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Michael McLarney, President & Editor mike@hardlines.ca Beverly Allen, Publisher bev@hardlines.ca John Caulfield, Contributing Editor Phone: 416-489-3396 |
| September 8, 2008, Vol. xiv, #33 | |
| In This Issue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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“No man ever wrote, but a blockhead, except for money.” —Samuel Johnson (poet, essayist, novelist, and lexicographer, 1709-1784) |
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| Home Depot opens another LEED-certified store | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TORONTO — Home Depot Canada opened its third LEED-registered store on Sept. 4, this one in Pickering, ON, just east of Toronto. The design of the new, 115,000-sq.ft. store addresses three areas that account for a high level of energy or resource consumption: electricity, water, and gas, while also reducing waste and pollution.LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the point score used by the Canadian Green Building Council to help new and existing buildings become more environmentally friendly. Home Depot has already built two LEED-certified stores, one in Calgary in 2006 and another in Bowmanville, ON earlier this year. On average, a LEED-certified store saves 157,680 kilowatts of energy annually, based on a 12-hour workday.
Features of the new store include a solar reflector roof to cool the building, special light fixtures that work on occupancy and timing, photocell sensors that regulate lights according to the time of day, and sensor-operated faucets and toilets to conserve water. The building was constructed with mostly local materials and the company ensured that contractors disposed of materials properly.
Additional enviro-touches include bicycle racks and showers for the employees. All staff have been trained to recycle plastic, cardboard, glass, and metal materials.
“Since 1994, Home Depot has been educating customers by offering Eco Options products and programs to exchange and recycle old, inefficient products. We are committed to continuing to enhance the way we operate to ensure that we are making environmentally conscious decisions every step of the way,” said Annette Verschuren, president, Home Depot Canada and Asia, in a prepared release.
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| Canadian Tire’s newest campaign goes for the heart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TORONTO — Canadian Tire Corp. rolled out a new ad campaign for its retail business this past weekend that is less about product and more about the emotional ties of family. Led by an initial ad that will appear on TV and in movie theatres, it features a series of quick, soft-focus, family-oriented vignettes showing people interacting with each other — and with products from Canadian Tire. Each scene is superimposed with a tag-line: for example, child taking her first bike ride (“For days like today”), a man working lovingly on a vintage car in his garage (“or days with old friends”), youngsters playing road hockey on a dark winter evening (“For days that turn into nights”), and a toddler tossing toy soldiers into an overflowing toilet (“For days of discovery”). The soundtrack, a whistling tune that sounds like an upbeat reworking of the theme from the old "Leave it to Beaver television series ” underscores a new direction for Canadian Tire. For the past couple of years, a series of light-hearted ads have focused on product – and where to find it in the store. For eight years before that, two actors (Ted and Gloria) were the unbearably efficient, resourceful—and gadget laden—couple in an unnamed suburban home continually offering advice and tools to neighbours. Though they became maddeningly familiar after so many years, insiders say the campaign was wildly successful for the company. The ad reflects a new internal strategy developed by Canadian Tire, which is intended to drive it for the next five years. “The new campaign is emotionally driven and focuses on the special role CTR plays in improving family life,” says Joanne Elson, a spokesperson for Canadian Tire. The new campaign has been devised by the Toronto agency TAXI. |
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| Buoyant Newfoundland economy puts pressure on trucking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MONCTON — The economy in Atlantic Canada remains strong, even following poor weather during the first five months of the year. Warm weather is keeping business strong into September, and that’s expected to last into October, says Don Sherwood, president of the Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association. “Atlantic Canada is moving along quite nicely – we’re staying the course – and I expect the last part of the year to remain very strong,” he adds.The hot spot down east is undoubtedly Newfoundland. Fueled by the energy sector, this province is enjoying an unprecedented boom, and for some suppliers, that puts pressure on their ability to get product to market. Drivers are reluctant — and even refusing — to take loads to Newfoundland without the assurance that the truck will be full on the trip back, as well. “Newfoundland is definitely a hot market. We might have between 12 and 20 truckloads a day heading to Newfoundland,” says John Morrissey, general manager – Atlantic Canada for Lighthouse Lumber, a Division of AFA. But because the resource-rich economy there is not generating a lot of goods that are shipped by truck, the trucks have no load, or backhaul, for the return trip, putting pressure on the cost and availability of trucks. And the closing of companies there like Lafarge, which, in its heyday, would run up to 100 trucks a week, has only exacerbated the situation. “It’s a white-hot economy,” Morrissey points out. “It’s not like anything I’ve seen. But there aren’t any more wood, gypsum, or pulp exports coming out of Newfoundland that drivers can backhaul.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ILDC cancels vendor meeting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AJAX, ON — Independent Lumber Dealers Co-operative has cancelled a vendor meeting scheduled for Sept. 10. The meeting, which was to be held at Toronto Renaissance Airport Hotel, was cancelled based on “vendor input”, according to a letter issued by ILDC general manager Andrew Battagliotti. He further says that input will be reviewed by the buying group’s Transition Committee “to determine the best way to communicate our planned direction and strategies for 2009”.ILDC comprises two dozen of the industry’s largest home improvement retailers, representing more than 150 points of sale and $2 billion in retail sales annually. However, recent defections have made a dent in the group’s purchasing power. The latest to leave was Potvin & Bouchard, acquired last month by a group of dealers within Le Groupe BMR. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| German garden show showcases latest L&G trends | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 COLOGNE, Germany — spoga+gafa, the International Trade Fair for Sport, Camping and Garden Lifestyle and International Garden Trade Fair, hosted the worldwide garden and leisure market as 2,155 suppliers from 57 countries presented their new products and services to an estimated 41,500 trade visitors – including a growing number from Eastern Europe — in almost three million sq.ft. of exhibition space. The appeal of the show continues to grow, as more than one-third (38%) of attendees were first-timers.Going green was a big trend that is expected to keep the sector growing, even though that market is benefiting from one of the most disastrous effects of environmental degradation, global warming. As summers get longer, people are simply staying outdoors longer.
