Hardlines Mediakit 2026

2026

MEDIA KIT

1 ABOUT HARDLINES

Canada’s Voice for the Home Improvement Industry

TABLE OF CONTENTS About Hardlines 3 Contact Information 4 Reach & Circulation 5 Print Publications 6 Digital Advertising 9 Conference & Events

15

Sponsorship Opportunities

16

Premium Membership

17

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT HARDLINES WHO WE ARE For over 30 years, Hardlines has been the trusted source for news, data, and connections in Canada’s hardware and building supply industry. We reach the decision-makers who matter: independent dealers, national retailers, buying groups, and suppliers. Hardlines connects your brand to the people shaping this market, at the places they are the most.

From our early days as a weekly newsletter to today’s multi-platform presence, our mission hasn’t changed: connect the industry and deliver results for our partners.

11,000+

HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAILERS AND MANAGERS

EVERY MAJOR BUYING GROUP AND CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE

THE PRO DEALER AND CONTRACTOR SUPPLY MARKET

3 ABOUT HARDLINES

92% of our readers would recommend our products to a friend or colleague.

Source: Hardlines survey

OUR AUDIENCES Our readers are decision-makers; retail owners, senior executives, and managers who control buying decisions for thousands of locations nationwide. Hardlines puts your message in front of the people who matter.

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH HOW WE CONNECT YOU Your customers also consume media across multiple touch points. We offer a unique mix of platforms to put your message in front of the right people.

PRINT

Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly (HHIQ) and Pro Dealer, the two most respected publications in the industry.

DIGITAL

Hardlines.ca, Canada’s leading industry news service, plus targeted monthly and weekly newsletters with open rates up to 51.8%.

EVENTS

The Hardlines Conference and the Outstanding Retailer Awards (ORAs)—Canada’s only national gathering of top executives, suppliers, and dealers.

No one else offers this level of reach and engagement in the Canadian hardware and building supply sector.

4 CONTACT INFORMATION

YOUR HARDLINES TEAM David Chestnut

VP & Publisher 416-725-7992 david@hardlines.ca

Shannon MacLeod

Account Manager 905-691-2492 shannon@hardlines.ca

CONTENT Michael McLarney, President mike@hardlines.ca

MARKETING, EVENTS, AND CLIENT SERVICES Michelle Porter, Senior Marketing & Events Manager michelle@hardlines.ca

Steve Payne, Editor-in-Chief steve@hardlines.ca

Jill MacLeod, Client Services Manager jillian@hardlines.ca

Rebecca Dumais, Editor rebecca@hardlines.ca

Shawn Samson, Design & Production shawn@twocreative.ca

Sarah McGoldrick, Digital Editor sarah@hardlines.ca

ACCOUNTING acounting@hardlines.ca

QUEBEC OFFICE Geoff McLarney, Features Editor geoff@hardlines.ca

Hardlines Inc. 2060 Lakeshore Road, Suite 702 Burlington, ON L7R 0G2 905.330.3061 | hardlines.ca

10,506

QUALIFIED CIRCULATION

REACH AND CIRCULATION

Our audience spans every province, every buying group, and every major retail banner.

PRINT REACH HARDLINES HOME IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY (HHIQ) 10,506 QUALIFIED CIRCULATION This publication is an industry trade publication carefully designed to meet the needs of the modern home improvement decision maker.

6,321

QUALIFIED CIRCULATION

Pro Dealer Magazine 6,321 QUALIFIED CIRCULATION This publication is focused on LBM dealers and the pro contractor market and delivered to the businesses driving Canada’s building boom.

Our readers are: • Corporate head office decision-makers • National buying groups • Independent hardware and building supply dealers

DIGITAL REACH Hardlines.ca • •

180,000+ Monthly Ad Views High engagement from retail executives and industry suppliers

E-Newsletters • •

Hardlines Weekly Report: 51.8% open rate Dealer News & HR Advisor: 30%+ open rates (Industry average: 15% monthly)

Audit statements are available upon request.

REACH AND CIRCULATION

HARDLINES HOME IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY (HHIQ)

The go-to publication for Canada’s home improvement retailers, packed with insights on trends, strategies, and success stories.

