September 19, 2016 Volume xxii, #35

“Hey, hey, my, my, rock and roll will never die.”
—Neil Young (Canadian musician, songwriter, author, and screenwriter,
1945- )

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Orgill expands Canadian infrastructure

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hardware wholesaler Orgill has been making changes to its Canadian operation in recent weeks. These include the continued expansion of its Canadian field service organization and accelerated plans to expand deliveries to Canadian retail customers on Orgill operated trucks. 

The recent consolidation of the buying function across the company into the Memphis head office meant the closure of the buying office in London, Ont., but it reflects a continuation of its North American approach to the market. This, says Orgill, will better facilitate the integration of goods from Canadian manufacturers into its worldwide product offering—available to all Orgill customers. 

Orgill adds that it has also significantly increased staffing at its London distribution centre to accommodate an additional 25,000 SKUs to the London assortment, bringing London’s total to nearly 60,000 items available to all Canadian customers.

Since Orgill Canada acquired Chalifour last year, the company has converted all procurement and replenishment over to the Orgill buying system. Orgill’s purchasing team in Memphis will work with all Orgill Canada vendors through the transition.

Currently, nearly three dozen Canadian territory representatives service Orgill customers throughout Canada, more than twice the number of a year ago. Similarly, the number of Canadian-based drivers has grown from just three last year to 13 currently, and is projected to more than double by the end of 2016.

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Lowe’s formalizes business units and banners

MONTREAL — At its recent RONA dealer show in Montreal, Lowe’s Canada unveiled the new structure for the company and its banners. They are: Big Box, including Lowe’s and RONA L’éntrepôt/Home & Garden; Proximity, the name RONA has historically used for its mid-sized home centres and building centres, all under the RONA name; Affiliate Dealers, using RONA and Ace; and the Pro/Reno-Depot business, which consists of Reno-Depot, Dick’s Lumber in Burnaby, B.C., Marcil in the Montreal region, and its fledgling Contractor First banner.

Within that structure, Lowe’s outlined five key “brand propositions.” For its large-format stores, it aims to move most RONA Home & Garden big boxes to the Lowe’s name within the next three years. The RONA big boxes in Quebec, which bear the L’éntrepôt name, will be reconsidered over time. (In a separate interview with HARDLINES, Lowe’s Canada President and CEO Sylvain Prud’homme said he’d “let the customer decide,” adding “I can’t confirm what the brand will be in Quebec.”)

The Lowe’s business falls under the aegis of Jim Caldwell, who heads up the Lowe’s banner’s regional support centre in the Greater Toronto Area.

RONA will remain the banner for the building centres. Serge Ethier is the EVP in charge of the proximity stores. For the stores that are independently owned, Philippe Element, VP, dealer sales and support, oversees those that are bannered under RONA. Ace will be targeted at smaller stores that specialize in hardware, seasonal, and paint. Bill Morrison is the vice president of the Ace Canada Division. Both men report to Alain Brisebois, EVP, affiliate dealers and shared services.

Reno-Depot is a large-format strategy that is aimed at the contractor and heavy DIYer. So far, that banner remains in the province of Quebec. Because of its pro focus, it remains within the pro business unit. Guy Beaumier is the EVP in charge of the pro/Reno-Depot business.

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Next year’s lawn & garden trends from the International Garden Fair

COLOGNE, Germany — A number of trends, including retro stylings, were in evidence at the recent international trade show for the lawn and garden sector, spoga+gafa.

About 2,000 exhibitors from 60 countries gathered in Cologne from September 4 to 6, showcasing the latest in open-air lifestyle furnishings and accessories.

A trend called “attentive gardening” focuses on getting personally grounded by immersing oneself in gardening and yard work in one’s outdoor space. The notion is to create a refuge that enhances a gardener’s sense of well-being in the midst of nature, offering a contrast to the hectic pace of everyday life.

“Classics reloaded” promises to be one of the big hits of the 2016-17 season. For example, manufacturers are re-discovering the classic garden furniture forms like the Hollywood rocking chair and the foldable beach chair. At the same time, classic indoor looks such as the ’60s-style sofa will make a statement on the deck or patio. Classics are turning up even among gardening preferences, which accounts for the current boom in old types of vegetables such as chard, parsnips, and turnips.

