Rick Kurzac Wins "Contractor-Specialist Dealer of the Year" Award

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia, Oct. 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hardware Merchandising Magazine recently awarded Home Building Centre -- Kamloops the Contractor-Specialist Dealer of the Year award at the 2009 Outstanding Retailer Awards ceremony in Toronto.

Each Hardware Merchandising Outstanding Retailer Award nominee was judged by a panel of industry experts on a range of criteria, including sales performance, retailing innovation and community involvement. Winners were selected in six separate categories: Young Retailer of the Year, Hardware Store of the Year, Contractor Specialist of the Year, Large Surface Retailer of the Year and Building Supply/Home Centre of the Year under 15,000 square feet and over 15,000 square feet.

"We are honoured to have been selected as winners of this prestigious award," said Rick Kurzac, who has been Dealer-Owner of Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre since 1996. "We take great pride in serving our customers -- contractors and do-it-yourselfers alike -- with quality products and advice. We have worked especially hard to go beyond satisfying our contractor client's needs."

Located at 1325 Joseph Way, Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre has been described as a contractor's one-stop-shop. The store has been designed and merchandised with contractors, renovators, builders and developers in mind. The 25,000 square foot building is situated on ten acres of land and has a 16,000 square foot drive-thru warehouse, as well as an abundant stock of doors, windows, drywall, shingles and anything else a contractor would need, making shopping at the Home Hardware Building Centre efficient and enjoyable.

The store underwent a major transformation in 2007 and moved to a larger space to meet the growing needs of local contractors, whether they were renovating existing homes or building new homes.

"Before we began the renovation we wanted to tap into what our contractors' needs were," said Kurzac. "We wanted to make sure we were evolving with the changes in the industry as well as our customers. So, we asked them what their wishes were and focused the renovation on exceeding their expectations."

Today, the 25,000 square foot store employs 102 full-time staff and 10 part-time staff. In-store displays include flooring, windows, numerous bathroom vignettes, full kitchens as well as a wall of fireplaces. The store also includes departments for paint, blinds and a Home Expressions decorating centre.

Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre is also proud to sponsor community events and teams such as the YMCA Dream Home, the Kamloops' 2010 World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship as well as numerous local sports teams to name only a few.

"We make it a priority to give back to the community," continues Kurzac. "It's one way for us to say thank you to those who have supported us and who continue to do so."

"On behalf of more than 1,000 Home Dealers across Canada, I'd like to congratulate Rick and the team in Kamloops on earning this great honour," said Paul Straus, Vice President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "Contractor relations is a huge part of the hardware business and Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre has excelled in this area. They truly are models for home improvement retailers across Canada. Congratulations."

The 2009 Outstanding Retailer Awards also saw Quincaillerie Home Hardware -- Rimouski in Rimouski, Quebec receive the Best Hardware Store award and Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre in Orillia, Ontario received the Building Supply Dealer of the Year award.

The 18th Outstanding Retailer Awards recognize excellence in the Canadian hardware and home improvement retailing industry. The awards were presented at an event in Toronto which was attended by hardware and home improvement retailing vendors, executives and Dealers from across the country.

About Home Hardware

Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada's largest independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture retailer with more than 1,000 stores across Canada, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Dealers have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products and the company has annual retail sales of $4.85 billion. The cooperative was founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers.

The Home Hardware Stores Limited logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6755