Monthly Archives: April 2011

In my blog on March 5th, I wrote “as you visit the stores you will notice the winter products are all off the shelves and the spring items are here!” Well now, spring definitely arrived because, this week, our stores are ordering more products because their initial supply is sold. Including Kent Building supply who is offering an assortment of Trail Blazer’s Lawn & Garden products through-out Atlantic Canada for the first time this spring. Private label products for Home Hardware Stores under the Mark’s Choice brand across Canada & Menards Stores under the Master Force brand through-out the Mid-West, in the United States. Our products are also selling well through On-line dealers like Lee Valley, Garrett Wade & Amazon.com. All Trail Blazer’s Lawn & Garden products are selling

My son, Travis turned 16, a birthday where you say wow where did the time go!! I’d like to supply him with the wisdom of the ages (If I could remember). If you could be 16 again (god help you, if you’d want to be), what would you tell him? What advice do you wish someone had bestowed upon you? Travis is becoming a young man who will face decisions. I watch him and believe he is a man who gives much of himself to others. His continuous kindness is not just a benefit to others; his kindness has made all members of our family better. Watching him & learning from him has made us, want to be kinder. I know

The week started with the Home Hardware Spring Market where thousands of dealers were getting ready for the upcoming fall season. The market draws independent store dealers, vendors (Like Trail Blazer) and hardware industry representatives. The dealers walk (with their scanners) down the many, many aisles, at the company’s distribution centre in St. Jacobs, Ontario. Home Hardware started when 122 independent hardware dealers came together in 1964 to buy collectively so that they could compete against the discount retailers. Now, there are 1,080 retailers in the network and it is still growing. About 37 new stores are taking part in this year’s spring market event. The shows are very exciting for me, this year because I am expecting the outdoor living market

Monica Furlotte started with Trail Blazer in January 2010 as an intern. She accepted a position in May that same year, as one of our Customer Service Representatives & also performed order processing duties. In less than a year she serviced & gained respect from Trail Blazer’s top dealers, distributors & sales representatives. She showed leadership when she started improving internal communications to better serve our customers & worked local trade shows with professionalism. All this in 1 year and she has gain the respect of everyone at Trail Blazer. This week, Monica has officially been offered the position of Customer Service Coordinator. Monica will be restructuring and improving Trail Blazer’s Customer Service Department with a full year experience under her belt. Experience she received from listening to both our customer’s and our staff’s needs

Last year Keith Hendee from Nashville, Indiana organized & attempted a solo canoe expedition in northern Ontario, on the Missinaibi River. The river was one of the major fur trade routes opening the exploration of the Great Lakes, northern and central Canada, and the upper plain states of United States. He was on the water for nearly two weeks and progressed over one hundred miles. When he encountered low water conditions and his handcrafted wood-strip canoe suffered a structural fracture in the first of several rapids. Fortunately, all was safe and the expedition gear and supplies remained in good condition. Keith’s hopes and dreams will continue this year has he returns to Missinaibi River once again to complete what he