January 2011 www.wrla.org | Past Issues | Printer-Friendly | Advertise
The Toolbox
Building Connections
What's Going On



Visit www.wrla.org
to: 

* Register online NOW for badges and events
* View all information about the show
* View the interactive floor plan

Online Registration closes January 10th midnight! If you have not registered online by then you will have to wait in line at Prairieland Park to register.

Exhibitors: Have you registered for your Name Badges & Evening Events? 
New Products? 
Don't forget we have awards for Best Large Booth and Small Booth, Best New Product - Canadian and Imported!

Thank you if you have already registered!

 

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.

 


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 73
Julius Cedar (1982) Ltd.
New address: 102 – 71st Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7P 0C3

Page 82
Previous Name: Riach's Lumber and Hardware
New Name: Ridgeville Lumber and Hardware
City, PV: Ridgeville, MB
Contact: Christine and Andy Kilby
Retailer (Sexton)

Page 82
Twin Valley Co-op
New address: Box 1570
135 Main St.
Russell, MB R0J 1W0

Page 83
Previous Name: C.T. Loewen Building Center
New Name: McMunn & Yates Bldg. Supplies Ltd.
City, PV: Steinbach, MB
Contact: Joel Hartung
Retailer (ILDC)

Page 84
Previous Name: Valley Home Hardware Building Centre Ltd.
New Name: RONA Swan River
Retailer (RONA)

Page 99
Previous Name: CanWel, Hardware Division (Head Office)
New Name: Chalifour Canada

Page 117
Paslode Canada (Head Office)
New Contacts:
National Sales Manager: Kevin Merritt
kmerritt@itwconstruction.ca

Western Sales Manager: Ritchie Larson
rlarson@itwconstruction.ca


Page 118
Polytarp Products (Head Office)
New Address:
350 Wildcat Road
Downsview, ON M3J 2N5

 

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.

 

Online registration is open for the following WRLA sponsored spring courses. Please visit www.wrla.org and click "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 course date, and rebate forms sent to the WRLA office no later than 30 days from course completion date.

 

ProBuilt DIY Aluminum Railings
ProBuilt DIY Aluminum Railings – constructed from high quality aluminum and finished with a durable powder-coated finish.

Gang Nail Trusses
www.gangnailtruss.ca 

 
Industry News

A long-distance courtship between Castle Building Centres Group in Canada and Memphis-based hardware wholesaler Orgill has finally been consummated.

"After a lengthy process working with Orgill, we are excited to form a partnership that will see Orgill enter the Canadian marketplace in a significant and serious way," says Ken Jenkins, president of Castle. "We're proud to partner with them."

Orgill, a full-line distributor that has, in recent years, become a national presence in the U.S., has in fact been eyeing the Canadian market for the last 15 years, says Orgill president Ron Beal. In fact, the company has been active here, on a limited basis, for the past three years, shipping to independents in various parts of the country.

Orgill distinguishes itself from other wholesalers, such as Ace and Home Hardware, by not tying its customers into any banner or brand programs. However, it does offer a full range of assortments and merchandising programs.

"This is not an experiment," says Beal. "We are integrating Canada into our operations and making Canada part of a complete North American focus." He points out that the logistics are in place for this. A distribution centre in Utah is ramping up to serve Western Canada, while Central and Eastern Canada will be shipped out of a DC in West Virginia.

Already, some 30,000 of the 75,000 SKUs in that latter facility are Canadian compliant (packaging, language, CSA, etc.) and include builders' hardware and hand and power tools. By March 2011, that will be up to 60,000 and include paint, sundries, farm, plumbing and electrical. "Our goal is to be 100% compliant by the end of 2011," says Beal.

Part of Castle's job now is to introduce Orgill's programs to its members. To that end, Castle is in the midst of hiring four "hardlines specialist representatives" to manage Central Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. "They will be Orgill experts," says Beal.

Besides selling Orgill to its own members, Castle is now in the position to make a more complete offering to potential new members. "Now we have a front-end solution," says Jenkins. This is a strong step and a strong commitment to the Orgill model."

"This is a total, total commitment from our standpoint," says Beal. "From our standpoint, Canada is now part of our core business."

 

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. has partnered with TSC Stores' new wholesale operating division, TSC Country Pro Services, to provide hardlines to Castle members in Ontario and Manitoba. The relationship and service area will grow beyond Ontario and Manitoba over time. Castle and TSC will provide solutions to the unique needs of the rural and suburban stores.

"We are extremely happy to have come to a commercial agreement with London, Ontario-based TSC. They are very well positioned to offer our members in Central Canada an excellent level of service and help to fulfill the hardlines needs of our members," says Castle Vice President James Jones.

"Castle members will be provided access to our online web ordering toll offering over 18,000 sku's including hardlines and TSC rural lifestyle assortments. The program will include competitive freight rates, field support, strong service levels and special offerings catered specifically to Castle. We look forward to working closely with the membership of Castle to assist in the building of their front shop profitability," says TSC Country Pro President Greg Hicks.

