, will operate from the Montréal office. (905-854-5800)
The Canadian Hardware & Building Materials Show has appointed Lindsay O’Handley to the show sales team as business development associate. Mr. O’Handley’s career includes a senior sales position with Delta International Machinery, and most recently with Ryobi Canada as national sales manager. (905-821-3470)
Bruce Pippard has joined ITW Construction Products as retail business unit manager. He was formerly with Hagen as national sales manager. (416-750-0557)
Al D’Addese has been appointed national account team leader at Lepage, division of Henkel Canada. He comes over from Rubbermaid, where he was national account manager. (905-459-1140)
Paul Secen has been promoted at Stanley Works to oversee global procurement, purchased products. He was formerly national marketing manager for Stanley Hardware and Stanley Tools. (905-825-1981)
______________________________________________
NOTED ...
The BSDA of B.C. will host its next trade show and convention March 8-9, 2002. "Westcoast 2002" will host some 200 booths at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The conference portion will take place at the Executive Inn in Coquitlam. For more information on this growing event, contact the BSDA at: 888-711-5656 or 604-513-2205.
______________________________________________
OVERHEARD ...
"I cannot comment on why Dekor closed, but I think that it will not affect soft DIY. There must be other reasons. If anything, the events of [September 11] will increase cocooning. It will be more in style than ever to stay home and to improve the home. This will affect soft DIY positively." — Henry Drouin, chairman of Rona Inc., on the failure of Dekor, a small startup in the U.S. Rona had launched its own soft-DIY concept called Rona Home Solutions, which has not generated the sales the new concept warranted.
______________________________________________
* * * * HARDLINES MARKETPLACE* * * *
Check out Hardlines Classifieds on the web:
https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
______________________________________________
NORAL MARKETING:
Representing leading manufacturers since 1986.
We ensure high profile retail presence for a wide range of product lines.
Why not make yours one of them?
www.noralmarketing.com <http://www.noralmarketing.com/> or call 519-439-6800 ext. 201
* * * * * *
OUTSIDE SALES BUILDING MATERIALS,
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO:
Goodfellow Inc. is looking for a BUILDING MATERIALS SALES REPRESENTATIVE, Southwestern Ontario. Some of the products included in the line are hardwood, flooring, pre-finished siding, ceiling tile, lumber and panels.
The candidate must possess a minimum of 3 years of sales and marketing experience, as well as be self-motivated, organized, energetic and personable.
Submit your résumé to: Mary Lohmus, VP Building Materials, Goodfellow Inc., PO Box 460; 9184 Twiss Rd., Campbellville, ON; L0P 1B0; email: mlohmus@goodfellowinc.com; fax: 905-854-6104.
* * * * * *
VICE-PRESIDENT RESIDENTIAL MARKETS:
Looking for a superior opportunity with a branded, multi-divisional manufacturer? This is it.
Business is good, and it’s time to add a Sales and Marketing leader to direct the strategic planning process and drive unprecedented growth in both the Retail (DIY, LBM, Mass Merchants and Co-ops) and new home construction (builders, remodelers, home service organizations) channels.
Based in the Canadian corporate office in Toronto, you’ll also provide collaborative input to the U.S. parent for sales and marketing strategy alignment, utilizing their strong brand management support team. In addition, you will develop and direct the Canadian Sales and Trade Marketing group.
Among your verifiable skills are both strategic planning and tactical execution in the home improvement and new construction markets. You’re as comfortable presenting programs in front of the Customer as you are putting forward your plans to the company President for approval. "Hitting the home run" would appropriately describe some of your individual and team-based business successes.
Rewards include a generous compensation package including salary, bonus, company vehicle, pension, and deferred profit sharing plan coupled with a dynamic, professional work environment.
Please contact Wolf Gugler, quoting file #02-114. Confidentiality is assured. Wolf Gugler & Associates Limited, 1370 Don Mills Road, Suite 300, Don Mills, ON; M3B 3N7; Phone: 416-386-1719; email: admin@wolfgugler.com; website: http://www.wolfgugler.com <http://www.wolfgugler.com/>
* * * * * *
RETAIL SALES CONSULTANT:
Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., a worldwide leader in hardware supply and distribution with operations in Markham, Brantford and Calgary, has an immediate vacancy for the position of RETAIL SALES CONSULTANT–Saskatchewan and Manitoba Region.
