Page 14 - Nov-Dec 2020 Reporter

Industry NEWS

Record Sales at Castle 4C Virtual Buying “What a truly humbling response from orgill announces new approach to
Events in 2020 our suppliers. Due to the overwhelming
Castle launched their revolutionary 4C generosity of our Vendor Partners and physical shows, buying events &
Virtual Buying Platform in June 2020. The Castle, we will be presenting SickKids dealer education
Castle Communication Command Centre or Foundation with a cheque for $25,000. A
4C for short is an industry leading buying sincere thank you to all who supported this
and communications platform developed fundraising initiative and we look forward to
exclusively for Castle Members and Vendor seeing you on the golf course next year” Ken
Partners. The platform was developed Jenkins, Castle President
through extensive technology research and As a token of their gratitude to those
utilizes the latest interactive commerce and who contributed, Castle raffled for one lucky
communications technologies that deliver a contributor a $500 Golf Town Gift Card.
complete digital strategy. Congratulations to René Laplante of Ideal
Their inaugural June Virtual Buying Roofing Co. Ltd.
Event saw record breaking purchase Castle is very grateful to all those who Orgill Inc. is announcing plans to forgo its
volume, member engagement and vendor contributed to their Virtual Fundraising in-person 2021 Spring Dealer Market and
participation. Members from across Canada Event. proceed with a more dynamic and flexible
approach to its physical shows, conferences
took advantage of vendor promotions Castle Building Centres locations
and the ease of engaging directly with our have been proudly supporting Canadian and buying markets starting next year
that will incorporate online, live and hybrid
participating Vendor Partners while making homeowners for almost six decades. They events.
purchases directly through the proprietary are the industry leader of independent “Just like the retailers we serve, this year
platform. Given the success of the launch, lumber, building material, and hardware taught us a lot about how to be agile and
Castle recently held a second national 4C dealers with over 300 independent member how to push outside our comfort zones
Virtual Buying Event in September and locations across Canada. to meet the needs of our customers,” says
wrapped up the 2020 Buying season with Boyden Moore, Orgill president and CEO.
another incredibly successful event. “What started out with a commitment
Vendor Partners were excited to bring attention entrepreneurs! to keep our employees, vendors and
promotional offers and special buys to our customers safe led to us rethinking our
members and found the ease and utility of entire approach to how we interact with
the platform incomparable. 34 years after starting Colonial Pillars, all of these stakeholders. We believe
“Castle believes that virtual events are Walter Kohlberger has decided to that live shows, online buying events and
retire and sell his business. Colonial
here for the foreseeable future. Investing in Pillars started out fabricating wood educational conferences should not exist in
this technology has opened up our events columns and posts, with unique a vacuum - they should all work together in
to many Castle locations from every corner patented aluminum bases. Later they how we do business in the future.”
of the country who may not have had the added the distribution of vinyl railing Building on this new paradigm in 2021,
resources to attend an in-person event. and post systems and fiberglass Orgill will offer a combination of events,
Our Vendor Partners can now connect with columns, and the manufacturing of including physical shows like its traditional
a more diverse Castle member base. It’s a PVC column wraps. This is a great Dealer Markets, online-only buying events
Win-Win for all.” 4C Captain James Jones. opportunity for an entrepreneur like the recent Orgill e-Volution, virtual
looking to build on the quality educational events and blended shows that
Castle and Vendor Partners Come Together craftsmanship and excellent customer merge online technology with a physical
Virtually to Raise Money for SickKids relationships that have been built event.
With restrictions on large social over the years. Although the business “The days of a stand-alone physical
gathering still in place in Ontario, Castle includes real estate, this can be event are a thing of the past,” says Greg
separated for the right buyer. Colonial
was unable to host their annual Vendor Pillars sells and distributes to most Stine, Orgill’s executive vice president
Appreciation Golf Tournament in August major lumber and building supply of marketing and communications. “We
2020. For almost a decade, the annual event retailers across Canada. Highlights believe that this expanded strategy will
has benefitted the SickKids Foundation include: provide a platform of support for our
who are dedicated to improving the health • over 30,000 sq.ft. of warehouse dealers, allowing them to efficiently buy
of children by providing the best in family- plus an office on 1.84 acres in products and gain knowledge that will
centered compassionate care and ground- Stoney Creek, ON help them grow and strengthen their
breaking research and the event has raised • existing fabrication equipment, businesses.”
over $250,000 for the SickKids foundation. racking, and inventory Orgill hopes that crafting this multi-
In the spirit of coming together as a channel experience will build on the success
collective community, Castle asked their Interested parties please contact Mike of both its in-person Dealer Markets and its
Vendor Partners to join them in a Virtual Arnew at 905-751-6088 or Paulette highly successful e-Volution Online Buying
Fundraising Event once again benefitting Reader at sales@colonialpillars. Event that debuted earlier this year.
SickKids and our partners really came com for more information. “We have a long history of producing
through. dynamic, interactive and informative live

14 LBMAO Reporter - November-December 2020 www.lbmao.on.ca