Hardlines Outstanding Retailer Awards

Suppliers and retailers from across Canada gathered last night to honour the retail home improvement industry’s best retailers. The occasion was the 32nd Annual Outstanding Retailer Awards, presented during a Gala Dinner at the annual Hardlines Conference.

The event was held at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Que.

Retailers were honoured in eight categories covering the range of retail hardware and home improvement formats.

This year’s winners are:

Best Hardware or Paint Store – Cloverdale Paint Store #71, Saskatoon, Sask. Tim Vogel, Owner; Richard White, Manager. Award sponsored by the National Hardware Show.

Best Building Supply or Home Centre under 15,000 square feet – BMR Pro Brae-Con Building Supplies, Elmvale, Ont. George Begley and Julie Begley, Owners. Award sponsored by Saint-Gobain.

Best Building Supply or Home Centre over 15,000 square feet – Brideco BMR, St-Honoré, Que. François Dionne, Caroline Dionne, David Dionne, and Jérome Dionne, Owners. Award sponsored by Jeld-Wen.

Best Contractor Specialist – Mission Building Supplies (Castle Building Centres Group) Edmonton, Alta. Tom and Karen Clement, Owners; Don Clement, President. Award sponsored by Johns Manville.

Best Large Surface Retailer – E.G. Penner Building Centre (Sexton Group), Steinbach, Man. Linda Penner, Judy Penner, Owners; Markus Lange, Gerry Thiessen, Vice-Presidents. Award sponsored by Trex.

Retail Spirit Award – RONA Forget, Mont-Tremblant, Que. Benoit Forget, Caroline Forget, Francis Forget, Julie Forget, Valérie Forget, and Gabrielle Bouchard, Owners. Award sponsored by ACCEO Solutions.

Best Young Retailer – Phylip Savard-Tremblay, Quincaillerie Tremblay Laroche Inc. (Castle Building Centres Group), Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix, Que. Award sponsored by BMF.

Marc Robichaud Community Leader – Buck’s Home Building Centre, Bridgewater, N.S. Julie and Ryan Buck, Owners. Award sponsored by JRTech Solutions.

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 exceed in the areas of good business practices, customer relations, innovation, and niche marketing.

“These winning dealers represent the innovation and passion for their businesses, and commitment to customers, that makes them truly outstanding,” said David Chestnut, vice-president and publisher of Hardlines Inc.

About the Outstanding Retailer Awards

Launched in 1992, the Hardlines Outstanding Retailer Awards are the retail home improvement industry’s only national awards program dedicated to celebrating the achievements of hardware and building supply dealers across all banners in Canada. In its 32-year history, the program has honoured more than 170 retailers.

About Hardlines

Celebrating its 29th year, Hardlines Inc. is Canada’s leading authority on the retail home improvement industry. Hardlines’ products and services include a range of online newsletters and two print trade magazines, plus dedicated research and events, all committed to helping the industry it serves with news, insights and thought leadership.