HHIQ Q2

NEWSROUNDUP
AT NRHA CONFERENCE, DEALERS SHARE
IDEAS FOR BUILDING SALES
J
oining forces with other hardware
stores in your community to share
advertising efforts was just one of
the tips shared at a conference for home
improvement dealers, held in Chicago
late last year. The State of Independents
Conference was hosted by the North
American Retail Hardware Association.
Christine Hand, owner of Handyman
Home Hardware in St. John’s, and chair of
the board for Home Hardware Stores Ltd.,
was part of a panel of independent dealers
talking about changes in the marketplace.
She explained that her store pools resources
with three other local dealers to develop a
regular advertising section in the weekend
newspaper and buy air time for joint ads
on radio.
Joe Franquinha is the owner of Crest
Hardware in Brooklyn, N.Y. With just
5,000 square feet to work with, he’s been
able to develop a fast-growing lawn and
garden business—year-round. He’s had
success thanks to a strategy that includes
Dan Tratensek, of the NRHA, leads a panel of
independent retailers including Christine Hand
(far left), chair of Home Hardware Store Ltd.
creating a fun shopping environment instore.
Franklin, a pot-bellied pig, and a
grey parrot both live in the store and have
huge appeal for kids who accompany their
parents to the store. Franquinha also goes
out of his way to create partnerships with
local hotels and hospitals to create holiday
landscapes on their properties.
Franquinha had other suggestions for
building a year-round lawn and garden
business, such as offering delivery to compete
with online sales. He’s currently trying
to develop landscaping services to provide
additional value for his lawn and garden
customers. He also found that, for his urban
customers, a balance between trendy, more
expensive items and low maintenance, high
turnover assortments work best.
PRINCESS AUTO UNVEILS EXPANSION
PLANS FOR QUEBEC WITH TWO STORES
Princess Auto has announced plans to enter
the Quebec market and has confirmed two
stores there. The first will be in Saint-Jérôme
and the second will be in Laval. Both stores
are scheduled to open in fall 2019.
Under the leadership of Marc-André
Fournier, vice-president of operations in
Quebec, Princess Auto is building a team to
support growth in the province. Store directors
for the two locations were hired last
spring, to provide them with necessary training.
Both individuals bring with them strong
management and retail backgrounds: Danielle
Rozon has previously worked at Bureau en
gros (Staples), Target and Patrick Morin and
will manage the Laval store. Yves Bergeron,
whose background includes Lunetterie
NewLook and Oakley, will head up the Saint-
Jérôme store.
Recruitment is currently under way for
assistant store leader and department manager
positions for both locations. Mass hiring
for an array of positions is scheduled to start
in May.
Winnipeg-based Princess Auto sells tools
and equipment, ranging from hydraulics
to welding, to trade professionals, home
mechanics and other DIYers. While its roots
are in Western Canada, almost half of its 46
stores across Canada are in Ontario.
16 SECOND QUARTER / 2019
Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly
www.hardlines.ca