In Canada, recognition for retail excellence

Hardlines, the Toronto-based information service for the retail home improvement industry, presented its 2010 Newsmaker Award, and Hardware Merchandising magazine handed out seven Outstanding Retailer awards to Canadian hardware/home improvement retailers during the annual Hardlines Conference in Toronto.

CanWel Building Materials, honored with the 2010 Newsmaker Award, made news earlier this year with the acquisition of rival building materials wholesaler Broadleaf Logistics and, more recently, with the sale of its Hardware Division to a leading building materials buying group, TIM-BR MARTS Ltd.  

This year's winners, by category, were: Outstanding Hardware Store - Gow's Home Hardware, Bridgewater, N.S.; Outstanding Building Supply/Home Centre (under 25,000 sq. ft.) - Drummond BMR, Marmora, Ont.; Outstanding Building Supply/Home Centre (over 25,000 sq. ft.) - Invermere Home Hardware Building Centre, Invermere, B.C.; Outstanding Large Surface Retailer - RONA Windsor Home & Garden, Windsor, Ont.; Outstanding Contractor Specialist Dealer - Interlakes Building Supplies Ltd. (RONA), Lone Butte, B.C.; Outstanding Young Retailer - Brandon Ford of  Albertson's Home Center (TIM-BR MART), Parksville, B.C.; and Outstanding Community Leader - Capital Building Supplies Ltd. (RONA), Prince George, B.C.

The 2010 event, held Oct. 28 and 29 at the Toronto Airport Sheraton Hotel, featured the theme "Make the Most of the Recovery" and had its best attendance in the conference's 15-year history.

All awards were co-sponsored by the National Hardware Show with each of the Outstanding Retailers also winning a trip for two to the 2011 National Hardware Show, to be held May 10-12 in Las Vegas.

"We at the National Hardware Show are very proud to be part of these awards, which honor the best of Canada's home improvement/hardware companies and retailers," said Ed Several, SVP and show manager, National Hardware Show. "We are thrilled that each of the Outstanding Retailers will get a chance to come to the 2011 National Hardware Show, where they will see the latest in product innovation across seven categories, including the new Camping & Picnic Products Pavilion."