As the successful candidate, you will have five or more years sales experience in the wholesale hardware or LBM Industry with extensive knowledge of how to provide effective support to retail hardware customers. At Ace Canada, "effective support" means listening and responding to the needs of our customers; attending to detail and providing consistent follow-up. You have a reasonable knowledge of how to use computers to advantage; and most of all, you are highly organized and capable of working both independently and as part of the team.
Ace Canada offers a competitive compensation package and career potential. If you are qualified for this position, please fax or e-mail your résumé, including salary history/expectations to: Vice-President, Operations and Administration, Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., 80 Micro Court, 3rd Floor, Markham, ON; L3R 9Z5; fax 905-475-2721; e-mail: stan.sauer@acehardware.ca
* * * * * *
MARKETING DIRECTOR:
Sexton Group Ltd. operates as a buying group for approximately 275 building supply members located from Ontario to British Columbia. It also has an affiliation with a buying group serving the greater Toronto area and with a buying group serving Québec.
To serve our members with competitive buying programs, with the best prices, terms and conditions, we require an individual to perform the function of MARKETING DIRECTOR.
Working from our Winnipeg office and traveling frequently, the incumbent will meet with members to understand and respond to their needs. The incumbent will also negotiate purchase arrangements with new and existing suppliers and be responsible for various member programs such as flyers and private label programs.
The ideal candidate will have a background in sales and marketing, preferable in the retail and wholesale building materials industry, computer literacy, superior human relation skills, and growth potential.
Please submit your résumé in confidence to: Bob Mondy, Vice-President and General Manager, Sexton Group Ltd., 46 — 1313 Border Street, Winnipeg, MB; R3H 0X3.
For further information, visit our website: http://www.sextongroup.com <http://www.sextongroup.com/>
* * * * * *
THE HARDLINES MARKETPLACE: just $16 per line.
A classified ad with Hardlines is the most direct way to industry eyes.
Over 3,000 executives in the industry come in contact with our email and fax publications …
… and have you seen our Marketplace in our new website? https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
Publish your ad where it matters. Get industry exposure today.
Contact us at 416-489-3396 or email: buzz@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
Hardlines is published weekly (except monthly in December and August)
by McLARNEYCOM
542 Mount Pleasant Rd., Suite 302, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4S 2M7
© 2001 by Michael McLarney.
HARDLINES™ the electronic newsletter hardlines.ca
Phone: 416.489.3396; Fax: 416.489.6154
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher: mike@hardlines.ca
Eugenia Canas, Assistant Editor: buzz@hardlines.ca
Beverly Allen, Marketing Manager: bev@hardlines.ca
Nancy Wright, Circulation Manager: nancy@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
THE HARDLINES "FAIR PLAY" POLICY:
Reproduction in whole or in part is very uncool and strictly forbidden and really and truly against the law. So please, play fair! Call for information on multiple subscriptions or a site license for your company. We do want as many people as possible to read Hardlines each week — but let us handle your internal routing from this end!
______________________________________________
Subscription: $199+$13.93 GST = $212.93 per year (GST #13987 0398 RT). Secondary subscriptions at the same office are only $28 + $1.96 GST = $29.98. You can pay online by VISA at our secure website or send us money. Please make cheque payable to McLarneyCom.
HARDLINES
Canada’s electronic information service for home improvement industry
September 24, 2001
Volume vii, #39
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher
Phone: 416.489.3396
Fax: 416.489.6154
email: mike@hardlines.ca
hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/>
* * * * * *
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Rona to announce new branding strategy for Ontario stores
* Dekor chain folds its doors in the U.S.
* Rona buys Stockyards store from West Fraser
* Home Hardware puts push on Home Furniture stores
* * * * * *
DOING YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY? PLANNING THE BUDGET?
