WRLA News

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Industry News

Las Vegas plays host to Largest-Ever Fall Dealer Market for Orgill Inc.

Orgill, Inc. concluded another successful Fall Dealer Market, held Aug. 16-18 in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, which brought together thousands of retailers, manufacturers and service providers for the three-day buying show.

The event registered as Orgill’s largest-ever Fall Dealer Market for both attendance and sales, Orgill’s President and CEO Ron Beal said.

"This was by far the best Fall Market we have ever had," Beal said. "The event surpassed the previous record, which we set last Fall at our Market held in Boston, and was very close to our all-time Market record, which was set earlier this year at our Spring Dealer Market in Orlando."

Retailer attendance at this year’s Las Vegas Market showed a 14.5 percent increase over last year’s fall show; sales in Las Vegas were up 15.4 percent over the previous fall.
The Las Vegas event was also encouraging from a new-business standpoint for Orgill with more than 300 prospective new customers on hand at the show and more than 25 projects for new retail stores initiated at the Market.

"We are always happy to see an increase in attendance and sales at these events but we are also very pleased with the optimism and energy we felt from the retailers who were at the Market," Beal said. "The fact that the retailers we do business with are actively buying products, opening new stores and looking for ways to grow their operations while they are at our Market is a great indicator of their overall commitment to success."
Retailers from throughout Orgill’s coverage area attended the Fall Dealer Market including large contingents from the U.S. and Canada as well as retail representatives from countries around the world, all of whom were looking for buying opportunities, retail ideas and innovative programs.

The more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space the show occupied included a who’s who of the home improvement industry’s most well-recognized and respected brands, ranging from 3M to Valspar and Black and Decker to Whirlpool.

"One of the reasons our Dealer Markets are so successful is because retailers know that our show is a buying event and they can secure the best deals and meet with the best companies in the industry all in one location," Orgill’s Chief Merchandising Officer Ken Post said. "Once again, members of the vendor community stepped up with their best programs and presentations in Las Vegas and made the event a great success for us but more importantly for the retailers we serve."

In addition to the aisles of products on display in Las Vegas, the Market also featured four complete model home improvement stores on the show floor. These model stores were designed to showcase the complete range of products and services Orgill can provide its customers in a real-world retail environment.

"Orgill does a wonderful job helping customers create a retail presentation, whether the retailer is located in a rural area or in the Bronx," said Frank Comer, president of Wynnton Hardware in Columbus, Ga. "The model stores help customers see that presentation. Orgill does the hard work for you. It’s like having a back staff of 20 buyers you can count on."

The lineup of model stores featured in Las Vegas included:

Frontier Farm & Hardware, a 12,000-square-foot model store with a farm and ranch focus.
Copper Canyon Hardware, an 8,000-square-foot model that showcased the latest in hardware store design tailored to attract and retain business from the coveted female demographic.
Four Corners Hardware & Supply, a model focused on maintenance and repair solutions showcasing thousands of SKUs targeting commercial/industrial business.
North Lake Lumber, an expanded version of the 100 percent Canadian-compliant store model Orgill first debuted earlier this year in Orlando.

"The different store models help us get ideas for our stores. In fact, we came to the last show and we implemented a lot of the ideas to maximize our inventory potential in our newest store," said Tony Sipe, owner of Sipe Lumber Company with two locations in North Carolina. "The MRO model is a great resource for our main location, and the farm and ranch model is giving us ideas for our expansion store. I use my iPad and take pictures of the model displays."

Orgill’s Spring Dealer Market will be held Feb. 21-23 in Orlando.

Chalifour Canada appoints Brad Dixon Regional Sales Manager- Western Canada

August 30, 2012 (London, ON) – Chalifour Canada today announced the appointment of Brad Dixon to the position of Regional Sales Manager – Western Canada.

Brad brings to the role a considerable background in territory management as well as demonstrated success in the implementation of retailer development programs. The BC and Prairies Territory Managers will be reporting to Brad.

Brad will report directly to Andrew Allen, Senior Vice President and will continue to operate from the Chalifour Vancouver warehouse.

A 100% Canadian-owned hardware, lumber and building material distribution company, Chalifour Canada Ltd. serves independent home improvement entrepreneurs in every province and territory. From five warehouses and offices in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, Chalifour Canada offers full transportation and logistics services, cutting-edge product ordering and inventory management technologies, plus a dedicated national sales team providing in-store retail support. To learn more, visit www.chalifourcanada.com

Home Hardware Stores Limited's Terry Davis to Kick-Off New Season of Undercover Boss Canada on the W Network

St. Jacobs, ON, September 4, 2012 – Home Hardware Stores Limited’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Terry Davis, will go undercover to learn more about the day-to-day operations of Canada’s largest independent, Dealer-owned hardware, lumber, building materials and furniture cooperative. The transformation will be featured in the fall premiere of W Network’s Undercover Boss Canada on Thursday, September 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Undercover Boss Canada follows executives as they leave the comfort of their offices to go undercover alongside their staff. Each episode features an executive who is transformed into a frontline worker with a covert disguise and a convincing back story. Working alongside their employees, each "boss" embarks on an often emotional journey as they struggle to learn new skills not required at the executive level and discover the effects their decisions have on others, the perception of the company, and who the unsung heroes of their workforce are. Most importantly, they learn how to apply what they have gained from the experience – both for their company and for themselves.

