r IDEA File

Awash in Quirky Diversity

Although Wal-Mart has unnounced plans to move in across the street, Intown Ace Hardware, Decatur, Ga., has already fought off Home Depot, Builders Square, and other big boxes competition by stressing eclectic products and promotions that appeal to the funky tastes of its hometown.

There are Adirondack chairs in sherbet colors, Decatur-logoed license plates and apparel, art supplies, toys, kitchen gadgets, eco-friendly products, and fun events like a staff Pirate Day.

An old-fashioned cart near the front register serves up fresh popcorn.

"I never thought I would have a hardware store with two lines of perfume and seven lines of organic candles," noted co-owner Tony Powers. "Costume jewelry is also hot. I never thought this would be who we are."

The store is a big sponsor of local youth teams, school auctions, and community fundraisers-stocking a year-round supply ofGirl Scout cookies.

The key is adapting. Quickly. Since Home Depot arrived, Intown has stopped selling lawn mowers and standard barbecue grills. Instead, the move opened up floor space for building materials for use in chicken coops and school gardens.

"We're going after unique," Powers said. "Topiaries and specimen plants-we just sold a couple of $400 trees. More organic and more local products. Wal-Mart can't adapt to that quickly or at all."

Its co-op, Ace Hardware, is also taking notice, recently recognizing Intown as one of six "Coolest Hardware Stores" in the U.S., describing it as "smalltown America meets modern in the heart of Atlanta."

Distribution Management Systems lnc. [www.dmsi.com]'..".""35

Everwood Treatment Co. [www.everwood treatment.com].......,21 ldaho Forest Group [www.idahoforestgroup.com] ..........,..,..'...'27 Intefor [www.interfor.com],..... .............,...............33

Lumbermens Association of Texas [www,lat.org] .....,.............'..39

Maxitile [www.maxitile.com]...,.............. .................7

Nordic Engineered Wood Products [www.nordicewp.com].........3

Pacific Goast Cedar [www.pacific-coast.ca] .............................'..31

Potlatch [www.potlatchcorpcom] ..........,..,,.......30

Ray White 1umber.......,.,.. ........."'..4

Simpson Strong-Tie [www.strongtie.com]........................."C0ver I

Skyreach L&S Extrusions Gorp. [www.skyreachls.com] ..........."5

Smith Millwork [www.smithmillwork.com]..,.........,..................'..'38

Snider Industries [www.sniderindustries.com] ,...............'.".......43

Southern Forest Products Association [www.sfpa.org] .'..'.""."42

Swanson Group Sales Co. [www.swansongroupinc.com].'...'...29

Tristate Lumber [www.homanindustries.com],...............'..'."..".23

Universal Forest Products [www.prowoodlumber.com] ...........8-9