THEN YOU WILL NEED:
HARDLINES RETAIL REPORT 2001 — a turnkey PowerPoint presentation to wow your boss at planning time. This handy little presentation will give you an instant overview of the size of the market complete with charts and photos. Includes provincial breakouts, market share by retail format, growth of the big boxes, top 10 home improvement retailers and ranking of buying groups. A MUST for anyone trying to explain the Canadian market. Only $179 + taxes for Hardlines subscribers! Call 416.489.3396 to order your CD now.
"HARDLINES INDUSTRY REPORT - HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAILING IN CANADA"
This huge report offers a comprehensive overview of the size of the market, how many stores are out there, who the key players are, their market position, the size and growth of the big boxes, the trends in housing and renovations, market trends — and much, much more! 120-plus pages filled with charts, graphs and photos. Regular price: $945, only $750 for subscribers! For more information, contact Nancy Wright at nancy@hardlines.ca; phone: 416-489-3396.
(go to https://hardlines.ca/html/industry_report.html)
______________________________________________
RONA PREPARES TO SWITCH LANSING AND REVY
Rona will unveil its brand strategy for English Canada this week. The official announcement will come during the Toronto Home Show on Wednesday. However, Rona chairman Henri Drouin gave a preview of the plan to delegates at the Hardlines Marketing Conference two weeks earlier.
The announcement will involve change of Ontario Revy stores to Rona Home & Garden. The Lansing banner, a familiar one in the Toronto market since its inception in 1951, will also get consolidated, re-emerging as Rona Lansing. Revy and Revelstoke stores in Western Canada, where the name is well established, will convert on a more gradual basis.
Debate has surrounded the switching of the Lansing name. However, Cashway, another venerable name in Ontario, quickly got switched to Rona Cashway, following that takeover back in February 2000. Rona also has more than 100 traditional hardware stores and building centres in Ontario.
Rona’s experimental Home Solutions concept will not be rolled out beyond the one store in Brampton, ON. However, it has become a case study for the outer limits of "soft-DIY" merchandising, with aspects of women-friendly, style-oriented décor that will be carried over into its new big box Rona Warehouse stores, which are scheduled to open in Mississauga, Gloucester and Kingston, ON by Spring 2002.
______________________________________________
DEKOR CALLS IT QUITS BUT
OUTLOOK FOR SOFT DIY REMAINS STRONG
Dekor, the soft-DIY chain opened by former Home Depot executives Herb Biggers and Jim Inglis, has closed its doors. "We ran out of money in time to make it work," Biggers told an Atlanta newspaper.
Dekor touted itself as the harbinger of an industry-wide shift from do-it-yourself stores executed as warehouses. Averaging 80,000-sq.ft., the Dekor stores were designed to create to a women-oriented, "do-it-for-me" shopping experience.
The chain wowed the Atlanta scene when it opened four stores last January. But by early July, Dekor had laid off about 20% of its staff, closed its Douglasville, GA store, and postponed plans to expand in the Nashville area. Employees showed up for work last Monday morning only to find that the stores had been closed. Severance packages were not offered.
Biggers said Dekor has options and is exploring alternatives. Dekor could consider selling the chain or filing for bankruptcy. "We anticipate a resolution in a week," Biggers said. "We have very large investors. Selling the company is clearly one of the options we have been pursuing."
The financial difficulties have occurred despite a recently announced investment in the company by U.K. retail giant Kingfisher.
______________________________________________
RONA BUYS STOCKYARDS REVY STORE
Rona has taken back one maverick store not included in the original purchase from West Fraser Timber. An agreement in principle took effect September 19th whereby Rona purchased all the assets, including an estimated $6 million in inventory, of the Revy Home & Garden warehouse at Toronto’s Stockyards property. The deal does not include the building or the land, which is leased. The amount of the deal was not disclosed.
Sylvain Morissette, director of communications at Rona, originally said the store did not meet performance levels considered acceptable by Rona. Its sales are reportedly below $20 million. In addition, the store sits in a power centre alongside one of the highest-performing Home Depot stores in Canada and a Canadian Tire that also has reportedly high sales. Unfortunately, the Revy store sits at the end of a lane past its competitors and has yet to capitalize fully on the site’s location. A cutback in Revy’s advertising in the Toronto area has further challenged the store’s ability to grow its sales.
