St. Jacobs, ON, October 2011 - Three Home Hardware stores have been honoured with Hardware Merchandising magazine's 2011 Outstanding Retailer Awards. Now in its 20th year, the Outstanding Retailer Awards program recognizes excellence in the Canadian hardware and home improvement retailing industry.

The award winners were chosen by a panel of industry experts who analyzed nominations from across Canada in seven separate categories: Best Hardware Store; Best Building Supply/Home Centre (under 25,000 sq. ft.); Best Building Supply/Home Centre (over 25,000 sq. ft.); Best Contractor-Specialist Dealer; Best Young Retailer; Best Large Surface Retailer (over 50,000 sq. ft. retail) and Community Leader. Each nomination was judged on a range of criteria, including sales performance, retailing innovation and community involvement.

The Home Hardware stores receiving this year's Outstanding Retailer Awards are:

• Jim and Kendall Proudfoot, Dealer-Owners of Proudfoots Home Hardware Building Centre in Pictou in Nova Scotia.
Awarded: Best Building Centre Under 25,000 sq. ft.
(left to right)
Kendall Proudfoot, Dealer-Owner, Proudfoots Home Hardware Building Centre - Pictou
Don Sherwood, President, Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association
Jim Proudfoot, Dealer-Owner, Proudfoots Home Hardware Building Centre - Pictou

 

 

• Gary, Glen and Dean Thulin, Dealer-Owners of Pioneer Home Hardware Building Centre in Campbell River, BC.
Awarded: Best Building Supply Over 25,000 sq. ft.
(left to right)
Gary Thulin, Dealer-Owner, Pioneer Home Hardware Building Centre
Gary Hamilton, President, Western Retail Lumber Association
Dean Thulin, Pioneer Home Hardware Building Centre

 

 

• Steven and Karen Maxwell, Dealer-Owners of Renfrew Home Hardware Building Centre in Renfrew, ON.
Awarded: Best Community Leader.
(left to right)
Steven Maxwell, Dealer-Owner, Renfrew Home Hardware Building Centre
Michael McLarney, Managing Director, Canada, North American Retail Hardware Association
Karen Maxwell, Dealer-Owner, Renfrew Home Hardware Building Centre



"We're very proud that three of our stores have received such high honours from the industry," said Paul Straus, President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "These awards are a testament to the hard work these Dealer-Owners put into their businesses and are proof that Home Hardware offers the best program for independents in the industry, allowing them to provide their customers with quality products and superior service. On behalf of the Dealer-Owners of more than 1,080 Home Hardware stores across Canada, I extend congratulations to these Dealers and their Staff."

The awards were presented at an event in Toronto that was attended by hardware and home improvement retailing executives, vendors and Dealers from across Canada.

Home Hardware Dealers have received 12 Outstanding Retailer Awards over the past five years.

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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For more information, please contact:
Lindsey Dietrich                                                                          Rob Wallace
Home Hardware Stores Limited                                             Home Hardware Stores Limited
519-664-2252 ext. 6676                                                            519-664-4710
lindsey.dietrich@homehardware.ca                                      rob.wallace@homehardware.ca