|
Welcome to the ToolBox, your portal to WRLA member news and information within the LBM market.
We invite you to learn more about what's going on within your association and the companies whose products and/or services you utilize.
See the best moments of the 2014 Showcase on WRLA TV!
WRLA TV is a great place to find out what's happening in your Industry!
Breaking News | Industry Announcements | Highlights from Industry Events | Advertising | New Products | Helpful Tips
CLICK HERE for our Media Kit and to find out how you can advertise on WRLA T.V!
CLICK HERE to Watch Now!
|
"I will use what I learned to make my job more efficient and to give me more confidence in the future."
Register online Today for Manual Estimating!
Go to www.wrla.org to read course details!
 Leduc, Alberta - Register Now
April 7 & 8 Level 1: Estimating Fundamentals
April 9 & 10 Level 2: Estimating for Residential Construction
April 11 Level 3: Advanced Estimating
Winnipeg, Manitoba - Register Now
April 14 & 15 Level 1: Estimating Fundamentals
April 16 & 17 Level 2: Estimating for Residential Construction
Course and Travel Rebates available!
CLICK HERE
Hear what they're saying about these valuable courses...
"Stan’s way of estimating is unbelievable; it really is simple and very accurate."
"A great course! I look forward to using my knowledge"
|
We're planning our Spring Events Now - Don't miss out, send us your contact information!
And don't miss the discussions on Linkedin - Join the WRLA NexGEN Group
For more information on the NexGEN Program visit
www.wrla.org/nexgen
or contact Krista Scherpenzeel toll free at 1-800-661-0253 or kristas@wrla.org
|
Got News? Share it with us! And always watch for new videos and updates from the WRLA!
  
Help us get the word out about OUR Industry!
|
Making a Seasonal Maintenance Checklist
In preparation for a new selling season, take time to do some maintenance of your store—from your customers’ perspective. Be your own "mystery shopper" by pretending you are a customer visiting the store for the first time. Make a list of what you notice that doesn’t work for you, then prioritize the list based on necessity and budget to create a master to-do list for each department. It’s also a great idea to ask friends or family to perform this type of audit for you, so you’ll get a true sense of how a customer sees your store.
Give yourself enough time to finish each item on your list, factoring in customer service and stocking. If your store is large enough, give department managers their own lists and encourage a little friendly competition. Reward the department that finishes its list first to your standards with a pizza party or other treat.
The following checklist can be used any time you are preparing your store for a new season:
- Dust shelves, sweep floors, re-paint walls and replace lights. Start to prep seasonal areas to make the transition from holiday merchandise to outdoor living and lawn and garden.
- Make sure there are no sharp items, loose cords or boxes protruding from shelves.
- Check shelf labels and price stickers to be sure they are neat, clean, complete and current.
- Check displays for empty packages and items that are in the wrong place. Empty packages should be removed and inventory checked.
- Check displays for shopworn or torn packaging and remove it. Customers view damaged packaging as old or damaged goods, which contributes to a perception that the store is not current in its product selection.
- Make sure displays are full and organized. Review inventory order quantities and make sure displays are never empty. Assemble bulky items such as grills, mowers and hose reels, place them on the sales floor and dust them regularly.
- Don’t forget to pay attention to your backroom, where clutter has a tendency to accumulate. When your spring merchandise comes in, you want to make sure there’s room to unload it and organize it before placing on the sales floor.
WRLA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NRHA
The goal of the North American Retail Hardware Association is to help independent hardware and home improvement retailers become better and more profitable merchants through a wide array of educational and training programs, financial management resources, and human resource tools that are all available online. WRLA members get unlimited access to a full range of training and management services when they join NRHA through the WRLA.
Visit www.wrla.org or CLICK HERE for more information about NRHA.
|
WINNIPEG — Sexton Group Ltd. has added three new members. Country West Supply is in Chilliwack, B.C. Owners Richard Reddicopp and Angie Wiens have been involved in the lumber and agricultural industry for several years. Kenroc Building Materials Co Ltd. just added its 13th location with the acquisition of Medicine Hat Drywall Supplies, which is located in nearby Redcliff. Beaver Metal Cladding Ltd in Grande Prairie, Alta., is a new venture for owner Martin Janzen.
|
For this Market, Orgill expanded its market display to more than 750,000 square feet. Some of the most promoted areas of the show were the multiple showcase areas. A concept introduced at the distributor’s Fall Dealer Market, these showcase areas included comprehensive displays of category-specific products, merchandising, education and networking opportunities in one area. For this show, Orgill introduced a Paint and Paint Sundries showcase called vivid Solutions and an Outdoor Living showcase named "The Great Outdoors....Backyard Oasis".
