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Publisher/Principal: Craig Cope craig@thehardwareconnection.com 804-690-0666

Editor/Founder/Principal: Chris Jensen chris@thehardwareconnection.com 317-514-8864

Marketing & Creative Director/Principal: Dan Akers dan@thehardwareconnection.com 317-797-6609

Founder/Principal: Tom Chasteen tom@thehardwareconnection.com 305-852-6126 Senior Business Advisor: John Hammond jhammond@thehardwareconnection.com National Account Manager: Dan Beck dbeck@thehardwareconnection.com 518-852-9624

Contributing Writers: Doug Donaldson, Gary Pittsford, John Fix III

By Chris Jensen

Where Fierce Independence Is on Display Every Day

Iused to love watching the TV show “Northern Exposure” in the 1990s.

Set in the ﬁctional town of Cicely, Alaska, the show featured a cast of eccentric characters in a remote but beautiful setting. I especially appreciated the hippy DJ Chris Stevens, who liked to recite Walt Whitman poems and share deep philosophical musings over the radio waves.

It has been speculated that the quirky and idyllic town of Cicely is based on the actual Alaskan town of Talkeetna. This month’s cover story features Doug Moore, the second-generation owner of Moores’ Hardware & Building Supply in Talkeetna.

When I asked Doug if “Northern Exposure” is really modeled after Talkeetna, he replied, “There are definitely some similarities.” From my own observation, I would point out the fierce independence demonstrated by all the locals, a real point of pride. And if you want quirky: go to the Moores’ Hardware Facebook page and find the picture of the employee lounging in the pink flamingo inflatable on a typical frigid March day, surrounded by ice chunks in the water. When the delivery truck showed up with the weekly shipment of hardware

or LBM products, it was often Doug behind the wheel. When you operate a home center in Alaska and need to get products to your store in somewhat of a timely fashion, it’s just easier to start your own trucking company, get a commercial driver’s license and haul the stuff yourself once it arrives by ship or barge. The can-do spirit and work ethic of the typical Alaskan would exhaust us spoiled mainlanders.

I grew up in a small town in upstate New York and attended a college close to the Canadian border. Back home we used to joke there were two seasons—winter and July 15. The folks in Talkeetna can almost say the same thing without joking. When 70 percent of your sales come during the ﬁvemonth busy season, it takes creative solutions and a dedicated staff, and the Moores’ Hardware team doesn’t let a little weather get in the way of serving their community.

Turn to page 34 and discover how “Tough Conditions Require Tough Retailers in America’s Last Frontier.”

I hope you ﬁnd ideas and inspiration from the Moores to help your business, even if you don’t have to worry about moose and grizzly bears. ■

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Add product training and support, exclusive brands, and efficient delivery from our warehouses, and it‘s easy to see how Do it Best can establish your business as the first, best and only choice for paint.

Discover how Do it Best can help you become your community’s paint shopping destination. Call us today at 888-DO-IT-BEST (888-364-8237) or visit doitbestonline.com.

By Craig Cope

Are You Ready for an Escape?

With ﬁve weeks left until the 34th edition of The Hardware Conference, we have encountered a “new normal” after the COVID-19 global pandemic—hotel room availability. The travel industry has experienced a huge resurgence after travel bans and lockdowns were lifted. Pent-up demand is driving hotel room rates to record levels in numerous markets.

The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resor t, home of The Hardware Conference, is one of those markets. Current market rates are exceeding $770 a night on the Marriott’s ofﬁcial reservation website and are almost sold out.

So, what is a hard-working hardware store owner who desperately needs a break to do? Join us for The Hardware Conference, scheduled for August 19-21, and enjoy a room rate of only $190/night + taxes. That is a savings of $600/night on a ﬁve-star beachfront resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico with amazing nightly sunsets. However, time is limited to book your Marco Island getaway with our room block closing on Sunday, July 31. You can register for the Conference and book your room by clicking here.

In addition to the amazing

accommodations and award-winning food, you also will interact with fellow store owners, top-notch manufacturer representatives and wholesaler executives from Do it Best Corp. and Orgill. The Hardware Conference is a mix of learning, networking and fun with a halfday activity on Saturday included with the registration fee of only $119/person. Half-day activities include a private beach experience, 18 holes of golf or an airboat ride in the Florida Everglades.

The Hardware Conference begins on Thursday, August 18 with a full day, hands-on, interactive Technology Forum hosted by Epicor. Topics covered include:

• eCommerce - knowing your options

• Pricing strategies - choices to price your inventory correctly

• Reconciling Inventory - resolving discrepancies between the G/L and physical inventory values

• Maintaining Pricing Data in EverChanging Market

• Private one-on-one sessions Friday begins with Do it Best and Orgill luncheons with executives

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from both wholesalers attending. Immediately following the wholesaler luncheons are two breakout sessions for dealers to choose from.

Spot Purchases of Bomb-making Items – Hosted by Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency

Approximately 250,000 businesses in the U.S. sell, use or distribute materials that can be used to build bombs—including hardware stores. According to the U.S. Bomb Data Center’s latest data, there were more than 12,000 explosive-related incidents and a more than 70 percent increase in domestic bombings in 2020. You can help by recognizing explosive chemicals in your product inventory and sorting them into risk categories based on the potential for illegal use. Join Michael Knight, bomb prevention specialist, (BMAP) to learn more about how to identify bomb-making materials and report suspicious activity to prevent acts of terror.

Driving Change: An In-Depth Look at How Consumer Trends Are Reshaping Retail Hardware – Hosted by Vericast

Vericast wanted to know what was up with consumers these days, so they asked them. Their survey reveals consumer expectations have shifted in signiﬁcant ways. The global pandemic, historic inﬂation and broken supply chains have altered their behavior, priorities and plans.

Henry Villa and Brian Glynn will share data on how consumer expectations have changed in today’s challenging economic environment. They will also deliver actionable insight for home improvement retailers looking to reach and inﬂuence potential customers along their path to purchase.

The Hardware Conference is ﬁlled with structured and casual activities that mix business with pleasure. Friday night is capped off with the Beacon Awards cocktail reception and dinner awards banquet. The Beacon Awards honor the “best of the best” retailers in the industry. Saturday and Sunday provide ample time to engage with key manufacturers and wholesalers while leaving time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Marco Island. Click here to view the full agenda.

Attire for the Conference is casual except for the Beacon Awards cocktail reception and banquet, which is “resort formal” with men wearing a jacket with no tie and ladies wearing dresses or similar attire.

Without a doubt, the Hardware Conference is one of the most unique and rewarding events in the industry. Ask yourself when was the last time you stepped away from your store to reﬂect and think of ways you might be able to improve your business and talk with other store owners throughout the country? When was the last time you took off to recharge your batteries? The Hardware Conference on Marco Island is one place where you can do both and you simply won’t ﬁnd a better deal! ■

PENETRATION

Ever since I’ve been in a managing position, locking up the store at night, I’ve had a recurring dream of not being able to lock the door because people kept wanting to come in. Other managers here have had that same recurring dream. I’m not really sure what it means. I love it when people come in and buy things, but maybe when I have that dream it just means that I had a long day and just want to go home.

Mike Frentz Frentz and Sons Hardware Royal Oak, Mich.

HARDWARE STORIES butAmazing TRUE

Customers are having a hard time understanding what’s going on with the supply chain. For example, some lines of our outdoor furniture are scheduling orders now for delivery in October. When you explain this to customers, they’ll look at you like ‘is that for real?’ So, as I’ve gotten older, I’m not as patient as I used to be. That’s why I stay in my ofﬁce more.

Jim Fisher Seashore Ace Hardware & Outdoor Living Stone Harbor, N.J.

There was a gentleman who came in the other day and said he needed the standard size bolt. We’ve got about 200 items that are standard size. It’s always a challenge to get people to narrow down what they’re looking for. People also come in asking for nuts and bolts that are ‘one size smaller.’

Randy

Cousineau

Pointe

Hardware & Lumber Detroit, Mich.

We have a regular customer who is a store icon. His name is Danny. He lives in a nearby nursing home and is mentally chal- lenged. Every Saturday, he walks in, selects a snack and a drink then proceeds to introduce everyone to everyone. At Christmas, store employees do something special for him. And during COVID, we made deliveries to his nursing home and checked in on him.

Vicki Braly Bralys Ace Hardware Palestine, Texas

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How’s

Business?

MIDWEST

Sales and customer counts in 2022? Sales are about ﬂat, but customer counts are down. People are buying a little bit more, but the actual sales numbers are up because of inﬂation.

What new products are selling well? Dyna Trap mosquito traps and LED ﬂashlights have done well. The ﬂashlights seem to be a better-quality product and put out high lumen in a small package.

New initiatives planned for 2022? Not any real new initiatives. But as we’re seeing inﬂation pop up, we’re concerned with the overall economy and are looking to lighten inventory. With COVID, we never knew when we were going to get products in, so we took any opportunity to stock up. But now, we’re looking to lighten inventory with the inﬂation.

Strongest niche categories? Plumbing is our number one category. We’re located in an older neighborhood, and we have a great depth of category for replacement plumbing parts such as for steam heat systems. We

Upper: Pointe Hardware & Lumber has been family owned since 1965.

Lower: Randy Cousineau of Pointe Hardware & Lumber.

also do a tremendous amount of custom cutting for lumber. We will cut the exact size for customers.

