Issue 5, 2021

Issue 5 | 2021

with an Eye on Design

Creating a Market trends show home improvement businesses will need to adapt to an evolving
Memorable set of challenges, from changing demographics and customer expectations to
increased competition. Millennials, for example, are quickly moving into home

Shopping ownership in a big way. Known as the fixer-upper generation, they are looking to
Experience engage with top brands, purposeful purchases and expert advice. But successful stores
must still appeal to their pros and contractors, female shoppers, and families if they’re

going to continue to drive sales. That’s why we’re pleased to introduce a new store

design option to help Do it Best store owners like you meet your customers where

they are and when they’re ready to shop. This new design option is built around

the themes of time, service, ease, experience, and a sense of home. Here’s an overview of how all the colors and

components work together to draw in more customers and get them to spend more time shopping at your store.

This exciting new store design concept will be featured in the May issues of Hardware Retailing and Building
Products Digest. You’ll want to read how member-owners Mike and Brenda MacKay have taken Vassar Building
Center to new heights with their new store.

We encourage you to make plans now to attend the fall market (September 27-30) in Indianapolis to
learn more about this new store design option and how it can help you drive growth in the years ahead.

Colors The Color Bar™ Wayfinding

Inside and Out The store design coordinates well with Department
The Color Bar, allowing it to still stand signage makes
The new store color out as a destination department. the shopping
palette embraces a experience
simple, traditional, and intuitive for the customer with the use of
residential aesthetic. recognizable icons, helping them find their
Warm tones and way and navigate the store
familiar materials with ease.
create an inviting
space that feels fresh
when paired with

contrasting
colors.

Interior

Vignettes Ceiling Heritage and Service and
Clouds Brand Story Promotions
A new vignette
system focuses on These overhead Local and Your exceptional service
products (seasonal, grids create heritage signage level is spotlighted with
niche, or traditional) focal points to is an opportunity yellow components
that feature help lead the for you to strategically placed
stories to inspire shopper through display content throughout the store.
and motivate the the space. celebrating the Promotional areas are
shopper. heritage and highlighted with the use
Primary Departments longevity of your of red to grab attention
business. and encourage impulse
Destinations are created by developing primary buying.
departments, allowing you to highlight categories
you’re known for and have expertise in.

Featured Endcaps

The endcap system can tell various stories about
brand, price, or product and introduces the
opportunity to emphasize specific
vendor brands.

Exterior
A successful store
Key Entrance Store Name exterior acts
Departments as a billboard
A bold and Your store name, and encourages
Universal icons complementary featured against your customers
indicate core product red awning a contemporary to come inside.
categories customers creates a gray background, is We’re introducing
will find inside. welcoming entry positioned off-center modern design
to your store. as a key focal point elements, colors,
with a and materials to
refreshed create a memorable
Do it Best impression.
logo.

COST OF DOING BUSINESS

Identify growth opportunities

The NHPA’s annual Cost of Doing Business Survey delivers data and insights
that allow you to increase profits and strategize for your financial future and
success. Get started today.

MEMBERS BLIFFERT LUMBER (Milwaukee, WI) BROWNSBORO HARDWARE
National Hardwood Magazine takes a look (Louisville, KY)

IN THE at Bliffert Lumber’s 100+ years in business Read how this store continues to drive
and how they’ve thrived in serving the sales, excite customers, and connect with
their community.
DO INT BEESWT RSEPORT hardwood needs of their market.

We’re posting content

T daily that highlights our
company’s achievements

Kentucky’s hardwareand members’ successes.
Be sure to Find, Friend &
Follow us on Facebook,

front runnerLinkedIn, and Twitter.

ooks to break theLouisville’s Brownsboro Hardware & Paint sets the
barrierpace with customer service and e-commerce.
By AnDdOyITCBaErSloT neigFhObOoDrhToRoUdCsKinS H & H HOME & HARDWARE

HBSDealer recaps the Do it Best Spring the cFoitoyd. tIrnucrkescperonvte to be a popular draw (Marion, KY)

er center stage for co-op.Jim anMdarkMetaarnidlytnheLkeichkorfef mr ebsescagaemfreomthe yearosu,tsaidseBhoromwe nimspbroovreoment stores. A quick paint smudge turned into a
ownersDaonfSLtoarur.isville-based Brownsboro
Hardware & Paint in June 1998. has adjusted to the community art project that’s now in its
And since the day they bought the
hmaavreksebhte,oenrnetawbgrboerusagnahdntsd a supply chain second year.

