Online Registration closes: FRIDAY 

CLICK HERE to Register NOW for your name badges and evening events!

Are you an exhibitor who has questions?  With the show only 2 weeks away our office is plenty busy, so before calling us be sure to check out our website!  All those questions about set up, exhibiting, or evening events... the answers are just a click away! 

www.wrla.org/exhibitor-information/service-providers

Your booth rental includes; black carpet, pipe and drape, wireless high speed internet, Free lunch buffet on Thursday and Friday - if you need to rent something or have your banner hung - follow the above link for our Service Providers!

Thank you!

 

 

You have 1 Week left to Get your new products displayed at the 2013 Prairie Showcase!

To take advantage of this opportunity you must get your form into our office via fax (204.947.5195) or email (ckelly@wrla.org) by Tuesday January 15th, 2013.

Forms can be found in the Exhibitor Guide by following this link

 

The Board of Directors extends this special invitation to all Retail, Associate and Affiliate members to attend the Annual General Meeting.

There will be an election for two (2) new board members

Your candidates are:

Marc Palsson: Owns M.J.Palsson Enterprises in Rona Gimli, north of Winnipeg. This born entrepreneur both managed and owned numerous businesses of various types before entering the field of home renovations in 1999, with the opening of a 6,000 sq. ft. store in Arborg, Manitoba. In April of 2008, Marc joined the RONA network. Two years later, he opened a 15,000. sq. ft. building material store in Gimli. His passion, talent and business acumen are among the qualities that make Marc a true entrepreneur.

Tom Bell: Joining the industry fresh out of high school Tom started out at Beaver Lumber. After learning and engaging his passion he was able to progress quickly through many areas of our industry; retail, wholesale, distribution and buying. After catering to the retail industry for 20+ years, in 2000 Tom opened his own store in Las Salle Manitoba, Jeni’s Food and Hardware. The now 2 building, 15 staff operation has occupied plenty of his time yet he still makes himself available to many local executive boards and community clubs. Tom’s knowledge and commitment make him an excellent addition to the organization and industry.

For those members unable to attend the AGM but would still like to have their voice heard, we have attached a Proxy Vote application. This proxy will allow another qualified member to vote on your behalf.

 Proxy Vote Application- Printable

Also please take the time to review By-Law # 9 which is to be approved at the AGM. You can read the full, printable By-Law by CLICKING HERE and going under Thursday's events -> Annual General Meeting.

REGISTER for the AGM NOW!     

Take this opportunity to enjoy a FREE Lunch, network with other members and you'll even be entered to win $500 just for showing up!            

Annual General Meeting - AGM - WRLA Members Only
12:00 - 1:00 pm on Thursday January 24th, 2013
Terrace Room, 2nd Floor, Prairieland Park

 

• Reduce equipment, product and facility damages 
• Reduce workers compensation claims and premiums
• Increase productivity 
• Improve maintenance condition of equipment
• Enhance employee morale and company safety culture

NEW expanded WRLA Member Rate Program! 

CLICK HERE to read more and to view new rates for 2013

 

The WRLA team will be heading to Calgary in the early spring to negotiate hotel and venue contracts. If you have any questions or have some suggestions for us please let us know now as we want to provide all our members with the best locations and rates possible.

When our negotiations are complete we will share all the details with our members! Thanks for your patience!

 

To address both the growing number of RETIREES in the Canadian workplace as well as the PART TIME EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INELIGIBLE for Group Insurance, WRLA is now offering the Emerge program through STRATA Benefits Consulting.

This is a 100% voluntary program that offers a Needs Assessment to each participant, as well as product recommendations and assistance with implementation. Renewals are monitored internally at STRATA, premiums are 100% paid for by the Employee or Retiree and no administration is required of the Employer. 

CLICK HERE for more information.

 

January 7, 2013 (London, ON) – The Chalifour Canada order integration will simplify the customer’s ordering process by allowing customers to order products from both locations using their preferred ordering system. Chalifour Vancouver customers can order using Vancouver or London item numbers, with the order being filled in Vancouver whenever possible. If the product is not available in Vancouver, the order will automatically be passed on to the London warehouse for fulfillment.

Previously, Chalifour Canada customers had to place orders for items in the Vancouver and London warehouses separately. Customers will no longer need to research where the product is located; they can build their order using London item numbers or Vancouver item numbers and order them together in one simple step.

