This week, I delivered products to Fraser’s Pro Home Centre in Berwick & Set up Home Hardware in Hantsport. I joined a CME Best Practices mission to Richmond County. I visited sixteen stores in Nova Scotia & New Brunswick followed by an in-store demo at Kent Building Supplies in Fredericton.
I always enjoy delivering and setting up four foot wall assortments of Mark’s Choice & Trail Blazer products at Home Hardware stores. Just like the one I set up this week at Hantsport Home Hardware. This store has been serving the Hantsport and surrounding area in Nova Scotia for over 40 years and is proud to be “locally owned and operated”. Locally owned and operated businesses are very valuable to their community and are a business the whole community is proud of. Tom & Dena Miller are proud to be known for “Small Store, Big Service ” and from what I saw this week, they had people coming in non stop from consumers to contractors and they knew every one’s names!! They offer a full line of Home Hardware products including lumber, doors, windows, and for the yard … Mark’s Choice and Trail Blazer yard & garden tools. Let’s not forget the painter who needs the Premier Professional Paint Poles made by Trail Blazer and much more.
I am excited delivering Trail Blazer products to Fraser’s Pro Home Centre. Fraser’s a TIM-BR MART dealer and part of a buying group with over 700 locations across Canada. We have a vendor number making our products available to all 700 dealers. We look forward to growing with TIM-BR MART.
When I delivered to Fraser’s & set-up Hantsport I visited Home Hardware in Berwick, Greenwood, Kentville, Lower Sackville & Wolfville to offer in-store demos … and The Trail Shop to offer any service needed. I visited Home Hardware in Memramcook, Moncton, Oromocto, Riverview, Sackville, Saint-Antoine, Salisbury & Sussex to give warehouse #s for our Snow Shovels on my way to Fredericton, where I had an in-store demo at Kent’s Saturday and learned hanging baskets are a popular mother’s day gift.
Last week I checked in-house orders and; sales projections for May were reached & production & shipping ensured delivery. At that time I had also received enough orders in house to cover 48% of June’s projections … Now you can see why I have visited so many stores this week!!
This week started with a very special birthday celebration for my angel & youngest daughter, Victoria, who became a teenager this year. The celebration started with Victoria, her big bother Travis & I going to the mall. You ask why the mall? Travis & I brought her to build-a-bear, she’s still my little girl (I gave Dawna the bear I made), followed by getting her ears pierced, which she has been wanting for a long time. After the mall, we picked up Mom & big sister Natalie to go out for tacos at Mexicali Rosa’s followed by a walk through the Public Gardens in Halifax.
The night before her birthday, my parents had a private birthday party when they had Victoria and her friend Madison (who paddles with her) over to their place for a sleep over. I really don’t know what happened there but I do know both girls came home with big smiles and said they had a wonderful time.
Robert Woodman, our operations manager & I joined the CME for a two day best practices mission through Richmond County’s ocean industry. Showcasing local innovative businesses situated on the Cape Breton side of the Strait of Canso, bordered on the south by the Atlantic Ocean & on the north by the Bras d’Or Lakes. Their rural based businesses are embracing new technologies that allow them to compete in the global markets. We enjoyed great tours at Clearwater Seafoods & Lobsters “R” Us showcasing the Lobster industry. We saw a world class training facility at NSCC Nautical Institute. The tour at Petit de Grat Packers showcased an impressive crab leg prosessing plant & the ladies at University of St. Anne taught me how lobsters & crabs are born … not the same as the birds & the bees. We were also treated with a lobster & crab legs for dinner followed by great Cape Breton entertainment.
Everett Titus, marine superintendent with A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. was with us in Richmond County. I learned they have a Benjamin Moore paint store and use extension poles when building & repairing boats. I look forward to my trip to Meteghan River and present our Nova Scotia made poles.
Looking back, May 15th, 2011
One Year Ago, we attended the Hardware Show in Vegas.
Today, we stayed home to re-structure and develop new products
All the Best, Shawn Levangie