Manufacturers of sunshades are creating multi-functional umbrellas with integrated LEDs, infra-red heating, and even loudspeakers. As for the materials themselves, cement is in. Whether for tea-lights or small pieces of furniture, this robust material creates a clean, modern ambiance.

For outdoor cooks, barbecues are becoming increasingly multi-functional, with models that can grill, smoke, and roast all in one. High-tech innovations include food thermometers with sensors that transmit data on the food’s internal temperature directly to the user’s smartphone via Bluetooth. And some models can be controlled with a mobile phone. The user can link up with the “smart grille” on wifi and control the temperature, monitor the grilling time, or start the self-cleaning process with an app.

(For more info on these products and the show itself, go to www.spogagafa.com.)

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Back-to-school spending means more expenditures and more worries

TORONTO — Back-to-school spending just keeps climbing, according to a new report by savings website www.RetailMeNot.ca. And those costs have become more stressful for parents than ever before. In fact, 92% of Canadians agree that purchasing back-to-school items can be a financial burden on families.

RetailMeNot is a digital savings destination connecting consumers with retailers, restaurants, and brands, both online and in-store. 

This year, Canadian parents are expecting to spend an average of $472 on their child for back-to-school shopping, $143 more than what they expected to spend last year. 

What's causing this increased spending? The survey suggests that part of the reason is the students themselves, with 73% of parents agreeing that kids today have lavish expectations when it comes to back-to-school shopping. In addition, parents are feeling the pressure to keep up. Four out of five believe kids are becoming increasingly spoiled each year and 78% of parents admit they spend more on their child’s wardrobe than on their own clothes. 

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Tanbir Grover at Lowe’s Companies Canada has a new title. He’s now vice president, ecommerce and omnichannel. He was formerly senior director, ecommerce. Also at Lowe’s Canada, Igor Halencak, formerly head of marketing and merchandising, is now in charge of global sourcing and procurement.

Lowe’s Companies in the U.S. has announced that James K. Han has joined its executive team as senior vice president of business development. He reports to Chief Development Officer Richard D. Maltsbarger. He was most recently VP for global marketing, product management, and business development with Tyco International’s retail business.

Burlington Merchandising & Fixtures has hired Bill Blackborow in support of its growing manufacturing operation. Bill brings more than 35 years of experience in quality, safety, and people systems. He helps BMF position itself for further expansion in support of new and existing clients.

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CLASSIFIED ADS

Position:  President – Soo Mill

Company Background

Soo Mill & Lumber Company Limited is a family owned business that was founded in 1915, and now has celebrated it 101st anniversary.  Soo Mill has two stores in Northern Ontario; one located in Sault Ste. Marie and one in Elliot Lake, combined employing 100 employees.  Soo Mill also operate a Truss Plant in Sault Ste. Marie focused on manufacturing trusses for residential and commercial building throughout Northern Ontario and the upper Michigan Peninsula.

Soo Mill has been recognized on multiple occasions for its strong community involvement and pro-activeness to help improve the communities they are involved in.  Soo Mill will continue to strive to increase their community participation as a partner.

Soo Mill is searching for its next President.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President of Soo Mill is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors. The President has overall authority and accountability to ensure the appropriate systems, processes, policies, and staff are in place for Soo Mill to function effectively and safely, while recognizing and addressing risks to the organization and its stakeholders. As chief spokesperson, the President is also responsible for the ethical conduct of Soo Mill management and staff, internally and within the community.

The ideal candidate will bring the following professional attributes, experience and knowledge

• 7 to 10 years of executive management experience in a Building Materials & Supplies setting
• Strong experience reporting to, and working with, a Board of Directors
• Strong experience with building and maintain relationships with outside contractors
• Demonstrated leadership, team building and decision making skills
• Excellent negotiations, conflict resolution and consensus building skills
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Budgetary planning and financial management acumen
• Demonstrated ability to delegate, combined with performance management
• Demonstrated success at team building through accountability
• Senior management experience with a unionized work place is desirable
• Experience in retail, lumberyards and heavy equipment
• University or College degree, or equivalent experience

Contact and Application Process:
This search is being conducted by Credence HR, a HR recruitment and service group, on behalf of our client. To submit your resume, please visit: credencehr.ca/careers to upload your resume and cover letter for this position (in one document) by September 23rd, 2016.

For additional information please reach out to Chris Shamess at 705-256-9706.

We thank all applicants for applying, however, only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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