Dominant assortments were abundant as more than 12,000 items were on display in the vivid Solutions showcase leaving no doubt that Orgill offers one of the most complete paint and paint sundry offerings in the industry.
Similarly, the Outdoor Living showcase showed both national and private-label brands in a designated display. Marked by a large pergola and outdoor kitchen, it gave Orgill customers access to view expanded outdoor living lines and services merchandised in a real-world environment.
Walker says Orgill also used the Market to highlight ways for retailers to increase their transaction sizes including a special impulse area, rental area and MRO area. If feedback from attendees is any indication of how its customers are doing, the future looks bright for Orgill.
"Business has been really good," says Paul Singer from Morinville Castle in Alberta, Canada. "We’ve been working with Orgill now for several years and the relationship is great."
Model Store Initiative
Orgill has also become well-known for its model stores over the past several years. At this show, the distributor spotlighted three different store types, two of which were brand new.
Cobblestone Hardware returned from its Boston debut in the fall, but this time the assortment had a spring & summer focus with assortment niche opportunities scattered throughout the store. Cobblestone represented a traditional hardware store with notable dominant categories such as paint and paint sundries, lawn and garden, plumbing and an outdoor living area that illustrated how Orgill customers can take advantage of trends within the grilling and outdoor kitchen industry. The 13,000-square-foot model incorporated ideas throughout on how to increase transaction size and overall profitability.
Everglade Building Materials made its debut in Orlando with a retail footprint of just under 4,800 square feet.
"As housing construction continues to climb and builder confidence starts to rebound, many customers are looking for merchandising and product assortments to help capitalize on the break in the market," says Jeff Curler, Orgill’s vice president of advertising and dealer promotions. "The model focused on helping retailers get ideas on how to merchandise and stock their stores in order to get contractors in and out of their stores conveniently. We also wanted our pro customers to understand that we have the solutions they need to embrace their business, and this model store definitely did not disappoint."
Kodiak Trail Hardware and Supply, a 13,900-square-foot comprehensive North American hardware store was on display as well. The product assortment and services showcased were regionally based assortments that were of high interest to the Canadian retailers attending the market. Kodiak not only featured a timely spring-focused assortment, it was also host to several powerful niche programs that have been gaining momentum with many Orgill customers. On display was a dual strategy incorporating both a Rental and MRO niche business into the assortment strategy.
Also back by overwhelming response was the Flash Market, a special area of the show where Orgill offers limited quantities of closeout products, end-of-season overstocks and factory-discontinued merchandise at deep discounts.
"We always come and check out the discount opportunities first," says Harold and Susan Tauber, owners of Glen Park Hardware in San Francisco. "We really like this closeout; it helps us get some really great values to expand our promotional activity to our customers."
For More Information Contact:
Jeff Curler at (901) 754-8850 ext. 6498
|
President & CEO Kevin Irvine is pleased to announce that Stephen H. Jones has joined TASK TOOLS® as Vice President, Sales.
 "We are delighted to welcome Steve Jones to our experienced team at Task Tools. Steve has a very impressive skill set and track record in developing strong relationships with customers throughout North America. With nearly three decades of experience in the tool business and many connections with key players in our industry, we are confident that Steve will be instrumental in helping us build our business and deliver on the growth commitments that we’ve made to our Board of Advisors", says Irvine.
"The chance to become a part of the Task Tools team was an opportunity I could not pass up. I have always had great respect for the organization and the Caplan family. I’m looking forward to helping grow our brands and business throughout North America," says Jones.
Steve Jones will be based out of offices in the Toronto area and he can be reached at steve.jones@task-tools.com.
|
April 4 - 8, 2014
Home Hardware Dealer Market
St. Jacobs, ON
April 6 - 7, 2014
Federated Co-Op Market
Prairieland Park,
Saskatoon, SK
April 14 - 17, 2014
TruServ Canada Spring Buying Market
Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, MB
To view the complete Events Calendar CLICK HERE
|
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 averages 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
|
Stay up-to-date on the latest industry news and events with our engaging new communication channel.
Have you watched the latest episode on our WRLA TV channel? Don't wait to take full advantage of this terrific media channel, one of the many benefits of your WRLA membership!
Check it out here!
|
|
|
