Michael McLarney

Toronto

Editor-in-Chief at Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly

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Articles

Home Depot showcases spring and summer lines at special event

3 weeks ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

With warm weather looming, Home Depot Canada put on an event yesterday to promote its latest seasonal products. The shindig was held at a hip event space in Toronto’s downtown and played host to media and influencers—and Hardlines was there. Featured products included Home Depot’s own lines of outdoor furniture, barbecues from Weber and Traeger, power tools by Ryobi, and the latest cleaning products to help consumers tackle spring cleaning.
Dollarama posts strong Q4 and annual results

3 weeks ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

Dollarama had a fourth-quarter increase in sales of 14.8 percent, to $1.88 billion, from $1.64 billion in the same period a year earlier. This increase was driven by growth in the total number of stores over the past 12 months—from 1,551 to 1,616—and comparable store sales growth. Comps were up by 4.9 percent. Annual sales increased by 9.3 percent to $6.41 billion. Sales for fiscal 2025 include a 53rd week. On a 52-week basis, comp sales increased 4.6 percent.
Home Hardware strengthens its Blue Jays sponsorship

3 weeks ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

Home Hardware Stores Ltd. has strengthened its long-standing partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team by signing on as title sponsor of the 2025 Blue Jays Central Studio. Now branded as Home Hardware Studio, it will serve as the hub for Blue Jays coverage, both in-stadium at the Rogers Centre during home games and at the Rogers Studio for away games.
Latest power tool innovation promises to transform the industry

3 weeks ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

A major power tool maker has come up a product so unique and ahead of its time that it has set the engineering tech industry on alert. According to a report in Engineering Machinations Weekly, this apparent marvel of the jobsite has a myriad of functions that will, say the makers, set it light years apart from other tools.
BMR's executive realignment will facilitate new services for dealers

1 month ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

The announcement of expanded duties for senior team members at BMR Group reflects “a full transformation” for the company, says Charles Grégoire-Béliveau, newly named as SVP of commercial strategy and partner relations. He recognizes the consolidation going on in the industry and the need to support dealers as they seek to grow their own businesses.
Canadian Tire partners with RBC’s Avion Rewards

1 month ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

Canadian Tire Corp. and Royal Bank of Canada have announced a long-term strategic loyalty partnership between RBC’s Avion Rewards and Canadian Tire’s Triangle Rewards. This collaboration will link millions of eligible RBC credit and debit cardholders to Triangle Rewards at Canadian Tire, SportChek, Mark’s and other CTC retail banners. Users will also receive exclusive offers and promotions through RBC and Avion. These new offerings are expected to launch in 2026.
Home Depot gets big box exclusive on Kilz

1 month ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

Home Depot has added Kilz primer products to its lineup of exclusive brands, making the retailer the only big box retailer carrying the Kilz line in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Home Depot is also the preferred big box retailer of Behr Paints, and both brands are part of Masco Corp.
TIMBER MART appoints new regional director for B.C.

1 month ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

At TIMBER MART, Doug Smith has been named regional director of Member Services for British Columbia. Smith will be responsible for managing relationships with TIMBER MART members in that province and will act as a liaison between the national buying group and its regional membership. Based out of TIMBER MART’s distribution centre in Langley, B.C., Smith will report directly to Phil Temple, director of Member Services.
IKEA to open a new DC in Hamilton, Ontario

1 month ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

IKEA Canada hosted a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday at the location of its future Customer Distribution Centre (CDC) and collection point in Hamilton, Ont. The new facility will be part of a $400 million-plus investment by IKEA to reinforce its supply chain. The CDC will be 483,285 square feet in size. IKEA claims that, once certified, it will be among the five largest zero-carbon industrial buildings in Ontario.
Rockin’ RONA dealer’s band tears it up on stage

1 month ago | hardlines.ca | Michael McLarney

Rob Faries has two RONA stores on the edge of James Bay in Ontario’s far North. He’s also the front man for a killer rock band called The Relic Kings that played in Southern Ontario this week. Hardlines was there. We had great fun watching the band entertain us at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. The Relic Kings headlined a night of folk, blues, and power rock by indigenous performers that moved us to dance—and to tears.