"The experience going undercover with Home’s staff has been extremely rewarding and enlightening," said Terry Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "I’ve always known that Home Hardware is a family of special people who are passionate about their work and the customers we serve, but to have the opportunity to forge these special relationships and see first-hand what happens on the front lines has brought me a new appreciation for our people and the role they play in our business and in their communities."

In the premier episode, Terry Davis tries his hand packing orders in Home Hardware’s Wetaskiwin, Alberta Distribution Centre, working on the manufacturing line at the company’s Beauti-Tone Paint and Home Products facility in Burford, Ontario and does his best to provide top-notch service to customers at Payzant Home Hardware Building Centre in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia and Geerlinks Home Hardware Building Centre in St. Thomas, Ontario.

More information about Undercover Boss Canada is available: click here

About Home Hardware Stores Limited
100% Canadian owned and operated, Home Hardware Stores Limited has a presence in every Canadian province and territory and is the country’s largest independent, Dealer-owned hardware, lumber, building materials and furniture cooperative. Founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers, the cooperative now includes more than 1,080 stores, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners, with annual collective retail sales of more than $5 billion. Home Hardware’s independent Dealer-Owners, recognized by the North American Retail Hardware Association as Canada’s best-trained Dealer group, have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products, a world-class distribution system and draw upon the power of Home Hardware’s network to provide their local communities with top quality products and services at competitive prices.

About W Network
Watched by over 10 million viewers in an average month, W Network delivers compelling entertainment for women, ranging from blockbuster movies to popular dramas and lifestyle series. Its website, offers in-depth show information featuring expert advice from hosts in addition to a popular games section and a rich online community. W has built a leadership position as "marketing to women experts" through its various research initiatives, including The Her Report.

Edmonton resident wins Grand Prize from Home Hardware Summer Gift Card Contest!

Edmonton, AB, August 23, 2012 – Edmonton’s Cindy Rego is the lucky grand prize winner of Home Hardware’s Summer Gift Card Giveaway Contest, receiving a $1,000 Home Gift Card. In addition to the grand prize draw, Home Hardware gave away a $100 Home Gift Card on each day of the contest -- 40 in total.

"The Summer Gift Card Giveaway Contest is a fun way to help Canadians with their summer home improvement projects," said Barry Novak, Dealer-Owner, Sherwood Park Home Hardware Building Centre. "With more than 60,000 products to choose from, I’m sure Cindy will enjoy spending her gift card – and the expert staff at Sherwood Park Home Hardware Building Centre is on standby if she requires any advice."

As an independent Home Hardware Dealer-Owner, Barry Novak is able to provide localized product selection at competitive prices, all backed by a high level of personalized service from knowledgeable staff.

Home Hardware Gift Cards are available at Home stores across Canada in any dollar amount from $5 to $3,000 and online in $25, $50 and $100 denominations. They can be redeemed for anything Home has to offer, from building supplies to kitchenware, gardening essentials to power tools. Aeroplan members can also redeem Aeroplan Miles for Home Gift Cards at aeroplan.com.

To enter Home Hardware’s Daily Gift Card Giveaway Contest customers across Canada entered a ballot online here. The contest ran from June 29th to August 7th. No purchase was necessary.

The Bank of Canada announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1%

Ottawa, Ontario - The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 percent and the deposit rate is 3/4 pe cent.

Global growth prospects are unfolding largely as the Bank projected in its July Monetary Policy Report (MPR), with a widespread slowing of activity across advanced and emerging economies. The economic expansion in the United States continues at a gradual pace. Europe is in recession and its crisis, while contained, remains acute. In China and other major emerging economies, growth is decelerating somewhat more quickly than expected from previously-rapid rates, reflecting past policy tightening, weaker external demand, and the challenges of rebalancing towards domestic sources of growth. Notwithstanding the slower global momentum, prices for oil and other commodities produced by Canada have, on average, increased since July.

In Canada, while global headwinds continue to restrain economic activity, underlying momentum remains at a pace roughly in line with the economy’s production potential. Economic growth is expected to pick up through 2013, with consumption and business investment continuing to be its principal drivers, reflecting very stimulative financial conditions. Business investment remains solid. There are tentative signs of slowing in household spending, although the household debt burden continues to rise. Canadian exports are projected to remain below their pre-recession peak until the beginning of 2014, reflecting the dynamics of foreign demand and ongoing competitiveness challenges, including the persistent strength of the Canadian dollar.

Core inflation has been softer than expected in recent months but, with the economy operating near its production potential, it is expected to return, along with total CPI inflation, to 2 percent over the course of the next 12 months.

Reflecting all of these factors, the Bank has decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. To the extent that the economic expansion continues and the current excess supply in the economy is gradually absorbed, some modest withdrawal of the present considerable monetary policy stimulus may become appropriate, consistent with achieving the 2 per cent inflation target over the medium term. The timing and degree of any such withdrawal will be weighed carefully against domestic and global economic developments.

Information note:
The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is 23 October 2012. A full update of the Bank’s outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, will be published in the MPR on 24 October 2012.