Tuesday, April 17, 2007
WHY HARDLINES IS REPRESENTING NRHA IN CANADA
Here at Hardlines, we are always looking for new ways to present information and knowledge to this industry. We believe it's the single best way for vendors and retailers alike to keep ahead of their customers and competition — and stay profitable.
But despite the massive output that pours daily from the World Headquarters, we are at heart a small operation. Our best efforts to grow have been through partnerships. Take our expansion of the Hardlines Conference. First, we welcomed the Outstanding Retailer Awards, partnering with Hardware Merchandising magazine, which owns the awards, to make a first-class Gala Awards Dinner.
Then, Reed Exhibitions invited us to co-locate our Conference with their new National Hardware Show Canada. And as we expanded our U.S. edition of Hardlines south of the border, we welcomed a partnership with the fine folks at Presidents Council.
So when the North American Hardware Association sought representation for their organization here in Canada, we were honoured to take on the role. NRHA moved to Canada following the demise of our own Canadian Retail Hardware Association three years ago. NRHA wants to get its product knowledge training programs into the hands of as many retailers as possible. They believe it's the single best way for independents to keep ahead of their customers and competition — and stay profitable.
Now there's a mandate we can get behind.
I'll continue to oversee Hardlines, but leave the news gathering to Vicky Sanderson, our talented new editor. Beverly Allen remains our director of sales and marketing, building sponsorship support for our Hardlines Conference Oct. 15-16, and managing sales of our reports and information products, and our classified and web ads.
I'm proud to be working with the folks at NRHA. I promise you its just the beginning of more cool stuff coming out of Hardlines!
Best regards,
Michael McLarney
Publisher, Hardlines & Managing Director, NRHA Canada
But despite the massive output that pours daily from the World Headquarters, we are at heart a small operation. Our best efforts to grow have been through partnerships. Take our expansion of the Hardlines Conference. First, we welcomed the Outstanding Retailer Awards, partnering with Hardware Merchandising magazine, which owns the awards, to make a first-class Gala Awards Dinner.
Then, Reed Exhibitions invited us to co-locate our Conference with their new National Hardware Show Canada. And as we expanded our U.S. edition of Hardlines south of the border, we welcomed a partnership with the fine folks at Presidents Council.
So when the North American Hardware Association sought representation for their organization here in Canada, we were honoured to take on the role. NRHA moved to Canada following the demise of our own Canadian Retail Hardware Association three years ago. NRHA wants to get its product knowledge training programs into the hands of as many retailers as possible. They believe it's the single best way for independents to keep ahead of their customers and competition — and stay profitable.
Now there's a mandate we can get behind.
I'll continue to oversee Hardlines, but leave the news gathering to Vicky Sanderson, our talented new editor. Beverly Allen remains our director of sales and marketing, building sponsorship support for our Hardlines Conference Oct. 15-16, and managing sales of our reports and information products, and our classified and web ads.
I'm proud to be working with the folks at NRHA. I promise you its just the beginning of more cool stuff coming out of Hardlines!
Best regards,
Michael McLarney
Publisher, Hardlines & Managing Director, NRHA Canada
