WRLA Toolbox: May 21, 2015
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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.

What's Going On

HOTEL SCAM ALERT!
Please keep your reservation information confidential.  Do not provide details of your reservation or to anyone who calls you.  
If in doubt, please email WRLA-housing@icsevents.com.


Support the WRLA and book your hotel at one of our preferred properties.

  • Select the Event "WRLA 2016" then proceed to Step 1 of the booking process.
  • Enter your dates in the space provided in Step 1; and press "Next" for the remaining steps.
  • If you are unsure how to proceed please contact WRLA-Housing@icsevents.com or call 1-720-325-2944
GROUPS with PRE-RESERVED ROOM BLOCKS:
  • If you have received a "Group Code" enter the code in the space provided below your dates in Step 1.  
GROUPS without PRE-RESERVED ROOM BLOCKS:
  • For 6 or more reservations use the Group Hotel Booking Form below
REVISIONS to INDIVIDUAL RESERVATIONS:
If you wish to revise your existing reservation, click on the button that says "Existing Reservation".  You will be instructed to provide the email address entered in the original reservation as well as the last name and you will then be resent the original confirmation email of your booking.

 

Notice of the April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 membership renewal was late this year.
Your company still has time to update information for this year’s directory. Fax or Email your changes before May 31.The WRLA DIRECTORY and PRODUCT SOURCE GUIDE will be published in July. Each member location will receive one copy complimentary.

 

The WRLA Buying Show is one of the largest shows of its kind in Canada, with 700 booths and over 260 exhibiting companies. Year after year Exhibitor booths are sold out and with a wait list. Retailers in the lumber and home improvement industry from across Western Canada attend the Show for; the excellent deals, new products, renew old friendships, make new ones, and fantastic entertainment.

Each year we are pleased to offer you this opportunity to increase your company’s strategic position and become "top-of-mind" with retailers.  Each category guarantees the sponsor profile, recognition, and access to attending retailers.

*Deadline to Sponsor is June 12, 2015


 

Great People + Great Networking + Great Beer = Successful Event!
This was the first of many local NexGEN Events, this time we hosted at CRAFT in Calgary had over 30 members attend! If you're interested in hosting or attending a NexGEN event be sure to contact the WRLA Office.



If you attended the event and would like to make a suggestions for future events or even just comment on how you thought this first Pub Night went, then be sure to email the WRLA at kristas@wrla.org

Stay tuned for our next event coming soon!
Visit: www.wrla.org/nexgen for more info


 



Two action packed days with top leaders of the home improvement industry. The 20th Annual Hardlines Conference guarantees you will leave feeling inspired and prepared for the changes that will affect you in the months and years to come.

Represent the WRLA at the 20th Annual Hardlines Conference,
we want to send you!

YOU COULD WIN:
All Access Conference Pass
Travel & Accommodations 
Seat on Young Leaders Panel
Ticket to ORA Gala

CLICK HERE for CONTEST DETAILS
One WRLA Retail and Associate Member will be selected
for more information contact Krista at kristas@wrla.org

Visit www.hardlines.ca for Conference Details
 



The WRLA is proud to offer seven $1,500 Bursaries and seven $3,000 Scholarships each academic year. To learn more about eligibility and for full program details visit www.wrla.org or contact Krista at kristas@wrla.org 

 
Industry News

Kindersley Castle is a brand new start-up business partnership established by Richard Reaburn, Melody Fries and Sheldon Goodheart. Richard and Melody, formerly with Namraw Lumber in Kindersley have been in the hardware, lumber and building material industry for over 20 years. The partners purchased an incredible 5.2 acre lot where they will construct a 12500 sq.ft. retail storefront and utilize the remaining space for warehouse, lumberyard and customer parking. The grand opening and completion of Kindersley Castle is scheduled for late summer/early Fall 2015 and once completed, will offer a comprehensive assortment of lumber and building material products as well as a specialized hardware assortment and product selection to meet the needs of their market.

The management team; who come to Castle with extensive home improvement experience and knowledge is passionate about the industry and ready to take on this new phase in their careers. Their personalized approach will provide the Kindersley community and the industry hub with an unsurpassed customer experience and a viable home improvement and hardware alternative.

"I am very excited to see Richard and Melody come back to the Castle group and I know that this new location is bound for great success with this team of seasoned experts in the LBM and Hardware industry" Alan Schoemperlen; Business Development Manager; Western Region

Castle welcomes Kindersley Castle Building Centre to the family!

 

Last month, Globoforce, an online recognition company, hosted a webinar to discuss research on how companies can create a happy and productive work culture. Both Mosley and Irvine spoke about their research on employee engagement and how any company, big or small, can create a thriving work culture.

What the two emphasized were that recognition leads to more motivated workers. In fact, 86 percent of employees are motivated by recognition for their contributions, according to the Spring 2014 Mood Tracker Survey.

Mosley and Irvine explained employees often seek appreciation and feedback, and these two principles can lead to an open culture, where organizational health is improved and engagement is built.

One example of how a company is reinforcing its culture is Hershey Chocolate Company. According to Irvine, every day, the company invites all 13,000 employees to smile when they see colleagues doing great things. This positivity reaches all areas of the business and helps boost morale.

Throughout their book and in their research, the authors use the phrase social recognition, which they say is different than old-school recognition models.

Irvine adds that through social recognition, companies are able to spot great performers, which helps with succession planning and brings a social movement of voices, generating lots of useful data.

They also spoke about how more frequent recognition can help when it’s time for an employee performance review. By recording and storing the employees’ recognition throughout the year, companies can track and provide more detail and insights from management and peers when the performance review happens.

So how can you apply this to your store? Consider starting out by finding ways to encourage your managers and employees to recognize one another for doing things right.

If you already have a recognition program, whether it’s an employee of the month award or another program highlighting employees’ good work, reflect on the program and consider ways you can improve upon it. Try to find ways to get all of your employees involved and giving each other feedback.

If you don’t have a recognition program, consider creating one. If done right, it can help boost employee morale while also allowing you to create and develop the future leaders of your business. And happy employees are likely to deliver even better customer service, making social recognition a win-win for your employees, customers—and you.

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.

 
Calendar of Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

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, AB

September 16, 2015
WRLA Kenosee Golf Tournament
Kenosee Lake, SK

October 21 & 22, 2015
Hardlines Conference

Toronto, ON
www.hardlines.ca


To view all upcoming WRLA events please CLICK HERE
 
Member Updates

NEW RETAIL MEMBER

Windsor Plywood
3670 Opie Crescent
Prince George, BC    V2N 1C1
Phone: 250-564-8814
Fax: 250-562-2391
Main Contact: George Hackle
(RETAILER) Windsor

Kimberley Building Supplies
335 Jennings Ave.
Kimberley, BC    V1A 2K5
Phone: 250-427-2400
Fax: 250-427-2002
Main Contact: Stan Cuthill
(RETAILER) TIMBERMART

 
WRLA Videos

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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EcoPoxy
Westman Steel Industries
Home Hardware Stores Ltd
Castle Building Centres
All Weather Windows Ltd.
Sexton Group Ltd.

If your company has news that you would like to see in The ToolBox, please email your news releases to news@wrla.org
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