Contractor Advantage November / December 2022

PAINTING A BRIGHT FUTURE

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. is a Canadian member-owned, Lumber, Building Materials and Hardware buying group representing over 300 member locations across Canada.

Contractor Advantage Magazine is the exclusive publication of Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. featuring quality Castle vendor brands available at Castle Building Centres locations.

Visit castle.ca to find a Castle location in your area.

Editorial Director Castle Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Jennifer Mercieca

Art Direction and Design Espress Labs Inc.

Contributors

Lawrence Cummer Lisa Gordon

Advertising Inquiries and Marketing Contact

Jennifer Mercieca

Director of Communications

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307

jmercieca@castle.ca

Material Contact Karen Dougherty Marketing Administrative Assistant

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307

kdougherty@castle.ca

Published and designed exclusively for Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. by Espress Labs Inc.

On the cover: Laurentide Paints

CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS

Lawrence (“Law”) Cummer is a freelance writer and editor and has been a frequent contributor to Contractor Advantage, Ideas and Rough Construction for nearly a decade. Over his more than 20-year career, Law has written about contracting and construction, general business, information technology, health and safety, personal finance and almost every topic in between. He has a passion for storytelling and sharing how people can work better, easier — and “smarter” — from contractors to technologists to business executives.

Lisa Gordon is a freelance writer and editor based in St. George, Ont. She operates Mustang Media Writing & Editorial Services, delivering informative and engaging articles for trade and association magazines in a variety of industries. Contact her at www.mustangmediaservices.ca.

JASON S. BRADSHAW

Jason started his first business at the age of 14, differentiating himself by the service he provided. For the last 3 decades, he has worked with some of the world’s most recognizable brands, improving the experience to transform the business. Jason is a best-selling author and is considered a global guru on customer experience and a leading authority on experience management. www.jasonsbradshaw.com

LAWRENCE CUMMER

LISA GORDON

WHAT’S COOL? 10+ COOL TOOLS FOR 2022

A contractor’s skill and expertise are paramount

TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

As busy leaders and business owners, you are faced with a seemingly endless list of things to do to keep your business operating and an ever-increasing list of ideas on how to improve your business

PAINTING A BRIGHT FUTURE

As they recover from lingering pandemic-related effects, paint manufacturers are turning their sights to innovation and product development

FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER & EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE TO TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS

WHAT’S COOL? 10+ COOL TOOLS FOR 2022

Written by Lawrence Cummer

Photos courtesy of King Canada Inc.

A contractor’s skill and expertise are paramount. But having the right tool for the job may come a close second.

That’s why smart manufacturers keep their finger on the pulse of the industry, always looking for improvements — both large and subtle — they can bring to their product portfolio to fill up the contractor’s tool case and belt with time-saving, effort-easing, and efficiency-generating gear.

CORDLESS IS KING

King Canada Inc. vice-president Ted Fuller says his company has brought a few “winners” to the market this past year, including an electric Drywall Sander (KC-8379) that can be coupled with Powertool Triggered Wet Dry Vacuum (KC-8590TTV).

Designed for sanding drywall, ceilings, and walls, as well as cleaning floor residues, paint coatings, textured ceilings and, various adhesives. The combo’s dust capture is a highlight, especially in sensitive areas like office spaces. To reduce the effort of sanding high walls and ceilings, the drywall sander features a telescopic extension that extends reach from 45” to 65”. An LED light illuminates the work area for lowlight environments. It can be used on its own or connected to a vacuum, such as the 30L Powertool Triggered Wet Dry Vacuum, using the supplied dust hose.

Fuller is particularly excited about a new line of cordless tools and garden tools it started bringing to the Canadian market in Q4 from the German company Einhell.

“This presents a great opportunity

for dealers and consumers alike. The breadth of this brand alone, on one battery platform, will undoubtedly be a success,” he says.

“Cordless freedom is on trend and this lineup will fit right in. The core assortment like drills, drivers, reciprocating saws, circular saws, etc. will be complemented by some unique tools, such as oscillating multi-tool, SDS-Plus rotary hammer, buffers, blower, heat, gun and compact air compressor. These will be followed by a range of garden tools from trimmers to leaf blowers.”