OUTDOOR LIVING SUPPLEMENT (HHIQ Q3 INSERT) Hardlines will publish its fifth annual edition of the Outdoor Living supplement in 2026. This essential resource captures one of the industry’s fastest-growing categories. Each page is extensively dedicated to showing products for backyards, and includes everything from patio furniture, outdoor structures, and decks and railings to barbecues, grills and hardscaping. A standalone magazine supplement that is part of Hardlines’ Category Captains series, Outdoor Living 2026 will once again feature three dealer-owners who have specialized in the department, upcoming category trends, and a compendium of available products.

Publishes with the Q3 2026 edition of HHIQ Magazine.

Deadlines Space: May 15 Material: June 12

PRINT PUBLICATIONS

Pricing Full Page: $4,995 Half Page: $2,895

PRINT PUBLICATIONS HHIQ 2026 EDITORIAL SCHEDULE QUARTER

COVER STORY

FEATURES

PRODUCT FOCUS

SPACE CLOSE

MATERIAL CLOSE

MAIL DATE

Q1

Young Retailer of the Year

Hardlines Conference Report, Compensation

Kitchen & Bath

Nov 28, 2025

Dec 12, 2025

Jan 8, 2026

Q2

Hardlines 30th Anniversary

AI, Retail Psychology

Housewares

Feb 19, 2026

Mar 12, 2026

Apr 10, 2026

Q3

Top 20 Report

ERP Systems, Credit Management

Adhesives & Sealants

May 22, 2026

Jun 10, 2026

Jul 10, 2026

Q4

ORA Winners

Meet the Buyers, GSDs

Decks & Railings

Aug 28, 2026

Sept 16, 2026

Oct 9, 2026

HHIQ AD RATES AD SIZE

1x

2x

3x

4x

Double Page Spread

$14,210

$13,785

$13,260

$12,725

Full Page

$8,090

$7,535

$6,895

$6,360

Half Page

$5,570

$5,195

$4,770

$4,375

Third Page

$4,360

$4,135

$3,715

$3,315

Quarter Page

$3,075

$2,845

$2,365

$2,230

Premium positions: • Outside back cover add 20% • Inside front cover add 15% • Inside back cover add 10% • Insert/outsert rates available upon request

PRO DEALER 2026 EDITORIAL SCHEDULE

PRO DEALER

The only Canadian magazine focused exclusively on the pro contractor market and building supply dealers.

QUARTER

COVER STORY

Q1

Pro Dealer of the Year

Q2

FEATURES

PRODUCT FOCUS

SPACE CLOSE

MATERIAL CLOSE

MAIL DATE

Competitive Analysis, Taxation

Power Tools

Jan 9, 2026

Jan 21, 2026

Feb 18, 2026

Pro Yard Equipment Guide

Loss Prevention, ERP Systems

Specialty Fasteners

Apr 3, 2026

Apr 22, 2026

May 15, 2026

Q3

Disaster Restoration

Compensation, Sales to Pros

Gypsum Board

Jul 9, 2026

Jul 22, 2026

Aug 21, 2026

Q4

Equipment Rental Programs

Selling to Jobsites

Insulation

Oct 9, 2026

Oct 21, 2026

Nov 13, 2026

PRO DEALER AD RATES AD SIZE

1x

2x

3x

4x

Double Page Spread

$9,265

$8,435

$8,195

$7,820

Full Page

$6,380

$5,755

$5,495

$5,350

Half Page

$4,320

$3,700

$3,495

$3,195

Premium positions: • Outside back cover add 20% • Inside front cover add 15% • Inside back cover add 10% • Insert/outsert rates available upon request

PRINT PUBLICATIONS

PRINT AD SPECIFICATIONS PRINT AD SPECIFICATIONS

Double Page Spread

Full Page

Half Page Horizontal

Quarter Page Square

Trim Size: 18” x 10.875” With Bleed: 18.25” x 11.125” Type Safety: 17.5 x 10.375”

Trim Size: 9” x 10.875” With Bleed: 9.25 x 11.125” Type Safety: 8.5” x 10.375” Non-Bleed Size: 8.5” x 10.375”

Half Page Vertical

Trim Size: 4.375” x 10.875” With Bleed: 4.625” x 11.125” Type Safety: 3.875” x 10.375” Non-Bleed Size: 3.875” x 10.375”

Material Specifications

Ads must be supplied as a press-ready PDF file with embedded fonts and graphics (PDF/X-1a:2001 preferred). Images should have a resolution of 300 ppi. Do not use spot colours or RGB art. Keep all colours CMYK.

