March 3, 2025

  • As tariffs were set to take effect this week, fallout continues across the industry
  •  Home Depot, Lowe’s post mixed quarterly and year-end results 
  •  New CEO at UFA shares his take on tariffs and Canada’s changing retail landscape 
  •  Despite cross-border unrest, Orgill’s Spring Market is a draw for Canadian dealers
  • PLUS: BMR hosts its annual contractors’ event, new Home Hardware member in Saskatchewan, new Western region sales manager at Robertson, Al D’Addese joins Doman Building Materials, heavy snow collapses this store’s roof, Walmart launches customer-testing program, what’s next for anti-dumping duties on softwood lumber, Napoleon advertises its all-Canadian status, RCC’s annual conference coming up, retail sales increase, and more!

February 24, 2025

  • Despite the snow, TIMBER MART show draws dealers, generates optimism
  • Home Hardware, Lee Valley take aim at farm supply following collapse of Peavey Mart
  • Well Made Here seizes a moment of national unity to promote made-in-Canada 
  • Toronto is a good draw for TIMBER MART show. But will it return to Montreal?
  • PLUS: Canadian Tire sells Helly Hansen, RONA dealer’s rock band performs in GTA next month, Castle holds Quebec buying expo, Costco starts construction on new Winnipeg location, Loblaw to invest big, Lowe’s revamps its pro program, AD reports 2024 member sales, Tychanski is the new hire at Briggs & Stratton, housing starts increase, Princess Auto will have new DC next year, Percy joins Telesteps, existing home sales decline, U.S. housing rate drops, and more!

February 17, 2025

  • You are a valued Premium Hardlines Member: Here’s what that elite status gets you
  • Riding on a high note, ABSDA gears up for its spring Atlantic buying show 
  • Competition Bureau orders RONA to sell Saskatchewan truss plant 
  • As unions brace for job losses, Lee Valley Tools shares strategies to combat tariffs 
  • PLUS: Canadian Tire has strong Q4, TIMBER MART show starts despite snowstorm, building permits move up, Castle introduces estimating and design program, Jacqueline Janes has new role at Wolseley Canada, Ace reports year-end, Taiga’s loss shrinks, and more!

February 10, 2025

  • Hours before a threatened trade war, retailers wrap themselves in the Canadian flag
  • EvoX, Canada’s newest buying group, hosts info session in Montreal 
  • Why TIMBER MART was there: making connections at the western buying show 
  • Housing starts expected to slow in wake of U.S. trade policies, says CMHC 
  • PLUS: Pont-Masson returns to RONA, Canac opens newest store, Walmart will invest big in Canada, Grainger's year-end sales up, BMF's Sarah Hounslow honoured, rocking RONA dealer's band will play next month, IKEA increases sipport to combat furniture poverty, retail and e-commerce conference DX3 is next month, Purolator makes acquisition, personnel changes at Metrie, and more!

February 3, 2025

  • It’s official: Peavey confirms all its stores Canada-wide will close
  • Prairie association has a new name and national ambitions  
  • Tariff realities—industry on alert as Trump expected to be unmoved by logic  
  • More about WRLA’s rebranding as Supply-Build Canada
  • PLUS: New buying group hosts dealer information day, Castle adds member in Ontario, King Marketing’s Paul Crawford retires, Home Depot adds more home delivery options, Robert Rozon appointed at Évolution Structures, Bank of Canada lowers rate, sales up but profits down at Tractor Supply, organized retail theft becoming more brazen, and more!
Older Newsletters Newer Newsletters
https://hardlines.ca/wp-content/themes/hardlines-responsive