Biggest challenge facing your business? The number one challenge is employees, getting and retaining employees. To bring staff in, we’re continuously advertising through different channels including social media, newspapers and signs on the door. We have 12 employees now. Surprisingly, the sign on the door has been the most effective. People who are shopping at the store like the store, want to work here or refer a friend.

Randy Cousineau Pointe Hardware & Lumber Detroit, Mich.

How’s Business?

NORTHEAST

Sales and customer counts in 2022? Sales have been good, up a little over 3 percent; customer counts down some. Gross sales are up but the number of transactions is down about 5 percent. We’ve been talking about throttling back on payroll and hours, because we’ve seen sales level off a little faster than we thought in June.

What new products are selling well? We’ve done well with live goods, ﬂowers and vegetables. All our hanging baskets sold out. People seem to be focusing more on gardens and growing their own vegetables. People are doing more homesteading and putting in backyard gardens. YETI® coolers and drinkware continue to sell well. We’re also renting more larger equipment like excavators.

New initiatives planned for 2022? We’re expanding our line of indoor growing products, especially after the state made marijuana legal. We’re also looking to update our larger rental equipment such as excavators, bobcats and chippers.

Strongest niche categories? Rental does really well. We have 2,000 square feet inside the store and our bigger equipment outside the store. We do a lot with bagged goods like chicken feed, bird feed and grain. There’s not a lot of margin in bagged

goods, but it brings customers in. Biggest challenge facing your business? Keeping up with pricing. It’s time consuming to update pricing in the store and customers are more sensitive to price changes. Each month we’ve seen prices and fuel surcharges change rapidly. We pass that on to customers. Making those changes is very labor intensive.

Rod and Jill Pooler Gray True Value Gray, Maine

Upper: Rod and Jill Pooler have developed a niche in YETI products at Gray True Value.

Lower: The Poolers have owned Gray True Value since 2003.

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How’s Business?

SOUTH

Sales and customer counts in 2022? Some months have been up, others down. Overall for the year, we’ve seen a little decline in both sales and customer counts.

What new products are selling well? Traeger products have taken off. The Traeger Timberline XL has been selling well. Blackstone grills, the higher-end grills, have been strong sellers, too. Weber grills are strong as are Big Green Egg. Outdoor pizza ovens have sold well and that’s been a little bit of a surprise.

New initiatives planned for 2022? We look to continue participating with Ace Rewards. We started that and it has paid off so far. We’re planning to do grill demos once a month and have a big grilling event the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Strongest niche categories? We are a grilling destination. We have about 2,000 square feet dedicated to grills in the store. We deliver grills up to 60 miles away. Customers drive an hour-plus to shop our grill department. We’re also a Hallmark Gold Crown store and that really pulls in the women customers.

Biggest challenge facing your business? Inventory. Getting what we need and what’s selling now in the

store. We have really tried to stay on top of it. Sometimes we look for other sources to find more product. Right now, we are at 95 percent inventory. We’re constantly monitoring the supply chain, looking a couple months down the road and locking in orders for upcoming events.

Randy Bock

Bethlehem Ace Hardware Hickory, N.C.

Upper: Randy and LaShae Bock opened a new Bethlehem Ace store in April 2019.

Lower: Bethlehem Ace does grilling demos once a month.

SOUTHWEST

Sales and customer counts in 2022? Compared to last year, we’re down about 4 percent. But overall, business is strong. That comparison is skewed because we were up 20 to 30 percent the first year of COVID and up again that much the second year. It’s really hard to compare the current year to the past two years. What new products are selling well? Grilling has stepped up. We made our grilling department a destination by carrying Traeger, Big Green Egg and Blackstone grills. Our garden center and live plants have really sold well, too. New initiatives planned for 2022? We’re looking at creating a

home improvement showroom. This year, we added a greenhouse and started growing our own plants. People are impressed with products that are grown on-site that didn’t travel in a truck, and the guy who grows them is right there to answer questions.

Strongest niche categories?

Our store is in a historical building, a school built in 1938. The building itself is a draw. There are tour groups. Each

Upper: Stephen and Vicki Braly recently celebrated the 90th anniversary of Bralys Ace, which is housed in a restored school building.

Lower: The team at Bralys Ace focuses on delivering personalized service.

department is in a different classroom. As far as product-line niches, the strongest are grilling and our kitchen and gift sections. Biggest challenge facing your business? Online shopping is the biggest challenge. It’s difficult to draw customers into a brick-and-mortar store when they can purchase anything they want online. We address that challenge by offering service, knowledge, assembly, delivery and online pickup. It’s an uphill battle and it’s getting worse.

Vicki

Braly

Bralys Ace Hardware Palestine, Texas

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Sales and customer counts in 2022? Good. There’s been an uptick in building here with new houses, remodeling and people moving into the

Upper: TJ’s Hardware was founded in 1983 by a retired cabinet and furniture maker, which is how the store developed niches related to cabinets.

Lower: TJ’s Hardware recently began offering a new line of industrial finishing equipment.

state. The housing market has been up substantially.

What new products are selling well? Lighting has been popular, particularly LEDs. We’ve also sold a lot of cabinet-organization products.

New initiatives planned for 2022? We’re planning to go to a couple shows to look for new products.

Strongest niche categories?

We’re known for our specialty hardware, especially for cabinets and woodworking. We have full lines for

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How’s Business?

everything from retrofits for replacing old cabinet hardware to new cabinet hardware. We’re known for cabinet organization products like drawer slides.

Biggest challenge facing your business? Supply chain issues have been a challenge. It’s been hard to project into the market and time orders to maintain product availability. We look at our main product lines and have rolling purchase orders. As manufacturers make products, we’ll be sure we’re next in line.

Ryan Hahl

TJ’s Hardware Albuquerque, N.M.

Nikiski Hardware & Supply opened in 2019 in a remote area of Alaska.

WEST

Sales and customer counts in 2022? We’re doing okay. We’ve only been open three years. Three months into the first year we opened, COVID hit. We don’t know what a normal year would be like. This year, we’re up a bit from last year.

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What new products are selling well? Ariat® clothing, work boots and fire-retardant clothes have all been strong sellers. We serve the oil-field industry here, so we carry a lot of fireretardant clothing.

New initiatives planned for 2022? We expanded our fishing gear and outdoor gear department. Right now, it’s 12 feet of gondola, but it’s always changing. That department is trending upward, and there are a lot of lakes around us.

Strongest niche categories? It’s community service. We bring our community together. We’re like a community hub. We have a great, big parking lot and we put on community events where 400 to 500 people show up. For the store’s anniversary, we do a car show in September.

Biggest challenge facing your business today? Considering that we’re still a new store and in Alaska, I would say the biggest challenge is shipping, especially since COVID. The shipping industry is difficult to rely on. One of the specific products that’s been problematic to get shipped is propane cylinders used for soldering torches. We order them all the time, and we may or may not get them.

Upper: Nikiski Hardware opened the Old Goat Cafe in April 2021 offering coffee, sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods.

Lower: Creative merchandising showcases the selection of Ariat clothing and work boots at Nikiski Hardware.

Jon Douglas Nikiski Hardware & Supply Nikiski, Alaska

HARDWARE PRODUCTS REVIEW ShopTalk

By Craig Cope

PRODUCT #1:

TEAR MENDER

LHB INDUSTRIES

Murphy’s Law states: “if anything can go wrong, it will.” How many times have you accidentally torn an article of clothing while trying to hurry up for something important? A pocket gets caught on a corner, a button is barely holding on or your favorite pair of jeans that finally has the knees section worn out. Normally, the repair calls for either needle and thread or discarding the item altogether. Well, now there is another solution from Tear Mender.

Tear Mender is a fabric and leather adhesive that permanently repairs rips, tears or holes in any porous fabric in as little as three minutes. Once cured, the repairs are ﬂexible, UV resistant, waterproof and can be washed within 15 minutes of application. The uses are virtually endless from clothing to outdoor sports gear, leather apparel, home crafts, etc. Click here to view the company’s 101 uses. The product is extremely easy to use and requires no special tools or skills to create long-lasting repairs. Simply apply the product to a hard

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surface and use your finger or applicator (toothpick, popsicle stick) to apply a thin coat of Tear Mender to the surface for repair. Press the fabric together and let dry for a few minutes. Click here to view how-to videos demonstrating a variety of applications and materials.

We supplied samples to parents of young children, because no group is harder on clothing than children under the age of 10. All the parents reported the product is simple to use, creating a lasting bond, and clean-up was a

breeze. One parent reported a successful emergency repair of a youth soccer jersey on the team’s bench during a multi-day road tournament. The parent commented that Tear Mender is one of those products you should always have with you, because you never know when it will save the day.

Carrying Tear Mender in your store not only provides your customers with high-quality fabric adhesive with virtually limitless applications, but also supports a great cause. The product is owned by a 501(c)3 supporting services for the legally blind. LHB Industries also employs people who are legally blind for assembly and packing in St. Louis, Mo.

PRODUCT #2: ARM CHAPS ® VANSTARR ENTERPRISES

When it comes to personal protection equipment (PPE) the forearms are often overlooked or inadequately

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ShopTalk

HARDWARE PRODUCTS REVIEW

protected. Some people assume a long-sleeve shirt will sufﬁce. On the other end of the spectrum, you have folks who utilize products that resemble something from the TV show American Gladiators. Forearm protection becomes even more important for people taking blood thinners, who suffer from thin skin or numerous other medical issues.

