November 1st, 2014 is your renewal date.

Please contact Lannie at lmertz@wrla.org with any questions or concerns.

For general information on the WRLA Group Property & Liability Insurance Plan visit our website at www.wrla.org/membership/group-employee-benefits-plan

Attention 2015 WRLA Buying Show Exhibitors 

Booth invoices are now PAST DUE.  If you have not received your booth invoice or have any questions, or if you wish to cancel, please email Caren at ckelly@wrla.org   

If you would like to pay your booth invoice via Credit Card (Visa or Master Card only), please contact Lannie in accounting at 800-661-0253 ext. 4 or lmertz@wrla.org.

All Exhibitor information is available by following this link www.wrla.org/exhibitors which includes the interactive floor plan.  If the link doesn’t work, copy and paste or type into your web-browser.

Online registration for name badges and evening event tickets are now available on the WRLA website.

Belagio's favorite New Years act will entertain us as we celebrate our 125th Anniversary on Thursday January 22, 2015 at the WRLA Buying Show in Calgary!

The WRLA was founded in 1890.... over the past 125 years we've managed to save some pretty interesting memorabilia.  From vintage training manuals and legal documents, to photos and original video footage of Buying Shows and conferences over the past century.  

We are excited to celebrate our 125th Anniversary in Calgary at the 2015 WRLA Buying Show

We're asking our members to join in and share their histories with us too!
If you have any memorabilia from your business, your home or the Building Supply Industry throughout the 1900's, we'd love to see it!

Please submit memorabilia to ckelly@wrla.org or call Caren toll free at 1-800-661-0253

The Power to Compete 



"Compete in your market while maintaining your independence with no additional fees"

Interested in advertising opportunities with the WRLA?
CLICK HERE for more information.

Awarded to Home Hardware Dealer-Owners who excel at making their stores more visible in the community, the Paul Straus Public Relations award celebrates the building of relationships and awareness within the community through innovative approaches to public relations. 

Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre was recognized for its numerous contributions to the community including: driving awareness and raising funds for health issues, supporting area youth through ‘Bowling for Kids’ Sake’  and providing home grown vegetables from their garden centre for the local food bank’s ‘Fresh Food’ program. Each of these initiatives were successful due in large part to the creative public relations activities the store used to engage the community.    

QUOTE: 

John, Bill and the Staff at Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre exemplify Home’s commitment to both community and customer service. As a result, the team continues to receive formal recognition for its achievements. In addition to receiving this year’s Paul Straus Public Relations award, the store is a two time recipient of the Walter J. Hachborn Store of the Year award for its high standards in retailing and staff performance. Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre is a great representative of the Home brand. 

- Terry Davis, CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited

About Home Hardware Stores Limited   

Proudly celebrating its 50thanniversary in 2014, Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada’s largest Dealer-owned hardware, lumber, building materials and furniture cooperative. Founded in 1964 by 122 independent Dealers, the 100% Canadian owned and operated cooperative now includes close to 1,100 stores under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners, with annual retail sales of more than $5.4 billion. Through the Home Hardware network, Dealer-Owners have access to a world-class distribution system and 100,000 quality brand name and private label products at competitive prices. Home Hardware Stores Limited received designation as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. More information about the company is available at www.homehardware.ca.

Your customers are always searching for ways to organize their lives and possessions better. Whether simply seeking to decrease clutter or organize items in the "junk" drawer, space is at a premium for most home owners. Use the following tips to make the most of your storage sales: 

 

• Display assembled products. Many customizable storage systems are easy to install, but may not seem that way to a customer when he or she is staring at the box. Dedicate a space to show a sample of that system installed with easy instructions on how customers can design and install it themselves. If you have limited space, use large photos showing installed closet systems from vendors—or from customers who have tried the product already.

• Keep current on style. Instead of white wire racking, you could try displaying brushed steel, chrome or colour, which are popular finishes for shelving units today. Some people might even want cabinets in closets and in the garage, so make sure you can accommodate those requests. To get more ideas for how customers might want to use their storage space, visit department stores and specialty storage retailers.

• Sell the basics. Storage solutions are in every part of the house, including food storage, organizers for the office, modular units for apartments and college  dorms, and baskets for the laundry room. When you offer the latest and most creative designs, your category will stand out from your competitors’.

• Use special orders. Use your storage vendor’s special order capabilities to cut down on inventory, give your customers more options and fetch higher margins. Train all employees on the ordering process so it’s easy and fast for customers. 

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 the WRLA website at www.wrla.org or click here for more information about NRHA.

Manual Estimating Courses

Winnipeg, MB

Sexton Member Conference

Nashville, Tennessee

Contact: Callak@sextongroup.com

Principles of Yard and Warehouse Operations

Winnipeg, MB

www.wrla.org

January 21 - 23, 2015
WRLA Buying Show
Calgary, AB
www.wrla.org/buying-show

UPDATES to the 2014-2015 WRLA DIRECTORY & Product Source Guide