|
September 26, 2016 Volume
xxii, #36
“Only the mediocre are always at their best.”
—Jean Giraudoux (French diplomat and novelist, 1882-1944)
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Gypsum tariff is creating widespread shortages
NATIONAL REPORT — Following the imposition of a tariff on gypsum drywall sold in Western Canada, reports of shortages are coming in from as far away as Ontario.
Suppliers in Ontario have confirmed that product is being shipped out west, creating shortages locally. One supplier calls the current state of affairs “complete chaos” as builders and contractors look for new sources of supply.
They are also faced with huge increases in raw materials for jobs that would have been quoted on previous to the imposition of the tariffs. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal found reasonable evidence of gypsum dumping by U.S. suppliers selling into Western Canada and imposed the tariff on drywall imports to that part of the country. This action is increasing drywall costs by as much as 50 to 60%. As the only drywall producer with manufacturing in Western Canada, CertainTeed Gypsum Canada filed the original complaint in opposition to the dumping.
A spokesperson for Georgia Pacific, one of the suppliers required to pay the tariff to the Canadian government, said, “We intend to strongly oppose the imposition of these import measures. GP objects to Canadian government interference in the market,” adding that “we believe in a free market.”
Even though that market spans two borders, with built-in disparities in pricing and availability, the GP spokesperson said the prices paid by U.S. and Canadian customers “are comparable,” and that the tariff was extreme. “The tariff charges do not reflect the disparity in the pricing and regional differences.”
Home builders are speaking out, as well. “The scope of the anti-dumping investigation only considers the domestic market for drywall producers, not the impact on the rest of the industry and end-users,” said Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders Association. “There was not sufficient attention paid to the unintended downstream effects of this decision or the implications for the public interest.”
back to top
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Home Hardware gets serious about the building materials department
ST. JACOBS, Ont. — Twice a year, at Home Hardware's dealer markets, a model store up in the mezzanine of the company's giant distribution centre showcases the latest merchandising. But one setup in particular is entirely new for the Home dealers: a program for lumber and building materials. Home Hardware CEO Terry Davis says the company has always been solidly focused on hardlines, but did not provide its dealers with a plan for setting up LBM in their stores.
Until now, when working with new stores, Home Hardware has typically drawn up a floor plan that has provided detailed planograms for the hardware and housewares departments. But building materials had been left up to the dealers themselves, who would often rely on their vendors to merchandise the sections.
Now that has changed, thanks to a deal struck with Burlington Merchandising & Fixtures Inc. “We said, now we’ve got to merchandise building materials the way we merchandise hardlines,” says Davis. “We’re taking the same kind of merchandising approach to LBM as we do for the rest of our products.”
The model store’s new section includes an eight-foot section with giant vertical “drawers” that have sample doors customers can pull out and examine. Plywood sheets get similar treatment, while moulding and even steel studs are displayed. To make the section as attractive as possible, project-oriented feature ends are used to catch customers' attention and draw them to the products on the shelves.
According to Greg Thomas, general manager at BMF, two main sets have been developed, a convenience assortment for smaller stores and a dominant assortment. In each case, the LBM department is moved toward the front and centre of the store. As LBM becomes more important for the dealers, the move, he says, just makes sense.
“We used BMF’s experience in LBM to develop merchandised sets of LBM products,” explains Thomas. “In the model store we didn’t have the space to display a full set but we were able to present an example of how the products are best merchandised. We installed our fixture systems and utilized specific accessories that have been created by BMF to better merchandise LBM products.”
back to top
_________________________________________________________________
CertainTeed responds to industry concerns about gypsum tariff
SPECIAL REPORT — It may be a case of “don’t shoot the messenger.” CertainTeed Gypsum Canada pointed the spotlight on illegal dumping of gypsum wallboard in Western Canada, but the resulting tariffs are being blamed on CertainTeed.
In a statement issued last week, the company’s leadership says they are “disappointed and surprised at the recent call for boycotts of our drywall products.” The statement maintains that “dumping creates material injury to domestic manufacturers,” and that the company’s actions are “meant to stop this practice and bring a level playing field and fair competition to the Western Canadian marketplace.”