Submission Requirements Ads can be emailed to

shannon@hardlines.ca

Non-Bleed Size: 8” x 4.75”

Third Page Vertical

Non-Bleed Size: 2.375” x 10.375”

Non-Bleed size: 3.75” x 4.75”

Half Page Island Non-Bleed size: 5” x 7.75”

Third Page Horizontal Non-Bleed size: 8” x 375”

Quarter Page Horizontal Non-Bleed size: 8” x 2.5”

For the above bleed ads, please ensure 0.125” bleed is added to all sides and important type or logos are kept 0.25” away from trim edges.

PRINT AD SPECIFICATIONS

DIGITAL ADVERTISING OVERVIEW

WEBSITE BANNERS

WEB-L-1

WEB-L-2

WEB SS-1

HARDLINES.CA Hardlines.ca is the industry’s digital hub, averaging over 225,000 monthly ad views in three key positions. Our newsletters drive unmatched engagement, with open rates up to 51.8%.

WEB-L-LG

WEB SS-2

WEBSITE BANNER RATES WEB SS-3

WEB SS-4

WEB SS-5

LOCATION

SKU

SIZE

3 MONTHS

6 MONTHS

12 MONTHS

Leaderboard-1

WEB-L-1

728 x 100

$13,820

$22,095

$38,070

Leaderboard-2

WEB-L-2

728 x 100

$13,820

$22,095

$38,070

Leaderboard-LG

WEB-L-LG

1372 x 100

$13,820

$22,095

$38,070

Skyscraper-1

WEB-SS-1

240 x 500

$7,995

$12,995

$19,995

Skyscraper-2

WEB-SS-2

240 X 500

$7,195

$11,695

$17,995

Skyscraper-3

WEB-SS-3

240 X 500

$6,475

$10,525

$16,195

Skyscraper-4

WEB-SS-4

240 X 500

$5,830

$9,475

$14,575

Skyscraper-5

WEB-SS-5

240 X 500

$5,250

$8,530

$13,120

Each digital ad links to the website of your choice. Web banners appear in eight second intervals and rotate top to bottom randomly. GIF images must be under eight seconds. Artwork must be provided at least five days before go live date. Third-party code embedding is available at no extra charge.

DIGITAL ADVERTISING

HARDLINES WEEKLY REPORT (E-NEWSLETTER) This is the only weekly Canadian source for industry intelligence and a keystone product in our digital marketing mix. Distributed every Monday morning, and packed with the latest news, trends analysis, interviews with industry leaders and statistics on housing and retail, our subscribers can start the week fully informed.

HWR-A

HWR-S1

HWR-S2

HWR-B1

DIGITAL ADVERTISING

POSITION

SKU

SIZE (PX)

3 MONTHS

6 MONTHS

12 MONTHS

Leaderboard

HWR-L

690 x 100

$10,655

$15,390

$23,685

Large Banner 1

HWR-B1

450 x 100

$7,100

$10,655

$15,390

Large Banner 2

HWR-B2

450 x 100

$4,740

$8,285

$11,840

Large Banner 3

HWR-B3

450 x 100

$3,555

$6,275

$9,470

Small Banner 1

HWR-S1

200 X 75

$2,960

$5,915

$8,285

Small Banner 2

HWR-S2

200 X 75

$2,960

$5,915

$8,285

DEALER NEWS (MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER) Dealer News is targeted squarely at store owners and managers. A monthly send, it’s packed with news, tips, insights, and concrete ideas for dealers and store managers who want to run their businesses at maximum efficiency.

