- Investing resources to support and grow the Canadian home
improvement network and further leverage the Ace brand
- Ace dealers poised to receive more attractive product
pricing, marketing support, a dedicated website with a platform for
online sales and broader offering
BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Feb. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Lowe's Canada today announced that it is investing
resources to support and grow the entire independent retailer
network and to further leverage the Ace dealer support program. The
company plans on enhancing dealer growth by fostering marketing
support, growing the Ace product offering, and providing even more
attractive product pricing.
"Our goal is to support Ace dealer sales growth and
profitability by establishing a dynamic dealer support program that
offers our dealers a better share in their markets," said
Alain Brisebois, Executive Vice
President of Affiliated Dealers. "We strongly believe in
independent retailers, a key vector for our growth. Within this
context, investing in Ace programs will ensure a successful longer
term outcome."
After a detailed and complete business review that included
customers, products, programs and facilities, a decision has been
reached to integrate the Ace Canada distribution and business
centres into existing Lowe's Canada facilities. This decision will allow
Ace dealers to benefit from lower cost of goods and to connect to
Lowe's Canada retail
intelligence.
"The Ace brand has a strong reputation for quality products and
services. The purpose of this transition is to drive growth
throughout the Ace Canada dealer network," said Brisebois.
"Integrating these operations in the Lowe's Canada facilities and systems is a
pre-requisite to offering dealers a dedicated website with a
platform for online sales and allowing them to take advantage of an
omni-channel strategy."
The integration of operations will result in the closing of the
Winnipeg, Manitoba distribution
centre and head office and the Kitchener,
Ontario distribution centre, which will be completed in the
company's fourth quarter this year. Moving forward, Ace head office
functions in Winnipeg will
relocate to the Lowe's Canada
regional office in Mississauga,
Ontario. The existing distribution network in Calgary, Alberta and in Boucherville, Quebec, as well as the Lowe's
Canada head office in Boucherville, will be leveraged to continue
serving Ace dealers previously served in Winnipeg and Kitchener.
Lowe's Canada will make every
effort to ensure a smooth transition with resources that actively
support employees, dealers, vendors and customers. The company will
ensure all dealers continue to be served throughout the transition
from the Winnipeg distribution
centre until the end of August and the Kitchener distribution centre until late fall.
Lowe's Canada will also continue
to recruit and grow the Ace dealer network across the country.
About Lowe's Canada
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:
LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving
more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal 2015 sales of $59.1 billion, Lowe's has more than 2,355 home
improvement and hardware stores and more than 285,000 employees.
Based in Boucherville, Quebec,
Lowe's Canadian businesses, including RONA, inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary, together operate over 535 corporate and independent
affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under
different banners. These include Lowe's, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, Marcil,
Dick's Lumber and Ace. In Canada,
the businesses have more than 24,000 employees, as well as more
than 5,000 employees in the stores of RONA's independent affiliate
dealers. For more information, visit Lowes.ca.
SOURCE Lowe's Canada