Join us for two days of information, trends, and networking at the 2023 Hardlines Conference on Oct. 17 and 18. This year, we take the show on the road to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, B.C.

But: we are already signing up a great group of delegates, which means that hotel rooms for the Hardlines Conference are 80 percent booked up. The cut-off date for our special room rates starting at $309 is Sept. 21. (Please book your room directly by phone at 1-800-441-1414 or online here. Cite the Hardlines Conference or use group code 1023HARD_001 for the special rate.)

In Whistler, you’ll have access to some great networking events. On Oct. 16, the evening before the conference starts officially, delegates can gather for the RONA Pub Night at Merlin’s Bar and Grill. It’s guaranteed to be a great way to catch up with colleagues and customers in a relaxed setting. Then, on Oct. 17, at the end of day one of the conference, Home Hardware will host its annual cocktail reception, which precedes the gala dinner to honour the winners of this year’s Outstanding Retailer Awards. All the major banners are signed up for gala dinner, so don’t miss out!

Our host hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, is a world-class resort. It’s famous for its luxurious spa and health club, which offers full access to indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, eucalyptus steam rooms, and fitness facilities.

We want you to make the most out of your time at the conference, and there are endless autumn activities in Whistler. Cozy up by an evening bonfire, breathe in the crisp alpine air on a scenic hike, or indulge in locally inspired seasonal cuisine. There’s yoga, historic walks, wine tours, and tons of nature to enjoy. You can get a full list of the many activities available—besides the Hardlines Conference—by clicking here.

The 27th annual Hardlines Conference (oh yeah, we’ve been doing this for a long time!) takes place Oct. 17 and 18 in Whistler, B.C. Take advantage of a 20 percent discount on your conference registration!

New product trends at Home Hardware’s latest dealer show, again in Toronto

Home Hardware Stores Ltd. held its dealer market in Toronto last week, for the second year in a row. This year’s market, called Homecoming, again drew dealers from across the country to see new products, merchandising ideas, and services.

On an exclusive tour of the show floor before the market opened, led by Home Hardware’s assistant manager of public relations, Alysha Kearney (shown here, centre), Hardlines got a preview of the products and trends being presented.

For decades, the show was held right in Home Hardware’s distribution centre and was part of the fabric of the town of St. Jacobs, Ont., where Home Hardware has its head office facilities. The Kitchener-Waterloo region would fill up with thousands of people: dealers, their families and staff, as well as vendors, twice a year for decades.

During Covid, Home Hardware moved to a virtual show, a typical strategy for much of the world during that time. Then, last year, the retailer returned to an in-person event, relocated it to the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto, and reduced the frequency to once a year.

The move was due to a range of factors, including the need for more space and the heightened level of technological sophistication of the DC’s updated order-picking system, which would be disrupted by mounting the event on the warehouse floor.

As in the past, one of the first categories dealers face walking into the main hall of the Enercare Centre is the outdoor living products. Home Hardware is investing big in new models and styles of patio furniture and outdoor living amenities. That includes the company’s “Basics” program of affordable products, which includes patio chairs and tables. Outdoor power equipment is relying on more battery power—including a riding lawn mower this year—and quieter performance.

The market serves as a platform for Home’s launch of its paint brand’s colour of the year and this event was no exception. BeautiTone’s “Illumina” has been recognized this year. It’s “a soft yellow with notes of red, a nostalgic pop of cheerful colour,” according to a release. Even the name, which is derived from the Latin word for “illuminate,” aims to address the colour’s ability to lighten up a space.

(We’ll have more to report on the Home Hardware Homecoming market in next week’s eye-popping edition of Hardlines Weekly Report.—Editor)

Home Depot’s ESG report leads way as retailers double down on ethical concerns

For many businesses, maximizing returns for shareholders is no longer enough. Corporate social responsibility, or environmental, social, and governance (ESG), reports are increasingly claiming prominence alongside quarterly results. Younger consumers in particular are interested in investing in—and working for—brands that prioritize the ethical impact of their business.

A study by market research firm First Insight found that Gen Z consumers (those born since the mid-’90s) take ecological factors seriously into account, to the point that almost three-quarters will choose to pay more for a sustainably produced product. Meanwhile, Nielsen has found that three-quarters of millennials will adjust their buying habits in relation to ecological concerns.

It’s not surprising, then, that many companies are complementing their financial updates with ESG reports. Take Home Depot. This summer, the retailer published its annual ESG report outlining progress on various environmental and socially aware pillars, ranging from production and supply to packaging and sourcing. In 2022, the company says, it reduced its carbon emissions by some 92,000 metric tons—equivalent to taking more than 20,000 cars off the road for a year.

In the “goals in progress” section, the report stated that all private-brand fibre packaging for new products will be compostable, recyclable, or contain recycled content by 2027. By the end of fiscal 2028, more than 85 percent of U.S. and Canadian sales in outdoor power equipment will run on rechargeable battery technology instead of gas.

A spokesperson for Home Depot Canada told Hardlines that “sustainability is a driving force behind the success of our business.”

RONA inc. and predecessor Lowe’s Canada, for their part, have made battery recycling efforts an anchor of their commitment to greening the economy. Home Hardware introduced the first two electric vehicles to its truck fleet in the spring. Manufacturers like Stanley Black & Decker are providing updates on their corporate responsibility efforts too.

Another front where companies are seeking to act responsibly is Indigenous relations. IKEA Canada has been particularly active in this area. It launched its first Indigenous-designed showroom in Edmonton in 2020; another opened in Calgary early this year. Last year, all IKEA Canada stores hosted art installations created by The Canadian Library in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and children.

