The Toolbox E-Newsletter

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WRLA Board Nominations and Amendment to the Bylaws

Notice to Members of the Western Retail Lumber Association Inc.

Dated December 20, 2010 and pursuant to the WRLA Bylaws, we are advising our members of the following:

At our Annual General Meeting on January 20, 2011 in Saskatoon, SK:

We will be electing two Retail Members to the Board of Directors.
We will request amendments to our existing bylaws.
The Proxy Vote form is available via the link below.

Please Click Here for full details.

WRLA Holiday Office Hours

The WRLA office will be closed on December 24 and will re-open January 4, 2011.

From the Staff at the WRLA Office,
Happy Holidays

WRLA Education Update

CRBSC launches new education program

The WRLA, on behalf of the Canadian Retail Building Supply Council, would like to announce a new training program for managers and owners of retail hardware and home improvement stores. This industry-recognized management training program will develop the skill set needed by the new generation to successfully compete in the marketplace.

The Home Improvement Retailer Management Certification Program brochure and application are in the mail. You may also visit our website to read more about it and to download the application page. What are you waiting for?

2011 Spring Classroom Training

Online registration is open for the following WRLA-sponsored spring courses. Please visit www.wrla.org and click on "Education & Training."

February 7 – 11, 2011
Manual Estimating – Calgary, AB – Instructor – Stan Burkholder
March 7 – 10, 2011
Manual Estimating – Saskatoon, SK – Instructor – Merv Weiss
March 11, 2011
Yard Foreman – Saskatoon, SK – Instructor – Merv Weiss

MEMBER REBATE PROGRAM
Due to the wide distribution of members across the Prairies, the North and NW Ontario, member rebates are available to offset the cost of travel and expenses to attend these courses. Rebate information and forms are available at www.wrla.org. Please note that courses must be paid in full by the course date, and rebate forms sent to the WRLA office no later than 30 days from course completion date.

2010-2011 WRLA Directory & Product Source Guide UPDATES & CORRECTIONS

Also, you may cross-reference contact information using our online directory.
To view the Online Directory, click here.

Need extra copies? Fill in this form and send to the WRLA office. Click here.

Page 86
Umingmak Supply (2007) Ltd.
Correct Address:
1429 Mountain Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R2X 2Y9

WRLA Mystery Shopper Program

Be in-the-know and register to have your company shopped by an underground agent.

Shops will be scheduled twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, or once a quarter.

$99 per mystery shop, payable upon receipt of report.

Click here to download the registration form.

WRLA Member Benefit – HR by Your Side

STRATA Business Solutions' HR by Your Side is a virtual or in-house resource to assist your organization with the management of your human resources. By becoming your HR resource, we can take care of your organization's HR requirements and free up your time to focus on the things you excel at to grow your business.

To view the full PDF and for more information CLICK HERE.

Industry News

The Manitoba Business Awards 2010 Recipients have been announced!

CT Loewen Building Centre has been awarded "Long Term Achievement Business – Rural" at the 2010 Manitoba Business Awards

In Their Own Words:
We asked Manitoba Business Awards finalists to say what they are most proud of in relation to their business in 120 words (give or take). Here is what George F. Loewen Enterprises – CT Loewen Building Centre had to say:

"What we’re most proud of our company is the fact that in 105 years of operation we have been able to respond to over a century of challenges such as the Depression years and evolving customers’ needs. We have throughout our history made strategic decisions to diversify in order to be sustainable and grow as an enterprise. Our commitment to our slogan (We Serve to Sell Again) has always been embraced by four generations of family members and many long-term employees. The strength of our company has always been the quality of our employees, many of which spent their entire career with our organization."

Accepting the award are Roger Loewen (l), Mrs. Helen Loewen (centre l)
and Gary Loewen (centre); presented by MCC Chairman Wayne McWhirter
(centre r) and MBA Selection Committee Chair Julie Turenne Maynard (r).

To view the full article and watch a short video about the
CT Loewen Building Centre CLICK HERE.

