The Woolwich Observer

Home Hardware’s business practices win accolades

St. Jacobs-based company named top hardware retailer in poll, cited as top employer in pair of lists

- Justine Fraser Observer Staff

IT WAS A GOOD WEEK for St. Jacobs-based Home Hardware Stores Ltd., which garnered three awards for the way it does business.

The company was named number-one hardware retailer in Leger’s 2021 Ontario WOW study, listed as a top employer on the Forbes list of Canada’s best employers in 2022, as well as being named one of the region’s best by Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

“I think it’s just acknowledg­ement for all the great work that everybody has done, especially in the last year. It really is quite satisfying to see some of the accolades of all their work,” said Lisa Kyte, director of human resources for Home Hardware.

From its first store in St. Jacobs, Home Hardware now spans the country with more than 1,100 independen­t business operators. They are known as Canada’s largest independen­t home improvemen­t retailer with a focus on home improvemen­t needs. They have four banners for operators: Home Hardware, Home Hardware Building Centre, Home Building Centre and Home Furniture.

“It’s a reflection of Home Hardware being very much a community-focused organizati­on. We have a significan­t history 55 plus years. I believe we’re over 1,100 dealer owners across Canada and each of those dealer-owners are sometimes in very small areas, and they’re from coast to coast and top to bottom. So all the communitie­s we support and our corporate office and our distributi­on centers are really a key to being connected to the community and we really foster a culture of teamwork and respect, invest in people being able to be themselves at work. That type of a culture really enables us to drive results and support the dealer owners. So, I think there’s many reasons as to why our own team members who have been surveyed have given that positive feedback,” noted Kyte.

Some of the awards are consecutiv­e wins for Home Hardware, they have been named Waterloo’s Top Employer more than half a dozen times now.

“To be recognized in amongst so many large companies in Waterloo, that is an incredible accomplish­ment and an honour for us, for sure, because I certainly know the many companies that might be included in that rank, and it’s great to know that we’re part of that.”

It’s been business as usual for them for the most part throughout the pandemic, as their stores remained open, transition­ing office workers to work at home and adapting to public health guidelines.

“With the pandemic, we certainly had to make some changes and in our corporate side - we have approximat­ely 800 to

900 office team members that typically work in the office and we were able to provide the right technology and platforms and equipment to get each of them to have the ability to work from home. So, we really work closely with

different provincial guidelines to ensure that we’re mirroring what we need to do based on pandemic updates and things like that. We’ve been very fortunate to have the ability to get everybody home,” said Kyte.

For more than a year, Home Hardware has been running their own vaccine clinic to help give staff first, second or third doses while at work.

“We have a great strong culture here that really I would say all team members have had a very positive attitude and rallied around the processes that are needed to keep COVID out of the workplace and adapting to brand new ways of working, whether you’re here on site or you’re at home.”

Across Canada, Home Hardware employs close to 2,600 people for various jobs in corporate, retail and distributi­on. Kyte noted that they’ve been expanding and hiring more people on during the pandemic to help with the sales growth from more people staying home and completing home renovation­s.

“Our workforce has certainly expanded, and we’ve been investing in roles, people and new strategies. The pandemic certainly has brought a different lifestyle to just Canadians in general. And I think they have been, unfortunat­ely, home based and then they have certainly invested in their homes and cottages and things like that. So ultimately, that has certainly been a growth opportunit­y for Home Hardware, and we’ve grown our workforce.”

She says one of the main reasons employees are giving such good feedback about their employer during the Forbes survey may be due to an overall positive work experience that promotes growth opportunit­ies.

“One of our key initiative­s that we focus on and this isn’t just the pandemic, but it certainly has helped us get through this tough time is investing in ourselves, investing in every individual. We’re very focused on internal career mobility, whether that be promotion or cross-functional developmen­t across roles. And that happens in both of our distributi­on centre environmen­ts, as well as the office and our corporate roles. So that really creates new opportunit­ies for people and is very rewarding in terms of career satisfacti­on, growth, and meeting hopefully what they would consider to be their full potential. So, I think that that speaks volumes even during again a tough time and then we have a really big commitment to health and safety.”

A bit of advice for other employers looking to make the list of Top Employers in Canada, Kyte mentioned valuing employees and having a strong communicat­ion between staff members creates an ideal work environmen­t for positivity.

“Looking at advice for other organizati­ons is, I mean truly, just listening to your people. Recognizin­g their achievemen­ts, making sure that they have clarity. You just can’t communicat­e enough to help keep people informed.”

 ?? Submitted ?? With projects such as the local community garden, employees give high marks to Home Hardware Stores Ltd., which was ranked highly by two surveys of employers.
Submitted With projects such as the local community garden, employees give high marks to Home Hardware Stores Ltd., which was ranked highly by two surveys of employers.
 ?? Submitted ?? St. Jacobs-based Home Hardware has had plenty of good news of late, recognized as a top employer and retailer.
Submitted St. Jacobs-based Home Hardware has had plenty of good news of late, recognized as a top employer and retailer.
 ?? Submitted ?? Katie Wagner, 8, of Elmira with “Snowy” the snowman.
Submitted Katie Wagner, 8, of Elmira with “Snowy” the snowman.

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