Hudson’s Bay Co. announced last fall that it would direct gross profits from its iconic wool point blankets to a new fund for Indigenous initiatives.

As new generations of consumers come of age, ethical, environmental, and diversity concerns will only grow in prominence. Savvy retailers will need to be prepared to market to a conscientious clientele.

RONA inc. is celebrating the third anniversary of its VIPpro program this month. As loyalty programs and rewards platforms become a hot strategic tool for retailers, RONA has held on to, and invested in, this program that is aimed at its contractor and builder customers.

Through Sept. 20, RONA is hosting a series of events at most of its stores, which include promotional events, contests, and workshops.

Launched on September 10, 2020, at the time by Lowe’s Canada, the program was unique to the Canadian operations and was implemented in all Lowe’s, RONA, and Réno-Dépôt corporate stores. The VIPpro app was developed by Toronto-based Kinetic Commerce. The program provides discounts and bulk buying for contractors, as well as business supports and digital interaction with RONA stores, all through a dedicated app. Users can view their purchasing data, special offers, and profile information on their mobile device, in addition to their complete purchasing history.

At the stores, contractors have dedicated entrances and parking, early opening hours, and priority curbside pickup available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Services to contractors through VIPpro are constantly being enhanced with new initiatives. For example, a VIPpro application and an in-store IT platform generating instant quotes for appliances have been developed.

The Canadian Home Products Trade Association has announced its 2023 Industry Hall of Fame inductees. They are Peter Stojanov, retired owner and president of Onward Sales & Marketing, Burlington, Ont.; Al Tulloch, retired owner and president of McDonald Sales, Milton, Ont.; Harry Jacobs, vice-president of sales and marketing, Ideal Security, LaSalle, Que; and Richard Lépine, retired partner and vice-president, LM2 Marketing, Laval, Que. Stojanov and Tulloch will be inducted at a CHPTA reception at Royal Woodbine Golf Club in Toronto on Nov. 2. Jacobs and Lépine will be inducted at an event at the DOCK619 event facility in Longueuil, Que., on Nov. 23.

DID YOU KNOW...?

… that the Hardlines Conference is just weeks away in Whistler, B.C.? Delegates already registered include some of the leading dealers on the west coast, plus representatives from major companies including Taiga, Peavey, Johns Manville, RONA, Home Hardware, Home Depot, BMR, GSW, Castle, Orgill, Sexton Group, Federated Co-op, and more. The conference takes place Oct. 17 and 18. Take advantage of a 20 percent discount on your conference registration!

RETAILER NEWS

Canadian Tire Corp. is introducing new retail destinations exclusively serving customers in the industrial sector. Called Mark’s WorkPro-L’Équipeur Pro, they will sell workwear for the pro market. Four stores are planned for this year: the first location opened last week in Edmonton, with further openings slated for Toronto, Montreal, and St. Catharines, Ont.

RONA inc. has announced it will convert nine more Lowe’s stores to the RONA+ banner. The stores are in British Columbia (Vancouver Grandview, Nanaimo, Victoria Langford, Victoria Tillicum, Abbotsford), Saskatchewan (Regina South, Saskatoon West), and Manitoba (Winnipeg East, Winnipeg South). The stores will remain open during the conversions.

Lee Valley Tools has completed another acquisition of one of its supplier manufacturers. This time, it has added Leigh Tools in Port Coquitlam, B.C., to its roster of specialty tool makers that have been brought in-house. This deal follows two other acquisitions we announced earlier this month: Hock Tools and The Beall Tool Co.

Clarington Home Hardware Building Centre recently celebrated its grand opening following a series of updates and renovations. The store, located in Bowmanville, Ont., east of Toronto, welcomed the local community with a ribbon cutting, special vendors, an ice cream truck, and giveaways.

Tractor Supply Co., the U.S., the farm and ranch hardware retailer (it calls itself a “rural lifestyle retailer”) held its annual week-long “Pet Appreciation Days” last week. It featured special deals on pet food, treats, toys and accessories, a nationwide adoption event, and a pet contest. On Saturday, the retailer hosted a central adoption event which welcomed local shelters and rescue groups. Customers who adopted a pet received a special gift bag including samples and coupons.

Montreal-based discount chain Dollarama reported second-quarter sales of $1.46 billion, up from $1.22 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales for the quarter surged by 15.5 percent. CEO Neil Rossy said the company expects the strong demand from inflation-weary shoppers “to persist through the second half of the year in the current macro-economic context.”

Jeld-Wen Holding has been named to Newsweek’s inaugural list of the World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2023, making it the only window and door manufacturer on the list. The World’s Most Trustworthy Companies were identified through an independent survey based on a sample of more than 70,000 participants in 23 industries from 21 countries.

West Fraser Timber Co. has entered into an agreement to acquire Spray Lake Sawmills in Cochrane, Alta. The $140 million deal is expected to close later this year following completion of necessary regulatory reviews. Spray Lake Sawmills produces treated wood products, dimensional lumber, and a variety of wood residuals and bi-products. It has an annual lumber capacity of 155 million board feet.

Innovair Solutions has invested in Industrie Orkan inc., a manufacturer of air quality products based in Saint-Hubert, Que. The company manufactures Epurair brand products, which are sold in Canada and the U.S. Industrie Orkan will continue to operate under the leadership of brothers Daniel and Simon Labrecque. Headquartered in L’Islet, Que., Innovair Solutions is owned by the Beaulieu family.

The latest edition of Hardlines Dealer News is now available. In this issue, we look at what makes buyers tick, what the arrival of Scene+ at Home Hardware means to dealers, and the challenge of combatting theft. Hardlines Dealer News is monthly and it’s free: click here to subscribe now!