We recently received a shipment of Arm Chaps® - leather sleeves protecting the knuckle to the top of the forearm. Arm Chaps come in sizes ranging from XX-Small to XX-Large and feature a zipper on the inside forearm, allowing maximum protection and

maximum airﬂow. Since the product is sized based on the user’s build, the chap will not crease when bending the elbow.

Arm Chaps have numerous uses including landscaping and gardening,

tree services/pruning, mechanical repair/fabricating, welding or any other application when a user wants an extra layer of protection. The chaps do not interfere with the use of traditional work gloves and can even be worn under long sleeves. Click here to see a few company videos.

We provided Arm Chaps to a wide variety of testers from professional landscapers and mechanics to weekend DIYers. Initially, our professional testers were concerned about the heat having their forearms covered in leather for a full day. This concern was quickly put aside after wearing the product for just a short period of time. As one tester commented, “It felt like an extension of

my normal leather gloves and did not limit my range of motion at all.”

Arm Chaps are high-quality leather PPEs for both the professional and DIYer and make a great addition to any hardware store. The most difficult store decision is what department to merchandise the product in—lawn and garden, hand and power tools, or perhaps on an end cap. n

By Chris Jensen

Tough Conditions Require Tough Retailers in America’s LAST FRONTIER

Evidently running a hardware and lumber store in a small remote town in Alaska isn’t challenging enough, because in his spare time, Doug Moore is rebuilding a house and garage that he has taken down to the studs. “That’s what people do around here—it’s a DIY town,” he says, shrugging off any suggestion that he’s got super human powers.

There is hardware retailing … and then there is hardware retailing in Alaska. Moore is the second-generation owner of Moores’ Hardware & Building Supply in Talkeetna, Alaska. The yearround population of 700 swells to

Doug and April Moore operate Moores’ Hardware & Building Supply in a remote location in Alaska.

100,000 tourists from May to September, since Talkeetna is the last town before entering Denali National Park, for those inclined to see or summit Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley)—the highest point in North America. Since Moore has lived his whole life in Alaska, he is used to working hard to complete everyday tasks that are taken for granted in the lower 48 states. Conditions are tough, the weather is harsh and unforgiving, the terrain is rugged and his town and store are very

isolated from the rest of the world. Getting inventory requires a cosmic combination of intuitiveness, patience and persistence. Not surprisingly, fierce independence is a rallying cry for Moore and the townsfolk who are his customers.

Moore and his wife April are proud of what they have accomplished with the family business, but they don’t see their everyday routines as anything special. The way they see it, they are just doing what has to be done, same as everyone else in their community. Read on to learn how tough conditions require tough retailers in America’s last frontier.

A Humble StArt

In 1981, when he was 12, Moore moved with his family from Anchorage to Talkeetna, an old mining town 100 miles to the north. His parents purchased a fledgling business that was part hardware store and part secondhand store that offered clothing, tools, books, hardware and stuff they found

Doug and April Moore have developed a loyal and dedicated team that reflects their values and does whatever is necessary to serve the community.

at auction. His future wife, April, moved to town in 1983.

“My dad demanded my brother and I work at something in the summer, so I went to school and spent eight years in the land-surveying profession. I was gone for six months at a time,” Moore recalls.

That type of schedule was less than ideal once he and April were married and had their first child. “I agreed with my wife that could not continue. I went back to the hardware store at 25 and realized I enjoyed it. That was 28 years ago,” he says.

April has been heavily involved in the business from the beginning. Moore points out she would work the entire summer in his parents’ store while he was still working remotely. “It wasn’t her dream. I have to give a lot of credit to her. She’s been an integral part of the whole operation while raising three kids,” he says.

In the 1990s, Moore and his brother bought out their parents and were partners for three or four years. “It was not his cup of tea,” explains Moore.

feAture

With business going strong, they expanded the sales floor to about 8,500 square feet in 2000. Of course, Moore did all the drywalling and construction work himself.

A SeASonAl DilemmA

Most hardware retailers have some seasonality to their business, but not to the extremes that Moore experiences. About 70 percent of his sales come from May into early October. “My parents didn’t have as many employees to worry about, but we’ve had to figure out how to make it work during the winter months,” he says, adding that he floats between 20 and 25 employees and currently sits at 22.

Doug Moore actively serves the community both inside and outside the store.

To keep busy during the slow winter months they do a lot of maintenance projects, inventory counting and adjustments. Two employees are kept busy with snow removal. “I’m able to keep 90 percent of the staff yearround,” Moore says.

Once the busy season kicks in, transactions go from 125 to 150 a day up to 300 or 400, seven days a week. Every employee works four 10-hour days— which is legal without the need to pay overtime in Alaska—and then they get

three days off every week so they have time to recreate. That is one of the creative retention strategies the Moores have adopted.

The Do it Best store offers bonuses based on a complicated system of metrics, looking back at three prior years of sales. An employee can wind up making several thousand extra dollars a year.

“We’ve got a fantastic manager, Jessica, who’s very good at HR. We’re very flexible with start times if there’s

The store gets 70 percent of its sales during the busy season of May into early October.

family or school stuff that comes up. We’re in a rural community with long drives everywhere—we get it,” Moore explains.

The Moores literally treat their employees like family. “I can honestly say we love every employee. We’ll use our frequent flier miles to buy plane tickets for an employee in an emergency,” Moore says. He notes April is an amazing quilter who made table runners for every employee for Christmas.

“The people we have now are excellent. We have several that have been with us over 10 years. For someone to come to work every day to help our business—it’s humbling. We try to make it enjoyable for them,” Moore says.

inventory CHAllengeS

One of the biggest challenges to operating in a remote location in Alaska is being able to get inventory. Freight is ordered on Tuesdays and arrives on the shelves the following

Thursday or Friday—that’s a nine- or 10-day lag.

“We have to use all the Epicor tools to order adequate quantities and manage dead inventory. If we miss anything, we’ll be almost 20 days out before we can get it in,” Moore notes. “You have to be really honest with people on special orders. We’ve been doing it so long we don’t give it a second thought.”

Moores’ Hardware is also a lumber store, which is even more complicated since their LBM products get to Alaska by ship or barge. Ships take four to five days to reach port, while barges take 10 to 14 days. “It typically takes three weeks to get lumber and that’s not good during a volatile market. I’ll be receiving thousands of dollars of lumber and then the price will drop by the time it gets to me and I can’t make any money,” says Moore.

For those who live in Alaska, shipping delays come with the territory. “Our customers are very understanding. It pays to have a reputation for great customer service. We don’t give excuses and they don’t argue with us—it’s just the way things are,” Moore says.

He points out that Do it Best has done a great job making alternative products available. “There’s the standard stuff like copper and aluminum that everyone is out of, but their Woodbury, Oregon, warehouse is great with its fill rate,” Moore says.

feAture

The Moores left True Value three months before ACON bought the company in 2018. “I had already left, so the deal didn’t affect me much. I loved what Do it Best had to offer. Do it Best’s dividends are huge and I’m not paying for programs I don’t use. They encourage you to brand yourself Moores’ Hardware,” he points out.

D-i-y freigHt-HAuling Solution

Facing skyrocketing costs to move lumber, Moore eventually started his own trucking company. As he explains. “We’ve always hauled our own materials since 1981. The state of Alaska started requiring commercial licenses in the late ‘80s, so I cashed that in. I drove trucks in the day while going to college at night.”

As a lumber company, the Moores were hauling their own freight from Anchorage. As the business grew, they couldn’t keep up with that. They had experience using trucking companies to haul lumber and hardware from Anchorage, but it cost a fortune when they had their own trucks. “So, we upped the size of the trucks to semis and started hauling our own lumber, using a box van for hardware items. Then we outgrew that for hardware. I did most of the driving for five or six years, because I’ve always been hands on,” Moore says.

Then about 10 years ago, Moore partnered with a local brewing company,

Doug Moore started his own trucking company to make it easier to haul freight.

Denali Brewing, who had been hauling empty trucks back from Anchorage. “They asked if I had the ability to haul their freight to Anchorage—they ship more stuff than we do. We hate empty trucks, so we agreed to do it,” he says. Alaska has a rule: when freight comes to Anchorage it’s considered interstate freight, so Moore needed to get an interstate freight license.

Moore now has two semi trucks on the road every week, one hauling lumber and the other hauling hardware and beer. He has a third semi available to do local deliveries. “In the early 2000s we got into the rental business and we needed to move heavy equipment. Anything to make a buck. There are a lot of places you can’t do these things. We’re a $4-4.5 million company, so we have the ability to do this, because there isn’t enough market for competitors to do it.”

For Alaskans, driving 60 miles to get materials is no big deal. “We still

compete with Depot and Lowe’s in Anchorage, so we have to provide the best possible service. With fuel prices so high, a 60-mile drive is less attractive. We’re doing well in times like this despite spending $350 a day in fuel for each semi,” Moore says.

While others might see operating in Alaska as fraught with weather-related challenges, Moore says it’s not difficult. “Snow removal is a huge deal, but my guys have only had one trip to Anchorage that they couldn’t do because of weather,” he says.

In November 2018, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Anchorage. “We lost one shelf of products and shipping was disrupted for a little while, but it was no big deal,” Moore says.

beComing A one-Stop SHop

The Moores have turned their remote location into an advantage by becoming a one-stop shop for the community. “There’s a grocery store around the corner. We can track our

They have a greenhouse set up to capitalize on the short lawn and garden season.

success with his,” Moore points out.

