HHIQ_1Q_18_complete

HARDLINES CONFERENCE FILLED WITH
IDEAS, CHALLENGES, AND INSPIRATION
Powerful speakers brought key ideas to the delegates at the 22nd annual Hardlines Conference,
which was held in Niagara Falls, Ont., last November.
R
obert Howard of retail consultancy
Kurt Salmon kicked off day one of the
22nd annual Hardlines Conference
with insights into the two worlds of bricks
and mortar and online selling. He said it’s not
enough to have one or the other; they must
be utilized together to connect with consumers.
Economist Peter Norman, of the Altus
Group, talked about the housing and renovation
markets in Canada. Based on healthy
job growth and rising GDP, his outlook was
largely positive for the entire country.
Retailers Doug Anderson of Peavey
Industries and Daniel Lampron of Patrick
Morin talked about finding niches in their
respective markets. Both individuals stressed
the importance of making—and maintaining—a
strong connection with their respective
customers. A strong corporate culture
that values its employees figured in both
their talks.
Other speakers at the conference were
John Herbert of the European DIY retailers’
association EDRA/GHIN, Emil Cermak
from FedEx Canada, Dan Tratensek of
the North American Retail Hardware
Association, and Denis Melanson, president
Sylvain Prud’homme, president and CEO of
Lowe’s Canada, filled delegates in on how the
integration of RONA and Lowe’s has gone.
of the Building Material Council of Canada
and head of the Atlantic Building Supply
Dealers Association.
One of the recurring themes throughout
the conference was the notion of respect.
Much of the discussion centred around the
PHOTOS: CALLUM PINKNEY
32 FIRST QUARTER / 2018
Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly
www.hardlines.ca