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NHPA Partners With WRLA to Expand Services to Canadian Retailers

The North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the Western Retail Lumber Association (WRLA) to act as the association’s licensed provider of educational and training materials throughout Canada. 

Under this new agreement, WRLA will be able to offer a complete portfolio of NHPA’s education and training materials to Canadian retailers and will service retailers utilizing these valuable tools.

“NHPA has been serving retailers in Canada since 2006, and we are pleased to now work with a well-respected organization like WRLA to provide ongoing access and service to the Canadian retailers utilizing our programs,” says Dan Tratensek, NHPA’s chief operations officer.

Over the past 18 years, thousands of retail employees have been put through NHPA education and training courses, ranging from basic training for individuals new to home improvement retailing to modules and classes designed to meet the needs of retail managers and owners.

“As WRLA continues to evolve, we see this new relationship as a major step toward augmenting our already strong stable of education and training products,” says Liz Kovach, WRLA president. “With this expanded offering we hope to help our members compete and grow even more effectively.”

This new arrangement will ensure that Canadian retailers interested in utilizing any NHPA training programs will have both an ally and a resource keenly in tune with the unique needs of their markets.

“After working with the team at WRLA, it is clear that they are not only committed to supporting the Canadian home improvement industry, but they can bring the unique knowledge and insights needed to grow and develop existing and future programs to meet the needs of the changing Canadian market,” Tratensek says. “We are more than pleased to have WRLA as a strong partner moving forward.”

All NHPA programs available to retailers in Canada can be now be accessed through WRLA, and WRLA will also service all Canadian retailers and industry partners currently utilizing NHPA programs and services.

“It is our intention to make access to any programs and services easier for Canadian retailers and allow them to work with a Canadian-based partner for all their education and training needs,” Kovach says. “Being able to broaden our assortment of offerings is a meaningful step in our mission to attract, connect, educate and advocate for building supply retailers.”

About Lindsey Thompson

Lindsey joined the NHPA staff in 2021 as an associate editor and has served as senior editor and now managing editor. A native of Ohio, Lindsey earned a B.S. in journalism and minors in business and sociology from Ohio University. She loves spending time with her husband, two kids, two cats and one dog, as well as doing DIY projects around the house, coaching basketball, going to concerts, boating and cheering on the Cleveland Guardians.

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