CertainTeed is trying to keep the issue focused on the letter of the law, which did indeed identify the occurrence of U.S. suppliers dumping product, i.e., selling it in Western Canada “at prices materially lower than those at which they are sold in the U.S.” This puts domestic suppliers at a disadvantage and threatens manufacturing jobs in the domestic drywall manufacturing sector.
The statement from CertainTeed points out that, “since the financial crisis in 2008, [we] are the only manufacturer to have kept all of our Western Canadian plants and operations open, while U.S. companies closed theirs.” CertainTeed has drywall plants in Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg, and mines in Windermere, B.C., and Amaranth, Man.
back to top
______________________________________________________________________
Building materials, lawn and garden all show healthy growth in 2015
OTTAWA — Sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers rose 7.7% in 2015, the category’s largest sales gain since 2006. According to Statistics Canada’s annual review of retail trade, hardware and lawn and garden products were up 8.6% in 2015, led by lumber and other building materials (+9.1%), and plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical equipment and supplies (+13.0%).
According to the Consumer Price Index, the homeowners’ maintenance and repairs index grew by 2.8% in 2015, following a 1.0% increase in 2014.
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers increased their market share for hardware and lawn and garden products by 1.3 percentage points in 2015, while general merchandise stores posted a decline of 1.4 percentage points in the market share for the same commodity group.
Increases in home building contributed to stronger sales for the LBM sub-sector, with the number of new residential construction permits rising 1.1% in 2015.
Building material and garden equipment and supplies was also one of the sub-sectors that showed the strongest gains in hiring in 2015. Dealers increased staffing levels overall by 2.6% last year.
back to top
____________________________________________________________________
Canadian Tire has promoted Greg Hicks to the new role of group senior vice president, consumer products and retail experience. In this role he will oversee the company’s general merchandise and automotive businesses and take on the responsibility for its store experience. At the same time, Oliver Horton has been promoted to SVP, general merchandising, and Andrew Davies to SVP, automotive. Both will continue to report to Hicks.
Robert Greene has joined Jacobs & Thompson Canada as vice president consumer products division. Previously, he held vice president roles at RCR International Inc.
Lowe’s Canada has appointed Antonio (Tony) Cioffi as senior vice president for administration and group financial officer. He was previously CFO at ADT Canada. In his new role, he will lead all finance-related activities, as well as analysis and reporting for company-wide operations, loss prevention, internal audit, corporate accounting, and credit treasury. He reports directly to President and CEO Sylvain Prud’homme for day-to-day business and has a direct line to Doug Jennings, group financial officer.
Bélanger-Upt has announced the appointment of Harry Kandilas as CEO. He previously served as CEO of American Standard Brands Canada. Kandilas is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.
back to top
_____________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________
JR. ACCOUNT MANAGER
Positec is a new breed of global company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of power tools, lawn and garden equipment and accessories, which are sold around the world to professional contractors and home improvement enthusiasts. Since its founding in 1994, Positec has achieved industry-leading growth and employs almost 4,000 people in 12 countries to become a truly global competitor in the power tool industry.
Positec is a company built on a passion for innovation, best-in-class customer care and a commitment to make a difference in the world.
Due to growth, we are currently seeking a Jr. Account Manager in Ontario, Canada
Positec is proud to offer world-class benefits, including:
- Competitive base salary
- Up to 3 weeks paid time off
- 401K with company match after 30 days of employment
- Work from home
- Growth opportunities
- Exposure and visibility to senior management to make a real voice of change
Position Summary
Reporting to the Senior National Account Manager, this position is focused on delivering exceptional service to new and existing customers. It is instrumental in assuring focused and productive communication with new and existing customers as it relates to product information, POS results, sales growth and supply chain. Working with the Canadian Sales Team, you will be responsible for maintaining and communicating relevant market and customer data to the team. You will also be responsible for analyzing customer sales data and identifying opportunities for incremental sales. You will be responsible for resolving complex inquiries from customers, delivering solutions and results.
