Lone Butte RONA retailer win industry 'Oscars'
RONA Inc., the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, has recently announced that three RONA dealers have won Outstanding Retailer Awards for 2010. These home improvement "Oscars" are the industry's highest awards of recognition for overall excellence.
The Outstanding Retailer Awards were presented in Toronto on October 28 by the trade magazine Hardware Merchandising as part of the annual Hardlines Conference. Winners were selected by an independent panel of industry experts and journalists. Stores were ranked by major retail groups according to 10 criteria that included customer service, staff training, merchandising, marketing and community involvement.
(Photo: Outstanding Contrator Specialist: RONA Lone Butte, B.C. - Interlakes Building Supplies. RONA affiliated independent dealer Steve Brown with Jean-Luc Meunier, RONA's Senior Vice President, Development Affiliate Dealer-Owner Network.)
RONA Won Outstanding Retailer Awards in Three Key Categories:
Outstanding Contractor Specialist: Interlakes Building Supplies Ltd. (Lone Butte, B.C.)
Outstanding Community Leader: Capital Building Supplies Ltd. (Prince George, B.C.)
Outstanding Large Surface Retailer: Windsor RONA Home & Garden (Ont.)
Outstanding Contractor Specialist: Interlakes Building Supplies Ltd.
Steve Brown's construction experience makes his RONA store an important stop for contractors in British Columbia's interior. His affiliation with RONA began in 2009. The opening of the new 8,600-square-foot store in 2010 is allowing him and his team to take advantage of this prime location in Lone Butte which, over the past five years, has become the Cariboo Regional District's fastest growth area. "Even with new construction starts slower then in previous years, our numbers are all up," he says, citing a 25% sales increase since the recent expansion.
RONA provides him with access to an expanded product range needed for finishing and renovating, so "the new lines have made it even easier to assist local contractors and groups complete projects." Steve's hands-on knowledge (he personally designed more than 150 buildings for which his business supplied materials) and desire to stay on the leading edge have made him a truly valuable resource. "Many of my biggest customers either worked with me in the early years or I helped them get established. Having lived here for 45 years, I know most of them," he says.
His strong community ties have led Steve to organize a annual spring meeting with building inspectors, contractors and builders to discuss code issues. As well, he often invites industry experts to help develop new ways to save time and money on local projects. Steve is proud of his staff and the achievements he and his wife, Susan, have made in the community. And true to his "Outstanding Contractor Specialist" award, he says, "If you explain Value for the Dollar to a customer, they will almost always demand that value."
Outstanding Community Leader: Capital Building Supplies Ltd.
This Prince George (BC) RONA focuses on improving personal service and promoting individual successes. Owner Rod Bellmann joined RONA in 2008, coming from an award-winning business that served contractors because, as he puts it, "I was always interested in selling the entire house." Now he sells products as well as installs those products for both contractors and homeowners, in the recently expanded retail space (12,500 square feet with a 10,000 square foot warehouse). "It all comes down to supporting each other," he says. "Our customers support our business and we support them with excellent products and services."
(Photo: Outstanding Community Leader: RONA Prince George, B.C. - Capital Building Supplies. RONA affiliated independent dealers Danielle Ireland and Rod Bellmann with Jean-Luc Meunier, RONA's Senior Vice President, Development Affiliate Dealer-Owner Network.)
But buying and selling is not a closed system for Rod. It is also rooted in a larger community where "support" includes helping "people who are looking to reclaim their place in society." That has led him to work with the Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre to provide 90 days of job training for people (up to six at a time) ready to leave the centre's grounds. "The program is working incredibly well," says Rod. "These men want to get back to a normal life." In fact, two will remain as RONA employees while others have moved on to jobs elsewhere. The Prince George RONA also takes part in fundraising events (often donating trucks and drivers) and sports leagues, including help in maintaining playing fields.
"We have an advantage over the big-box stores since we can be market-reactive and can change daily to suit market conditions," Rod says. He beleives RONA has about 80% of the area's contractor business, a number that reflects the one-to-one service that his employees provide every day. "The reason we are the leader in contractor sales in our community is that we're willing to work the hours needed to fulfill special delivery requests, and we have staff that come in voluntarily – as early as 5:30 am – to make sure orders go out smoothly." This RONA store has earned its "Outstanding Community Leader" honour at all levels.
RONA has Won 24 Outstanding Retailer Awards since 1992. /Marketwire
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