When Rona completed its acquisition of Revy Home Centres, there were six stores not included in the deal. The rest of the stores are in the West and remain in the hands of West Fraser.
_____________________________________________
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Home Hardware cut the ribbon on the latest expansion of its St. Jacobs, ON distribution centre this morning. The size of the Henry Sittler Building was increased by 96,000 sq.ft. to a total of 230,000 sq.ft., in part to accommodate the growth of Home Hardware’s semi-annual dealer markets. The Fall market is on currently and features more than 850 vendors.
Sears has opened its 118th store, this one in North Bay, ON. The 90,000-sq.ft. outlet reflects a $13 million investment that will include a "Brand Central" store-within-a-store featuring national brand appliances.
Kindred Industries, owned by the Franke Group of Switzerland, has announced a four-year investment plan that will put $25 million into its 124,000-sq.ft. facility in Midland, ON.
Shares of Lowe’s Cos. Inc. rose last week after a Deutsche Bank report raised its rating on the retailer. The report said Lowe's has reduced its operating return-on-assets gap with Home Depot over the past seven quarters, and added that in the first half of 2001, Lowe's new store productivity averaged 76%, compared with 60% for Home Depot. Lowe's is currently opening stores in major metropolitan markets where Home Depot has had a presence for years. Currently, just 20% of Lowe's stores are in major markets, compared with 43% of Home Depot's stores.
Lowe's Cos. in the U.S. has announced that all 713 stores nationwide will serve as official cash donation sites for the American Red Cross. The retailer joins an extensive list of companies contributing to U.S. relief efforts.
______________________________________________
CANADIAN STOCK WATCH
| COMPANY |
52-WK HIGH |
52-WK LOW |
CLOSE (FRI) |
| Canadian Tire |
25.20 |
15.05 |
21.29 |
| Canfor |
16.95 |
7.65 |
9.50 |
| Emco |
7.50 |
2.60 |
5.30 |
| Goodfellow |
11.00 |
8.00 |
8.65 |
| Home Depot |
49.74 |
47.61 |
33.11 |
| Hudson's Bay |
17.65 |
12.40 |
14.31 |
| Lowe's |
64.90 |
34.25 |
31.86 |
| Sears Canada |
37.25 |
18.55 |
13.20 |
| Taiga Forest |
10.00 |
6.80 |
7.60 |
| West Fraser |
36.50 |
21.00 |
32.50 |
______________________________________________
"Never think that war, no matter necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime."
— Ernest Hemingway
______________________________________________
MARKET INDICATORS
Retail sales fell for the second month in a row in July, says Stats Canada, reflecting lower sales by gas stations in both months. Retailers sold $24.1 billion worth of goods and services in July, 0.5% less than in June. The declines in July and June were preceded by six months of rapidly advancing sales. From January to July, retailers have sold 5.2% more than in the first seven months of 2000. This compares with a 6.6% increase in the same period of 2000.
Sales by the group of 80 large retailers in Canada totalled $6.4 billion in July, a 3.2% increase over July 2000, according to Stats Canada. Increases in health and personal care products, other goods and services, and home furnishings and electronics led the way. Excluding the clothing and food commodity groups, sales by the group of large retailers rose 6.9% compared with July 2000.
Consumers paid 2.8% more for the goods and services included in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August than they did in August 2000, says Stats Canada. While this was lower than the 3.9% increase posted in May, it was higher than July’s rate of 2.6%. The increase in the CPI partly reflects the renewed impact of energy prices, which accounted for about 16% of the all-items increase.
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.1% in August after a decline of 0.3% in July says Stats Canada, less than the 0.2% gain economists polled by Reuters had expected. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the index rose 0.2%, in line with economists’ forecasts after the same rise in July.
U.S. chain store sales slumped in the latest week, as consumers shied away from stores following terrorist strikes on New York and Washington, D.C., according to two recent reports. The Redbook Average fell 3.2% during the first two retail weeks of September, a bigger fall than last week’s 0.7% loss and compared with a target of flat sales, Redbook said.
* * * * * *
INDUSTRY NEWS. EVERY DAY —
Our website has daily updates on retail and industry news that matter to you.
