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Industry NEWS
Message from the CHAIR

of the relationships they have built in the consistency, innovation highlights orgill's 2021 fall online buying event
community. some insights from lbmao past chair,

Best Home Hardware:
• Home Hardware Lethbridge - Lethbridge,
AB (Western) Homegreg drouillard
• Gravenhurst Hardware -
Gravenhurst, ON (Central)
• Entreprises M. Lapierre Inc. - Havre-
Aubert, QC (Québec)
• Charlottetown Home Hardware -
Charlottetown, PEI (Atlantic)
greg drouillard reg Drouillard, owner of Target Building Supply in • Is there an appetite for a deferred compensation
Best Home Building Centre:
GWindsor, is a past chair of the LBMAO. Greg has
• Central Builder’s Supply PG - Prince system that employees could utilize?
Target Building
George, BC (Western) been engaged at different levels within the industry
Supply, Windsor, ON • Profit Sharing system?
and has participated in many boards including
• Knight’s Home Building Centre - Meaford, • How about every member of staff getting a
ON (Central) STAFDA in the U.S. as well as chair of the TORBSA birthday cake on their birthday for a bit of
board of directors.
• Centre de Rénovation FLD Inc. - recognition?
Temiscaming, QC (Québec) Greg has always tried to be a forward-thinking • Do we consider attracting part time employees?
• Abbott’s Home Building Centre - Port au looking at his own business, he • Do we actively promote from within the
individual and,
Port, NL (Atlantic) has pondered some insightful questions on the organization as a first choice if they qualify?
employer–employee relationship. • Do we hire to fit the culture?
Best Home Hardware Building Centre: • Should we add a company incentive by paying for
Greg’s insights:
• Fulton’s Home Hardware Building Centre - any related classes, association attendance, trade
“We all know there have been supply
Airdrie, AB (Western) Employee and Employer engagement as you know show attendance, etc. as a further benefit?
chain challenges within the industry, but
Home
Supplies
• Timmins Building is changing…a lot! These are strange transition times • Do we pay for gym memberships to emphasize
when it comes to our Online Buying Events,
Hardware - Timmins, ON (Central) Gen X and Millennials coming on strong - health and fitness? Quitting smoking class?
with the
our merchandising team has worked
from an age point of view at least. There
• Matériaux Dallaire Enr. - Alma, QC • Social Media is a big and growing area of business.
very closely with vendors to ensure that
(Québec) "Do we consider is a BIG difference in the generation Do we compensate and encourage learning this
customers are receiving the products
By all measures, the Fall Online Buying
coming
• Annapolis Home Hardware Building up and it is concerning. They broad subject? If a staff member can prove that
they order,” Curler says. “We know that
training programs
Event, held August 16-27, was a success.
Centre - Annapolis Royal, NS (Atlantic) want more pay, more time off, more their idea can make or save the company money,
one of the big attractions to our buying
continually for benefits paid for by their employers, etc. should events, whether online or in-person, is the
And, in an era marked by uncertainty, Orgill there be an incentive so they can be
president and CEO Boyden Moore says that
Best Young Retailer: A few thoughts in point form to rewarded somehow? Perhaps 10 percent of the
great promotional buys we
staff? Do the
ponder what I have been thinking even
savings?
• Zak’s Home Hardware Building Centres - these events are producing consistent offer. But we also know that these buying
results across the board.
Warman and Hague, SK (Western) from Target’s perspective. opportunities don’t mean much if retailers
vendors we
“We wrapped up our third Online Buying
• Schell Lumber Home Building Centre - Do we consider training programs As Greg has thoughtfully put into words some
•
can’t get the products.”
of the
represent consider continually for staff?
Stouffville, ON (Central) Event this week and I think we have questions regarding employer-employee
In fact, following Orgill’s most recent
established a cadence for our customers
•
• Centre de Renovation St-Simeon - Saint- Do the vendors we represent relationships, it is of interest to all of our businesses
this important?"
Online Buying Event held last spring, Curler
and our vendors where they know what
Simeon-de-Bonaventure, QC (Québec) consider this important? to establish a professional yet personal approach to
reported that 97% of all warehouse orders
working with our employees.
• I like the idea of staff non-work get togethers? Do
• Elmwood Home Hardware Building to expect and understand how to get the were fulfilled and 94% of all Doorbuster
they?
These are changing times and being able to adapt
Centre - Moncton, NB (Atlantic) most out of this environment,” Moore says. promotional product orrs were fulfilled.
“If you look at the sales figures from each and respectfully to the needs of your staff
• RSP: Does the company regard this as a quickly “Based on the participation in these
regarding
recruitment tool, a retention tool? Is it something
Paul Straus Public Relations Award: of these events, they all nearly mirror each issues such as daycare, benefits etc. is
events and the ability to follow through on
becoming more important now more than ever!
perceived as valuable to the staff?
• Lavoie Home Hardware Building Centre - other. That tells us that our customers are the orders, we think our customers have a
engaging with vendors and that they are
Campbellton, NB • Are there incentives available for staff? Is this a much better idea of what to expect,” says
able to utilize the events to effectively buy
model for variable compensation? Is this what the Greg Stine, Orgill’s executive vice president
for their businesses.”
Best Home Furniture: new generation wants? Expects? of marketing and communications.
Orgill held its first Online Buying Event in
• Should we
• Stratford Home Furniture - Stratford, ON consider a referral incentive? If a “The first Online Buying Event was a big
August of 2020 and a second Online Buying
member of staff recommends someone who is unknown for everyone. We have been able
Event in February of this year. According
hired as a result, are they recognized somehow? to learn from each one of these events and
to Jeff Curler, Orgill’s senior vice president
• Should we create junior entry positions? continue to make enhancements that help
of purchasing, not only has customer
participation and buying at these events our dealers take advantage of the deals
been steady, but Orgill has also consistently available to them.”
filled orders processed during the event, During this most recent event, Orgill
despite challenges throughout the supply introduced several new features to the
chain. online buying platform that offered
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