Bigger doesn’t always mean better, but don’t tell that to the employees with the new and improved CTF/Brafasco industrial supply outlet in Sudbury.
These same staffers have just made the move from a 3,000-square-foot location at 1060 Lorne St., to an impressive 10,000-square-foot shop just up the road at 1010 Lorne.
Since Canadian Tool and Fastener (CTF) merged with Brafasco, a division of Home Depot Supply, about a year ago, the company has delivered on its commitment to become one of the country’s top industrial supply outlets, said Sudbury branch team leader David Schmut.
“When the merger with Brafasco and CTF was finished in February 2006, there were 15 CTF branches across Canada,” he said. “This hybrid merger of the two companies now means we have 45 CTF/Brafasco branches and there are plans to open several more.”
There are several retail companies that provide industrial goods and services to individuals, but CTF/Brafasco’s main clientele are professional contractors and large-scale industrial business, said Schmut.
“We’re going after the professionals who need industrial supplies and equipment you’re not going to find at traditional retail outlets,” he said. “A big part of our business is mining contractors.”
The new branch offers a wide variety of nuts, bolts, power tools, safety supplies, concrete anchors, heavy duty industrial ladders and other industrial supplies.
Moving from cramped quarters to a spacious new retail outlet is exciting for the company and employees, said Schmut.
“We’ve more than tripled our size and this has allowed us to offer so many more products and to display things much better,” he said. “The expansion also has us hiring a few more staff...we’ll be up to 12 full-time employees by the end of February.
“It’s just nice for all the employees to be part of a company that has such strong growth aspirations and a company that has put so much effort and money into expanding this shop.”
This is the first outlet to expand since the merger of CTF and Brafasco and the company plans on opening several more outlets in Ontario and expanding others, said Schmut.
The Sudbury branch was “doing big numbers” before the expansion and expects sales to increase dramatically at the new shop, he said.
“It’s just very exciting to be part of a dynamic organization whose goal is to create history in the industrial supply marketplace,” said Schmut.
The new branch is open Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm and Saturday, from 8 am until noon.
For more information on goods and services, go online at www.ctfsupply.com or contact the local branch by phoning 671-1279.
