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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.
CLICK HERE to Watch Now!
Join us in Calgary for a fun night of Networking!We'll have a private space where you can meet the WRLA Executive and Buying Show Committees, plus enjoy delicious appetizers and over 100 different beers on Tap!
Mark it in your Calendars!
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
6:00 – 9:00pm
CRAFT Beer Market | Restaurant & Bar
Calgary, AB
 Invoices and renewal papers have been mailed. Return your forms as soon as possible so we may update our information!
HIGHLIGHTS of
MEMBER SERVICES & BENEFITS:
- WRLA Buying Show Plan to attend the WRLA Buying Show January 21 & 22, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta.
- Education WRLA offers great education programs with generous member rebates.
- Insurance Our insurance programs offer the most competitive rates in Canada.
- NexGEN NexGEN provides an open forum for young WRLA professionals to exchange ideas and create relationships
- Bursaries and Scholarship Since 1990 the WRLA has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships and bursaries to employees and their dependents of WRLA member companies.
- Publications WRLA will continue to bring you timely news coverage in the TOOLBOX enewsletter, WRLA TV and YardStick magazine and DIRECTORY.
- Social Media Stay engaged with your industry through WRLA – TV, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Cervus Equipment has partnered with Williams Machinery and Westerra Equipment to provide WRLA members reduced training rates and rebates for the following:
Forklift | Aerial Work Platform | Tele-handler | Skid Steer Loader
Crane Rigging | Fall Protection | Excavator | Front End Loader Operator
Click Here for Details
Brenda & Peter Lehoux began B & P Building Supplies as a small lumber yard and building materials retail store in Hinton back in 1996. Family owned and operated, Brenda and Peter worked to develop their business and grow their community reach along with daughters Kim and Amanda. In 2005, B & P Building Materials expanded their location to include the now 5000 sq.ft. of retail space as well as a 3800 sq.ft warehouse and lumberyard.
B & P now services a 100 mile radius around the Hinton area and this new Castle location will offer a complete assortment of lumber and building material products and a more specialize product selection to meet the needs of their market. They take pride in their personalized approach to customer service, delivered to their customer base by a team of knowledgeable and outstanding staff members.
"We made the move to Castle because we wanted to be more profitable and provide our customers with a better product assortment and sharper pricing. We felt our profitability was restricted and limited before the move but feel confident that with Castle we will grow our business and prosper." Brenda Lehoux, Owner
"Like many Independents today; B & P Building Materials was looking for a buying group that allows them to be truly independent and more profitable. With Castle they won’t have to run flyers and stock the products they do not sell, but be better positioned and have the freedom to identify, stock and advertise the products that their local customers want and need." Alan Schoemperlen; Business Development Manager; Western Region
Castle welcomes B & P Building Materials to the Castle family.
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HARDLINES is pleased to announce the call for entries for the 2015 Outstanding Retailer Awards.
The Awards, which recognize the finest retailers in the hardware and home improvement industry, are national in scope and all Canadian home improvement retailers and managers who have operated under their current ownership for at least two years are eligible.
Dealers may submit their entries directly to HARDLINES or their chain or buying group head offices may select their best dealer(s) and prepare their entries for them, in collaboration with the dealer. Head offices may enter more than one store per category. In addition, vendors may identify specific outstanding retailers for entry. ORA submissions are due July 31st, 2015.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the ORA Categories
Visit www.oras.ca for more details
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Here are some great takeaways:
- Get personal. Social media can result in positive engagement with customers and build their loyalty. Don’t simply share product information and promotions on social media platforms. Draw attention to your business by sharing stories and images related to the industry. By posting a mixture of product-related information and more personal content, your customers will likely feel more connected to your store. Consider sharing throwback photos from your store’s history, pictures of your staff or interesting how-to advice.
- Prioritize customer service. More often than not, when customers have problems with a business, their first step is to complain on social media. Clearly you want to avoid angry customer reviews, but if they happen, respond quickly and provide a resolution. It is recommended to respond to all queries within 12 hours. Be sure to promote the positive customer-experience posts your retail operation receives by sharing them on your social channels.
- Social and mobile go together. Nearly 85 percent of Americans say that mobile devices are a central part of their everyday lives. Be aware that a large percentage of your customers are almost perpetually using their mobile devices and browsing social media platforms. It is recommended that you provide instant purchasing options for the mobile shopper as well as offering product deals online that cater to your customers using their mobile devices.
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/membership/membership-benefits or CLICK HERE for more information about NRHA.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
April 19 - 20, 2015
Federated Co-op Market
Prairieland Park, Saskatoon
April 18 - 21, 2015
Home Hardware Spring Market
May 1, 2015
WRLA & Hardlines Contest Launch
*Details available online
www.wrla.org/nexgen
May 13, 2015
NexGEN Networking Night - Meet the WRLA Executive & Buying Show Committees
Calgary, AB
CRAFT Beer Market | Restaurant & Bar | Tickets $20.00
www.wrla.org/nexgen
August 18, 2015
WRLA Memorial Golf Tournament
The Links at Quarry Oaks – Steinbach, MB
August 27-29, 2015
Orgill Fall Market
New Orleans
September 3, 2015
WRLA Calgary Classic
Sundre, MB
September 16, 2015
WRLA Kenosee Golf Tournament
Kenosee Lake, SK
To view all upcoming WRLA events please CLICK HERE
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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!
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