Discovery Co-op Home Centre of North Battleford received the award for Best Building Supply / Home Centre over 15,000 square feet, at the 2017 Outstanding Retailer Awards at Niagara Falls on Nov. 15.
Under the direction of General Manager Mike Nord and Division Manager Wes Poffenroth, Discovery Co-op has established itself as a strong, locally owned and operated organization that values service excellence, teamwork, and community leadership.
Launched in 1992 the Outstanding Retailer Awards are presented by Hardlines, a newsletter and magazine focused on Home Improvement Retailing in Canada. The award celebrates achievements in customer service, store appearance, merchandising, marketing, employee engagement, community involvement, and sales growth.
The Home Centre had been in its current location since 1972 and needed a facelift. So in 2016 underwent extensive renovations, adding a cold storage building and custom cut shop, while the existing warehouse was converted into retail space. Square footage was almost doubled, allowing Wes’ team to improve product selection and displays.
As part of the renovation, the team made a commitment to sustainability, with LED lighting now installed throughout the entire facility. Expanded store services now include a custom kitchen design consultant, home and cottage design service, power tool rentals, and rooftop picker for delivering shingles.
Giving back is an important part of Discovery Co-op’s culture, with two per cent of profits being returned to the community. Employees volunteer at Christmas to serve turkey dinners to thousands of kids at local schools, and participate in the Heart and Stroke Big Bike fundraiser. Over 100 gallons of paint was donated in the community through the Communities in Full Colour Program.