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  

 

MasterCard Canada will increase its transaction fees for small merchants in the summer of 2013. It will increase its ‘assessment fee’ from 6.4 to 7.7 basis points ‒- a 20 per cent increase on July 1.

"CFIB is very disappointed that MasterCard is choosing to increase its fees at a time when small firms are struggling with an uncertain economy," says Dan Kelly, Canadian Federation of Independent Business president and CEO. "While MasterCard is raising fees by a smaller amount than Visa, it is particularly surprising that both major card brands are increasing their fees just before Canada's Competition Tribunal is expected to rule on its case against the two card giants."

A decision from the Competition Tribunal could allow merchants to add surcharges for accepting credit cards or allow merchants to refuse to accept certain higher cost cards.

 

St. Jacobs, ON, January 8, 2013 – "Every Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Building Centre across Canada is a local, family-owned business," said Bruce White, Vice-President, Merchandise & Marketing - Lumber & Building Materials, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "We strive to continue to be a trusted resource for contractors in our communities by providing quality products and superior service. These shows allow us to reinforce the many ways in which we work to be the building centre of choice for homebuilders and homeowners."

Over 5,500 contractors attend the invitation-only tradeshows each year. Attendees to the tradeshows come from the surrounding communities, and are provided transportation into each city by Home Hardware Building Centre Dealers. This year’s tradeshows will take place in London, Ottawa, Barrie, Calgary, Winnipeg, Kelowna and Halifax.

"I love attending the Home Hardware Building Centre Tough as Nails Contractor Show. It is a great opportunity to talk with suppliers about their products," said contractor Mark Hofstee, Owner of Rammik Renovations & Restorations in Guelph, Ontario. "It is fun to be able to test your skills in the contests. I highly recommend this tradeshow to fellow contractors."

Featuring more than 75 hardware and building materials suppliers at each show, exhibitor booths are set up with experts on hand to answer questions, offer ideas, explain new products and trends and provide hands-on demonstrations. Contractors in attendance can experience firsthand innovative products and services designed to help them on the job, and enjoy the opportunity to have fun with their professional peers by taking part in the tradeshow’s popular Contractor Skills Competitions.

At each show thousands of dollars in giveaways and door prizes are awarded including a $2,500 travel voucher. In addition, attendees from all 7 shows are entered for a chance to win a grand prize, a 2013 Toyota Tundra vehicle. In 2012, this exciting grand prize was awarded to Matthew Taylor, a local contractor from Belleville, Ontario.

The Tough as Nails Contractor Tradeshow is one of many ways in which Home Hardware cares for homebuilders, renovators and trades people. This past October, during Renovation Month, Home Hardware worked closely with Toyota Canada and the Canadian Home Builders Association to inform Canadians of the importance of choosing a professional contractor when considering a renovation.
Canadians who visited www.renomonthcontest.com were given the opportunity to submit an online ballot to win a 2012 Toyota RAV4. Corey Newcomb of Saanich, British Columbia was the lucky recipient of the vehicle.

"Home Hardware Stores Limited values the roles both homeowners and homebuilders play in building and renovation projects," said Paul Straus, President and CEO, Home Hardware Limited. "We will continue to support and care for our customers across Canada by providing them with the supplies and information they need to complete the best work possible."

Reasons to work with a professional contractor
Whether renovating a home to bring it up to current standards or to make it more comfortable and energy-efficient, the first call should be to a professional contractor. Working with a trust-worthy, qualified expert will allow your ideas to reach their full potential and produce a final product that adds value to your home and enjoyment to your life.

A helpful tip: do your own research, hire a professional and insist on a written contract to make the renovation process a positive one.

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Longtime Oklahoma City manufacturer M-D Building Products has bought a privately held South Carolina manufacturing company with about 800 employees and nine manufacturing and distribution facilities.

The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/TwDlZW) reports that the purchase of Loxcreen Co. Inc. includes its Canadian flooring business, Bengard Manufacturing. The combined sales of both companies will exceed $200 million annually.

In addition to its Canada operations, Loxcreen also runs manufacturing and distribution facilities in Georgia, Oregon, Texas, Ohio, Missouri and South Carolina. M-D Building Products operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in Oklahoma and Georgia.