“Ten, twelve years ago, people in town drove 60 miles to get groceries, and then they’d do their other shopping there. Now that the grocery is here, people stay here to shop.”

The Moores capitalized on that tactical advantage by expanding their selection. “April added an aisle for craft and art supplies such as blank art canvasses and mosaic tiles. I was skeptical about stuff like that in a hardware store, but the dollars per square foot pays for its rent,” he says.

Moores’ Hardware & Building Supply features a small amount of sporting goods like fishing tackle and bear spray. “We were a STIHL chainsaw dealer before the co-ops made their deals. We’re the only STIHL dealer in Alaska that is open seven days a week with a mechanic,” Moore proudly notes.

A huge percentage of their sales in May is lawn and garden. They have a greenhouse and sell flowers, plants, trees and shrubs. “It’s only a sevenweek season, but it does well and differentiates us,” Moore says.

feAture

Tourism has been big business for Talkeetna since the 1970s, and there are a lot of recreational cabins in the area. “We’re 14 miles outside Talkeetna, so we get local Alaskan visitors but not a lot of tourists. Reality TV shows have come through, but we aren’t into that. I tell them our day rate is $25,000 for one hour,” Moore says with a laugh.

giving bACk to tHe Community

Doug and April have always given back to the community in visible and non-visible ways, striving to reflect the values of the families their store serves. April has been a Girl Scout leader and PTA member, while her husband has been president of the community council, is a volunteer EMT and firefighter, runs a local rifle range and serves on the state alcoholic beverage control board.

Their community was tested in the summer of 2019, when an extended drought and unusually high temperatures combined to cause a devastating series of wildfires in southcentral Alaska during the high season for tourism. The Moores did what comes naturally to them—they put aside their own responsibilities and rushed into action to help others.

“We did the best we could under the circumstances,” Moore says. “I personally helped people with excavators and dump trucks hauling away rubble.

April Moore introduced a craft aisle to make the store more of a one-stop shop.

We worked with the Red Cross and a Mennonite volunteer group to help rebuild some homes.”

They went 10 percent over cost for any LBM products needed to rebuild.

“You had to qualify people to make sure they really were burned out. We gave away a lot of products that summer,” Moore says.

A lot of building and remodeling activity took place over the next year, as the townsfolk came together to get people back on their feet. “I managed some of the money that was donated and put it on accounts for people. We’ve always been grateful for the town’s support of

Kaitlyn and Justin Moore are stepping up as the third generation of the family to be involved in the business.

our family and our employees, so this was just one way we could give back,” Moore says.

Their good deeds did not go unnoticed. April and Doug were recognized on the floor of the U.S. Senate in January 2020 as “Alaskans of the Week” by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). “That was a big deal. Senator Sullivan has been to the store several times,” Moore notes.

looking forwArD

When COVID hit, the building industry took off in the area, according to Moore. “We had a record year in 2020 and it gave us the ability to interact with new customers,” he says. There was a slight downturn in 2021, but Moores’ business is looking good this year. “The store may be doing great, but I feel for our employees,” Moore says. “We’re trying to help out people who often have to

commute 20 to 25 miles each way to work.”

The future of Moores’ Hardware & Building Supply is taking shape, as the third generation of the family has stepped up their involvement. While the Moores have a daughter who is a medical lab technician, their other daughter, Kaitlyn, is 22 years old and works in the store and office. “She’s working on the accounting side and does our Do it Best purchasing. She hasn’t given a commitment yet, but she seems to be interested in staying on,” Moore points out.

Their oldest child, Justin, is 26 and is described by his father as an amazing mechanic and a good truck driver. He worked for a local aviation company as a mechanic and went to school for that before returning to the family business. “I’m working him like a borrowed mule, just like my dad did with me. Justin is working his way up. I wanted him to work on the physical, hard side of the business as a start,” Moore says, adding that both Justin and Kaitlyn take the company values and commitment to the community seriously.

For Doug Moore, the responsibilities of taking care of a family, a business and a community are never daunting. When you live in American’s last frontier, you just do what has to be done. As he puts it, “You’ve got to get your hands dirty.” n

Germantown Hardware more than doubled in size while adopting numerous innovative retailing concepts.

Germantown Hardware Unveils Expanded,

Revamped Store

Germantown Hardware, located just outside Memphis in Germantown, Tenn., welcomed members of the local community to celebrate its grand reopening in April, with events that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour with city officials and a customer celebration. The grand reopening not only marked a milestone for the growth of the store, but it was also the culmination of a major retail enhancement project for Orgill, Central Network Retail Group (CNRG) and Tyndale Advisors, a management, consulting and marketing firm that primarily serves Orgill dealers.

Middle: A grand reopening was held in April for Germantown Hardware’s revamped store in Germantown, Tenn.

Lower: The store is set up to be a destination for grills and barbecue accessories.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on April 12, and local Orgill team members toured the store on April 24 alongside local officials, including Janie Day, CEO and president of the Germantown Chamber of Commerce, and Mike Palazzolo, the mayor of Germantown.

New owNershiP

John, Marcia, and Justin Wagner, the former owners and operators of Germantown Hardware, agreed to sell their business and operating assets in 2020 to Central Network Retail Group, LLC (CNRG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Orgill and a multi-format, multibrand retailer currently operating 141 hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards in 16 states.

The Wagners had purchased the former Ace Hardware location in 2001. Under their ownership, Germantown Hardware offered a full assortment of hardware, plumbing, electrical, outdoor power equipment, outdoor living products, and lawn and garden supplies. It also featured a small-engine repair shop.

“We had always thought that it would be ideal to have a CNRG location in the Memphis area, and Germantown

Left: More than 12,000 new products were added to the merchandise mix.

Middle: The 10,000-square-foot outdoor nursery now features its own checkout.

Right: John Sieggreen (left), CNRG president and executive vice president-retail at Orgill, and Phillip Walker (right), president of Tyndale Advisors, are excited that they now have a real-world retail laboratory to show off to customers, vendors and prospects that is close to Orgill’s headquarters.

Hardware offered us this opportunity,” says John Sieggreen, CNRG president and executive vice president of retail at Orgill. “The store had a great reputation with local customers and was a staple of the local community and being in close proximity to Orgill’s headquarters and our concept center, it allows us much better access to the site. This also makes it easier for us to use it as a showcase for when we want to illustrate our range of programs and services to visitors.”

a remoDel aND exPaNDeD selectioN

After CNRG acquired Germantown Hardware, the store underwent a remodel and expansion project overseen by team members of Orgill, CNRG and Tyndale Advisors that began in

Dealer Profile

April 2021. The store’s footprint was expanded to almost 42,000 square feet, which is 75 percent larger than before the remodel.

Germantown Hardware’s salesfloor size more than doubled to 23,000 square feet, and 12,000 new products were added to the store’s offerings. Two departments, the nursery and small engine repair shop, both doubled in size. The outdoor nursery now takes up 10,000 square feet with an outdoor checkout area added for better customer ease of service.

Featured new product assortments include: automotive key fobs and chip keys, RV supplies, pool supplies, pet supplies, birding, vintage sodas, outdoor pottery and statuary, indoor plants, outdoor patio furniture, rental department, Benjamin Moore and Valspar paints.

Featured new and expanded services include: Germantown Hardware Rewards loyalty program, integrated eCommerce website and Buy Online, Pickup In Store, small engine repair expansion, outdoor/nursery checkout and bulk propane refill.

iNNovative retail coNcePts

CNRG made the most of programs offered through Orgill when revamping the store’s retail technology. Orgill services that were integrated into the relaunch of Germantown Hardware

include its Integrated eCommerce, FanBuilder and BrandBase programs.

The Germantown Hardware store website was reconfigured using Orgill’s Integrated eCommerce solution, which integrates with the store’s POS system and offers real-time item information, store prices and on-hand quantities.

The technology made it possible for Germantown Hardware to offer customers options to buy online and pick up in store and expand the number of products the store could offer by utilizing Orgill’s vast online product database.

Germantown Hardware also uses a customized version of Orgill’s FanBuilder platform to drive its new customer loyalty program, Germantown Hardware Rewards. More

Left: Indoor plants is one of the many categories designed to attract female customers.

Right: Vintage sodas is one of the new categories added.

than just a loyalty program, the platform offers marketing tools and helps to drive customer engagement and traffic to the store’s website.

Orgill’s proprietary Brandbase marketing software is also used for producing Germantown Hardware ads and marketing assets. “This is a perfect example of how our CNRG brand stores can serve as a living retail laboratory where we can implement real-world Orgill programs and then provide in-depth feedback and test options with them to help improve the program for all Orgill’s customers,”

Sieggreen says. “That will definitely be the case with what we are doing at Germantown Hardware.”

a real-worlD laboratory

According to Phillip Walker, president of Tyndale Advisors, Germantown Hardware truly is a showplace and

Upper: Outdoor statuary and fountains beckon to customers.

Lower: Wild bird is another niche category identiﬁed for its potential.

