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EMERGING CATEGORIES says while he thinks people want to be ecofriendly, they’re also suspicious of products that tout themselves as green. “The consumer is having a really tough time believing in various retailers and various products,” he says. “The demand is there, and it’s being driven by regional and political initiatives such as waste diversion, but people are really trying to figure out how to filter the good from the bad, the wheat from the chaff.” SciCorp, which has licensed the WM/ Waste Management name, has developed a natural cleaner made from plant-based micronutrients. In addition to cleaning effectively, the product also touts its odourneutralizing power. Waters says the product is beginning to gain traction with retailers across Canada, especially in cities, where the cleaner is perfect for organic waste bins, which attract all kinds of pests ranging from raccoons to rats. “When you talk about the urban side of things and the need there, I think it’s just going to continue to expand,” says Waters. ALL IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND In an increasingly technology-driven world, homeowners are eager for new products to help make their lives easier. According to Berg Research, there were 12.7 million smart homes in North America by the end of 2015 and the category has only continued to increase in popularity. Lighting is one area in particular that has seen a lot of growth in recent years as the products continue to evolve beyond the old familiar options. Connected lighting is one of the top three categories of interest to consumers. Annie Stavridis, integrated communications manager for Philips Lighting Canada, says personalized lighting is very much on trend right now. The company has several products on the market that consumers can control from their smartphones, tablets, or even through voice control, and can customize with different light settings, to “create the right ambiance for any moment.” FEATURE (Left) Lowe’s Canada’s Alan Blundell says Nest has been one of the company’s most popular smart home products. (Right) Blundell is particularly enthusiastic about a robotic lawn mower Lowe’s is carrying this spring. One especially popular product from the company is the Philips Hue, which can also be synced to match a homeowner’s activities. “It gives you peace of mind and enhances your daily activities and routines, al<strong>low</strong>ing you to enjoy immersive entertainment experiences, such as syncing with music, movies, TV shows, and games,” says Stavridis. When it comes to the smart home category, Lowe’s is working hard to stay on the leading edge. Alan Blundell, Lowe’s Canada’s divisional vice president for merchandising, says it’s a category that fits into the company’s overall strategy well. “Lowe’s is focused on thinking about our strategy overall in terms of research and development and being innovative,” says Blundell. “And this is definitely a rapidly growing category and we’re continuing to add products all the time.” Blundell points out that with the 10-year anniversary of the smartphone’s invention this year, everyone’s looking at more ways to continue to integrate the devices with products. But it’s really been in the last three to five years that he says he’s noticed the category gaining in popularity, establishing itself in the marketplace. He adds that at first, it was a category for young, Millennial “early adopters”, but products are becoming more accessible for users of a variety of devices, and the category has opened itself up for all kinds of consumers. The Nest thermostats, from Nest Labs, a home automation producer of programmable, self-learning, sensor-driven, WiFienabled thermostats, smoke detectors, and other security systems, have become one of Lowe’s most popular products. With these devices, consumers are able to control all those products from an app on their phone. Blundell says the Nest products have enjoyed prominent placement as a feature end cap at Lowe’s stores for the last year. Innovation is a priority for Lowe’s head office, Blundell says, and they’ll definitely be keeping their eyes out for new products that are integrating technology to help meet customers’ needs even better. One product that he’s particularly enthused about, coming this spring, is a robotic lawn mower. “People can just set it and sit back and watch it mow their lawns,” he says. “The smart category is everywhere. What customers are really looking for is the convenience factor. We’re looking for items that are going to help them save time, to protect customers, and we’re always thinking about good value.” What consumers are looking for in the smart home category is essentially what they want from all the products they buy for their homes—a mixture of comfort and innovation. 28 SECOND QUARTER / 20<strong>17</strong> Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly www.hardlines.ca
What would sales growth between 10% and 100% do for your bottom line? BMF has renovated nearly 200 stores and has supplied fixtures or displays to virtually every home centre, building centre and box store in the country. In the process we’ve seen the impact a professionally renovated store has on sales, staff pride, customer loyalty, market share, and, of course, the bottom line. We work closely with each dealer to understand their unique needs and strategically allocate space to best support the entire business. This has proved much more effective than simply bolting on categories. BMF has designed the industry’s most efficient and attractive fixture systems to properly display and stock the wide range of products in a typical building centre. Our millwork shop supports each project with high quality service desks and displays custom built to fit. We work seamlessly with your chosen vendors to design and build customized displays ensuring timely execution. Our signage systems integrate beautifully with the fixtures we supply. The graphics are customized to fit the needs and preferences of each dealer. Our installation teams complete their work fast and efficiently to minimize disruption to your business. As a result, our clients consistently achieve sales growth ranging from 10% to 100% and margin growth of 1-3 points. Helping the industry grow its bottom line since 2003 1-866-441-4497 • www.bmfonline.com Proud to be named to the Canadian Business list of fastest growing companies for 4 consecutive years. STORE LAYOUT & DESIGN • RACKING • SHELVING • METAL DISPLAYS • MERCHANDISING ACCESSORIES • MILLWORK • SIGNAGE • INSTALLATION • FINANCING
Page 1 and 2: H A R D L I N E S . C A C O N N E C
Page 3: Beach House Shake Created by Tando
Page 6 and 7: YOU’RE HERE TO STAY. WE’RE HERE
Page 8 and 9: Recommended by Jim Caruk, Master Co
Page 10 and 11: QUARTERLY BUSINESS CONDITIONS FOURT
Page 12 and 13: MARKET REPORT FLE WHO ARE THE TOP R
Page 14 and 15: NEWSROUNDUP OF THE HOME IMPROVEMENT
Page 16 and 17: NEWSROUNDUP CASTLE CONTINUES TO GRO
Page 18 and 19: NEWSROUNDUP NATIONAL DEALER ASSOCIA
Page 20 and 21: BY GEOFFREY McLARNEY ProductSPOTLIG
Page 22 and 23: NEWS SPOTLIGHT FLE Lowe’s will be
Page 24 and 25: BY SIGRID FORBERG THERE’S NO PLAC
Page 26 and 27: EMERGING CATEGORIES style, and pric
Page 30 and 31: E-COMMERCE FLE NAVIGATING THE DIGIT
Page 32: T NEWS FEATURE he merger of Peavey
Page 35 and 36: Bring your ideas to the table. NRHA
Page 37 and 38: than just going through the motions
Page 39 and 40: “ ” Who doesn’t want a bright
Page 41 and 42: Reno-Depot’s new Boucherville sto
Page 43 and 44: RE IMAGINE RETAIL Rethink the way y
Page 45 and 46: The Networking Event for the Home I
Page 47 and 48: gondolas, and seven- or eight-foot
Page 49 and 50: You know your store is a winner…
Page 51 and 52: Our Price Advantage Orgill Helps Yo

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