Suppliers and retailers from across Canada gathered last night to honor the retail home improvement industry’s best retailers during the 32nd Annual Outstanding Retailer Awards, presented during a gala dinner at the annual Hardlines Conference.
The event, held at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Quebec, honored retailers in eight categories, covering a range of retail hardware and home improvement formats, including paint stores for the first time ever. The winners were carefully chosen from a field of high-quality nominees submitted from every part of Canada.
The winners stood out within this elite group thanks to their ability to excel in the areas of good business practices, customer relations, innovation and niche marketing, says David Chestnut, vice-president and publisher of Hardlines Inc.
“These winning dealers represent the innovation and passion for their businesses and commitment to customers, which makes them truly outstanding,” Chestnut says.
This year’s winners include:
- Best Hardware or Paint Store
- Cloverdale Paint Store #71 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Owner Tim Vogel and manager Richard White
- Award sponsored by the National Hardware Show
- Best Building Supply or Home Centre under 15,000 square feet
- BMR Pro Brae-Con Building Supplies in Elmvale, Ontario
- Owners George Begley and Julie Begley
- Award sponsored by Saint-Gobain
- Best Building Supply or Home Centre over 15,000 square feet
- Brideco BMR in St-Honoré, Quebec
- Owners François Dionne, Caroline Dionne, David Dionne and Jérome Dionne
- Award sponsored by Jeld-Wen
- Best Contractor Specialist
- Mission Building Supplies (Castle Building Centres Group) in Edmonton, Alberta
- Owners Tom and Karen Clement and president Don Clement
- Award sponsored by Johns Manville Best Large Surface Retailer
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From left, Maxime Cardinal, Trex; Markus Lange, VP sales and operations; Linda Penner, co-owner and president; Judy Penner, co-owner and VP; and Gerry Thiessen, VP building materials.
Best Large Surface Retailer
- E.G. Penner Building Centre (Sexton Group) in Steinbach, Manitoba
- Owners Linda Penner and Judy Penner and vice presidents Markus Lange and Gerry Thiessen
- Award sponsored by Trex.
- Retail Spirit Award
- RONA Forget in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
- Owners Benoit Forget, Caroline Forget, Francis Forget, Julie Forget, Valérie Forget and Gabrielle Bouchard
- Award sponsored by ACCEO Solutions
- Best Young Retailer
- Phylip Savard-Tremblay of Quincaillerie Tremblay Laroche Inc. (Castle Building Centres Group) in Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix, Québec
- Award sponsored by BMF
From left: Marc Tremblay, co-owner; Natalie Savard, co-owner; Phylip Savard-Tremblay, co-owner and Young Retailer of the Year; and Sarah Hounslow, president, BMF.
- Marc Robichaud Community Leader
- Buck’s Home Building Centre in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
- Owners Julie and Ryan Buck
- Award sponsored by JRTech Solutions