Keep informed. Visit hardlines.ca <https://hardlines.ca/> . Every day.
* * * * * *
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Goodfellow Inc. has appointed four new vice-presidents, effective immediately. Out of the Campbellville, ON office, Mary Lohmus is now vice-president, building materials … James Hutton is vice-president, industrial ... Dave Warren has been named vice-president, Atlantic Canada. He will operate from the Dartmouth, NS office ... Mike Faccal, now vice-president, hardwood lumber, will operate from the Montréal office. (905-854-5800)
The Canadian Hardware & Building Materials Show has appointed Lindsay O’Handley to the show sales team as business development associate. Mr. O’Handley’s career includes a senior sales position with Delta International Machinery, and most recently with Ryobi Canada as national sales manager. (905-821-3470)
Bruce Pippard has joined ITW Construction Products as retail business unit manager. He was formerly with Hagen as national sales manager. (416-750-0557)
Al D’Addese has been appointed national account team leader at Lepage, division of Henkel Canada. He comes over from Rubbermaid, where he was national account manager. (905-459-1140)
Paul Secen has been promoted at Stanley Works to oversee global procurement, purchased products. He was formerly national marketing manager for Stanley Hardware and Stanley Tools. (905-825-1981)
______________________________________________
NOTED ...
The BSDA of B.C. will host its next trade show and convention March 8-9, 2002. "Westcoast 2002" will host some 200 booths at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The conference portion will take place at the Executive Inn in Coquitlam. For more information on this growing event, contact the BSDA at: 888-711-5656 or 604-513-2205.
______________________________________________
OVERHEARD ...
"I cannot comment on why Dekor closed, but I think that it will not affect soft DIY. There must be other reasons. If anything, the events of [September 11] will increase cocooning. It will be more in style than ever to stay home and to improve the home. This will affect soft DIY positively." — Henry Drouin, chairman of Rona Inc., on the failure of Dekor, a small startup in the U.S. Rona had launched its own soft-DIY concept called Rona Home Solutions, which has not generated the sales the new concept warranted.
______________________________________________
* * * * HARDLINES MARKETPLACE* * * *
Check out Hardlines Classifieds on the web:
https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
______________________________________________
NORAL MARKETING:
Representing leading manufacturers since 1986.
We ensure high profile retail presence for a wide range of product lines.
Why not make yours one of them?
www.noralmarketing.com <http://www.noralmarketing.com/> or call 519-439-6800 ext. 201
* * * * * *
OUTSIDE SALES BUILDING MATERIALS,
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO:
Goodfellow Inc. is looking for a BUILDING MATERIALS SALES REPRESENTATIVE, Southwestern Ontario. Some of the products included in the line are hardwood, flooring, pre-finished siding, ceiling tile, lumber and panels.
The candidate must possess a minimum of 3 years of sales and marketing experience, as well as be self-motivated, organized, energetic and personable.
Submit your résumé to: Mary Lohmus, VP Building Materials, Goodfellow Inc., PO Box 460; 9184 Twiss Rd., Campbellville, ON; L0P 1B0; email: mlohmus@goodfellowinc.com; fax: 905-854-6104.
* * * * * *
VICE-PRESIDENT RESIDENTIAL MARKETS:
Looking for a superior opportunity with a branded, multi-divisional manufacturer? This is it.
Business is good, and it’s time to add a Sales and Marketing leader to direct the strategic planning process and drive unprecedented growth in both the Retail (DIY, LBM, Mass Merchants and Co-ops) and new home construction (builders, remodelers, home service organizations) channels.
Based in the Canadian corporate office in Toronto, you’ll also provide collaborative input to the U.S. parent for sales and marketing strategy alignment, utilizing their strong brand management support team. In addition, you will develop and direct the Canadian Sales and Trade Marketing group.
Among your verifiable skills are both strategic planning and tactical execution in the home improvement and new construction markets. You’re as comfortable presenting programs in front of the Customer as you are putting forward your plans to the company President for approval. "Hitting the home run" would appropriately describe some of your individual and team-based business successes.