M-D Building Products designs, makes and markets residential and commercial weatherproofing products including door and window weatherstripping, garage door weatherstripping, pipe insulation and a line of caulk.

Loxcreen and Bengard specialize in customized aluminum and plastic extrusion manufacturing.

 

January 7th, 2013, Mississauga, ON- Castle welcomes a new retail member and a new commercial member in Southern Ontario as well as another new commercial member in Western Canada. In the province of Quebec, Castle Centres De Rénovation grows again with a brand new member in the greater Montreal Area as well the acquisition of a competitor location by an existing member. Ken Jenkins had this comment, "These new member locations are the first in 2013 to join the Castle dealer network. We are well positioned to continue this diverse growth in all Castle business divisions; Coast to Coast...We welcome you to the Castle family."

Castle Building Centres Wasaga Beach is 2013’s first new Castle Building Centres location in Ontario, located in the well-known Wasaga Beach vacation region. Owner Brian MacLean spent the last 28 years cultivating this successful building materials retail location that has evolved into a well known and highly respected home improvement centre for locals and cottage-country weekend warriors. Brian will slowly pass on the reigns to his children Ben MacLean and Shawna Knight who will co-manage this new Castle location. "We are very excited to be part of the Castle group and feel like this is a good fit for us. We are looking forward to the coming years of building our Castle business with new and existing customers, suppliers and our new Castle family." Shawna Knight, Manager.

The newest Castle member to the Quebec region is Quincaillerie Du Centre Inc. located in Melocheville, QC on south shore of the Greater Montreal Area. Claude Coulombe is the owner and operator of this long time retail location in the city of Beauharnois near the St Lawrence Seaway. Quincaillerie Du Centre is a retail hardware store specializing in residential and industrial hardware. They also operate a sanitary division supplying small businesses with sanitary products.

Castle is also pleased to announce the expansion of O. Coderre et Fils Ltee; a long time Castle member and one of the original Castle locations in the province of Quebec. Hugo Coderre announced last week the acquisition of a second location in Crabtree, QC. Hugo along with the entire Coderre family will provide expert home improvement service and supply a full range of lumber, building material, and hardware products to this region. "Congratulations to O. Coderre et Fils Ltee on their expansion; it is great to see an original Quebec member prosper and grow...this is proof of how the Castle business model is working in the province of Quebec." Robert Legault; Business Development Manager; Quebec.

Pro Drywall Supplies Inc. is newest commercial member to join the Castle family in Western Canada. Pro Drywall is headed up by owner Rod Macintosh in Calgary, AB and is a brand new commercial business and CBS member supplying commercial drywall products and supplies to the residential and commercial building supply market in this region.

Castle also welcomes the newest CBS member to Ontario, Costa Building Supplies Limited located in the Great Toronto Area, was established back in 1983 and is family owned and operated by the Fior family. Costa Building Supplies is one of the largest Gypsum specialty dealers in the Greater Toronto Area/South Western Ontario and also distributes a wide range of building materials and supplies to the residential, commercial, industrial and high-rise markets. Being part of the Castle dealer network will help these new commercial members be more profitable and competitive in their markets.

Castle welcomes all new member locations as they proudly join the over 290 retail, commercial and specialty dealers that are part of the successful Castle independent buying group.

 

Both divisions of CompX produce precision ball bearing slide products to the OEM market, including office furniture, appliances, commercial tool chests, computer servers and others. The Waterloo division is a market leader in ergonomic office and health care workstation products, providing adjustable keyboard platforms, computer monitor supports, wall-mounted workstations and other accessories.

"The acquisition of Waterloo Furniture Components and Dynaslide will provide Knape & Vogt with access to new customers and markets and an expanded presence in our office OEM and distribution channels," said Peter Martin, president/CEO of Knape & Vogt. "The combined resources of KV and these two companies provide an enhanced slide product line, a full array of ergonomic accessory products and an exciting new growth opportunity through the addition of wall mounted workstation products for hospitals, medical clinics and other health care providers."

KV’s "rapidly growing international business" will benefit from Dynaslide’s wide range of slide products, added Martin, with KV’s existing GSlide product line allowing for expanded sales within both companies.
Martin said the acquisition of Diamond Storage Concepts and the Hyloft brand adds to KV’s line of garage and utility storage products.

