Friday, July 10, 2015 • Vol.26 No.37 • Neepawa, Manitoba #1 in Customer Satisfaction 6 Year Workmanship Warranty
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Home Hardware reopens in Neepawa Neepawa Tru Hardware now a Home Hardware Building Centre
By Kate Jackman-Atkinson The Neepawa Banner What’s in a name? For Michelle and Darryl Gerrard, who currently own and operate Neepawa Tru Hardware, a lot. This week, they became Home Hardware dealerowners and have begun the process of converting their store from a Tru Hardware/Castle Building Centre to a Home Hardware Building Centre. Neepawa’s previous Home Hardware store was destroyed by a fire in February of this year. For the Gerrards, the move gives them access to a wider range of products, better brand recognition and better ways to help their customers. With more national advertising and sponsorship, Michelle explains, “Home Hardware is a much more recognized brand.” One of the bigger changes will be the availability of online shopping, something that their previous buying group, TruServ, doesn’t offer. “I’m very excited about the possibilities,” said Michelle.
PHOTO BY KATE JACKMAN-ATKINSON
The process of re-tagging the store’s merchandise with Home Hardware tags has already begun. Inside the store, the changes have already begun. Over the weekend, staff began the long process of retagging merchandise with Home Hardware price tags. For the Gerrards the change allows them to work under one cohesive banner, instead of two. Previously, they sold hardware under the Tru Hardware banner, while building supplies were sold under the Castle name. “I’m so excited, it brings both sides [the hardware and building supplies] together under one cohesive name… It’s one marketing plan, one website, one name,” said Michelle. She added that anyone passing the store knows exactly who they are and what they sell. The return of Home Hardware to Neepawa means the return of the chain’s popular brands, including BeautiTone paints, KitchenAid, Dyson as well as their in-house
PHOTO BY KATE JACKMAN-ATKINSON
Darryl and Michelle Gerrard with the mock-up showing how their store will look with its new Home Hardware signage. brands. While new products will be added, the change won’t result in the loss of any products, beyond a brand change. “If something changes, it will be swapped for something better,” said Michelle. The change also won’t mean the loss of popular existing lines carried by the store. They will be keeping their Rogers mobile kiosk, their outdoor and work clothing as well as Benjamin Moore paints. “Benjamin Moore has a good following in town,” she explained.
In addition to the downtown Neepawa location, the Gerrards also own a 1,500 square foot warehouse and 2.3 acre yard on Highway 5 north. Michelle explains that this will continue to be used for storage, “We’re so limited, [downtown] we can’t store all we need.” They plan to move towards setting it up as a satellite yard, but have no plans to close the downtown location in the foreseeable future. Continued on page 7