SASKATOON, Sask., January 24, 2013 — The new services have been made available to WRLA members through a landmark alliance with the North American Retail Hardware Association Canada. "We were looking for ways to meet the needs of our independent dealer members, who need easy access to more services to run their businesses," said Gary Hamilton, President of the WRLA. "NRHA has a full range of program for independents. Rather than re-invent the wheel, we have made a partnership with NRHA Canada to make these services available to our members at an affordable rate."
The partnership was announced on the opening day of this year’s Prairie Showcase in Saskatoon.
"NRHA Canada already makes its programs available to Canadian dealers, but this partnership with the WRLA is the best way to get these programs in front of dealers," said Michael McLarney, Managing Director of NRHA Canada. "This partnership is the ideal way to get the full range of services into the hands of Canadian dealers."
The Western Retail Lumber Association is committed to serving the needs and promoting the common interests of the Canadian Lumber, building materials and hard goods industry in Western Canada. It has nearly 1,200 members in Western and Northern Canada.
The North American Retail Hardware Association has been serving the needs of independent hardware retailers in Canada and the United States for more than 110 years. Its purpose is to help independent home improvement retailers become better and more profitable merchants by providing members with a wide array of educational and training programs, financial management resources, and human resource tools that are all available online with unlimited access.
For more information about the WRLA, contact: Gary Hamilton, president, 1-800--661-0253 or ghamilton@wrla.org To learn more about NRHA programs, contact: Michael McLarney, Managing Director, 416-489-3396 or mike@hardlines.ca