Rewards include a generous compensation package including salary, bonus, company vehicle, pension, and deferred profit sharing plan coupled with a dynamic, professional work environment.
Please contact Wolf Gugler, quoting file #02-114. Confidentiality is assured. Wolf Gugler & Associates Limited, 1370 Don Mills Road, Suite 300, Don Mills, ON; M3B 3N7; Phone: 416-386-1719; email: admin@wolfgugler.com; website: http://www.wolfgugler.com <http://www.wolfgugler.com/>
* * * * * *
RETAIL SALES CONSULTANT:
Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., a worldwide leader in hardware supply and distribution with operations in Markham, Brantford and Calgary, has an immediate vacancy for the position of RETAIL SALES CONSULTANT–Saskatchewan and Manitoba Region.
As the successful candidate, you will have five or more years sales experience in the wholesale hardware or LBM Industry with extensive knowledge of how to provide effective support to retail hardware customers. At Ace Canada, "effective support" means listening and responding to the needs of our customers; attending to detail and providing consistent follow-up. You have a reasonable knowledge of how to use computers to advantage; and most of all, you are highly organized and capable of working both independently and as part of the team.
Ace Canada offers a competitive compensation package and career potential. If you are qualified for this position, please fax or e-mail your résumé, including salary history/expectations to: Vice-President, Operations and Administration, Ace Hardware Canada Ltd., 80 Micro Court, 3rd Floor, Markham, ON; L3R 9Z5; fax 905-475-2721; e-mail: stan.sauer@acehardware.ca
* * * * * *
MARKETING DIRECTOR:
Sexton Group Ltd. operates as a buying group for approximately 275 building supply members located from Ontario to British Columbia. It also has an affiliation with a buying group serving the greater Toronto area and with a buying group serving Québec.
To serve our members with competitive buying programs, with the best prices, terms and conditions, we require an individual to perform the function of MARKETING DIRECTOR.
Working from our Winnipeg office and traveling frequently, the incumbent will meet with members to understand and respond to their needs. The incumbent will also negotiate purchase arrangements with new and existing suppliers and be responsible for various member programs such as flyers and private label programs.
The ideal candidate will have a background in sales and marketing, preferable in the retail and wholesale building materials industry, computer literacy, superior human relation skills, and growth potential.
Please submit your résumé in confidence to: Bob Mondy, Vice-President and General Manager, Sexton Group Ltd., 46 — 1313 Border Street, Winnipeg, MB; R3H 0X3.
For further information, visit our website: http://www.sextongroup.com <http://www.sextongroup.com/>
* * * * * *
THE HARDLINES MARKETPLACE: just $16 per line.
A classified ad with Hardlines is the most direct way to industry eyes.
Over 3,000 executives in the industry come in contact with our email and fax publications …
… and have you seen our Marketplace in our new website? https://hardlines.ca/html/classifieds_new.asp
Publish your ad where it matters. Get industry exposure today.
Contact us at 416-489-3396 or email: buzz@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
Hardlines is published weekly (except monthly in December and August)
by McLARNEYCOM
542 Mount Pleasant Rd., Suite 302, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4S 2M7
© 2001 by Michael McLarney.
HARDLINES™ the electronic newsletter hardlines.ca
Phone: 416.489.3396; Fax: 416.489.6154
Michael McLarney, Editor & Publisher: mike@hardlines.ca
Eugenia Canas, Assistant Editor: buzz@hardlines.ca
Beverly Allen, Marketing Manager: bev@hardlines.ca
Nancy Wright, Circulation Manager: nancy@hardlines.ca
______________________________________________
THE HARDLINES "FAIR PLAY" POLICY:
Reproduction in whole or in part is very uncool and strictly forbidden and really and truly against the law. So please, play fair! Call for information on multiple subscriptions or a site license for your company. We do want as many people as possible to read Hardlines each week — but let us handle your internal routing from this end!
______________________________________________
Subscription: $199+$13.93 GST = $212.93 per year (GST #13987 0398 RT). Secondary subscriptions at the same office are only $28 + $1.96 GST = $29.98. You can pay online by VISA at our secure website or send us money. Please make cheque payable to McLarneyCom.