Home Hardware
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Department & Discount) |
| Founded | St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada 1964 |
| Founder(s) | Walter Hachborn |
| Headquarters | St. Jacobs, Ontario |
| Key people | [Paul Straus], President and CEO |
| Products | Retail hardware supplies |
| Revenue | est 4.85 billion CAD 5.0 billion FY 2010) |
| Employees | Unknown (all stores independently owned) |
| Website | www.homehardware.ca |
Home Hardware is a privately held Canadian home improvement, construction materials, and furniture retailer. Co-founded in 1964 by Walter Hachborn and headquartered in St. Jacobs, Ontario, the chain is co-operatively owned by over 1000 independently owned member stores.[1]
Banners
Home Hardware consists of four separate banners, offering goods such as the following:[2]
- Home Hardware – housewares, tools, paint, garden supplies
- Home Building Centre – lumber, plumbing and electrical supplies, building materials
- Home Hardware Building Centre – Home Hardware and Home Building Centre items
- Home Furniture – furniture and major appliances
Store brands
Home Hardware store brands are well known in Canada and include:
- Beauti-Tone (paint)
- Benchmark (tools)
- Home Plumber
- Home Handyman
- Home Gardener
- HomeWorks Home Remodeling Software
- Home-Bond (glues)
- Vincette (bicycles)
- River Trail (camping supplies)
- Natura (green products)
- Classic (lighting and plumbing fixtures)
- Unival (automotive)
- Wood-Shield (stain purposes)
- Kuraidori (kitchen accessories)
HomeWorks Home Remodeling Software
Developed by Andrew Pantelides through a partnership with RenoWorks Software Inc, HomeWorks Home Remodeling Software quickly became the leading edge home improvement software on the market, featuring over 20,000 national name brand products from over 38 National vendors. Winner of the 2008 Silver Davey Awards and 2010 Webby Honouree (Top 10 out of 10,000 Entries), It had over 440,000 registered Canadian users in its first year, and after a succesfull partnership with MDG Computers, the user count spiked to 990,000 Canadaian users.
National Industry Recognition: Canadian Home Builders Association product “The HomeWorks software can be a significant value to consumers who are either planning a new home, or want to renovate an existing home. When used in consultation with a professional new home builder or professional renovator, HomeWorks can help consumers make more knowledgeable and informed decisions... We are honoured to be part of this software and for the first time put our seal of approval on a product...” -John K. Kenward, Chief Operating Officer, CHBA, June 2007
Recent history
In 1981 the Eastern-based Home Hardware merged with Western-based Link Hardware to create a national chain.
Home Hardware has survived the expansion of The Home Depot into Canada, beginning in 1994, as well as the expansion of a domestic competitor, Rona, into the big-box arena.
In 2000, the chain expanded through the purchase of the Beaver Lumber chain from Molson.[3]
On January 11, 2003, Home Hardware received unexpected worldwide exposure, when a T-shirt worn by Avril Lavigne during a performance on Saturday Night Live featured her hometown of Napanee, Ontario and the local hardware store there. In response, the chain produced a limited-edition line of identical T-shirts for sale at locations nationwide, with proceeds going to charity.[4]
In 2004, Canada Post issued a postage stamp to commemorate the company's 40th anniversary. [5] The stamp was designed by Home Hardware's creative director, Ron Mugford. [6]
References
- ↑ History of Home Hardware, Home Hardware website, accessed January 27, 2014
- ↑ About Home Hardware, Home Hardware website, accessed October 4, 2006
- ↑ Home Hardware Acquisition, Lexpert, February 2000, accessed October 4, 2006
- ↑ Fans go ape for Avril T's, Doug Lunney, Winnipeg Sun, March 12, 2003, accessed October 4, 2006
- ↑ Canada Post stamp
- ↑ Canada's Stamp Details: Home Hardware