HBSDEALER HARDWARE + BUILDING SUPPLY
From the Editor
Hardware + Building Supply Dealer An EnsembleIQ Publication 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631 hbsdealer.com HBSDealer On The Web • HBSDealer Info Services
Raise high the new bar, retailers
I
t’s not easy being a successful hardware store these days. And we’re not even taking about supply chains or labor shortages. We’re talking about the challenge of competing in an environment of big billion-dollar boxes and the all-Amazon all-the-time consumer mindset. Here’s how Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. CEO John Venhuizen described the situation back in March at the co-op’s convention in Las Vegas: The consumer’s shopping experience, Venhuizen explained, needs to be so jaw-dropping good, that “shopping at Amazon.com looks shallow, boring and pathetic by comparison. That’s the new bar.”
Eric Squires oversees the Glenville Hardman’s.
And that’s what we’re talking about, beginning on page 15. Our 12 th annual listing of community-focused, service-oriented, growth-minded and innovation-obsessed businesses— one store from each of the 50 states — chronicles the raising high of the new bar. Take our cover model: Hardman’s Hardware of West Virginia. The company didn’t survive and thrive for 115 years and four generations of family ownership by taking it easy. O.R. Hardman’s original
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SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT (HBSDealer, Drug Store News, Chain Store Age) John Kenlon, jkenlon@ensembleiq.com, 212-756-5238
Ken Clark Editor in Chief 1907 agriculture-focused business adapted to challenges over four generations. Now, the seven-location dealer provides expertise on everything from STIHL equipment to countertop installation, from home repair to gifts for Mother’s Day. The Glenville, W. Va. store (on the cover) raised the bar of the shopping experience with a 2019 overhaul and renovation that brought in new fixtures, shelving, countertops and signage (inside and out). The West Virginia All Star features a well-lit power aisle, and a drive-through lumber aisle. Glenville Manager Eric Squires came to his position in 2018, and led the Glenville remodel effort. “I love working at Hardman’s,” he told HBSDealer. That kind of enthusiasm is a basic ingredient for a STIHL Hardware Store All Star. When asked for the business’s greatest strength, Hardman’s Chief Marketing Officer Kimberly Hardman answered quickly: “Our employees.” She added: “We have quite a few that have been here more than 10 years, and others that are retiring out after 30 or 35 years. That’s something we’re really proud of. “Our biggest thing that we try to live by is the idea of ‘It’s our family serving yours.’ We think of our employees as our family, but then we also think of our customers as family. And we want to treat them the way that you would expect your family to be treated. With respect, and just take care of them.” Congratulations to Hardman’s Hardware and the entire class of 2022 STIHL Hardware All Stars. The class varies widely in size and scope, but they’re all raising the bar of retail excellence. Have you seen All Star performance? Let us know at news@hbsdealer.com.
May 2022 HARDWARE + BUILDING SUPPLY DEALER
EDITOR IN CHIEF Ken Clark kclark@ensembleiq.com, 212-756-5139 LBM EDITOR Andy Carlo acarlo@ensembleiq.com, 845-891-5108 HARDWARE EDITOR Tim Burke tburke@ensembleiq.com, 773-216-7880 ADVERTISING SALES
Midwest & Southeastern States ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Platter Grant agrant@ensembleiq.com, 773-294-8598 Northeast and Great Lakes States REGIONAL MANAGER Greg Cole gcole@ensembleiq.com, 317-775-2206 AUDIENCE
LIST RENTAL MeritDirect Marie Briganti 914-309-3378 SUBSCRIBER SERVICES/CUSTOMER CARE TOLL-FREE: 1-877-687-7321 FAX: 1-888-520-3608 contact@hbsdealer.com PRODUCTION/ART
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Michael Kimpton mkimpton@ensembleiq.com, 647-557-5075 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Colette Magliaro cmagliaro@ensembleiq.com ART DIRECTOR Bill Antkowiak bantkowiak@ensembleiq.com TOP WOMEN IN HARDWARE & BUILDING SUPPLY NOV. 8-9 2022, CHICAGO, ILL. WWW.HBSDTOPWOMEN.COM/2022 CONTACT: AMY PLATTER GRANT agrant@ensembleiq.com, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Levi Smith, CEO, Franklin Building Supply Cally Fromme, VP of communication and culture, Kodiak Building Partners Steve Sallah, CEO, LBM Advantage Wendy Whiteash, EVP of culture, US LBM Holdings Tom Cost, owner, Killingworth True Value Brad McDaniel, owner, McDaniel’s Do it Center Joe Kallen, CEO, Busy Beaver Building Centers Permissions: No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For reprints, permissions and licensing, please contact Wright’s Media at ensembleiq@wrightsmedia.com or (877) 652-5295.
CORPORATE OFFICERS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jennifer Litterick CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jane Volland CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Ann Jadown EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CONTENT Joe Territo EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS Derek Estey
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