Dealer Profile

to our customer base. When customers or prospects come to Orgill, we can now take them to a local store and show them our retail recommendations in action. This store is proof that we’re not just suggesting these changes, we are putting them into action in a real-world retail environment because they work.”

a staPle of the commUNity

The investment in the store remodel and expansion was not only an investment in Germantown Hardware, but also in the community. Customer reactions when touring the newly remodeled store included appreciation for the expanded product and category selection, along with astonishment that this was the same neighborhood store they had shopped previously.

example for other stores. Located within miles of Orgill’s headquarters, the store presented an opportunity to bring all of Orgill and Tyndale Advisors’ resources and people together on one project.

“Everyone could easily visit and lend their expertise on how to mold it into this model of what a community hardware store could be,” he says. “It’s a great representation of what both Tyndale Advisors and Orgill have to offer

“Now customers see Germantown Hardware as a place where they can get everything they want without having to go to a big-box store,” Sieggreen says. “They’re grateful for that local option with enough assortments, and a broad enough assortment, to be able to support all of their shopping needs.”

“There’s so much to be said about the welcome arms from the community,” says Chris Clark, Germantown Hardware store manager. “We want Germantown Hardware to continue to feel and look like their neighborhood store—just new and improved.” ■

AUGUST 19-21

“Where Relationships Are Formed”

here toDay!

3 Days of Networking, Relaxing and Learning

Meet colleagues and new friends at the industry’s largest conference for independent hardware retailers. Share ideas with top retailers on how to grow your business, interact with key vendors on how to increase sales in your store and attend educational seminars, all-industry cocktail receptions and dinners in an exclusive 5-star resort setting.

Learn More About Your POS System at the Hardware Technology Forum

Epicor will offer full-day, hands-on training sessions for their retailers. Bring your tablet or laptop so you can log right into your store as you learn new “tips and tricks” to make your POS software more productive in your store.

Honor the Industry’s

Best Retailers at the 2022 Beacon Awards

Sponsors:

The Beacon Awards are an important recognition program that honors the best of the best dealers who represent the future of the industry.

Co-Sponsors: for more iNformatioN aboUt atteNDiNG the beacoN awarDs aloNG with all other eDUcatioNal semiNars, oPeN floor DiscUssioNs aND social activities at the harDware coNfereNce, visit www.theharDwarecoNfereNce.com

The Hardware Conference is set for August 19-21 at the JW Marriott right on the water in Marco Island, Fla.

Join the Fun at Industry’s

Largest GatheringDealer

It’s time to start making plans to attend an event that can change how you think about your business. The 2022 Hardware Conference will take place August 19-21 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, Fla. It is the perfect opportunity to bring your whole family to a ﬁve-star resort located right on the Gulf of Mexico with miles of beautiful white beaches.

The Hardware Conference, which is now in its 34th year and has always been held in Marco Island, provides a neutral forum for retailers from different wholesaler programs to network and discuss business strategies. The Conference began in 1988 with a small group of hardware retailers who wanted to get

Craig and Shanti Cope are the directors of The Hardware Conference.

It’s hard to beat a Marco Island sunset.

together once a year with key manufacturers. Retailers who have been coming with their families for years say they come away re-energized and ﬁlled with new ideas to take back to their stores.

Craig and Shanti Cope are the organizers of The Hardware Conference, which is the largest annual dealer event in the industry. It is the only industry event held exclusively for independent retailers regardless of wholesaler afﬁliation. Do it Best and Orgill both actively support the Conference.

Upgraded a few years ago to JW Marriott status, the resort offers an oasis of luxurious comfort with activities designed for the whole family.

Interact with key vendors on how to increase sales in your store during open exhibit hours, then pick up new ideas for your store while interacting with fellow retailers at three cocktail receptions, two breakfasts and two dinner banquets.

The Conference schedule leaves you and your family plenty of time to enjoy three swimming pools, a wide variety of water activities, spa services at the Spa by JW® or a relaxing walk along the white sand beach. Saturday afternoon is

Retail attendees have a chance for one-onone dialogue with vendors.

set aside with a golf outing, beach activities and Everglades airboat excursion.

The industry’s premier event for the independent retail hardware channel offers an awards program that was launched in 2013 to recognize the “best of the best” retailers. The 10th edition of the Beacon Awards is co-sponsored by The Hardware Conference and The Hardware Connection. Epicor, Ettore Products, Do it Best Corp. and Orgill provide additional sponsorship support for the program.

The 2022 Beacon Award winners will be recognized during Friday evening’s banquet. Retail Beacon Award winners for each sponsoring wholesaler will be honored, plus two retailers will be honored for Best New Store.

All Beacon winners will receive allexpense paid trips for two to the 2022 Hardware Conference including conference registration, airfare, hotel and meals. They will also receive a special Beacon Award trophy and be featured in an article in The Hardware Connection.

Leading vendors participate in the Conference with tabletop booths showcasing their latest product

The 2022 Beacon Award winners will be honored during an awards banquet on Friday evening.

HARDWARE CONFERENCE

introductions. Dealers can engage in informal conversations with manufacturers without the pressure of buying, both during exhibit hours and at meal functions and receptions.

After two hours of exhibit hours on Saturday morning, Beacon Award winners will participate in a panel discussion on key topics and trends such as the ongoing supply chain crisis. Exhibit hours continue on Sunday morning, followed by another open dialogue session open to all attendees.

“We have enjoyed attending the Conference and couldn’t wait to come back again,” said Willis Qualheim of Qualheim’s True Value in Wisconsin, who has attended past Conferences with his daughters Karissa and Casey. In 2017, they attended to watch their family business receive a Beacon Award.

Bob Resch of Bomberger’s Store in Lititz, Pa., a former Beacon Award winner, came away with a very favorable impression after attending a previous Conference with his wife, Dori.

“Everything was ﬁrst class and we really appreciated the interaction we had with other dealers. It was an experience we won’t soon forget,” he said.

EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Hardware Conference kicks off on Thursday, August 18 with a fullday, hands-on, interactive Technology Forum hosted by Epicor. Topics covered include:

Meals are a great time to network and relax with other retailers.

• eCommerce - knowing your options

• Pricing strategies - choices to price your inventory correctly

• Reconciling Inventory - resolving discrepancies between the G/L and physical inventory values

• Maintaining Pricing Data in EverChanging Market

• Private one-on-one sessions Friday begins with Do it Best and Orgill luncheons with executives from both wholesalers attending. Immediately following the wholesaler luncheons are two breakout sessions for dealers to choose from.

Spot Purchases of Bomb-making

Items – Hosted by Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency

You can help by recognizing explosive chemicals in your product inventory and sorting them into risk categories based

Cocktail receptions provide attendees with an opportunity to catch up with industry friends or make new connections.

on the potential for illegal use. Join Michael Knight, bomb prevention specialist, (BMAP) to learn more about how to identify bomb-making materials and report suspicious activity to prevent acts of terror.

Driving Change: An In-Depth

Look

at How Consumer Trends Are Reshaping Retail Hardware – Hosted by Vericast

Henry Villa and Brian Glynn will share data on how consumer expectations have changed in today’s challenging economic environment. They will also

deliver actionable insight for home improvement retailers looking to reach and inﬂuence potential customers along their path to purchase.

SIGN UP TODAY

There are still some rooms left in the room block. The Hardware Conference hotel rate is only $190 plus tax, a huge discount from the current market price of $770 and up.

You can register for the Conference and book your room by clicking here or call the hotel directly by calling 239-394-2511.

The Hardware Conference registration fee for in-person attendees is $119 per person and includes three cocktail receptions, two breakfasts, two dinners and Saturday’s half-day activity. There is no better value in the independent hardware channel than attending The Hardware Conference.

For more information, go to www.thehardwareconference.com or contact Craig or Shanti Cope at 305-853-0049. ■

Beacon Award winners participate in a panel discussion on key industry topics.

HARDWARE CONFERENCE

2022 HARDWARE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, August 17

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Technology Forum, Vendor and Dealer Registration

Thursday, August 18

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Seminar Breakfast, Calusa Terrace

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Technology Forum, Vendor and Dealer Registration

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Epicor Technology Forum

11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Vendor Only Meeting, sponsored by The Hardware Connection

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. All-Industry Cocktail Reception, sponsored by Epicor

Friday, August 19

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Vendor Set Up, Banyan 1 & 2

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dealer and Vendor Registration

10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Do it Best Corp. Meeting & Luncheon

10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Orgill Meeting & Luncheon—All Dealers welcome.

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Beacon Award Winner Private Reception

6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Cocktail Reception, sponsored by Hyde Tools

6:15 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. “Kids Night Out” (Ages 5-12), Tiki Tribe

7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Beacon Awards Banquet Dinner, sponsored by The Hardware Connection. At conclusion of dinner, hospitality suite is open, sponsored by Duracell.

Saturday, August 20

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Breakfast, Sunset Terrace

8:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Exhibit Areas Open, sponsored by Sunnyside

10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Beacon Award winner panel discussion

12:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Golf Outing at The Rookery Golf Course

12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Day at the Beach, JW Marriott Beach

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Everglades Airboat Excursion

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hospitality Suite is open, sponsored by Duracell

6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Cocktail Reception, sponsored by WD-40

7:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Key West Buffet Dinner Party and Auction. At conclusion of dinner, Hospitality Suite is open, sponsored by Duracell

Sunday, August 21

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Breakfast, Sunset Terrace

8:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Exhibit Areas Open, sponsored by Sunnyside

10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Open Dialogue session

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Closing Remarks of 2022 Hardware Conference

Marquee Sponsors:

The Hardware Conference would like to thank and recognize its Marquee Sponsors for their support over the years. The following companies are Marquee Sponsors of this year’s event:

Additional Sponsors Include:

Chris Jensen

Retailers are always looking for new ways to drive foot traffic. Developing niche categories is a proven method, but more retailers are discovering creative methods for driving foot traffic with expanded services and special events that draw attention. Read on to learn creative ideas for growing your business with nontraditional revenue.

