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Industry NEWS

NEWS FROM home hardwarE Desk Light – A perfect at-home dorm room visit your local Home Hardware store or visit
needs great lighting. As many of us know, us online at homehardware.ca.
lighting can have a huge impact on our
emotions and routines. Natural lighting HOME HARDWARE STORES LIMITED
is ideal, but if the room is still dark, give APPOINTMENT
the space an upgrade with a stylish desk Home Hardware is pleased to announce
lamp. While you’re at it, add warm LED the appointment of Rob Szekszer to Vice-
string lights! They’re great for working on a President, Merchandise Hardlines, which
laptop without stark was effective Monday, June 29, 2020.
overhead lighting. Rob joined Home Hardware as Director,
Merchandise Hardlines in September 2019.
Organization – “The appointment of Rob Szekszer
Online calendars are demonstrates the expertise and deep
a great organization bench of talent we continue to develop
tool, but when there at Home Hardware, and I have complete
are multiple courses confidence in his ability to deliver on our
to keep track of, business and growth strategies,” says
it’s sometimes Marianne Thompson, Senior Vice- President,
helpful to have a Merchandise, Home Hardware Stores
visual of the whole Limited. “His passion for retail, coupled with
semester. To keep his understanding of home improvement
students organized, category management and our end-to-end
get a corkboard, business, make him well positioned to lead
whiteboard or our Hardlines teams to a strong future.”
clipboards to hang. Rob is an accomplished business
Create monthly executive and
calendars using proven leader
paper and by adding who empowers
assignments colour- his teams to
coded by class. By think differently,
having a visual of the drive change and
entire semester, it is achieve results.
easier to effectively His leadership,
manage time. retail category
HERE’S HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR ROOM Storage – When management and
INTO A GREAT STUDY SPACE a room is messy, it can be easy to justify business acumen
We know that back-to-school is going putting off an essay to clean. A good way will help lead
to look a little different for university and to ensure this doesn’t happen is by having operational and
college students this year. Though students a storage solution for everything. According strategic initiatives on the Hardlines team.
may not be packing up belongings and to a workplace study, it takes workers an “Home Hardware is an iconic Canadian
dreaming up ideas for dorm rooms, there is average of 25 minutes to return to what company and I am thrilled to lead our
still the opportunity to prepare study spaces they were working on pre-interruption. Hardlines team,” says Rob Szekszer. “There
for an online return to academics. Here are Drawer organizers and storage bins are a is a tremendous opportunity to leverage our
five tips for transforming any room into a great way to stay organized and to hide data-driven insights to provide best-in-class
great study space: clutter! assortments in our stores. I look forward to
continue working with the team to support
DIY Coffee Station – Create the look and Paint – Being cooped up in a room while our Dealers so that we can be the most
feel of being at residence with a DIY coffee studying is no fun. Instead of staring at the trusted and preferred home improvement
station. Start by sourcing the ideal area same four walls, revitalize your room with retail brand.”
for an at-home brew house. A mini Keurig Beauti-Tone Paint and prepare for back to Rob will be reporting to Marianne
machine is perfect for small spaces. If school! With thousands of colours to choose Thompson, Senior Vice-President,
there isn’t an electrical outlet nearby, a from, why not try one that is known for its Merchandise.
smart power bar will keep the Keurig, positive effects. Try a shade of yellow; it
laptop and phone all connected. Finish improves memory and concentration, plus Rob Szekszer Biography:
the coffee station with a decorative coffee it’s uplifting! Or go with a lighter shade of Rob has nearly 25 years of experience
sign, your favourite mugs, k-cups and a tray green or blue for its stress-relieving and in the home improvement retail industry,
This charming coffee station will keep you calming qualities. holding key executive roles. Prior to
buzzing for hours! For back-to-school shopping and more, joining Home Hardware, Rob held Vice-

www.lbmao.on.ca LBMAO Reporter - July-August 2020 9