Home Hardware

This article is about the Canadian chain. For the unaffiliated Australian chain, see Home Hardware (Australia).
Home Hardware Stores Ltd.
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded1964; 60 years ago (1964) St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada
Founder
HeadquartersSt. Jacobs, Ontario
Key people
Kevin Macnab (CEO)
ProductsRetail hardware supplies, lumber and building materials, home furniture.
Websitewww.homehardware.ca Edit this at Wikidata
White and red warehouse building against a blue sky with signage reading Home Hardware Dealer Support Centre
Home Hardware Dealer Support Centre in St. Jacobs, Ontario

Home Hardware Stores Ltd. is an independent home improvement retailer located in Canada. Co-founded by Walter Hachborn in 1964, and headquartered in St. Jacobs, Ontario, the company has close to 1,100 stores that operate under one of four banners: Home Hardware, Home Hardware Building Centre, Home Building Centre, and Home Furniture.[1][2]

History

Walter Hachborn and his partner Henry Sittler organized the first meeting of independent store owners at a hotel in Kitchener, Ontario in 1963. On January 1, 1964, 122 independent Ontario hardware retailers purchased Hollinger Hardware Limited in St. Jacobs, Ontario, resulting in the formation of a 100% Dealer-owned business model.[1]

On November 9, 1967, Home Hardware’s name and logo became official. In 1981, Home Hardware merged with western-Canada-based Link Hardware to create a national chain.[2]

Home Hardware Stores Limited expanded through the purchase of Beaver Lumber in 1999 after acquiring the chain from Molson Brewery for $68 million.[3]

Leadership

Founding CEO, Walter Hachborn retired from the day-to-day operations in 1988.[4] He held the title of President Emeritus until his passing on December 17, 2016, at the age of 95.[1]

Paul Straus joined Home Hardware Stores Limited in 1964. He held various roles during his tenure with the company, including Vice-President Controller, and Vice-President, Finance and Administration. In 1989, Paul was named Executive Vice-President and General Manager.[4] Ten years later, he was appointed Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer.[1] Paul retired in 2018 but remained on as a company consultant.

Terry Davis started at Home Hardware Stores Limited in 1970. He held executive roles from 1990 to 2000, including Vice-President, Marketing, and Vice-President, Dealer Development.[4] In 2007, Terry was appointed Vice-President, Administration and Strategic Planning. In 2014, Terry was named Chief Executive Officer.[1] He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 2018 but announced his retirement later that year.

On October 10, 2018, Home Hardware Stores Limited appointed Kevin Macnab as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.[5]

Store banners

Home Hardware Stores Limited has close to 1,100 stores that operate under one of four banners:[6]

  • Home Hardware stores offers housewares, hand and power tools, plumbing and electrical products, paint and painting items, sporting goods, automotive materials, as well as farm and garden supplies.
  • Home Building Centre stores offer a range of products for home renovation, repair, and maintenance projects, including building materials and plans. Lumber, paint, hand and power tools, as well as plumbing and electrical supplies, are also available.
  • Home Hardware Building Centre locations provide a range of both hardware and building centre products. Lumber, tools, paint, plumbing and electrical supplies, and building materials are available, along with housewares, sporting goods, automotive items, and lawn and garden products.
  • The Home Furniture banner offers furniture (from casual to formal), major appliances, and accessories.

Distribution centres

Home Hardware has four distribution centres[7] located across Canada: St. Jacobs, Ontario;[8] Elmira, Ontario;[7] Debert, Nova Scotia;[9] and Wetaskiwin, Alberta.[7] Approximately 2.5 million square feet of combined warehousing space holds over 50,000 products.

Brands

Home Hardware private label brands include:

  • BeautiTone[10]
  • Benchmark[11][12]
  • Mosaic
  • OmniMax
  • InStyle
  • Natura

Awards

Awards granted to Home Hardware Stores Limited include:

  • Canada’s Best Managed Companies, 2012-2023[13]
  • Canada’s Best Employer’s for Diversity, Forbes, 2023[14]
  • Canada’s Best Employers, Forbes, 2021-2023[15]
  • Private Fleet Safety Award, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, 10-time Large Fleet Winner[16]
  • Canada’s Top Fleet Employers, Trucking HR Canada, 2013-2023[17]
  • Canada's Top Fleet Employers of Distinction 10+ Years, Trucking HR Canada, 2023[18]
  • Canada’s Most Trusted Home Retailer, Gustavson Brand Trust Index, 2021-2022[19]
  • Waterloo Area’s Top Employers, 2021-2023[20]
  • Canada’s Most Reputable Companies, Leger, 2022[21]
  • Top Hardware Retailer, Leger, 2021[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "History of Home Hardware". Home Hardware. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. ^ a b "Walter Hachborn co-founded Canadian chain Home Hardware". The Globe and Mail. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  3. ^ "Home Hardware Stores to Take Over Beaver Lumber". The New York Times. 1999-08-21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  4. ^ a b c "Hachborn retires from HH". The Observer. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  5. ^ "Home Hardware Appoints New President and CEO". Home Hardware. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  6. ^ "Four Different Types of Stores". Home Hardware. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  7. ^ a b c "How quirky Home Hardware is battling the big-box chains—and winning". The Globe and Mail. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  8. ^ "CTV Kitchener: Home Hardware's distribution centre". Kitchener. 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  9. ^ "Home Hardware's new warehouse management system is up and running - Newsletter". Hardlines. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  10. ^ "BeautiTone". Home Hardware. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  11. ^ Lombardo, Christopher (November 16, 2021). "Benchmark is next in Home Hardware's plan to build up private brands". Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  12. ^ "Home Hardware launches private brand campaign". Hardlines. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  13. ^ "For the 11th Consecutive Year, Home Hardware is one of Canada's Best Managed Companies". Home Hardware. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  14. ^ Sxchwarz, Alan. "Canada's Best Employers For Diversity 2023". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  15. ^ "Home Hardware Stores Limited Recognized by Forbes as One of Canada's Best Employers for Third Year in a Row". Home Hardware. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  16. ^ "PMTC & Aviva Award Private Fleets for Safety Performance" (PDF). Private Motor Truck Council of Canada. June 23, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Meet the Top Fleets". Trucking HR Canada. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  18. ^ "Trucking HR Canada Honours Top Fleets at Awards Gala - Canadian Trucking Alliance". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  19. ^ "Gustavson Brand Trust Index 2022 - Most Trusted Brand in Canada" (PDF). Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria. May 2, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "Waterloo Area's Top Employers (2023)". www.canadastop100.com. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  21. ^ Froderman, Carly (2022-04-11). "Home Hardware Ranks 40th in National Reputation Study". Hardware Retailing. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  22. ^ "Home Hardware tops category in retail study". Hardlines. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
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