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Industry NEWS

also paid homage to two of Orgill’s influential Sieggreen, Orgill’s executive vice president of “David will be responsible for providing
leaders—Joe Orgill and Mike McDonnell. retail. direction on the group’s buying programs
“We thought this was a fun way to Sieggreen discussed how the Central and services that support our commercial
celebrate our anniversary but to also Network Retail Group (CNRG) continues membership’s competitive advantage and
recognize some of the recent leaders who to serve as a working retail laboratory to business growth,” says Bernie Owens, TIMBER
played such a major role in influencing and implement and test retail technologies in an MART’s president &
directing the success of this company,” Moore effort to refine concepts and roll them out to CEO. “We welcome
says. Orgill’s entire customer base. David to the TIMBER
“It was really impressive to see how this MART team and look
eCommerce & Technology Evolution event has grown from somewhat humble forward to seeing
The Spring Dealer Market also marked beginnings,” Morrow says. “Not only did we our commercial
an important evolution in Orgill’s role as an have a large crowd attending, but this was members across
industry leader in helping independent home the first time we have ever live-streamed the Canada, benefit
improvement retailers find success with their event as well so we could get this important from his spirited
retail technology efforts. On the Wednesday information out to a broader audience than leadership and
prior to the start of the Spring Dealer Market, we have ever been able to in the past. It years of experience
Orgill hosted representatives from about was a major new chapter for this event and in our industry.”
100 different retail operations at its annual underscores how important the topic of Mr. Rapini has 15
Technology Symposium. technology and eCommerce are for today’s years of progressive
Orgill has been hosting these Symposiums retailers.” experience in the building materials industry
for the past 5 years. Initially the gatherings To share the content that took place – most of which he’s gained by working for
were focused on eCommerce but have now during the Symposium, Orgill has developed CGC Inc. in various sales and commercial
expanded to include all retail technologies, a dedicated YouTube playlist so anyone management positions. He holds a Bachelor
including eCommerce, in-store technologies, who couldn’t attend the event or watch the of Arts with a specialization in Economics
mobile apps, POS systems, loss prevention, livestream can still take advantage of the from the University of Waterloo and an
analytics and more. insights and information. Executive MBA from the Ivey Business School
The most recent iteration of the event was at Western University.
a clear testament to how far the concept has About Orgill: As a member of TIMBER MART’s senior
come since its inception, according to Grant Orgill was founded in 1847 and is leadership team, Mr. Rapini will report directly
Morrow, Orgill’s program director for retail headquartered in Collierville, Tennessee. Orgill to TIMBER MART’s President and CEO, Bernie
and eCommerce. serves more than 12,000 retail hardware Owens and be based out of the group’s
“When we first began hosting these stores, home centers, professional lumber Vaughan, Ont. office.
events, it was a handful of companies who dealers and farm stores throughout the U.S. and
were early supporters of eCommerce and Canada, and in over 50 countries around the
who wanted to get together to learn about world. More information can be found at www. Timber Mart Hosts Second Successful Virtual
how Orgill, with our industry partners like orgill.com. Show
Unilog and Epicor, could work with them to Yet again, TIMBER MART hosted another
help launch and maintain an eCommerce successful virtual buying show with over
presence,” Morrow says. “Now, we have timber mart announcements 1,400 dealer and vendor participants in
hundreds of companies attending this and it attendance. The 2022 TIMBER MART Virtual
has gone from a small gathering of retailers to Buying Show took place from February 14
a full-scale event.” to 17 and hosted hundreds of TIMBER MART
This year’s Symposium included a members from across the country as well as a
number of speakers addressing the growth wide range of hardware and building material
of eCommerce, the role technology is playing vendors including TIMBER MART’s distribution
in today’s retail operations and updates on centres.
Orgill’s technology offerings. “Our virtual show once again was a
The event included a keynote address huge success in terms of sales and very
from North American Hardware and well attended by our members and vendor
Paint Association chief operating officer community,” says Bernie Owens, TIMBER
Dan Tratensek, where he discussed why MART president and CEO. “Based on the
independent retailers should not be content positive feedback we’ve received from
to just compete online but should set their the last two shows and the convenient
sights on winning. Timber Mart Appoints New Vice-President, accessibility that it lends to our members,
Will Aubuchon, president and CEO of Commercial Division we’ll be looking at incorporating a virtual
The Aubuchon Company also shared how In light of TIMBER MART’s Vice-President of element into our in-person show next year –
his company was utilizing tech solutions Commercial, Mark Finucane, retiring this year, which will take place from February 16 to 17
throughout the operation to improve service, the group has appointed a new vice-president at the Toronto Congress Centre.”
make employees more productive and drive to ensure a smooth transition. Effective March At this year’s virtual event, TIMBER
profits. 1, 2022, David Rapini will assume the role of MART members live chatted, downloaded
Other speakers included Morrow who Vice-President, Commercial Division, and be brochures, watched promotional videos and
moderated a panel discussion with members responsible for leading and managing TIMBER took advantage of show specials at vendors’
of Orgill’s retail technology team; and John MART’s commercial arm. booths. TIMBER MART’s show floor featured

12 LBMAO Reporter - March-April 2022 www.lbmao.on.ca