"The Bullet", April 2022

Apr 25, 2022
4 min read

This is the latest version of "The Bullet", our Staff Newsletter. A reminder that this newsletter is published for Staff eyes only.

From Jeff:

Announcement

We are happy to announce that Mike Watts will be joining David Yule in the role of Assistant Manager. Mike has been employed with Port Elgin Home Hardware on and off for over 16 years and over that time has learned a great deal about the business.

David and Mike will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the retail business, leading the team to achieve sales and financial objectives through inventory management, purchasing, merchandising, advertising and promotions. They will also take a lead role in ensuring an exceptional experience is had by all our customers. They will accomplish these objectives through personal action and/or delegation of responsibility as appropriate.

While all aspects of operations will be a shared responsibility, Mike will continue to focus on inventory management, and information technology over the short term.

Please take the opportunity in congratulating Mike on his new position in the store!

Progress Reviews

Over the next few weeks we will be completing progress reviews with all staff. Moving forward, this will become an annual review.

These reviews will be sit-down sessions with open conversation that will give an opportunity for both parties to address job expectations and performance levels. These reviews will also help ensure employees are recognized for their work and are being provided with the right training opportunities or promotions moving forward.

These reviews will be staggered to accommodate proper coverage in each department. Everyone will be notified a day or two in advance of when we will be sitting down to complete the review. With time, these reviews will become a stepping stone to better communication for everyone.

Below you will find a template that will be used for the meetings.

Product Showcase:

We now carry Iron Embers outdoor fire products. These are high-quality, Canadian-made and hand-crafted fire pits and accessories. The company is in Guelph, Ontario, so it's a nice bonus they're based right here in Ontario! The products are quite striking, and the quality is obvious as soon as you look at them. Constructed from 1/4" steel and coated with matte black high heat enamel paint, they are definitely made to last. We have several pits and the large chiminea on the store floor that you can check out.

Beaver Springs Outdoor Furniture

We are also now carrying the Beaver Springs line of outdoor furniture. Once again, these products are Canadian-made, right here in Ontario. They specialize in outdoor resin furniture & related items, made from high-density polyethelene, the same material used for outdoor hockey arena boards. All their products are completely recyclable.

From the Floor:

As you may know, we had a booth at the recent Food & Home Expo at Southampton Coliseum, put on by the Port Elgin Rotary Club. Quite a few people came by to talk to us and check out some of the new product lines we were featuring. As a result, we sold out of the Blackstone Griddles, sold all stocked Beaver Springs pub tables, a bunch of their chair sets and several Iron Embers fire pits. The show raises funds for the Rotary Club, which in turn puts the money into many great local causes. A huge thank you to both David and Martin for running the booth all weekend!

Catch The Ace Lottery:

Once again, we are participating in the latest fundraising effort by the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation to help bring a new CT Scanner to Southampton Hospital. This fun lottery will run for 52 weeks, with a winner drawn every week from tickets sold that week.

Tickets are $5.00 each and cashiers will use SKU #777 for the ticket sales. Ticket sales are to stop on Wednesdays at 3pm and can begin again at 11am Thursday mornings. This is to allow the Foundation to make the draw Wednesday night and then update each retailer with the winning number Thursday morning. If you have any questions, please ask David Yule or Jeff.

Getting To Know You:

This month's profile is Mike Watts.

I was born in Mississauga and raised in Port Elgin. From a young age, starting with Lego and Meccano, I have always had the desire to design, create and build, growing my mechanical abilities. Throughout high school, I focused my studies on tool & die, as well as welding & automotive, not really knowing what I wanted to do in the future. Since the first time my dad let me use the lawnmower, my mechanical desire was sparked, triggering my curiosity in engines and mechanics.

I have many accomplishments that I am proud of. I have completed a Mechanical Technician (Millwright) course, a Small Engine Mechanic course, and I have my Backhoe, Excavator, Bulldozer, Grader & AZ Truck licences.

My employment with Home Hardware started in July 2005, when I was hired as a DZ driver for the Lumber Yard. Over the years I have focused on learning as much about the business as I can, while continually building my knowledge & experience. In 2015 I was promoted to the Assistant Manager role just in time for our 10,000 sq ft store renovation. This was a very busy time for everyone, but we met our grand opening goal with great success. Owner Peter Gauthier recognized me during his grand opening speech for my extra effort, which really meant a lot to me and made all the hard work and extra hours worth it.

We added additional retail space on the south end of the building, which includes the Garden Centre and the outdoor drive shed on the east side. All the aisles in the store were re-positioned or relocated, while the flooring in the entire store was replaced. This was accomplished while maintaining a clean and safe shopping experience for our customers - yes we were open!

My partner and I live in the beautiful, quaint town of Paisley with our puppy Arlo. I enjoy working with all of you, if you ever have any questions or concerns, please don't be shy.

Staff Update:

Please welcome back Taylor to the Paint Department, returning from Maternity Leave.

Emily is no longer with us, having taken a full time position with Snyder Homes. We wish her all the best.