Page 17 - Jan-Feb 2021 Reporter - web optimized

"They encouraged all their members to adapt similar updates to their health and safety policies
using tools provided from health and safety support programs through Castle,
Retail Council of Canada, CFIB and the LBMAO."

Doug Keeling - Business Development Manager, Ontario, Castle
Building Centres

to ensure a smooth transition. looking towards a bullish recovery
Early 2021 with the introduction of driven by single family housing starts in
the 2nd lockdown, Castle members were Canada and the U.S., along with related
better equipped to handle the curbside home improvement projects. He also
pick up and phone orders. As smaller recognizes that consumers will start to
independent businesses, they were able use discretionary dollars towards dining
to “turn the ship around” and adapt to out, travel and leisure which will have an
the government legislated protocols impact on sales in the sector. Inventory
quickly and efficiently. will be a challenge again this year and
In respect to managing the health Doug forecasts that the retail lumber
and safety requirements of pandemic yard with the inventory will capture the
management, Castle head office sales!
introduced a comprehensive program of Corporate support for head office
emergency management and protocols employees included virtual meetings
for head office employees. They on a weekly basis and Employee
encouraged all their members to adapt Support Services to help the whole team
similar updates to their health and safety throughout the course of the pandemic.
policies using the tools provided from Each Castle retail member is independent
health and safety support programs however they rely heavily on Castle for
A true veteran of the industry, Doug’s available to them through Castle, Retail support in providing the tools to manage
background in working with Castle Council of Canada, CFIB and the LBMAO. employee well being.
Building Centre retailers in Ontario on Doug reinforces the opinion of all Castle and its members are well
COVID-19 management has given him an interviewed that 2021 will start slowly as positioned to provide the same level of
insight on the impact of the virus on his we work our way through the lockdown; customer of service they have had in the
members. but once the vaccine is rolled out he past into the future.
As with most retailers in the home and his team at Castle head office are
improvement sector, Castle members
enjoyed a robust and profitable 2020
but with the same challenges of
adapting to protocols and the stress
on their employees. Castle head office
disseminated information daily to
member companies, as well as setting up
a system on the Castle website to share
best practices. At the beginning of the
pandemic many Castle members took
advantage of the government subsidy
programs but as the economy heated
up they did not require that level of
assistance. Castle head office employees
adapted readily to working from home
with the support of Castle management

www.lbmao.on.ca LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2021 17