Driving footsteps

Home Ace Hardware in Columbus, Ga., has had a U.S. Post Office station since 1988, which helps drive footsteps. It brings in an average of 200 people each day, according to Owner Gary Johnson.

Brownsboro Hardware & Paint in Louisville, Ky., has had a U.S. Post Office station for many years, and typically gets about 200 customers a day.

Former Owner Jim Lehrer said he wouldn’t have bought the store back in 1998 if it didn’t come with a post office. “The first

CREATIVE IDEAS for NON-TRADITIONAL REVENUE

Upper: Brownsburg Ace Hardware in Indiana is a stop on the Peach Truck Tour.

Middle: Baller Hardware in Los Angeles offers prepaid mobile phone needs including accessories.

Lower: E.M. Brown & Son in Vermont is a UPS Access Point location.

year I probably had more sales with the post office than we did selling hardware,” he said.

Century Club retailer

E.M. Brown & Son in Barton, Vt., is not only a place to ship packages with UPS, it is now an Access Point to have packages delivered available for customers to pick up

at their convenience. They are also a drop-off site for a local dry cleaner.

Tom McKeithen of McKeithen’s True Value in Statesboro, Ga., started

offering U-Haul rental in December 2020. “It definitely brings new traffic. We have also sold a fair amount of balls and hitches when they don’t have the right equipment,” he said.

U-Haul pays a 21 percent commission on average and boasts there are no startup costs. You can offer essential services like U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pickup for boxes. For more information on becoming a U-Haul dealer, click here.

Several hardware retailers posted on Hardlines Digest about their experiences with U-Haul and UPS.

Anco Ace Hardware in Villas, N.J., has been with U-Haul since 1998. “I use to monitor it and get peeved at the screwups. About 10 years ago I said to the younger staff, ‘you do it.’ It has been running well ever since,” said Co-owner Jan Rupinski. “I’m not in it for the money, but gross about 10k a year, so after years I guess it’s doing okay. All depends on your level of tolerance.”

Charlestown Ace Hardware in Charlestown, Mass., has been a UPS Access Point site since 2016, according to Co-owner Norma Baars. “Our store does a high volume of UPS drop-offs—1,665 packages last month. We needed an extra scanner to help with the volume and expedite checking in,” she posted.

Plummer’s Ace Hardware in Farmington, Mo., signed up to be a UPS Access Point location in November 2020, according to Owner Scott Plummer. “We

Anco Ace Hardware in New Jersey is a U-Haul dealer.

have been a PEC/UPS Center for 30 years.

Being an Access Point is introducing a lot of customers who have never stepped foot in our store. A lot of customers who live in apartment complexes, which is not great, but we have seen some nice purchases that we would have never got before,” he said.

Among the many other hardware retailers serving as UPS Access Point sites include Fusek’s True Value in Indianapolis, Carroll Island Hardware in Baltimore, Horn’s Middlesex Ace Hardware in Saluda, Va., Bryant Hardware in Minneapolis, Hunt’s Hardware in McLeansboro, Ill., Amboy Hardware in Amboy, Wash., and Southern Hardware in Comer, Ga.

There are more than 22,000 UPS Access Points in the U.S., putting 92 percent of the population within five miles of a site. For more information on becoming a UPS Access Point location, click here.

Host special events

Nikiski Hardware in Nikiski, Alaska, hosts a farmers market in front of the store every Monday from June through August offering fresh produce, eggs, local crafts, herbs and plants. It helps establish the store as a community gathering spot.

The Peach Truck Tour, now in its 10th year, travels through 25 states. Retailers can sign up to be a pickup spot on the tour, but be ready to handle a lot of customer traffic. Many of the customers preorder their 25-pound box of fresh Georgia peaches, so all you are doing is handing them out and keeping the line moving.

Brownsburg Ace Hardware in Brownsburg, Ind., Gil’s Ace Hardware in Smyrna, Tenn., Haynes True Value in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Ace Hardware in Bowling Green, Ky., and Brownsboro Hardware & Paint in Louisville, Ky., are among the hardware retailers serving as stops on the Peach Truck Tour.

Upcoming Events is a company that has produced more than 6,000 branded pop-up events at retail that have helped independent hardware retailers generate non-retail revenue.

“We had so many relationships with large brands. We started placing those brands like T-Mobile, Pella Windows and Renewal by Anderson at retail so they could still engage with customers,” said Ray Sheehan, who oversees the program with Geoff Hazelwood.

“It was a huge win for retailers— free merchandise, gift cards and

Left: Pop-up events are a great way to create excitement in your store while generating non-retail revenue.

Right: Serving as a location for a pop-up event with a brand like T-Mobile or Renewal by Anderson provides retailers with free merchandise, gift cards and prizes while being supported with Facebook ads.

prizes. Clearly, the brands saw the value in integrating their brand into the fabric of the community. It really is a win-win type program,” he said.

Each deal is different, but retailers are compensated for each day of the activation. Participating brands receive ten $10 gift cards per day to give out to customers. The events are supported with Facebook ads at no extra cost.

One of the hardware retailers who participates in the program is Rich Fishburn of E&H Ace Hardware, with 25 locations in Ohio. “From my end, I judge that it’s successful when the vendors, customers and employees are all engaged and working well together. The additional revenue to our bottom line really does help at the end of the day. It’s a program we would like to continue,” he said.

Other hardware retailers who have participated in the program include Helpful Ace Hardware with 13 stores in Georgia,

Home Ace Hardware in Georgia is a U.S. Post Office contract station.

Fisher’s Ace with three stores in Pennsylvania, Costello’s Ace and Rocky’s Ace.

For more information, click here or contact Ray Sheehan at ray@upcomingevents.com.

offering special services

You can also increase your store revenue with CheckSammy junk removal services. Nationwide store partners average $125-150 per day in added revenue. CheckSammy Technologies has developed a proprietary technology platform and logistics infrastructure comprised of more than 5,000 drivers to streamline service workflows. Floor and countertop display stands are provided with a QR code for ordering, and the service is typically priced at 30 percent below other national competitors. No training is required and there is no inventory to stock. For more information, go to www.CheckSammy.com.

At Woodstock Do it Best Hardware in Woodstock, N.Y., Owner Vince Christofora has strategically positioned his store as “Airbnb specialists” to cater to the growing number of Airbnb-listed properties throughout the region.

“Our sister business is Woodstock Laundry. We opened a laundromat in

town with a drop-off laundry service. It’s a big thing with changeover from guests at Airbnb places, so they can drop off sheets and towels to us,” he said.

An increasing number of hardware and home improvement retailers have signed up their stores to serve as an Amazon Hub, which is a worldwide network of pickup and return locations for those who have purchased something on Amazon.

Amazon Hub Counters receive deliveries of Amazon packages every day. They scan packages when they arrive, triggering an email to the customer that notifies them that their order is ready for pickup. When an Amazon customer arrives to collect their package, they provide the store staff their pickup barcode or six-digit code received via email.

Gwynn Oliver of Taylorsville Hardware in Taylorsville, Ky., says operating an Amazon Hub Counter has been working pretty good so far. Her store is just doing pickups, not returns, and she points out that Amazon does not require retailers to have a dedicated space for it in their stores.

“The site is easy to use but customer support has been hit and miss connecting with someone. It didn’t take much to set up. It has brought more awareness and will bring more traffic to the store,” she said. To learn more about becoming an Amazon Hub Counter, click here.

Other hardware retailers serving as Amazon Hub Counters include The Hardware @Rochester in Rochester, Vt., Townsend Hardware in Townsend, Mont., and Jtown Hardware & Rental in Louisville. n

Recent Features From TheHardwareConnection

May/June 2022: Special Report on Retail Consolidation: Are You a Buyer or a Seller? — As merger and acquisition activity has been exploding across the industry, independent hardware retailers are increasingly forced to evaluate--am I a buyer or a seller? Read this in-depth special report to learn who the players are, look at recent deals, gain insights into how Central Network Retail Group approaches the acquisition process from John Sieggreen and pick up tips from Gary Pittsford on buying and selling a business.

April 2022: Unlocking the Secret Formula for Growth—Discover how Shanna West has combined her social media savvy with energy and enthusiasm to reach new heights of growth with the family business, H & H Home and Hardware in Marion, Ky.

March 2022: Blackhawk Hardware’s Bold Solution to the Hiring Crisis—Andy Wilkerson, CEO of Blackhawk Hardware in Charlotte, N.C., shares a detailed, in-depth look at how his business adopted a bold solution to finding, hiring and retaining employees—he dramatically changed his pay scale and expectations for performance, which has had a profound impact on the store.

February 2022: Special Section: Orgill Celebrates 175 Years of Innovation and Service—Orgill, the industry’s oldest wholesaler, is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Learn more about the company’s long history of innovation, read a timeline of key dates in company history and gain insights into future initiatives through Q&A interviews with CEO Boyden Moore and Executive VP Marc Hamer.

December 2021: Special Report: Supply Chain Crisis: When Will It End?—Find out some of the background behind the supply chain crisis, discover how it has impacted retailers and others in the two-step channel of distribution, and see what experts have to say about when this crisis will end.