VERSATILITY AND POWER — AND CLEAN WORKING SPACES

Milwaukee Tools has released several additions to its M18 line of cordless power tools, which now offers more than 250 tools. Three were especially popular in 2022, says Richard Peters,

Photos courtesy of Milwaukee Tools assistant product manager for core power tools at Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 6 Gallon Wet/ Dry Vacuum (0910-20) brings unmatched performance, durability, and versatility to job site cleanup, Peters says. Despite being cordless, the vacuum is designed to outperform corded peak 3.5 HP wet/dry vacuums, able to clean up most common job site debris like drywall dust, concrete dust, and wood/metal shavings more quickly.

“Addressing the current user frustrations in this space, this unit will feature the most durable wheels and hoses with reinforced casters and tread design,” Peters says.

The company also released its first-ever sander built using its M18 FUEL technology, the M18 Fuel 3x18-in. Belt Sander (2832-20). “This tool offers professional carpenters, remodelers, and general contractors, an unbeatable powerful and versatile cordless belt sander,” he says. M18

FUEL technology increases the power of the tool, generating 8 amps of corded power. The solution provides a max belt speed of 1,350 surface feet a minute and can be paired with a durable dust bag or universal hose adapter for more than 80 percent dust collection.

Finally, Peters points to his company’s M18 Fuel 4’ Concrete Pencil Vibrator, a completely cordless compact solution that commercial or residential concrete contractors can use in confined or restricted spaces to remove the air pockets that otherwise lead to structural failures. The tool generates up to a 1.8 peak HP, up to three times the power of comparable cordless pencil vibrators, he says.

“Milwaukee is committed to improving productivity by providing performance-driven and trade-focused cordless solutions enabling users to perform an entire day’s work on one battery system,” Peters adds.

MAKING THE CUT

This year, Makita released a Brushless Cordless 7-1/4” Metal Circular Saw (CS002GZ) to its 40V Max XGT battery system. Like many of the company’s tools, the cordless circular saw is engineered with Active Feedback-Sensing Technology (AFT) that electronically turns off the motor if the blade rotation meets a forced stop.

On a full charge with the company’s 4.0 Ah battery, the company says the saw will provide 160 cuts. It runs at 3500 rpm and can cut 2 5/8” deep in a single pass, handling all types of metal cuts (pipes, studs, channels, struts, conduit, angle, square tubing, sheet metal and more.) Makita’s XGT technology monitors and protects against overload, overdischarge, and overheating.

Chock-full of safety features, the saw features an electric brake to ensure it stops spinning when contractors stop cutting, and a two-stage lock-off trigger switch requires a button to be pressed on the handle before the trigger can be activated. It features a chip collector to gather metal dust before it becomes airborne.

Photos courtesy of Makita

DESIGN THAT HOLDS UP

The Heavy Duty Long Quick Support Rod (QSR) from Task Tools brings safety to the worksite with added stability from its adjustable rubber face and built-in safety lock. It features a rotating cushion grip for easy incremental adjustments from 6’9” to 13’3”, fast ratchet action and, importantly, has a load-bearing capacity of up to 228 lbs. when fully extended.

“The Quick Support Rod system has always been a highly versatile tough tool to have in your arsenal,” Tara Coen, Director of Product and Marketing Task Tools (a Division of Richelieu Hardware), tells contractors. She’s enthusiastic about the launch of the company’s Heavy Duty QSR for situations where contractors need extra support and the versatility it provides. “It’s available in medium and long lengths and works with most standard accessories too!”

Photos courtesy of Task Tools

DRILL POWER IN THE BAG

Matt Chaaban, sales manager at OMC Tools and Hardware says his company’s Lithium-Ion Brushless 2-piece Drill Kit (TCKLA2006A) is this year’s cool tool thanks to its combination of price and quality.

The kit includes two brushless drills — a hammer drill and an impact driver — with two batteries and a charger, a canvas bag, and accessories including screwdriver bits and nut setters. Both drills use 20V batteries and feature brushless motors, with the impact driver boasting a hex shank of 1/4”, an impact rate of 0-2000/0-3300 bpm, and a maximum torque of 1505 in-lb., and the impact drill featuring 22500/minute maximum impact, 531 in-lbs. of torque and chuck capacity of ½”.

CHARGING AHEAD WITH MODERN TECH

DEWALT this year released its new DEWALT USB-C charging System (DCB094K). A first of its kind, according to Steve Whidden, marketing manager for power tools at Stanley Black & Decker GCX Canada, the charger delivers 100W of output power to charge a variety of devices.