that was
location, a focus has been placed on on bodaisrdruinpcteluddionrgcaught off guard by the
staff and customer service. Jim Lehrer produdcetms faronmdsYoefti,the pandemic.
says the company’s initiatives have The BigSGtarrereonffEegregd, praise to the co-op’s
helped ensure Brownsboro’s success. TaprnicaLkuae-psguuegtgepmpoyrraeo,agpdansdrelrdooisltwlchydsfehei,leaoielaldilevwlsneyeidaitrondyleeSngixprsT’.psrttoI“haaHwOgnneLredcuafb.eermrsoddtistnoce.at uprnrleibnfdcoseeickdisvuee,esedmpisainsoHOagkawndreentdmhedtwhroea-Jneriesmt&raLPteiahoirnnetar.t(aBbroovwen) slebaodros
The Kentucky dealer has been
recognized by HBSDealer twice as a AlthsouupgphlByrocwhansinb,owrohmicighhthbaesvbieeweendgre“aWtleyhad a great year in 2020 and
Hardware All-Star, first in 2011 and
then again in 2020.
“Having plenty of great staff to help as a tirmadpitaiocntael dnebigyhbthoerhopoadnhdaerdmwicareand redceomradnd was way up,” Lehrer explains.
folks find what they need and get on to storehtoigthhedceamsuaanl odbsinerbveor,the-hcoamrdmlinerecse an“dThe supply chain was very challenging
their project is essential,” Lehrer told oplma“ySnseiclbuallheimnbDatgitngobenwerrieotirpltlBehasaaienornltsdeuittosrs’bsfpasuaadluoirciltnyrdncegeieecnasrwtgsrsoi.tntrm hhoorasowfetuce,ll”goirnhihmagelsmsfuaonirditatci.mnhaBdeetriowoswnoeunssrspcbeinongrtopairssoidgaunlscifoitc.”laonotkainmgotuont of
HBSDealer. “We try to meet people at
htehceod-oopoirn,theendlps tthoeremtuarnsseensmsatshseeirtoneeds

HANDYMAN HARDWARE HEMLOCK HARDWARE (Fairfield, CT) HOME DELIVERY SERVICES
(St. Cloud, FL)
Owner Scott Pesavento did everything he The pandemic made home delivery an
Learn more about Rick Heuser and the deep could to support employees and the local even more important part of the service
roots he’s established in his community. community of Fairfield as area businesses experience. These members adapted
struggled through the pandemic. quickly.

KREMPP LUMBER CO. (Jasper, IN) MILLER’S HARDWARE (Spokane, WA) PIONEER HARDWARE
(Beverly Hills, CA)
Read how this Midwest dealer has quietly This store builds customer loyalty by
earned a top industry award. partnering with other local businesses to A reporter for the Los Angeles Times
provide comprehensive services. ventures out to explore an iconic
SIMONSON LUMBER (St. Cloud, MN) hardware store in the heart of the city.
TAL HOLDINGS
Owner Richard Hobbs took over the St(aOcerHeegstoonn(r&ightW), oawsnehr ionf Sgptookann)e Ace Hardware and Getting the Message Out
family business that his grandpa Nels Partnering with local service providers is also an
started in 1913 and has grown and MStTielAlveerL’SsccHhomarnadutwicnahrue(l,eedftsi)s,cotuwossneeesrxkopnf iSafehnasdhrpartSphteuenffii,nrogngeserorovf iwHceetsshtwonit’hs excellent opportunity for cross-promotions. When you
centralized the business to make it the loscatlrsaetrevicgeyprwoviitdherst.he acquisition of Mount advertise the local service provider and that service
success it is today. Vernon Building Center. provider returns the favor, you both extend your
promotional reach.

Heston uses Facebook to advertise the sharpening
services, and one of the service providers he partners
with lists Miller’s Hardware and Spokane Ace as drop-off
locations on his own business website.

Christofora doesn’t engage in specific cross-promotions
with his local signmaker, but has dedicated a page on the
store’s website to advertise the sign services.

You can leverage the services you offer and the
partnerships you develop with providers to grow overall
sales. Christafora says the signmaker he uses purchases
all his paint from the store and refers customers to
Woodstock Hardware if a customer needs additional
paint or other items for their signs.

Services can consistently bring customers in the door.
For Heston, using the services to attract more customers
to the stores has resulted in more sales.

“Our sharpener has such a strong reputation for quality

wTorHk tOhaRt pNeoEpleLsUeeMk hBimEoRut a(nMd iksnsowouthrait)Miller’s is

where they go for his services, which has helped increase

cuOswtomneerrtrBarnesatcttiTonhsoarnndeovuesraellscuthsteompeor wfloewr,”of
Hreesttoanilsmayse. t“rWicesseteommoroe tpievoaptleevhisiistintgebaomth oafnthde
stgoureisdbeechauissebwuesoifnfeersthse. sharpening services.”