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Top Stories from our Weekly e-Newsletter
Vol. xviii, #20, May 14, 2012
Slow January impacts RONA's first-quarter same-store sales
BOUCHERVILLE, QC — RONA's sales were up in the first quarter, reflecting the unseasonably warm weather during the winter. Consolidated sales (sales through the warehouse, plus sales from corporate stores, not including sales from its affiliate dealers) were up 1.8%...
Same-store sales up for Canadian Tire in first quarter
TORONTO — Canadian Tire Corp. reported healthy first-quarter results, with consolidated profits up 21.5% to $71.0 million compared with the same period in 2011. That growth was due to the acquisition of FGL Sports (Forzani Group), which was acquired in August 2011, and to strong growth in Financial Services. Consolidated revenue was up 23.4%...
Marketing department drives Home's brand strategy
ST. JACOBS, ON ― Television has played an increasingly major role in Home's promotional efforts in recent years. Home Hardware's marketing team, headed up by Jack Baillie, director of marketing for Home Hardware Stores Ltd., explains how the various media are being integrated...
Dealer carves niche with ladies' only night
ORILLIA, ON — The Home Hardware Building Centre dealer here held a "ladies' night" last week. "You have to work for your sales today," says co-owner John Locke. "You just used to have to open the doors, but now consumers have so many options"...More news on twitter!
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Sears Canada profits,
announces possible
spin-off of stockSears annouced a first-quarter profit – and a possible spin-off of stock owned by Sears Holding Co. from 95% to closer to 51%. Details in the next sizzling issue of Hardlines.
Castle adds to ranks with seven new dealers
MISSISSAUGA, ON — Castle Building Centres Group Ltd.has expanded with the addition of these dealers: Saddle Lake Building Supplies Ltd., Saddle Lake, AB; Alberta Drywall & Stucco Supply, Calgary and Edmonton; TJ Windows, Doors & More, Charlottetown; Eastway Building Supplies Ltd., Scarborough and Markham, ON; R&D Lumber Inc., Rosthern, SK; Aluminum L. Hawkins et Fils Inc., Sainte-Agathe des Monts and Tremblant, QC.
In addition, an existing member, Rehill Building Supplies, has purchased Peacock Building Supplies in Belleville, ON... full story in the next heart-stopping issue of HARDLINES! Not getting your own weekly copy? . Click here for a free trial subscription!
First quarter good for
Home Depot
ATLANTA — The Home Depot reported sales of $17.8 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2012, a 5.9% increase from 1Q 2011. fiscal 2011. Same-store sales were positive 5.8%, and same-store sales for U.S. stores were positive 6.1 %.Net earnings for the first quarter were $1.0 billion, up from $812 million... full story in the next pulse-pounding issue of HARDLINES!
Canadian Tire money being gradually replaced
TORONTO — Rob Shields, vp marketing at Canadian Tire Corp., says Canadian Tire money is slowly being replaced by online customer tracking methods. This is not good news for many Canadians, says the Wall Street Journal. Collectors prize the money and many establishments, from burger joints to privates businesses, accept Canadian Tire money in lieu of the real stuff... full story at wsj.com
TIM-BR MART signs
Ontario dealer
CALGARY — The newest dealer to join TIM-BR MARTS Ltd. is Chatham Kent Construction Products of Chatham, ON. The two-year old building supply operation, owned by Rick Zavitz and his partners,operates on two acres of land with a 6,000 square feet of office and retail, plus storage... full story in our latest weekly edition of HARDLINES!
Employment rate hits a new high
OTTAWA — Employment increased by 58,000 in April, according to Stats Canada. The good news here was that most of the gains were in full-time work. This was the second consecutive monthly increase. However, despite the increase in the employment rate, the unemployment rate also increased, as more people were searching for work in April. The unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage point to 7.3%.
Compared with a year earlier, employment was up 1.2%.
RONA restructures
commercial teams
TORONTO ― A recent series of 16 contractor appreciation events hosted by RONA inc. were part of a larger initiative that reflects a restructuring of the company's entire commercial division.
Part of that restructuring involved division's sales team... full story in our latest weekly edition of HARDLINES. Click here for a free trial subscription!
Bed, Bath & Beyond acquires Cost Plus Inc.
NEW YORK — Bed, Bath & Beyond, the home furnishings retailer, will pay $550 for Cost Plus, which sells specialty foods and home furnishings products. It operates under the names Cost Plus World Market and Cost Plus Imports.
Housing boosted by
multiple starts
OTTAWA — Canada's new housing market got a lift in April, when housing starts seasonally adjusted grew to 244,900 units, up from 214,800 units in March, according to CMHC. However, most of the increase was in multiple housing, especially large multi-unit projects. Single-detached starts were flat, with urban single starts up by only 0.6% seasonally adjusted in April... full story in our latest weekly edition of HARDLINES. Click here for a free trial subscription!
Residential building intentions sag in February
OTTAWA — In March, contractors took out building permits worth $6.8 billion, up 4.7% from February, following a 7.6% increase the previous month. However, all gains were in the non-residential sector. The value of residential permits, by contrast, declined 1.3% to $3.9 billion - the third consecutive drop.
Not getting your own weekly copy of HARDLINES? Click here for a FREE TRIAL subscription!
Home improvement report a must for strategic marketers
WORLD HQ, TORONTO — The retail home improvement industry grew only slightly in 2010. But that slight rise did mark a turnaround after two consecutive years of negative sales growth. Big boxes are still struggling for market share, while independents are gaining ground. Find out how big the industry is, what formats, retailers and provinces are gaining, and learn the strategies of Canada's top retailers. It's all in our 2011-2012 Retail Home Improvement Report. Click here for more info!
