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Published on Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Photos by Kate Jackman-Atkinson. On June 15, the ribbon was cut, officially opening the new Neepawa Home Hardware.

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Last July, the Gerrard family began converting their Tru Hardware/Castle Building Centre store to a Home Hardware Building Centre. With the conversion now complete, dealer-owners Michelle and Darryl Gerrard invited the business community to a sneak peek at the store, as they hosted a Neepawa Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 event. The evening’s festivities included a ribbon cutting as well as speeches from local dignitaries and Home Hardware representatives, who welcomed them to the 1,067 store family. The following day, shoppers from near and far descended on the store to take in their three day, grand opening sale. 

Left: Members of the Neepawa and area business community had a chance to visit and see some of the sale displays, ready for the start of the three day, grand opening sale. Right: Guests were treated to cupcakes, arranged to form the Home Hardware logo.

Left: The store’s three day, grand opening sale featured sales on a variety of products, including paints.  In addition to sale prices, experts from Home Hardware, including regional paint consultant Norm Demeulenaere, were also on hand to talk to customers. Right: Neepawa‘s mayor, Adrian de Groot, spoke on behalf of Neepawa council.  He explained the opening of the store, “speaks to the quality of the community,” adding that a town’s business community is a vital part of what makes the town not just a town, but a regional centre. He praised Home Hardware’s national reach, while also offering products tailored to the local market. “It’s an important anchor within our community,” he said. 

Left: Scott Dyke, president of the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce, congratulated Darryl (third from right), Emma (second from right) and Michelle (right) Gerrard on their community involvement and “massive transformation” of the store.  “These are exciting times and we’re happy to see vibrancy,” he said. Right: Dealer-owner Michelle Gerrard (centre) received some hugs and congratulations from friends, family and staff after the ribbon cutting. In her remarks, Gerrard praised the store’s 12 full time and three part-time staff, saying, “Their hard work lets us do this.  It’s been a crazy year and they’ve done amazing work. They deserve way more credit than we do.” Gerrard continued, “We’re over the moon with the support we’ve seen from the community and being part of the Home Hardware family. How we feel, we couldn’t be happier.”