McMunn & Yates Buildings Supplies Ltd Acquisition Announcement

McMunn & Yates Buildings Supplies Ltd. has entered into an asset purchase agreement with G. F. Loewen Enterprises Ltd. in Steinbach, MB. Owned by Gary, Roger and Curt Loewen, the business operates under the trade name of C.T. Loewen Building Center. The effective date of this transaction is December 1, 2010.

This acquisition will greatly strengthen our company and will further build our position in the Manitoba market. As of December 1, 2010 the store and concrete plant will operate under the McMunn & Yates Building Supplies Ltd. banner and will become a member of the ILDC buying group.

We are also pleased to announce that Ray Maynard will remain as the General Manager of the operation. Joel Hartung will continue as Store Manager and Mike Kauenhofen will continue to lead the operations of the concrete plant.

We would like to thank Gary, Roger and Curt Loewen for their assistance throughout this transaction. We also congratulate them and their family for providing outstanding support and service to the building and construction industry for over 105 years. We wish the Loewen family all the best in their future endeavours.

RONA Honours Entrepreneurs!

RONA honours the Entrepreneurs & Builders of the Year

RONA inc. (TSX: RON), the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, has presented the "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award to the most innovative and visionary affiliated dealers in its network, as well as the "Builder of Excellence" Award to the best-performing corporate stores. The awards were handed out at ceremonies held during the RONA 2011 Spring Show in Calgary, an internal event where dealer-owners and managers of RONA stores are invited to discover exclusive new products and services available as of spring 2011. RONA also recognized three dealer-owners for their leadership and initiative, as well as the managers of the 10 stores that have performed best. In addition, 217 employees in the RONA network were declared Customer Service Champions.

2010 "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award

"The 'Entrepreneur of the Year' awards represent the true spirit of RONA," said Jean-Luc Meunier, Senior Vice President, Affiliate Dealer-Owner Network Development. "They're our way of honouring the remarkable contribution of dealer-owners who have confronted new challenges with passion and drive, while focusing their efforts on providing the best possible customer service to the communities they serve. These people also stand out for their entrepreneurial spirit and exemplary work, which are key elements in the success and excellent reputation their stores enjoy in their respective markets."

The recipient of the 2010 "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award for Western Canada is:

MJ Palsson, Gimli, Manitoba
Owner: Marc Palsson
Marc Palsson owns the MJ Palsson store in Gimli, north of Winnipeg. This natural-born entrepreneur managed numerous businesses of various types before entering the field of home renovation in 1999, with the opening of a 6,000-sq.-ft. store in Arborg, Manitoba. In April 2008, Mr. Palsson joined the RONA network. Two years later, he opened a 14,000-sq.-ft. store in Gimli. His passion, talent and business acumen are among the qualities that make Marc Palsson a true entrepreneur.

2010 "Builders of Excellence" Award

The "Builders of Excellence" Award is presented to the 10 stores judged to be the best performers in RONA's corporate and franchise network. The criteria used to measure their achievements include sales growth, profitability, and quality of customer service and loss control.

"Builders of Excellence" Awards are given to stores that set themselves apart through their excellent performance at all levels of their operations, but especially in terms of the quality of their customer service," said Mario St-Louis, Vice President of Store Operations for Eastern Canada. "It is also an honour for the entire store team, whose dedication to customers helps position their store as the best in their region."

This year's Builders of Excellence in Western Canada are:

RONA Home & Garden, Grandview, British Columbia, managed by John Gatti
RONA Home & Garden, Millwoods, Alberta, managed by Brent Connelly
TOTEM Calgary Contract, Calgary, Alberta, managed by Justin Erdahl

Click here to read the complete Press Release

CANWEL HARDWARE Acquisition Closes

On behalf of the over 700 independently owned and managed Dealer locations they represent, TIM-BR MARTS Ltd. is proud to announce that the CanWel Hardware acquisition has closed.

