What’s in Store

In Conversation with Russ Permann, president and CEO of Taiga Building Products

In our latest podcast Hardlines interviews Russ Permann, president and CEO of Taiga Building Products in Burnaby, B.C., spoke to us in the July 2025 issue of the Hardlines What’s In Store Podcast. In this podcast we explore tariffs: what they are, how they have affected the LBM industry, and the prospects for the rest of 2025 in Canada. And, since Taiga has a significant American division, south of the border, too. Russ Permann was interviewed by Hardlines editors Geoff McLarney and Steve Payne.

In Conversation with Stephen Bailey, Chief Marketing Officer at Fluevog

Stephen Bailey, chief marketing officer at Fluevog is transforming the retail world one step at a time. Bailey talks with Hardlines editor Rebecca Dumais about the changing retail landscape including how to improve audience reach and how to create a retail experience that builds brand loyalty.

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In Conversation with David Ian Gray, Principal at DIG360

David Ian Gray of Vancouver-based DIG360 is a retail strategist and expert. In this podcast, Gray talks with Hardlines editor Rebecca Dumais about the changing retail landscape including the impact of tariffs on Canadian businesses, the fall of iconic brands Hudson’s Bay Company and Peavey Mart and charting a path in uncertain economic times. David is highly sought after by business leaders and executives for his retail knowledge and strategic insights. His views on the hardware and building supply industry in Canada make this podcast a much watch.

In Conversation with Peter Turkstra: CEO of Turkstra Lumber

In this episode, Peter Turkstra, third-generation owner of 12-store Turkstra Lumber, a pro dealer in Southern Ontario, talks about solutions to the ills that, all of a sudden in 2025, afflict the industry. Most of them are courtesy of the American administration, or more properly the one man who has caused them, Peter says. But he also reflects on municipal development charges, the slowdown in housing starts, and consumers having their confidence shaken.

In Conversation with Barry Eidt: GM & Co-Owner BMR Mitchell, Exeter & Arthur Ont.

In this episode, we talk to Barry Eidt, 2023 winner of our Outstanding Retail Award in the category of Young Retailer of the Year. Barry’s family owns three stores in Southwestern Ontario: Exeter, Arthur, and Mitchell, under the BMR banner. A key feature, of which he’s proud of, is BMR’s AgriZone farm supply store within a store.

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In conversation with Marilyn and Sylvain Laferriere: Challenges and Wins in Home Improvement Retail

The latest instalment of our podcast series What’s In Store goes online this week. In this episode, we talk to Marilyne and Sylvain Laferriere, owners of Victory Building Centre in Mackenzie, B.C. They offer a heartfelt report from the frontlines of home improvement retail on the challenges and wins of serving their northern community. 

Bill Morrison's four predictions for 2025

In this podcast, HHIQ editor Rebecca Dumais interviews veteran retail consult, Bill Morrison, about his predictions for 2025 in the retail Canadian home improvement industry. As you will learn, the C-suite veteran of retail wars at the Hudson's Bay Company, Foot Locker, IKEA, RONA, TruServ Canada, Ace Hardware, and more, doesn't shy away from making bold prognostications about the year ahead. He starts with the Canadian customer, for whom 2025 looms as a very different kind of world.

Lisa Bergeron of JELD-WEN speaks with Hardlines' Steve Payne and Geoff McLarney

Lisa Bergeron, JELD-WENs Director of Business Affairs and Government Relations, Speaks with Hardlines' Editor-In-Chief Steve Payne and Features Editor Geoff McLarney about the Energy Star program and efficiency in windows on this months episode of Hardlines What's In Store.

In Conversation with Jason Tasse, Richard Darveau, and Phylip Savard-Tremblay at the Hardlines Conference

Hardlines' Michael McLarney and Geoff McLarney chat with speakers Jason Tasse of Lee Valley Tools and Richard Darveau of AQMAT, and with Outstanding Retailer Award Winner Phylip Savard-Tremblay of Quincaillerie Tremblay Laroche on site at the 2024 Hardlines Conference. 

Peter Norman of Altus Group with Hardlines' Steve Payne and Geoff McLarney

 In this episode, we talk to land economist Peter Norman of Altus Group, who will speak at our upcoming Hardlines Conference in the Charlevoix region of Quebec. He talks about the state of the Canadian economy, why we’re not in a recession, how the situation compares with the United States, and what to expect from the housing market in the coming year.