Whidden says the charger points to how the industry has evolved, calling it a “fantastic product with mass appeal.” Portable, the charging system uses the USB-C standard common in many laptops, mobile phones and other personal electronics, giving it bi-directional capabilities. Highly compatible, the solution charges all DEWALT 20V MAX* and FLEXVOLT batteries, other electronic devices up to 100W

Photo courtesy of OMC Tools and Hardware

Photo courtesy of DEWALT

FEATURE STORY // WHAT’S COOL? 10+ COOL TOOLS FOR 2022

and, through an adapter, mobile devices up to 12W including those with USB-A ports. It boasts a fast charge rate, capable of charging packs up to 5 Amps (faster than DEWALT’s DCB115 charger)

“It’s so versatile,” Whidden says. “We need to stay connected and having connectivity with your phones is key. But what we’re now seeing is a lot of people are turning their job sites into their mobile office.”

“You see a lot of contractors dropping their tailgate and working in the back of their truck, or they’re in their car and taking a meeting, and they need to be able to charge their laptop, which is really key.”

A COOL TOOL THAT MEASURES UP STANLEY has improved on one of the most common (and necessary) instruments in a contractor’s toolbelt: the measuring tape. Its new STANLEY Control-Lock tape measure builds on the classic tool by introducing a few unique innovations, notes Louise Young, product commercialization manager at Stanley Black & Decker.

“We’re really excited to bring a brand new innovation to market,” she says. “The new STANLEY Control-Lock tape measures are designed to bring the perfect balance of compact size and professional grade performance.”

That performance is seen in the details of the product; it boasts a long and strong reach, staying

Photo courtesy of STANLEY

Photo courtesy of DEWALT

Kohltech’s relentless pursuit of innovation and commitment to creating high-performance windows and entrance systems has established the company as a proud Canadian industry leader

From customer service to warranty coverage to quality and environmental sustainability, Kohltech’s passion is to make your house feel like a home.

Here’s to 40 years of outstanding in all that we do. kohltech.com

Photo courtesy of DEWALT

FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER & EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE TO TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS

Written by Jason S. Bradshaw

As busy leaders and business owners, you are faced with a seemingly endless list of things to do to keep your business operating and an everincreasing list of ideas on how to improve your business. However, you are encouraged to throw out the hundred-plus to-do items and ideas; instead, focus on the experience you deliver and start with these three fundamental steps.

The three fundamental steps are:

1 - Define the Promise;

2 - Measure the Gap(s); and

3 - Share the Stories

But before unpacking the steps to improving the experience to transform your business, let’s clarify a couple of important elements.

Firstly, the term experience, in this context means the customer experiences, the employee experiences, the experiences that you promise,

and ultimately, the ones you deliver. You may even make experience promises about your brand and products but for now, focus on Customer and Employee experiences. Also, as you will quickly understand, the singular experience, the transaction, is just as important as the plural, collective experiences.

Finally, before you get to the three crucial steps to focus on, let’s be clear the customer and employee experience, does not mean hugging your haters, nor does it mean surprising your customers/employees with champagne and caviar.

Each of these steps applies to customers and employees equally. If you don’t know where to start, start with your employees’ experiences. Investing in improving your employees’ experience will undoubtedly result in increased productivity and improved customer experiences.

STEP 1: DEFINE THE PROMISE

Ok, step 1 actually comes in 2 parts and starts with defining what you mean by the words customer/employee experience. Defining what you mean by the term(s) and ensuring every Team Member understands it, is crucial. Part 2 of step 1 is to define what you promise to deliver for your customers/employees.

Every day people check in to 2-star hotels, and fly low-cost airlines, while at the same time people are checking-in to 5-star hotels and fly first class. In both instances, there are companies that make a profit and those that don’t; the difference is clear. Some companies compete on price, and others, who win, win by delivering consistently

on the experience that their ideal customers are drawn to and are willing to pay for.

So don’t be afraid of defining your promise and sharing it broadly, there are customers who will choose your company, and your promise over your competitors if you deliver on your promise consistently.

But beyond prospects and customers being drawn to your promise, the superpower of defining your promise is that every Team Member will understand that above all else their priority is to deliver on the promise.

STEP 2 MEASURE THE GAP(S)

So you’ve defined what you promise to deliver to your customers; there may be multiple promises, and now is the time to measure the gap between the promise(s) and the reality. To get started, just measure the gap between one of your promises. Your main promise.

For example, if you promise to deliver your product within 24 hours, start measuring how often you actually deliver within 24 hours. If you 100% of the time delivery within the promise, then start measuring the gap of the next promise.