"This acquisition was a big step in ensuring that Independent lumber, building material and hardware Dealers across Canada will continue to hold their ground in a competitive marketplace," commented Tim Urquhart, President and CEO of TIM-BR MARTS Ltd., adding: "We represent the Independent and our focus will be on carrying the products they want—the products their customers want. When a customer can walk into a locally owned store and find the service and products they need, that's when they'll decide to return. And when they do, they're supporting a Canadian independent business in their community."

The deal includes two hardware distribution operations in Victoriaville, QC and London, ON plus two Chalifour building material warehouses in Quebec. The company will operate under the name Chalifour Canada.

The immediate plans are to continue all existing customer relationships, with an intention to develop new ones. The clear message to any Independent Dealer across the country is that Chalifour Canada wants to see them succeed and thrive. Since the deal also includes Canadian licensing rights to the 'ACE' brand name, entrepreneurs in the industry now have an internationally recognized brand available to them. "And they'll have the strength of Canada's leading purchasers of lumber, building materials and hardware behind them," noted Urquhart.

General Paint Welcomes New President and Chief Executive Officer

Dale Constantinoff has served since September 1, 2010 as president and chief executive officer of General Paint, where he has spent his 28-year career in a range of capacities including sales representative, district management, and vice presidency positions.

Prior to his current responsibilities, he held the post of National Vice President of Sales for the Comex Group, responsible for driving the performance of the company's three sales channels. Constantinoff said, "General Paint is one of Canada's greatest companies, with a proud history of innovation, outstanding talent and enviable business acumen. It is a great honour to serve in this leadership role and embark on the opportunity in moving General Paint into our next 100 years of unbridled success."

General Paint is proud to have Constantinoff as the company's leader. Dick Glassford, Vice President of Human Resources, welcomed Dale. "We are highly fortunate to have a president and CEO of the calibre of Dale Constantinoff, who has spent his working life in the paint and coatings industry, and has proved himself a robust leader in the toughest circumstances."

ABOUT GENERAL PAINT:
GENERAL PAINT is a leading Canadian manufacturer and retailer of premium quality paint. All products are specifically formulated to withstand unique Canadian climatic conditions. General Paint originated in 1911 in Vancouver as a small family-run business and is to this day located on the original site.

ABOUT DALE CONSTANTINOFF:
DALE CONSTANTINOFF began his career with General Paint in 1982 as a sales representative in Saskatchewan. After seven years of unparalleled success, Dale received a promotion to District Manager, serving the Saskatchewan district until being relocated to British Columbia in 1995. Dale received two more promotions before taking on his current role, one in 2000 as the vice president of sales, and the 2008 promotion to national vice president for the Comex Group.

RONA to Invest Close to $40 Million in the Construction of Two New Proximity Stores in Edmonton

Rona, the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, has officially announced the construction of two new 52,000-square-foot TOTEM stores, for a total investment close to $40 million (including land purchased in previous years). The new stores are located in Edmonton and will be located at 1003 Parsons Road SW (corner of Ellerslie) and 18445 Stoney Plain Road. The locations of both sites were carefully chosen to allow RONA to better serve its growing customers and expand its market share in Alberta. Together the two new stores in Edmonton will create some 100 new jobs in Alberta.

Read the full article.

PrimeSource® Canada Signs Agreement to Acquire Langtry Industries Ltd.

PrimeSource® Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of PrimeSource® Building Products, Inc., the largest purveyor of fasteners to the construction market and one of the largest distributors of building products in North America, has signed an agreement to acquire Langtry Industries. They expect to finalize the acquisition by mid-December, 2010.

Langtry is an independent distributor of building materials and fasteners servicing the wholesale fastener, building supply, plumbing, electrical, and industrial supply markets throughout Canada, with locations in Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; Winnipeg, MB; London, ON; Montreal, QC; and Dartmouth, NS.

Langtry Industries offers a wide range of fasteners, including their premier fastener brand, Lily Fasteners®, to lumber yards, home centre chains, retail hardware stores and industrial supply and OEM manufacturing markets. In recent years, the company has added anchoring systems, brads and staples, collated screws, and rotary hammer drill bits to round out its product offerings.

For more information visit www.primesourcebp.com.