Any inquiries please contact:
Greg Hicks, President (519-453-5270) or visit
www.tscstores.com
James T. Jones Vice President of National Marketing (905-564-3307) or visit
www.castle.ca.

 

Burlington Merchandising & Fixtures Inc. has entered into an agreement with Rockford, Illinois-based Southern Imperial Inc. to distribute its complete line of hooks, sign holders and merchandising accessories in Canada. Southern Imperial is the world's largest manufacturer of hooks and offers a tremendous variety of options for shelf management, signage and label solutions. In support of this BMF will be printing a 230-page catalogue featuring over 1,800 products for distribution at the regional trade shows starting in January. Stan Valiulis, Business Development Manager for Southern Imperial, states, "We are proud to be working with BMF to further our combined growth in the Canadian retail market. They have a strong understanding of the industry and of the Southern Imperial product which makes them a well-rounded source for retail customers." According to Rob Wilbrink, President of BMF, "This rounds out our offering and makes us the most complete supplier of store/warehouse fixtures and merchandising accessories in this industry." In addition to cantilever and warehouse racking which is made to order, BMF stocks gondola shelving and a wide array of accessories designed for merchandising hardware and building materials at its Burlington, Ontario facility."

 
Calendar of Events

January 13-15, 2011
ProfitMaster 2011 Business Partner Conference
Winnipeg, MB
www.pmcanada.com

January 19-21, 2011
2011 Prairie Showcase Buying Show and Convention
Saskatoon, SK
www.wrla.org

Feb 10-11, 2011
The Canadian Home Improvement Show & Convention
Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON
http://www.canadianhomeimprovementshow.com/

February 14 - 18, 2011
Manual Estimating
Calgary, AB
www.wrla.org

Feb 24 - 25, 2011
Atlantic Building Materials Show
Moncton Coliseum Complex, Moncton, NB
www.absda.ca

March 7 - 10, 2011
Manual Estimating
Saskatoon, SK
www.wrla.org

March 11, 2011
Yard Foreman
Saskatoon, SK
www.wrla.org

March 31 - April 2, 2011
TIM-BR Mart National Buying Show
Toronto Congress Centre
Mississauga, ON
www.timbrmartbuyingshow.com/

April 10-12, 2011
Home Hardware Spring Market
Home Hardware Stores Limited
St. Jacobs, ON - The National Trade Centre
www.homehardware.ca

April 17-19, 2011
TRUSERV CANADA Spring Buying Market
Winnipeg Convention Centre
Winnipeg, MB
www.truserv.ca


May 4-6, 2011
2011 Westcost Building & Hardware Show - Spirit of the Westcoast
Victoria, BC
www.bsiabc.ca

Email: Marijoel@bsiabc.ca

 
Member Updates

NEW RETAIL MEMBERS

Burnco Rock Products
#200, 155 Glendeer Circle SE
Calgary, AB T2H 2S8
Phone: 403-255-2600
Fax: 403-255-0323
Contact: Morgan Martel
burnco@burnco.com
 
(Retailer) Independent

Excess Building Depot Inc.
Box 160
201 South Railway
Winkler, MB R6W 4A4
Phone: 204-325-7496
Fax: 204-325-8685
Contact: Darren Klassen
dklassen@bridgeroad.ca
 
(Retailer) Castle

Lethbridge Fasteners & Tools Ltd.
2825 - 12 Avenue North
Lethbridge, AB T1H 5K9
Phone: 403-380-3503
Fax: 403-380-3513
Contact: Stan Mlynarski
sales@lethfast.ca

www.lethfast.ca

(Retailer) Independent

P.R. Service Partnership
P.O. Box 59 Site 425
La Loche, SK S0M 1G0
Phone: 306-822-2263
Fax: 306-822-2264
Contact: Darney Kisslinger
p.r.service@sasktel.net

(Retailer) Independent

NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Earlcan: Earlex HVLP Spray Systems
(Head Office)
129 Oakland Rd.
R.R. #1
Scotland, ON N0E 1R0
Phone: 519-446-3200
Fax: 519-446-3199
Main Contact: Don Fines
dfines@rogers.com

www.earlex.com
(Manufacturer) paint sprayers

Nuvo Iron (Head Office)
3 Holland Drive
Bolton, ON L7E 1G7
Phone: 905-857-1010
Fax: 905-857-9536
Contact: Carlos Pacheco
info@nuvoiron.com

www.nuvoiron.com
(Manufacturer, Distributor) fencing, gate hardware

Old Masters (Head Office)
P.O. Box 286
303 - 19th St. S.E.
Orange City, IA 51041-
Phone: 712-737-3436
Fax: 712-737-3893
Contact: Robert Reints
Robert.reints@oldmasters.biz

www.oldmasters.biz

(Manufacturer) stains

 

If your company has news that you would like to see in The ToolBox, please email your News Releases to news@wrla.org.

Please visit our YardStick Digital Magazine archives for further industry news, features and updates.

©2011 Western Retail Lumber Association. All rights reserved.

We would appreciate your comments or suggestions. Your email will be kept private and confidential.