However, if you aren’t delivering on your main promise, then your mission is to focus on

closing the gap, every day being 1% closer to delivering on your promise.

If you are wondering where to start to measure, it is as simple as asking your customer/employee “Did we deliver on (insert your promise)?”. Then follow up by asking what was the impact of us delivering/not delivering as expected?

STEP 3 SHARE THE STORIES

Companies worldwide send out surveys, and you probably will too, as you measure the gap. But don’t be one of those companies that send out surveys and then keep all the data locked up.

The power of step 3, Share the Stories, is in sharing with your team and celebrating the impact of delivering on your promise. The celebration of delivering on your promise reinforces what great looks like and the behaviors required to achieve success.

However, it is also important to share, just as broadly, the stories and the impact on customers when you fail to deliver on your promise. This

not only reinforces the value of delivering on the promise, it provides a clear coaching point. An opportunity to identify, and fix, what processes, systems, or tasks create the break in delivering on your promise.

By following these three steps you will build a business that has loyal raving fans, a business that continues to evolve, stays relevant and grows. —

PAINTING A BRIGHT FUTURE

As they recover from lingering pandemic-related effects, paint manufacturers are turning their sights to innovation and product development

Written by Lisa Gordon

Photo courtesy of Para Paints

With Covid-19 receding in the rearview mirror, the paint and coatings industry is refocusing on the bright future that lies ahead in 2023. As the world reinvents itself post-pandemic, there is certainly a role for colour to play – after all, there are few changes you can make as easily as applying a fresh coat of paint to your space!

While the industry does continue to face some supply chain and raw material production challenges, there is hope these will soon resolve. Meanwhile, Contractor Advantage connected with several paint and coatings manufacturers to discuss coming trends and exciting products designed to colour your world in 2023.

PARA PAINTS

Para Paint’s Ashley Banbury, Senior Colour Designer, and Matt Hedberg, Product Manager, were happy to fill us in on the colour and product trends they see continuing into 2023.

“From an interior paint perspective, durability, coverage and finished appearance continue to rank as the most important attributes in the minds of our consumers,” said Hedberg. “As it relates to durability, the coating needs

to resist common household stains while also maintaining its sheen, colour and overall appearance even after frequent washing and scrubbing.”

He said Para’s coatings have been specially engineered to maintain their beautiful look for a long time.

When it comes to exterior paint, Hedberg added that durability is by far the most important criteria when consumers select a product.

“The exterior of the home is faced with constant exposure and the coating must be able to handle changing climates,” he said. “We take this to heart when formulating our Para products to ensure we are providing our customers with a quality coating that strongly adheres to the substrate and resists cracking, peeling and colour degradation from UV exposure.”

In terms of colour trends, Banbury provided four examples of popular colours that are trending.

First is Whiteshade, a warm white that embodies comfort and simplicity, giving people space to unwind and create their own personal sanctuary.

Second is Pecan, a neutral shade with a warm undertone that brings a comfortable, cozy element into the home.

Next is White Out, a warm off-white that perfectly complements the current shift towards warm neutrals.

And, finally, the list is rounded out with Ravenwood. Banbury said dark shades have a newfound presence in today’s homes, creating comforting yet upscale spaces and fostering a sense of self-care.

While new formula development was put on hold thanks to Covid-19, Hedberg indicated that, as production begins to move again, “We are exploring new avenues and technologies that allow us to differentiate ourselves from the competition.”

Moving forward, Hedberg and Banbury said that Para remains committed to delivering the quality products and colours that the consumer wants.

“We continue to prioritize consumer listening as a key strategy to capture the voice of the customer,” said Hedberg. “Consumer preferences are constantly evolving, and we must adapt and be agile to meet their needs.”

Photos courtesy of Para Paints

Photo courtesy of Cloverdale Paint

Trevor Maximuk is located in Saskatoon and is the Director of Sales and Corporate Dealer Development for Cloverdale Paint. Established in 1933, the Canadian company has grown into the largest family-owned paint company in North America. In fact, Cloverdale will be celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2023.

During our discussion, Maximuk mentioned the supply chain challenges caused by severe weather in Texas last winter, where most of the resins used by paint companies are manufactured. With Cloverdale being Canadian-owned and -operated, and committed to the Canadian market, it has not been affected to the same degree as some of the multi-national manufacturers.

Maximuk highlighted some recent trends, noting that low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints are dominating the market. Ease of application and durability are still at the forefront of customer expectations. For interiors, low sheens are in demand; for exterior paint, highperformance, moisture-resistant paints have trended throughout 2022.

The demand for light neutral tones that are warmer has increased this year, pushing out the previous trend of cool greys.

While the resin shortages put a temporary damper on research and development over the past year, Cloverdale has remained focused on improving existing paint lines, particularly for more efficient application and touch-up properties, thus improving profitability on a job site.

Photos courtesy of Cloverdale Paint

CLOVERDALE PAINT

Photo courtesy of MF Paints

MF PAINTS

Innovation was temporarily paused at MF Paints in Laval, Que., too.

“Just as the pandemic hit, we were preparing to launch a new product,” said Benoît Desnoyers, the company’s Marketing Director.

“We’re very excited to now be launching before the end of 2022. We have a new product called SCUFGARD, which is a highly resistant, latexbased paint. Latex paints are usually less resistant to scuffing and marking, but this formula is very effective. It would be suitable, for example, in high traffic areas of your home, in schools and even in a hospital.”

The new product is very low in VOCs, in some cases achieving zero percent VOCs, which is good news from an environmental perspective.

When launched, the paint will be available in 1,320 colours, although Desnoyers was quick to point out that dealers can match any colour from any other paint company, covering up to 80,000 different options.

He agreed that supply chain issues have caused havoc with research and development, but added that MF Paints – a 100 percent Canadian company – is constantly working to reduce VOCs in all its products, while maintaining high quality.

Photos courtesy of MF Paints

Photo courtesy of Laurentide Paint

LAURENTIDE PAINT

Inflation is on everyone’s mind, and Laurentide Paint’s Félix Buisson, Vice President of Sales in Shawinigan, Que., said it is top-of-mind with the company as well.

“We are currently seeing increased demand for better price-to-quality ratio products,” he said. “With inflation and tightening of household spending, customers want to get more for their buck. A product like Boomerang, with an aggressive price point and superior quality compared to products at the same price point, is a great choice. Environmental product interest has also been on the rise.”

Laurentide’s Boomerang paint is made using at least 50 percent recycled post-consumer paint and is widely available.

“A recent study demonstrated that the manufacturing of a gallon of Boomerang recycled paint generates four times less CO2 emissions than even the most eco-friendly virgin paint,” said Buisson.

He reported that Laurentide has a couple of new product options, one that is currently available and one coming out soon.

First, the company is releasing a new flat ceiling paint that will complement its existing line.

Additionally, Buisson said the roll-out of Laurentide’s One Base (Infinite Base) system in virgin paint is going well.

“We truly think that the future of our industry will be with this type of system, which allows stores to tint all of the colours in their colour system with only one base.”

Photos courtesy of Laurentide Paint

Photo courtesy of PPG

PPG

Martin Fuchs, PPG senior marketing manager, SICO paint brand, confirmed that current paint trends are leaning heavily toward more neutral colours. PPG’s current best-sellers include Pale Birch, Tower of London and Vanilla Sugar, amongst other, all leaning into the neutral palette.

“People are looking for a mental reset after years of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Fuchs. “The SICO paint brand by PPG has selected Melt Water, a grounded, refreshing teal that combines the healing powers of water and nature with balance and tranquility, as its 2023 Colour of the Year. Melt Water is symbolic of a fresh outlook we’re all hoping to adopt as we cautiously emerge from the pandemic. The colour works well in any space so you can use it to bring a calming mood to both interiors and exteriors.”

Fuchs suggested Ancient Lava, Boreal Forest, Brown Tobacco, and Faux Leather as excellent options to pair with Melt Water in 2023.

PPG is also excited to be launching new low VOC colourant systems (Formula Pro) in 2023.

In addition, they have three new Super Premium paint lines coming: Clean Surface, providing unmatched washability; Prestige, one coat hide and colour protect technology; and SICO 360, for excellent durability.

When examining the future of the paint industry, Fuchs said, “We anticipate that consumers will continue to expect more from paint than just the aesthetics. While great colour selection and paint performance will always be important, consumer interest in paint is shifting from solely decorative purposes to a desire for multi-functionality, sustainability, and cost-efficiency while not sacrificing quality.”

DEVELOPING TRENDS

There’s a lot happening in the paint world after recent years marked by the challenges of a global pandemic.

Innovation is trending, from improvements in environmental processes to the introduction of new palettes. Colour matching and new mixing processes guarantee that consumers will soon have colourful new options coming their way. —

Photos courtesy of PPG