Home Hardware recognizes top stores with Proud of My Home and Walter J. Hachborn Store of the Year Awards

Awards honour achievements in retailing, merchandising, staff performance and quality

St. Jacobs - Home Hardware recognized its top stores at a ceremony last week at its semi-annual Dealer Market by presenting them with the company's Proud of My Home and Walter J. Hachborn Store of the Year awards.

Winning stores were selected from among more than 1,000 stores from coast to coast for achieving the highest standards in retailing, merchandise presentation, staff performance and overall quality of the store.

The following stores were awarded Proud of My Home Awards:

Home Hardware Building Centre - Merritt - Merritt, British Columbia

Reitsma's Home Hardware - Houston, British Columbia

Osoyoos Home Hardware - Osoyoos, British Columbia

Home Hardware Building Centre - Lloydminster - Lloydminster, Alberta

Hauser Home Hardware Building Centre - Camrose, Alberta

Selkirk Home Hardware Building Centre - Selkirk Manitoba

Geerlinks Home Hardware Building Centre - St. Thomas, Ontario

Brantford Home Hardware - Brantford, Ontario

Bradford Home Hardware - Bradford, Ontario

United Lumber Home Hardware Building Centre -Oshawa, Ontario

Madoc Home Hardware - Madoc, Ontario

Perth Home Hardware Building Centre - Perth, Ontario

A & J Home Hardware - Sudbury, Ontario

Swanson's Home Hardware Building Centre - Kitchener, Ontario

Centre de Renovation Home Hardware - Valleyfield - Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec

Quincaillerie Home Hardware - Rimouski - Rimouski, Quebec

Handyman Home Hardware - Conception Bay Newfoundland

Tracadie Home Hardware - Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick

Buck's Home Building Centre - Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

To be recognized with a Proud of My Home Award, the store must demonstrate excellence in staff performance and customer service; interior presentation including clear signage and merchandise presentation and displays; exterior presentation including cleanliness and attractive window displays; staff training; and participation in dealer network initiatives.

“The winners of the Proud of My Home Award truly encompass all that Home represents,” said Paul Straus, Vice President and CEO of Home Hardware, at the recent awards presentation. “A total team effort, hard work and the value of dedicated people working together to serve their communities is apparent in all of this year's winners. Congratulations to these Dealers and their staff members.”

From among the Proud of My Home Award recipients, one store is chosen to receive the Walter J. Hachborn Store of the Year Award for retailing excellence. Its namesake, one of the original Home Hardware founders, who remains president today, presents the award. This year's recipient is Handyman Home Hardware in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, which is owned and operated by Christine Hand.

“All of us at Handyman Home Hardware are excited to be recognized among Canada's best and I'd like to thank my great team for all their hard work,” said Hand. “We're proud to serve our community by providing great products, selection and expertise in a welcoming, neighbourhood shopping environment.”

Home Hardware Stores Limited is a cooperative of Dealer-owned and operated independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture stores under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Founded in 1964 by 128 independent hardware Dealers, the company today has grown to include more than 1,000 stores across Canada.