St. Jacobs, Ontario, April 8, 2011 -As the months grow warmer, Spring brings with it a feeling of new potential and opportunity in the air. And there's no better place to feel a sense of growth and energy than at the annual Home Hardware Spring Market. Taking place from Saturday April 9 to Tuesday April 12, this year's market is the 96th in the company's history. What keeps the market fresh after so many years? A diverse group of Home Dealers, informative industry experts, and innovative new products and services that come together to inspire new ideas.

"The theme for this year's market is Together Towards Tomorrow," said Paul Straus, President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "This theme captures the essence of the independent, yet team-minded approach that drives Home Hardware to success year after year. Our Dealers have the freedom to operate and manage their own businesses, while drawing from the collective wisdom, buying power and support of the country's largest independent network in the home improvement industry to grow for long-term success."


This year's Spring Market will host more than 12,000 Home Hardware Dealers, Staff, Vendors and hardware industry representatives. The market provides a unique opportunity for Dealer-Owners to learn from industry experts, preview new product innovations, conduct seasonal product buying - but most importantly - the chance to learn from each other.

"The Home Hardware market provides a forum like no other in Canada for independent retailers," said Straus. "It brings together thousands of successful, independent business people from every corner of Canada to network, exchange ideas, share innovations and talk about what it takes to run and grow a successful business - both today and in the future. The entrepreneurial spirit of Dealers and their knowledgeable staff, allow Home Hardware to provide the best retail experience, merchandise and marketing in the industry for independents. Bringing everyone together under one roof is a key way we facilitate this."

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.

This spring market, Home Hardware will welcome 37 new stores to their first spring market and proudly show them how Home Dealers are marching "Together Towards Tomorrow."

Highlights of the 2011 Spring Market include:

  • Tuesday, April 12, 8:00 am - Keynote Speaker - Craig Kielburger, the founder of Free The Children, the world's leading youth-driven charity, is an accomplished child rights activist, an award-winning author and a popular speaker. Come hear him inspire Home Hardware Dealers.
  • Monday, April 11, 12:30 pm - Come for a behind-the-scenes tour of Home Hardware's Burford Paint Plant where Home's exclusive Beauti-Tone paint is produced. Note: registration is required in advance.
  • Anna Olson, Home Hardware's Kitchen Expert and Mark Cullen, Home Hardware's Gardening Expert, will be on hand throughout the market.


About Home Hardware Stores Limited
100% Canadian owned and operated, Home Hardware Stores Limited has a presence in every Canadian province and territory and is the country's largest independent, Dealer-owned hardware, lumber, building materials and furniture cooperative. Founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers, the cooperative now includes more than 1,080 stores, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners, with annual collective retail sales of more than $5 billion. Home Hardware's independent Dealer-Owners, recognized by the North American Retail Hardware Association as Canada's best-trained Dealer group, have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products, a world-class distribution system and draw upon the power of Home Hardware's network to provide their local communities with top quality products and services at competitive prices.

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NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. MEDIA ARE WELCOME.
For more information, contact Lindsey Dietrich, Home Hardware Stores Limited, 519-664-2252 or lindsey.dietrich@homehardware.ca or Rob Wallace, Home Hardware Stores Limited, 519-664-4710 or rob.wallace@homehardware.ca