November 2021: How America’s Biggest and Best Hardware Store Got Better—It has been nine years since we introduced readers to Hartville Hardware’s massive 305,000-square-foot store in Ohio. Discover how America’s biggest and best hardware store has found new ways to improve. Learn how this impressive retailer has improved in four areas: merchandising, operations, technology and employee training and development.

issues.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

COMFORT GRIP ® SLIP-ON HANDLES

• Ergonomic ﬁnger holds for better gripping help reduce hand fatigue when carrying heavy loads. The perfect hand-saving handle grips for DIYers, plumbers, contractors, gardeners, campers, pet owners and more.

• Available in 4 colors and large and small sizes to ﬁt buckets, pails, cans and tubs.

• Patent-pending handles are removable, transferable and stay centered.

• Made of 100% silicone, weatherproof and fade resistant so they are long-lasting and durable.

SHA 56 SHREDDER VACUUM AND BLOWER

• The tool features a brushless motor for maximum efﬁciency and a variable-speed trigger allowing operators to optimize performance with run time. With its lightweight padded shoulder strap and rotatable handle, users can work comfortably in both operating modes until the job is done.

• The tool comes with two tubes— one for each speciﬁc operating function. The tubes can be changed quickly without the use of tools.

• Advanced STIHL Lithium-Ion battery technology eliminates exhaust emissions and lowers noise. Runs at full speed until battery is depleted.

• Equipped with catcher bag with 1.41 cubic feet of volume, an asymmetrical design and long, easy-tograb zipper.

FIRE RING/RAISED BED PLANTER

• Perfect for fires at home or the campsite. Keeps embers hot, extending fire burn time.

• 12” tall and 3’ diameter safely accommodates more wood.

• Constructed from galvanized metal for extended life.

• Features smooth rolled top and is lightweight for easy transport.

DOVER RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT

• Count on it today. Rely on it tomorrow. The Police Security Dover Rechargeable Flashlight is optimal for automotive technicians, mechanics, police and military personnel—any professional demanding long-term flashlight performance.

• With a Quik Connect USB charging system (cable included), this 800-lumen flashlight functions with a 18650 rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivering up to 6 hours runtime.

• With High, Low, Flash modes and Slide Focus, the flashlight is immediately adaptable to a variety of situations.

• Features extra-long beam distance, belt clip and memory switch that defaults to high when off for 15 seconds.

CATEGORY REPORT

PLUMBING TRENDS

Sales of Toilet Repair (Independent Hardware Channel)

12 Months % Change vs. Year Ago

Toilet Repair:

Source: Epicor’s Industry Data Analytics

Unit Sales Breakdown for Toilet Repair

PLUMBING DEPARTMENT MERCHANDISING :

Upper Left: Miller’s Fine Hardware in Jupiter, Fla.

Middle Left: Del Rey Fine Plumbing & Hardware in Seaside, Calif.

Lower Left: Park Supply in Athens, Ala.

Upper Right: Broadway Ace Hardware in Portland, Ore.

Middle Right: HomCo Lumber & Hardware in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Lower Right: Los Pinos Hardware in Mission, Texas.

AN INSIDE LOOK

CENTURY CLUB RETAILERS

The Hardware Connection provides a pictorial look at old store photos of Century Club retailers. Send pictures to chris@thehardwareconnection.com.

Chapel Lumber, Elmira, N.Y.

Collier Hardware, Chico, Calif.

Edele & Mertz Hardware, St. Louis

Berger Hardware, San Diego

F.H. Gillingham and Sons, Woodstock, Vt.

Cole Hardware, San Francisco

H.L. Munn Lumber Company, Ames, Iowa

Buettner Bros. Lumber, Cullman, Ala.

Foster Farrar Company, Northampton, Mass.

Fresno Ag Hardware, Fresno, Calif.

Gilson’s Do it Best Hardware, Blissﬁeld, Mich.

Aubuchon Hardware, Westminster, Mass.

Cantelmi Hardware, Bethlehem, Pa.

Burney Hardware, Aberdeen, N.C.

Carhart Lumber, Wayne, Neb.

Join us for this important recognition program that honors the best of the best dealers who represent the future of the industry. The Beacon Awards are held annually at The Hardware Conference in beautiful Marco Island, FL, and are co-sponsored by The Hardware Conference and The Hardware Connection magazine. The Hardware Conference will be held Aug. 19-21, 2022 For more information about attending this event along with all other educational seminars, open floor discussions and social activities at the 2022 Hardware Conference, visit www.TheHardwareConference.com

IN THE NEWS

NEW STORES:

• Christian Klueg and Dominick Cox have acquired Century Club retailer Allen & Palmer True Value in Northville, N.Y., from Shawn Darling and Lee Robinson.

• Koopman Lumber has acquired Boilard Lumber in Indian Orchard, Mass.

• Sharona and Cecil Eiserer opened their third Wood Shed Lumber & Hardware Supply location in Richmond, Mo.

• John and April Habas have opened Rice Lake True Value in Rice Lake, Wis.

• Shane and Sarah Coltrain are opening Coltrain Home & Garden in Ayden, N.C.

• Hammond Lumber has acquired Brock’s Building Materials in Rochester, N.H.

• Ben and Dani Fowler purchased Great Western Building and Home Center in Julesburg, Colo., from Clint Dunker and renamed it Sedgwick County Lumber.

• Community Hardware is opening its fourth store in Wilmington, Del.

• Kodiak Building Partners has acquired Century Club retailer Miller Lumber Co. with stores in Redmond and Bend, Ore.

• Blue Ridge Lumber is acquiring Cramer’s Home Building Centers in East Stroudsburg, Pa.

• Eldredge Lumber and Hardware is opening in Sanford, Maine.

• Food City is opening its ﬁrst Curt’s Ace Hardware location in Piney Flats, Tenn.

• McCoy’s Building Supply is opening in Spicewood, Texas.

• Westlake Ace Hardware is opening new stores in Porter Ranch and Pleasant Hill, Calif., and is acquiring Guerneville Fulton Ace Hardware in Santa Rosa, Calif.

• Chris Zembower has purchased True Value Hardware of Cumberland (Md.) from Bill and Karen Iames, becoming the fourth generation to operate the store originally opened by his family in 1961.

• Darren Tomasini has acquired Reed’s Do it Best Hardware & Gift Shop in Bluffton, Ind., from Gregg and Cynthia Reed.

• The Helpful Hardware Company has acquired Ace Hardware in Cordova, Tenn.

• Ambassador Supply has acquired Century Club retailer Orgain Building Supply in Clarksville, Tenn.

• Gillman Home Center is opening its 16th store in Shelbyville, Ind.

• St. Peters True Value Rental is opening a third location in Breese, Ill.

• Mike Wiebolt has acquired Carlson Hardware in Nisswa, Minn., and changed the name to Nisswa Hardware.

KUDOS TO:

• Anco Ace Hardware in Villas, N.J., is marking its 40th anniversary.

• Morrison Brothers Building Supply in Concord, N.C., is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

• Ace on the Lake in Bemidji, Minn., is celebrating its 35th anniversary.

• Gary’s Ace Hardware in Culpepper, Va., is marking its 10th anniversary.

• Wiener’s Home Hardware in Toronto is celebrating its 100th anniversary under Wiener family ownership.

• Century Club retailer Spalding Ace Hardware in Lockport, N.Y., is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year—it is the third-oldest hardware store in the U.S.

• J.A. Girgenti and Craig Tassin are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hometown Ace Hardware in Amite, La.

• Pedrotti Ace Hardware in Benicia, Calif., celebrated its 100th anniversary with a spectacular Ace centennial skyshow.

• Century Club retailer Chase Lumber in Sun Prairie, Wis., is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

• Randy’s Do it Best Hardware reopened in Mount Jackson, Va., after a Feb. 26 ﬁre destroyed the store.

• The Better Business Bureau serving Louisville, Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky awarded Brownsboro

Hardware & Paint in Louisville, Ky., the 2022 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE:

• Do it Best Corp. has named Ryan Heine as director of brand integration, promoted Jean Fahy to the new role of LBM division manager of business development and Maggie Radyn to merchandise manager for safety and general merchandise; and hired Jake Longardner as merchandise manager for paint and paint supplies.

• Robert Jensen was named director of e-commerce at STIHL.

• Rocky’s Ace Hardware promoted John Falcone to director of merchandising and Steve Poulin to vice president of store operations and named Luis Pedro chief operating ofﬁcer.

• STIHL Inc. has hired Chris Keffer as vice president sales and marketing.

• Stanley Black & Decker has named Don Allan Jr. CEO in addition to his title as president.

• Meagan McCoy Jones has been named president and CEO of McCoy’s Building Supply, succeeding her father, Brian McCoy, as CEO.

• Randy Grill has been named president of Jenkins Lumber & Hardware in Alpine, Wyo.

Ryan Heine

Jean Fahy

Chris Keffer

• Apex Tool Group hired William Burke III to senior vice president and president of North American hand tools.

• Ace Hardware Corp. elected Kirsten Pellicer, owner of Ace Hardware in Longmont, Colo., to her ﬁrst term on the company’s board of directors.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Transformco held liquidation sales and closed 90 Sears Hometown stores across the U.S.

