"The Bullet", February 2022

Feb 23, 2022
5 min read

Updated: Feb 25, 2022

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

From Jeff:

T4's

T4's are now available. Please pick them up in my office

SMH Foundation CT Scanner Campaign Fundraiser

The Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation is producing a local version of Monopoly, called "Saugeen Shores-Opoly", as a fun fundraising effort for the CT Scanner Campaign. Local businesses were offered sponsorship spots on the board & the game money, and we have taken one of them. A limited number of games will be produced for $40 each, with all revenue going to the "Bring Tom to Town" CT Scanner Campaign.

'22 Ontario Tankard

The '22 Ontario Tankard took place two weekends ago at The Plex. It was an opportunity to see world class curling right here in Port Elgin! As a proud sponsor of the event, our store logo appeared on the ice sheet and on the boards.

You can view all the results at: https://www.portelgincurlingclub.com/index.php/tankard.

Aeroplan Partnership Ending

After extensive research & analysis, Home Hardware has decided to end its relationship with Aeroplan. Customers can continue earning points with HH until midnight, March 31, 2022. Any store POP should remain in place until then. Aeroplan members can continue to redeem points for Home Gift Cards after March 31st..

Home will be launching it's own national loyalty program, with details to follow in the coming months. There will be a marketing program to help drive in-store awareness.

Store Floors Being Redone

Kain's cleaning will be coming into the store to do a deep scrub and waxing of the store floors. On Friday March 4th we will be finishing the floors from the kitchen displays south to the garden centre doors. On Thursday March 10th they will be completing the rest of the store north to the contractor entrance.

Anything not permanently stationed on the floor will need be relocated in these areas on the corresponding date. The day before and the day of the cleaning we will need everyone to help out with clearing the floors.

New Panel Van

We have a new Dodge Ram Promaster Cargo Van as part of our delivery fleet. The 3-seater van has a high ceiling height, and is very spacious, allowing us to easily load lumber, flooring and kitchen cabinets. It has a higher payload than our F250 pickup, with the added convenience covered transportation.

Rental Department

Staff are asked to return, for our inventory count, any Rental tools or other items they may have borrowed from Rentals and still have at home.

From The Floor:

With all the re-merchandising happening in the store, David Yule asks that staff involved in doing the re-merchandising please make an effort to inform other staff of where products/sections have been moved to.

One section that has undergone a major re-merchandising is the Seasonal Department. Garden tools have been moved from the south wall to the east wall, and Benchmark& Radley leaf blowers are now in their place on the south wall. The Stihl section has been consolidated and reorganized in aisle 26, as well. And BBQ accessories are now back to aisle 32.

Product Showcase:

We are now carrying Pit Boss Wood Pellet Smokers and Pellets. They are comparable with the Traeger line, but at a better price point. In the case of the one on display in the lobby (the Navigator 1150), the price includes a cover and front folding shelf, which are hundreds of dollars extra with Traeger. You can check out all the Pit Boss products on the HH website here: https://www.homehardware.ca/en/pit-boss/c/10529

Cycle Count Update

We are wrapping up the in-store 2021 cycle counts for our year end. Mike would like thank everyone involved for their combined efforts to achieve this. Herb is working meticulously to get our LBM counts on track. Mike would like to remind everyone we still have supply issues on many items, so please make sure to check stock with vendors or head office before providing arrival dates.

As most of you are aware, many new items are still arriving as part of the re-branding process. If you are not already doing so please regularly check home hardware connect for new items available to your departments.

Mike would like to remind everybody of SKU MANAGEMENT. As new items arrive in the store please take the time check the sku and make sure it has a Min-Max & retail location.

Our Goal:

Our goal for 2022 is to get our live inventory on the Home Hardware website. As I have discussed with many of you, the only way to achieve this is with SKU MANAGEMENT (Cycle Counts and Spot Checks). In the coming weeks, we will be rolling out a new cycle counting store policy. This will allow us to maintain a secure and accurate inventory so we can achieve our goal. Details will follow in the coming weeks.

If you have any further questions, please see Mike Watts at anytime.

Getting To Know You:

This month's profile is Wade Morely.

My name is Wade Morely. I started working at Port Elgin Home Hardware in the Fall of 2014, just before the last addition was added to the store. I was hired to work in the lumber department at the Contractors Desk. I help with ordering the LBM (Lumber Building Materials), create material take-offs from architectural plans, prepare quotes/orders for special order building materials for both contractors and non-contractor customers, as well as general sales of window and door products.

I grew up in "The Hammer" (Hamilton: go Tiger Cats “eat em” raw), and lived in Hamilton until my mid 30’s. In my youth I spent a lot of time vacationing in the Southampton Area at various trailers and cottages over the years. Fifteen years ago, I made the move to Port Elgin, following my ex-wife's career as she took a position at Bruce Power, and I took a position at Grant Diemert Architect in Owen Sound.

After graduating as an Architectural Technologist, I cut my teeth in the building industry, working as a draftsman. Yep, I started on an old drafting board, using T-Squares, Set Squares and Scales to produce design drawings and construction specs. In my early career I switched over to CAD (Computer-Aided Design), and project management. As part of a team, I worked on numerous commercial projects in many cities in Ontario, and projects state-side in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. My main focus was on institutional projects, research facilities, and office towers. I traveled a lot in my early career, but that all came to an end when I started a family, and needed to work closer to home. That was when I started working at Port Elgin Home Hardware.

I have two kids, Ryan and Rose. Most of you will know Ryan, as he works here as a part time cashier. He is planning to attend post secondary to become a Practical Nurse. My daughter, Rose, is rounding out her elementary school years, as she completes and graduates from Grade 8 at SDSS. One of the main reasons for relocating to Bruce County was to allow my kids to grow up in this wonderful community.

I recently moved to Paisley. Almost three years ago now, I purchased an old red brick house, built in the 1890’s, to fix up and restore. I’m an avid woodworking enthusiast and like to spend my time in my shop, or working on my house. I also enjoying all the wonderful natural beauty of this area we all call home.

Staff Update:

Please welcome Mike Beldman to Home Installs, as the newest Installer.

Also, please welcome back Martin Bouwhuis, as Seasonal Department Head. Martin returns to

us after a little over a year at Komoka Home Hardware, near London, Ontario.

Addison is no longer with us, as she has decided to start her own house-cleaning business. We wish her well.