Key Responsibilities
- Working with customers on a daily basis, responding to customer requests, coordinating with various internal departments and overseas offices to provide answers and solutions.
- Support the sales team in attaining sales targets. Communicate with sales team regarding the collection, analysis and evaluation of POS and inventory data be it on a weekly, monthly or annual basis.
- Assisting in the implementation of sales strategy as prepared by management including maintaining and completing customer quotes and sku databases, contributing to customer presentations and execution of account plans.
- Maintain customer websites to ensure accuracy and relevance.
- Develop and maintain Canadian market benchmark database for power tools and outdoor power equipment.
- Reevaluate work opportunities with assigned accounts, produce reports on progress and outline strategies for improvement.
- Attend customer meetings with senior account manager(s), provide summary notes and conduct all necessary follow up.
- Create professional, customized proposals to meet specific customer requirements in an efficient manner.
- Stay abreast of market conditions regarding products, product updates, service offerings and new technologies through various in-house digital tools and external resources such as weekly flyers. Provide updates to sales team.
- Provide information and/or follow up with customer as requested.
- Handle and submit all customer required documents in a timely and accurate fashion.
- Preparing monthly, weekly or daily sales analysis, agreements, sales reports, and presentations.
- Manage supply chain requests and sales orders
- Collecting, analyzing, evaluating and accounting the information in order to increase productivity of sales.
- Maintaining an efficient work environment.
Education/Training
Completed post secondary degree or diploma, business degree preferred.
French Bilingual is a plus
Experience
2-5 years of Home Improvement Industry Experience.
Good level of knowledge of power tools and outdoor power equipment.
2-3 years of sales experience
Proven track record of meeting/exceeding sales goals
Forward resumes- kammi.parker@positecgroup.com
_____________________________________________________________________
HOME HARDWARE STORES LIMITED
RETAIL SALES AND OPERATIONS MANAGER – NOVA SCOTIA
About Home Hardware:
Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada’s largest Dealer-owned cooperative with close to 1,100 Stores and annual retail sales of nearly $5.8 billion. Located in rural St. Jacobs, Ontario, Home Hardware remains 100% Canadian owned and operated. Home Hardware has received designations as one of Canada’s Best Corporate Cultures and Best Managed Companies and is committed to providing local communities with superior service and expert advice.
Job Description:
Responsible to the Director, Retail Operations Atlantic for the implementation of Home Hardware’s strategic growth plan, as well as, developing, expanding and supporting company programs in the area by providing store assistance, recommendations and standards, by encouraging profitable store expansion and growth, by seeking Dealer and company growth opportunities and initiatives in both new and existing markets and across all banners, and by making recommendations concerning product selections.
Assists and educates new and existing Dealer-Owners on Retail operations and Home’s Systems & Services.
Prepares and submits quarterly industry updates and objectives.
Evaluates stores on an annual basis.
Conducts Sales and Dealer meetings.
Visits Dealers on a scheduled basis providing guidance and assistance, serving as a liaison between them and Home Office and building strong valuable relationships with Dealer-Owners and store Staff.
Maintains an up-to-date knowledge in retail methods and systems.
Coordinates occasional direct ship buys between area stores.
Assist with special projects as requested.
Qualifications:
Results-oriented individual with a strong understanding of retail operations and the strategy needed to succeed in a highly competitive market.
Must be self-motivated, results-oriented and organized, with excellent time management skills.
Post-secondary education or equivalent. Business financial knowledge would be an asset.
Retail or sales experience at a supervisory or managerial level. Home Hardware experience preferred.
Willingness and flexibility to travel extensively and work varying hours.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Knowledge of Account Management an asset.
Good computer skills including MS Outlook, Word and Excel.
Successful applicant must be willing to locate centrally within the area.
Interested applicants, please submit your resume to:
Dayna Weber, Recruitment, Human Resources
hr@homehardware.ca
Fax: 519-664-4711
Phone: 519-664-4975
34 Henry St W, St. Jacobs, ON, N0B 2N0
*While we appreciate all applications received, only those to be interviewed will be contacted. |