IN MEMORY:

• John Fix Jr., who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, passed away May 17 at the age of 92. He ran his family’s hardware store, Century Club member Cornell’s Hardware in Eastchester, N.Y., until retiring in 2010 at age 80. In 1992, John received the Golden Hammer Award for 50 years of service in the hardware industry. He is survived by his wife, Mary, his children John Fix III (Judy), Mary Beth Fix Wellington, Michael Fix and Kate Fix (Jason Summers); 3 siblings and 6 grandchildren. To read more, click here.

business career as a salesman in the company’s international division in 1949. He would go on to serve as the third president and second chairman of the company started by his grandfather in 1905. To read more, click here.

• Nicholas Mans, thirdgeneration owner of Mans Lumber Co. in Michigan, passed away May 14 at the age of 85.

• Robert Hudson Jr., fourth-generation chairman emeritus of Century Club member H.D. Hudson Mfg. Co. in Chicago, passed away June 24 at the age of 94. He began his

• Milton Kuball, who owned and operated Kasson Hardware Hank and Pine Island Hardware Hank in Minnesota with his wife Nancy, passed away May 23 at the age of 78.

• Clyde Cameron, who founded Cameron’s Hardware in 1954 with his father, passed away June 26 at the age of 97.

• Harold “Bud” Priestley, former owner of Greenville True Value Hardware in Greenville, N.C., passed away June 17 at the age of 91.

FOR THE FULL STORY:

• CNRG acquiring 4 McCoy’s Building Supply stores. Click here.

• Don Wolf posthumously honored by BBBSA. Click here.

• Hardlines Distribution Alliance holds GMC. Click here.

• EISENWARENMESSE –International Hardware Fair 2022 returns in Germany. Click here.

• US LBM to acquire FoxworthGalbraith Lumber Co. Click here.

Nicholas Mans

Robert Hudson Jr. John Fix Jr.

UPCOMING EVENTS

AUGUST

Ace Hardware Fall Convention

August 16-18, McCormick Place, Chicago

Emery Jensen Edge Virtual Event

Begins August 15

Orgill Online Fall Buying Event

August 15-26

The Hardware Conference

August 19-21, JW Marriott, Marco Island, Fla.

SEPTEMBER

Blish-Mize Fall Dealer Market

September 16-17, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, Kan.

Do it Best Fall Market

September 9-12, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis

Eisenwarenmesse International Hardware Fair

September 25-28, Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany

Home Hardware Fall Dealer Market

September 23-25, Enercare Centre, Toronto

Horizon Distribution Fall Dealer Market

September 9-11, Yakima Convention Center, Yakima, Wash.

Lumbermen’s Association of Texas 136th Convention & Expo

September 12-14, Omni Frisco Hall, Frisco, Texas

True Value Fall Reunion

September 16-18, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colo.

Wallace Hardware Fall Dealer Market

September 27-29, Sevierville Events Center, Sevierville, Tenn.

OCTOBER

Equip Exposition / GIE+Expo 2022

October 19-21, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky.

House-Hasson Hardware Virtual Fall Market

October 3-7

LMC Expo

October 12-14, Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia

Taiwan Hardware Show

October 19-21, Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

NOVEMBER

Epicor Insights 2022 Building Supply User Conference

November 14-16, Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Hardlines Distribution Alliance 2023 Executive Planning Conference

November 15-17, LaPaloma Resort & Spa, Tucson, Ariz.

NAWLA Traders Market

November 9-11, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix

For a complete listing of calendar dates, click here.

A Fun WAy to Build teAm

CAmArAderie

In today’s environment, there’s considerable competition for top talent. Smart retailers know that retaining their best staff is critical to their success. They also know it’s not just about the paycheck. Today’s top performers often look for and appreciate recognition for a job well done.

Century Club retailer Marcus Lumber Company, with two Do it Best stores in Iowa, has found a fun way to spotlight outstanding performance with creative one-of-a-kind awards that they promote to the team and on their social media.

When a salesperson sold a record amount of corrugated steel for one job, he was presented with the Man of Steel trophy. Another team member who sold a high number of deck projects received the Deck Dominator award. When the team went through training on their new Spruce POS system, the winner of the post-training quiz took home the Spruce Olympics trophy.

At a Ladies’ Night event, one salesperson sold more than 20 toilets and earned the Toilet King of the Midwest award. During a particular cold spell when customers called at all hours because they had no heat, one of their service techs received an “I survived frozen week” shirt.

Recognition awards have been given out sporadically going back nearly a

Upper two: Marcus Lumber gave out the Man of Steel and the Toilet King of the Midwest awards to recognize employees for a job well done.

Middle and Lower: Service tech Jeremy Jensen was recognized with a t-shirt for surviving frozen week, after handling 8 calls of no heat and frozen pipes over a few days, while Tonya was the winner of the Spruce Olympics contest.

decade, according to Grant Leavitt, who is the fourth generation to be involved since his family purchased the business

The Marcus Lumber team recently held a spirited game of Jeopardy with prizes to the winners.

in 1920. “First, we started with a nickname—the Deck Dominator. And someone suggested we come up with a trophy for it. It’s grown from there. My dad (Bob Leavitt) suggested ‘Man of Steel.’ When something significant comes up, we try to recognize employees,” he says.

Leavitt adds, “The main goal is to make them feel part of a team, with camaraderie, that we’re all in this together.” He notes they have two employees who have been with the company more than 40 years.

All employees are eligible for yearend bonuses, and they will arrange for a food truck on occasion just for employees. Cash prizes are offered during the employee Easter egg hunt.

Marcus Lumber does other fun things to build a stronger bond with employees. They take a day and host game shows like Jeopardy or Family Feud. “It might be facts about co-workers or products or company history trivia. We divide into teams of six to eight people and do it for 30 to 45 minutes at a time. It’s a fun thing for everyone,” Leavitt says.

They post these employee recognition events on Facebook as a way of tying into their brand. “Customers will want to shop where the employees are having fun. It breaks down barriers to get female shoppers to consider shopping at a lumberyard,” he says.

Building the BrAnd And BeAutiFying the Community

As part of year-long celebration of its 65th anniversary, Holmes Building Materials in Denham Springs, La., hired two local artists to transform a drab part of their building into a mural that would enhance the community.

As Angela Alessi, who handles marketing and business development for Holmes, explains, they had a building across the street that was used for storage. “It faces a main highway and we realized we weren’t utilizing it to its potential. Considered putting some signage on it, but that’s what everyone does.”

Manager Todd Price recently underwent a leadership program on how the Livingston Parish operates and had come across a mural during a field trip. He wondered wouldn’t it be cool if they had a mural?

Alessi reached out to the arts council and got the name of artist Marita Gentry, who had done the other mural. They started a dialogue in October 2021. “We considered having students do it, but there was a concern over liability working on a 20-foot lift,” Alessi recalls.

Marita went back and forth with Alessi on a number of designs. Alessi stressed that they were not looking to focus on hardware products but more on the store’s long tradition of serving the community. As it got closer to the time to start, Marita expressed reservations about being up high in the lift. She found another artist, Amber Hilbun, and they agreed to work on it together, with Marita handling the lower sections.

The building they would work on is rigid metal, a detail that had been overlooked and which complicated the painting. They had to pressure wash the building and paint it white for a good base. It took an extra two months for the right paint to be available, according to Alessi.

They decided to do a second mural on the other side showing a woman painting—Local People Serving Local People. That mural also shows the Holmes secondary logo and their website address.

Marita and Amber started working on the murals on April 20 and the project was completed on May 9. Everything was painted by hand. “It looked like graffiti when they first did the basic outline sketches. Marita promised that was just an outline and it would look good in the end. The next day it started to come together. I would check it everyday and learned to trust the process,” Alessi says.

With help from local mural artists, Holmes Building Materials transformed a drab wall into a piece of art that enhances the community while promoting their brand. Photo credit: Lee Alessi, Crown Professional Services

Left: The other side of the building features a mural of a woman painting, which reinforces Holmes Building Materials as a place for women d-i-yers to shop.

Right: Angela Alessi of Holmes Building Materials (center) poses with mural artists Marita Gentry (right) and Amber Hilbun.

Within four days, everyone in the community was getting excited, because they could see it from the highway. Marita was posting daily updates on Facebook. “It was amazing how the community got involved. It was phenomenal—turned out better than we could’ve hoped for,” Alessi says. “We’ve had lots of great feedback from customers and employees enjoy seeing it every day.” n

Behind the Numbers

19.7%

Yearover-year increase in residential renovation and maintenance spending as it peaks in the third quarter of this year, followed by a slight drop to 15.1% in Q1 2023, according to the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

20.6%

Home price appreciation in March 2022, the largest jump in three decades, with record-high appreciation rates in 67 of the top 100 housing markets, according to “The State of the Nation’s Housing 2022” report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

$254,900

Median wealth for homeowner households compared to the $6,270 median wealth for renter households, according to “The State of the Nation’s Housing 2022” report.

30%

Percentage of U.S. households paying over one-third of their income for housing, up 1.5 points, according to “The State of the Nation’s Housing 2022” report.

1.1 Million

Number of single-family housing starts in 2021, the first time over the millionunit mark in 13 years. Multifamily starts were at a 30-year high, according to “The State of the Nation’s Housing 2022” report.

869

Ace Hardware’s score for customer satisfaction, highest among home improvement retailers for the 15th time in 16 years, according to the J.D. Powers 2022 U.S. Home Improvement Retailers Satisfaction Study™.