"The Bullet", September 2021
- Sep 30, 2021
- 5 min read
This is the Latest issue of "The Bullet", our staff newsletter. Please have a read and let Jeff know if you have any questions, or if you have any ideas/suggestions for future issues.
You can always view prior issues of The Bullet any time by clicking HERE.
In This Issue
BeautiTone Rebranding
Product Showcase
From The Floor
A reminder from David Yule that store staff need to wear radios during all shifts. Using the radios cuts down on the number of in-store pages, and that's a good thing.
New Dematic Multi Shuttle (DMS) Warehouse System
The new automated system implemented at the warehouse in St. Jacobs is called the Dematic Multishuttle® 2. It is the next-generation “shuttle” system for automated storage and retrieval of goods. Once fully functioning, the system will dramatically increase speed and accuracy in the warehouse.
In the past few weeks, though, as they worked through systemic challenges associated with this implementation, they experienced some mechanical and process issues. These issues were causing delays in getting DMS freight to the shipping area to be loaded at the same time as product picked from other areas of the Distribution Centre. This resulted in some stores having their DMS freight sent by courier.
Below is an outline of how the new system works, and you can also watch a step-by-step video above. It's really quite impressive.
Multi-Shuttle: An automated storage and goods-to-person picking system that utilizes specialized software to manage inventory and optimize operations. There are six steps to the process:
Step One: Product arrives at the warehouse's Decanting Station, where a Distribution Team Member transfers them to grey totes, which are barcoded and loaded onto the Multi-Shuttle conveyor system to the next stop.
Step Two: Tote's barcode is scanned and it's contents are registered in the system. The totes then move to the High Density Storage Area, which can house over 40,000 totes. They remain there until a product they contain is ordered.
Step Three: When an order is received, the Multi-shuttle System determines which tote needs to be retrieved and which "Goods To Person" picking station it needs to go to and it is sent there.
Step Four: When it arrives, a Distribution Centre Team Member scans the tote's barcode, which tells them which store tote gets the product.
Step Five: If required, the tote then proceeds to the next pick stations for other store orders. After all orders for the product are fulfilled, the tote returns to the Multi-Tote Storage Area. If it's empty, it gets sent back into rotation.
Step Six: The picking process continues until a Storage Tote is filled, at which point it's sent on for sorting and shipping.
At this time, the warehouse is picking approximately 20% of all items ordered using the Multi-Shuttle System. More items will be added in the coming weeks, increasing the number of lines being picked, allowing the delivery schedule to return to normal.
BeautiTone Rebranding
You may have noticed a differed look in the Paint Department. BeautiTone has done a complete product rebranding, and Amanda & Tina have done a great job showcasing it.
HH has discontinued use of the Designer Series Sheens, Matte, Satin, Suede, etc., and gone to one consistent sheen line shared with the Signature series: Flat, Eggshell, Velvet, etc. It's the same high-quality base and paint, just with new branding and marketing. All labels have now been changed over.
Also, because of increases in paint raw materials, the "Buy 6 Get One Free" has changed to "Buy 8 Get One Free". This program is a great way to get a customer to try out our top of the line paint "on the house".
Product Showcase
We are now carrying Howie's Hockey Tape products in the store. Howie's are the highest quality hockey accessories: tape, laces, stick wax, pucks, and much more. Starting out in 2002 in the garage of his parent's house, Howie (yes, there's actually a Howie) gradually built his business to where it is now, with a full-sized warehouse, offices, and full time staff.
His promise to customers is: "THE WORLD'S HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCTS PAIRED WITH THE WORLD'S HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICE - THAT'S OUR GUARANTEE. IF YOU'RE EVER DISSATISFIED WITH OUR TAPE, LACES OR ANY OTHER PRODUCT, LET US KNOW AND WE WILL MAKE IT RIGHT AND MAKE SURE YOU GET TAKEN CARE OF - YOU HAVE NO RISK WHEN YOU DEAL WITH HOWIES".
Visit their website HERE.
Wood Pellets
If you have experience with wood stoves or campfires, you know that hardwood is the fuel of choice. A block of hardwood vs a block of softwood of the same size always wins hands down. The hardwood is heavier simply because it is denser and more compact. Therefore, it burns longer, generating more heat than the same-sized piece of softwood. That’s like comparing apples to oranges.
When you look at hardwood and softwood pellets, however, you’re now comparing apples and apples. The process for producing pellets from any wood source is essentially the same. Whole wood is broken down into chips, which go through a hammer mill to produce a finely ground material, which is then compressed into pellets. The result using wood fibre from deciduous or conifer species is a pellet with a diameter of about a pencil, about one-quarter inch, compressed to the same weight and density. In other words, a volume measure of softwood-based pellets now weighs exactly the same as the equivalent volume measure of hardwood-based pellets. The standard sized bag used in the industry holds 40 lbs. A 40 lb. bag of pellets is a 40 lb. bag of pellets no matter what kind of wood it came from. Heat output in terms of BTUs solely depends on the quality of the raw material used.
Our wood pellets will be arriving soon, and will be sold at the same price as last year.
Getting to Know You
This month's profile is Emily.
My name is Emily Meuser. I’m 18 years old, and I’ve been at Home Hardware since April of 2018. I started on front cash and have since moved to lumber cash, the hardware department, receiving, and odd jobs around the store.
I’m a born-and-raised Bruce County girl! I grew up showing cattle in Paisley and went to elementary school in Tara. I didn’t come to Port Elgin very much until I started high school there. I graduated in June, but chose to stay for an extra year to increase my average for college. I’ll be done in January and will have 7 months off to work full time before I leave for college next September.
I’ve played hockey since I was 5 years old and just aged out of minor hockey in the spring. I’ve played for 4 different centres in total, starting in Arran Elderslie for 6 years before changing to Chatsworth for 3 years. I then started playing for Saugeen Maitland out of Teeswater and did a lot of travelling. I played there for 2 years before deciding to slow down and play locally again. I went to Walkerton, where I finished out my minor hockey career playing 2 years of hockey during Covid-19. I’m sure I’ll continue to play intermediate and senior before calling it quits.
I’m planning on going to college for paramedics, and hope to be accepted to Conestoga for their 3 year program.
Thanksgiving Holiday
We will be closed on Sunday of the Long Weekend, October 10th. We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you are able to spend time with your loved ones.
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