Focuses on future and reflects on history

St. Jacobs – Home Hardware Stores Limited is celebrating the company’s 45th anniversary as it welcomes more than 10,000 Dealers and vendors from across Canada to the bi-annual Dealer Market in St. Jacobs and Kitchener-Waterloo from September 12-15.

The Home Hardware Dealer Markets are focused on helping the company’s independent Dealers grow their business by providing an opportunity to preview new products, exchange ideas and learn from one another.

“With 45 years of steady growth behind us, Home Hardware Dealers are still looking forward,” said Paul Straus, Vice President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. “We’re very proud of our heritage we’ve stayed true to the company’s original vision of helping the independent retailer stay independent and to thrive. The market is a great opportunity to celebrate that.”

In 1964, 122 independent hardware Dealers joined together to form a co-operative that would allow them to pool their buying power and build competitive, independent businesses as Home Hardware Stores Limited. Today, the company remains 100% Dealer-owned and while times have changed, technology has changed and Home’s buying power has grown tremendously, that original mandate has remained constant. The success of the business model has allowed Home Hardware to not only contend with the competition, but outlast them. Having obtained the advantages of volume purchasing, Home Hardware has been able to offer a wide assortment of high-quality products to their consumers at competitive pricing.

On the heels of a record-breaking $4.85 billion in retail sales in 2008, Home Hardware has grown to more than 1,000 locations, more than 9.3 million square feet of retail space backed by more than 2.9 million square feet of state-of-the-art warehousing and distribution centres in six locations across the country, and a fleet of trucks that delivers new product weekly.

The company has also recently launched several marketing initiatives designed to position the company for long-term success.

Late in 2008, the company launched its new tag line Home Owners Helping Homeowners that more accurately reflects the organization’s focus on Dealer ownership - the differentiating feature that makes the shopping experience at Home Hardware so satisfying for customers. This tagline will also serve as the theme for the Fall Market.

“Our Dealers are our focus,” said Straus. “We’ve always been about supporting independent retailers. Canadians value their local hardware store and the customer service they receive. We’re looking at sustained, long-term growth for our Dealers.”

“While many companies are dialing back their marketing programs, we’ve been busy working with strategic opportunities that position Home for future growth,” said Straus. “We are well-positioned to weather the current economic storm, and this year’s Fall Market is just another example of the size and strength of our network.”

The Fall Market follows Home Hardware’s Pre-Market Conference (PMC) at the Waterloo Inn on Saturday, September 12. The conference allows Dealer-Owners and staff to learn from industry experts at more than 60 seminars during a full-day session with over 440 people pre-registered to attend.

Visitors to Home Hardware Markets occupy more than 3,000 hotel rooms in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and consume more than 8,000 meals over the course of the three-day trade show.

Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada's largest independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture retailer with more than 1,000 stores across Canada, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Dealers have access to more than 100,000 quality brand name and private label products and the company has annual retail sales of $4.85 billion. The cooperative was founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers.