A Lowes superstore in Pickering took home one of the major trophies up for grabs at Tuesday night’s hardware and home improvement awards gala, held at the Queen’s Landing Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Lowe’s Pickering won for Best Large Surface Retailer, an award sponsored by the National Hardware Show that recognized the best big box home improvement store in the country.
Angelo Tzogas is the store manager.
Another big box retailer was among the other big winners at the 30th Outstanding Retailer Awards Gala Dinner, with Rona from Fort Erie accepting the Marc Robichaud Community Leader Award, presented to the hardware retailer who is deemed most involved in the local community. The Fort Erie Rona often fundraises for charities such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Meals on Wheel and the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
The awards gala capped the first day of the 26th Hardlines Conference, which featured addresses from speakers including Alison Fletcher, award-winning founder of the Cookery group of stores; Sexton Group VP and GM Eric Palmer; and economist Peter Norman, whose insights are a perennial staple of the Hardlines Conference.
Other winners included Quincaillerie Jen Denis (Home Hardware) for Best Hardware Store; Grunthal (Man.) Lumber (Castle) for Best Building Supply or Home Centre Under 15,000 sq. ft; Grande Prairie Home Hardware Building Centre for Best Building Supply or Home Centre Over 15,000 sq. ft; North American Hardware and Paint Association (Trois Rivieres) for Best Contractor Specialist; Gander Bay Building Supplies (Castle) for Retail Spirit Award; and BMR Paulin Moisan (St-Raymond) for Best Young Retailer.