DN-S1

DN-B1

DN-S2

DN-B2

DN-S3

DIGITAL ADVERTISING

DN-B3

POSITION

SKU

SIZE (PX)

3 MONTHS

6 MONTHS

12 MONTHS

Large Banner 1

DN-B1

420 x 90

$6,630

$9,705

$16,105

Large Banner 2

DN-B2

420 x 90

$5,915

$8,640

$13,740

Large Banner 3

DN-B3

420 x 90

$4,730

$7,100

$10,655

Small Banner 1

DN-S1

200 x 75

$4,730

$7,100

$10,655

Small Banner 2

DN-S2

200 X 75

$3,075

$4,730

$7,100

Small Banner 3

DN-S3

200 x 75

$2,370

$3,905

$5,445

DAILY NEWS We offer our industry a daily roundup of the news impacting the home improvement industry, store openings, appointment announcements, and event coverage.

POSITION

SKU

SIZE (PX)

3 MONTHS

6 MONTHS

12 MONTHS

Large Banner

D-L1

590 x 100

$7,415

$12,355

$19,770

Medium Banner

D-M1

290 x 100

$4,945

$7,900

$12,355

D-L1

D-M1

PRO DEALER BUSINESS

PDB-2

PDB-1

PDB-4

DIGITAL ADVERTISING

PRO Dealer Business is the digital companion to Hardlines PRO Dealer magazine, featuring strategies to boost profits, case studies of successful dealers, insights on economic trends, and the latest products and innovations for pro customers.

POSITION

SKU

SIZE (PX)

3 MONTHS

6 MONTHS

12 MONTHS

Large Banner 1

PDB-1

680 x 120

$5,195

$7,795

$12,995

Large Banner 2

PDB-2

680 x 120

$4,675

$7,015

$11,695

Large Banner 3

PDB-3

680 x 120

$4,205

$6,315

$10,525

Large Banner 4

PDB-4

680 x 120

$3,785

$5,680

$9,475

HR ADVISOR Hardlines HR Advisor is a monthly e-newsletter for the retail home improvement industry, keeping you informed on staffing issues, legal updates, and HR best practices. Each issue includes industry news, expert advice, and insights from HR professionals and agencies.

HRA-1

POSITION

SKU

SIZE (PX)

3 MONTHS

6 MONTHS

12 MONTHS

Large Banner 1

HRA-1

680 x 120

$4,295

$6,995

$9,995

Large Banner 2

HRA-2

680 x 120

$3,865

$6,295

$8,995

Large Banner 3

HRA-3

680 x 120

$3,480

$5,665

$8,095

Large Banner 4

HRA-4

680 x 120

$3,130

$5,100

$7,285

DIGITAL

Custom Send Requirements

HRA-2

HRA-3

HRA-4

4 Include a subject line for the email (preheader is optional).

4 Sender - Please provide the company name you would like to use for your custom send.

The format is Hardlines on behalf of Company Name.

4 Email must be provided as an HTML file.

4 Email layout must not be larger than 800px wide.

4 Images must be hosted and embedded in the HTML file upon submission.

4 HTML file and subject line must be submitted a week before scheduled email deployment date.

3RD PARTY E-MAILS

Hardlines Custom Sends/3rd Party Emails give you direct access to our entire subscriber base of industry decision-makers. With When creating your HTML, keep in mind: fully customizable content and branding, they’re a powerful way • Opens and link tracking are automatic.

• External style sheets are not supported. to showcase your products, promotions, and expertise inthey’ll be • Styles can be added to the code at the top of theright email and inlined when the email sends, or you can use inline styles. your target audience’s inbox.• automatically To get the best results in the most email clients, design your code for 1 SEND

4 SENDS

$2,195/send

$1,795/send

an email, not for a webpage.

• iFrames and form code are supported but are usually stripped out by the email client.

• Media queries aren’t supported.

• Non-standard HTML tags generated by proprietary software, like Microsoft Publisher or Frontpage, won’t display correctly in many browsers and email clients: - <v:shape> - <o:column> - <b: Xl> - ![endif] • JavaScript will most likely not display because most email clients disable it for security reasons.

• We discourage the use of image mapping (adding multiple links to a single image) for the following reasons: - Using image mapping breaks our link-tracking functionality, so any clicks on these links won’t show up in your Clicks report.

- Using image maps is an outdated practice, and many versions of Outlook and other email clients do not render them correctly.

- They aren’t mobile-responsive. Image mapping specifies the “clickable spot” in your email using exact coordinates, but the elements of your email can shift when an email is viewed on a mobile device in order for it to display properly. As a result, the coordinates you mapped the links to may not stay in the spot you intended.