"Garage storage is one of the fastest-growing categories in home storage and organization," said Martin. "The addition of Hyloft products and the Diamond Storage team to our company will provide opportunity to further penetrate this important category."

Based in Grand Rapids for more than 100 years, Knape & Vogt is a privately held manufacturer of furniture hardware, storage-related components and ergonomic products for OEMs, specialty distributors, office products dealers, hardware chains and major home centers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The company is best known for its KV brand and GSlide brand drawer slides, plus kitchen and bath storage products, wall-attached shelving, closet hardware and specialty hardware and Workrite brand ergonomic office products.

 

Rachel's other on screen TV roles include The Amazing Race on CBS in which she finished top 3, and Julie on CBS’s soap The Bold & The Beautiful . Rachel’s TV career developed further as her real life marriage to Villegas was broadcast on We Networks MY Fair Wedding. She also has been showcased on The Brides of Beverly Hills. This reality power house has a lot sparkle and spice!

In her personal life, Rachel loves doing anything out doors and always wants to help out a good cause. Rachel and her new husband, Brendon, live in Hollywood CA. Rachel owns a pet-friendly travel website with her sister named Adventures4pets.com. On the site, Rachel and her sister travel to pet friendly destinations and show viewers where to eat, stay and play with their best friends, their pets!

Reality star Rachel Reilly is affiliated with Advance Door Systems Regina Sask. She will have an autographed picture signing at the Advance Door Systems Booth Number 1221.

Please Visit Rachel Reilly for your autographed photograph at the following times:

-Thursday January 24th from: 1:30PM-3:30PM
-Friday January 25th from: 10:30AM-12PM

Contact Brent Slater for more information regarding the meet and greet with reality star Rachel Reilly. Brent Slater: (306)781.0207 or brent@advancedoor.com

 

January 23 - 25, 2013
2013 Prairie Showcase Buying Show & Convention
Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SK
www.wrla.org/prairie-showcase  
Contact: ckelly@wrla.org

February 7 - 8, 2013
Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association Annual Buying Show
Moncton Coliseum Complex, Moncton, NB
http://www.absda.ca/trade_show 

February 21 - 23, 2013
Orgill Dealer Market
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
www.orgill.com  

March 21 - 23, 2013
2013 TIM-BR MART National Buying Show
Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON
Contact: catherine.brownlow@timbrmart.ca  

To view the complete Events Calendar  CLICK HERE

To view the complete Education & Training Calendar CLICK HERE

 

Stay current with what's happening in your industry by watching WRLA's latest video update!

In this month's video:

- Prairie Showcase Buying & Selling tips
- How to Network
- Evening Events & Entertainment at the show!

CLICK HERE to watch our latest video!

 

Support your association and broadcast your business to hundreds of decision-makers in the lumber industry. Advertising opportunities are still available in several WRLA publications:

The YardStick: The YardStick is sent to more than 1,200 members firms every other month. Advertising in the largest issue of The YardStick, the Prairie Showcase edition, is a great way to reinforce your marketing message with hundreds of decision-makers who regularly read this magazine while supporting WRLA. Ads booked within the print edition automatically appear (linked to the website or email of your choice) in the digital edition, which is read by more than 500 visitors each issue. Exclusive online ad positions are also available within every digital edition.

The Toolbox: Delivered directly to the inboxes of more than 1,200 lumber managers and professionals, this weekly e-newsletter offers consistent access to the individuals who rely on your products and services to run their businesses.

Directory & Product Source Guide: WRLA is the largest retail lumber association on the Prairies, with its membership representing 85% of the industry. All of our members are included in this annual directory and all keep this publication handy year-round. Make sure your business stands out in this resource by purchasing a display advertisement.

WRLA.org: Our website average more than 3,000 visits per month! Advertising space is available on the home and sub-pages of WRLA.org. Ads rotate on the home page and sub pages, expanding your exposure to site visitors at an affordable price.

WRLA-TV: Introducing the NEW WRLA-TV Banner Sponsorship. Our online TV and banners offer your brand high visibility on the WRLA homepage. Your branding and action oriented banner is featured every time WRLA-TV’s videos are played by our audience, leaving them one-click away from your website‘s landing page.

For more information about these opportunities, click here for the media kit or contact:

Kim Davies
Project Manager
(800) 665-2456, ext. 423
kdavies@naylor.com