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 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 1,070 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:

* Geerlinks Home Hardware Building Centre – St. Thomas, Ontario
* Brantford Home Hardware – Brantford, Ontario
* Smith & Hladil Home Hardware Building Centre – Owen Sound, Ontario
* United Lumber Home Hardware Building Center Georgetown – Georgetown, Ontario
* Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre – Orillia, Ontario
* Perth Home Hardware Building Centre – Perth, Ontario
* Echo Bay Home Hardware Building Centre – Echo Bay, Ontario
* Wellesley Home Centre – Wellesley, Ontario
* Callbecks Home Hardware Building Centre – Summerside, Prince Edward Island
* Proudfoot's Home Hardware Building Centre – Pictou, Nova Scotia
* Smith's Home Hardware – St. John’s, Newfoundland
* Dauphin Home Hardware – Dauphin, Manitoba
* Richards Home Hardware – Outlook, Saskatchewan
* Reitsma's Home Hardware – Houston, British Columbia
* B & M Home Hardware Building Centre – Olds, Alberta
* Pioneer Home Hardware Building Centre - Campbell River, British Columbia
* Timberjack Home Hardware Building Centre – Edson, Alberta
* Les Entreprises Nova Inc. – Rawdon, Quebec
* Quincaillerie Home Hardware - Rimouski – Rimouski, Quebec

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, 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 Reitsma’s Home Hardware in Houston, British Columbia, which is owned and operated by Henry and Dorothy Reitsma.

“All of us at Reitsma’s 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 Dealer-Owner Henry Reitsma. “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 Canada's largest independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture retailer with 1,070 stores across Canada, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Dealers have access to 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.