8 SENDS

12 SENDS

$1,595/send

$1,095/send

hardlines.ca

DIGITAL ADVERTISING

Need help creating your custom send?

We can create an HTML file for you using your supplied photos, logos and text.

We can customize the HTML template to include your company’s branded colours.

Cost: $995

DIGITAL AD SPECS All banners link to the website of your choice. Web banners appear in eight second intervals and rotate top to bottom randomly. GIF images must be under eight seconds. Artwork must be provided at least five days before go live date. Third-party code embedding is available at no extra charge.

WEBSITE Leaderboard - 1 & 2

728 x 100

Leaderboard - LG

1372 x 100

Skyscraper - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

240 x 500

WEEKLY REPORT Leaderboard

690 x 100

Large Banner - 1, 2, 3

450 x 100

Small Banner - 1 & 2

200 X 75

DEALER NEWS Large Banner - 1, 2, 3

420 x 90

Small Banner - 1, 2, 3

200 x 75

DAILY NEWS Large Banner

590 x 100

Medium Banner

290 x 100

PRO DEALER BUSINESS Large Banner - 1, 2, 3, 4

680 x 120

HR ADVISOR Large Banner - 1, 2, 3, 4

DIGITAL AD SPECS

680 x 120

Access the people who matter most, in an environment designed for real conversations and meaningful connections.

CONFERENCE & EVENTS WHERE THE INDUSTRY COMES TOGETHER For nearly three decades, the Hardlines Conference has been the premier gathering for Canada’s hardware and building supply leaders. It’s the only national event where retailers, buying groups, suppliers, and industry experts connect to share insights and explore what’s next.

Two days of high-level presentations, expert panels, and invaluable networking opportunities. This is where strategic partnerships are formed and the industry’s future is shaped.

The Outstanding Retailer Awards (ORAs)

Celebrating the best in Canadian home improvement retail with categories spanning hardware stores, building centres, large-format retailers, and pro dealers.

15 CONFERENCE & EVENTS

2026 CONFERENCE DATE AND LOCATION Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario October 20 & 21, 2026 hardlinesconference.ca

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Position your brand front and centre at the most influential event in Canada’s home improvement sector. Sponsorship provides extended visibility before, during, and after the event. Reach out for a full list of sponsorship perks.

PACKAGE

16 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

PRICE

INCLUDES

ORA Sponsor

$15,995

• Present an ORA • Full-page ad in HHIQ • 2 tickets to conference & gala • 6 months online visibility

Meal or Coffee Sponsor

$9,995

• On-site signage • Verbal recognition • 2 tickets to conference & gala • Logo in program, supporting sponsorship assets

Supporting Sponsor

$5,995

• 1 ticket to conference & gala • 3 months online visibility

PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP YOUR EDGE STARTS HERE

Hardlines Premium Membership isn’t just a subscription it’s your competitive edge.

Members get insider access to the most trusted intelligence in Canada’s home improvement industry, along with exclusive benefits that pay for themselves.

What’s Included:

MAKE SURE YOUR TEAM HAS THE INSIGHTS AND ADVANTAGES THEY NEED TO STAY AHEAD. Sign up for Hardlines Premium Membership today and start saving on reports, events, and advertising opportunities while staying connected to the people and information that matter most.

Contact: jillian@hardlines.ca Or visit hardlines.ca to get started.

17 PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP

Hardlines Weekly Report Every Monday morning, get the latest news, trend analysis, and insights that help you make smarter decisions.

Classified Ads One free 250-word ad with logo per year (2-week run), plus 15% off additional listings.

Breaking News Alerts Be first to know about major developments in the industry delivered straight to your inbox.

Exclusive Discounts Save 20% on Hardlines Annual Reports and 20% on tickets to the Hardlines Conference and Outstanding Retailer Awards Gala.

HHIQ (Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly) One print issue per office, every quarter.

Additional copies at a discounted price.

MEMBERSHIP PRICING SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE

PRICE

1–3 people

$545

4–6 people

$725

7–10 people

$875

Total Annual Savings: up to $2,206.

Membership packages for up to 100 people available upon request.

Contact Jill for more information.

905-330-3061

hardlines.ca