Other trends at the show:
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| Want your business to thrive in today’s economy? Come to the HARDLINES CONFERENCE. Sit elbow to elbow with the vendors and retailers who understand the power of information and networking. “The conference is unique for the variety and nature of the speakers, as well as any discussion that happens in hallways, at dinner tables or in evening discussions.” -Bill Morrison, President & CEO, TruServ Canada Inc |
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Speakers - Registration
Questions contact Brady at 416-489-3396 |
| COMPANIES IN THE NEWS |
| MILTON, ON — Landscape Ontario is working to create the first nationwide post-consumer horticultural plastics recycling program in the world. A movement is underway to restrict plastic containers. To date, water bottles and plastic bags are the most visible targets in the discussion. Items that are targeted include plastic garden pots, trays, tags, irrigation pipes and greenhouse poly. The partnership will include recycling companies, pot manufacturers, garden centres, nurseries and growers. Pots, trays and tags would be collected directly from consumers at centres right across Canada. Landscape Ontario is investigating funding for the recycling program.MOORESVILLE, NC — Lowe’s Cos. is talking with property owners about putting its first store within San Francisco’s city limits. The San Francisco Chronicle quotes Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, who says that Lowe’s — which already operates 11 stores around the San Francisco Bay Area — is discussing opening a store within her district, in the space that the retailer’s rival Home Depot recently decided not to build on as part of its decision, earlier this year, to take 50 planned stores out of its expansion plans. OAK BROOK , IL — Ace Hardware again lived up to its reputation as the “The Helpful Place” in 2008, receiving top honors for its excellent customer service from Corporate Research International (CRI). For the past 13 consecutive quarters, CRI has ranked Ace Hardware number-one in the home improvement retail category, based on the results of its “Real People Ratings” consumer opinion survey. LONDON — Still beleaguered by the slow economy in the U.K., home improvement retailer B&Q is reportedly demanding pay cuts for kitchen designers on staff in its stores. The move is considered a way of capping salaries for these workers, who currently can earn commissions in addition to their base salary. TORONTO — Through the September back-to-school period, Sears Canada is installing “pop-up” stores at four universities in Ontario — Brock, Western, McMaster and Queens. The temporary locations will be about 900 sq.ft and feature a “store-within-a-mobile-tent” concept, with an array of products for university living, ranging from housewares and home decor, to bed and bath, electronics, and cosmetics. TEMISCAMING, QC — Tembec, the forestry products supplier, announced limited production curtailments at two of its pulp mills in an effort to balance inventory levels. The company’s Temcell hardwood high-yield pulp mill in Temiscaming stopped production on Aug. 31 for one week, while its softwood kraft pulp mill located in Tarascon, France, will be remain idle for two weeks commencing September 10. TORONTO — Canadian Tire has formed a five-year partnership with Intertek to enhance Canadian Tire’s quality management strategy. Intertek will provide Canadian Tire with consulting services in the area of product development and safety solutions. CORRECTION: Last week we incorrectly identified a recent acquisition by UFA Co-operative Ltd. The company is Wholesale Sports. |
| PEOPLE ON THE MOVE |
Bill Lee has taken over as managing director of the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA). Lee’s contact with NRHA began when the  association became a client of his marketing and graphic design company, Applegate Designs. After 12 years, he was brought in-house to spearhead marketing efforts for the association and its magazine as director of marketing in August 1996. Less than a year later, he was given the added title of director of catalogue operations. He was promoted to vice-president – catalogues and creative services in December 2003. In his new role as managing director, his goal is to continue serving the education and training needs of retailers to help them become better, more profitable retailers. Lee succeeds John Hammond, who retired after 38 years of service to the industry.(317-290-0338)Peter Land is the new regional sales representative for Buchner Manufacturing, a Pefferlaw, ON-based building products supplier. He was formerly with Kaycan Industries. (800-461-6455) |
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OVERHEARD |
| “Merchandising is the middle ground between the retailer and the vendor.” —Bruce Smith, VP, DMD Ltd., a Toronto retail design firm. |
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Resumés |
| A proven sales record with key national accounts and their independent dealers in the hardware, building materials, and paint industries and superior business development skills. |
| Highly effective relationship management skills with a track record of developing and executing programs effectively. Strong strategic thinking and management background. Solid propensity for team building, coaching, mentoring and developing others. A competitive manager with a proven sales, marketing, merchandising and, leadership record. |
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