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HCN’s 2014Hardware StoreAll StarsBy HCN Staff201 4HARDWARTSARE S T O R E ALLSAll-Star performance comes in manyflavors, but it always includes a heavy dose ofcustomer service, innovation and growth. Here andon the following pages, HCN recognizes highperformance independent retailers and the resultsof the HCN 2014 Hardware Store All-Star search —50 stores in 50 states.N Alabama: Lincoln Hardware & Supply, LincolnN Alaska: Sentry Hardware, North Pole and FairbanksN Arizona: Findysz Ace Hardware, TucsonN Arkansas: Hipp Modern Builders Supply, MountainviewN California: Bay Hardware, Seal BeachN Colorado: Steamboat Ace Hardware, Steamboat SpringsN Connecticut: Wilton Hardware, WiltonN Delaware: Baker’s Hardware, MillsboroN Florida: Shell Lumber & Hardware, MiamiN Georgia: Stone’s Home Center, QuitmanN Hawaii: HPM Building Supply, Multiple locationsN Idaho: Pro X Home Center, Bonners FerryN Illinois: Geneva Ace Hardware, GenevaN Indiana: Stevenson’s Ace Hardware, CrawfordsvilleN Iowa: Steve’s Ace Home & Garden, DubuqueN Kansas: Strasser Hardware, Kansas CityN Kentucky: Benton Hardware, BentonN Louisiana: Vidrine’s Ace Hardware, Ville PlatteN Maine: Paris Farmer’s Union, Multiple locationsN Maryland: Courtland Hardware, Bel Air and FallstonN Massachusetts: O’Connor Hardware and Rental, BillericaN Michigan: Rylee’s Ace Hardware, Grand RapidsN Minnesota: Marvin Home Center, WarroadN Mississippi: Huntington Lumber & Supply Co., HazlehurstN Missouri: King City Lumber Co., King CityN Montana: Triple “S” Building Center, ButteN Nebraska: Mead Lumber, Nebraska CityN Nevada: Big R, WinnemuccaN New Hampshire: Caron Building Center, BerlinN New Jersey: Colmar Home Center, Margate CityN New Mexico: BTU Do it Center, Las VegasN New York: H.G. Page and Sons Home and Hardware, LagrangevilleN North Carolina: True Value of Concord, ConcordN North Dakota: Badlands Do it Best Hardware, Watford CityN Ohio: Nutter Hardware, Upper ArlingtonN Oklahoma: Gordon White Lumber, DavisN Oregon: Madrona Hills Ace Hardware, SalemN Pennsylvania: Stanley’s Hardware, PhiladelphiaN Rhode Island: Damon’s Hardware Inc., WakefieldN South Carolina: Paradise Home Center, UnionN South Dakota: Custer True Value, CusterN Tennessee: Anderson Lumber Company, AlcoaN Texas: Cox Hardware & Lumber, HoustonN Utah: Horseshoe Mountain Home Center, Mt. PleasantN Vermont: The Pick & Shovel, NewportN Virginia: Page Co-Op Farm Bureau Inc., LurayN Washington: Windsor Plywood, BellinghamN West Virginia: General Building Supply, HuntingtonN Wisconsin: Scholze Ace Home Center, Black River FallsN Wyoming: True Value of Rawlins, Rawlins

AlabamaLincoln Hardware & Supply* Lincoln, AlabamaIn 2009, Lincoln Hardware was namedPRO Retailer of the Year by Long-LewisHardware Company. In 2014, it got the attention of HCN through multiple nominationsand a strong showing of support from itsbusiness partners. A willingness to innovateand a basic integrity has gone a long way forowners Thomas and Elizabeth Heath.AlaskaSentry HardwareNorth Pole and Fairbanks, AlaskaHunting supplies, fishing rods and InteriorAlaska’s largest selection of fasteners bolsterthe All-Star status of Sentry Hardware, suited to the unique needs ofAlaskan customers. The retailer’s*Wooly Rhino division purveysperformance apparel for theAlaskan female DIYer.ArizonaFindysz Ace HardwareTucson, ArizonaOwner Joe Findysz has a knackfor niches: a 7,000-sq.-ft. hobbyshop, a 10,000-sq.-ft. housewaresdepartment(with a fully functional*kitchen), and a full-service smallengine repair shop. Plus, the store ison pace to sell 5,000 live chicks this year.*ArkansasHipp ModernBuilders SupplyMountainview, ArkansasFourth-generation retailer Gentry Hipp isthe harbinger of a new era for the Hipp business,working the channels of social media to maximize marketing and market share. You can evenwatch the 2014 HCN Tools of the Trade honoreein action through the store’s all-hours webcam.CaliforniaBay HardwareSeal Beach, CaliforniaGood things come in small packages,and great locations. Bay Hardware,measuring in at under 3,000 sq. ft.,brings in 1.2 million a year — andin a small town by the beach atthat. When you consider thefive-star service, selection*and the staff’s willingness toHOMECHANNELNEWS.comgo out of their way for their customers, theperformance rates “All Star.”*ColoradoSteamboat AceHardwareSteamboat Springs,ColoradoAn honoree of Ace’s Coolest Hardware Storesroundup for 2014, Steamboat Ace Hardwarelooks the part with its log cabin exterior,which features two covered patios and a20-ft. water wheel in a nod to the regionalheritage. It also donates more than 70,000each year to various community groups.NENEW!EW!ConnecticutWilton HardwareWilton, ConnecticutIt weathered the storm, and now it thrives.Owner Tom Sato saw to it that his customerswere taken care of in the days leading upto Hurricane Sandy — even though it hadoriginally planned its grand opening for afew days later. True Value considers Wiltona “store of future,” touting its flexible pickupand delivery options.*DelawareBaker’s HardwareMillsboro, DelawareA “traditional” hardware store, Baker’srecent conversion to Ace brought with it anexpanded paint, tool, hardware, and lawnand garden offering. The store’s additionaloutpost by the name of Baker’s Power & Turfcarries a full-service outdoor power equipment dealership, boasting enviable inventoryand selection.*FloridaShell Lumber & HardwareMiamiIt’s something of a feat to be one of a smallhandful of independent hardware stores stillstanding in Miami, let alone one of thetop-rated on Yelp. Hence the All-Star titlefor Shell Lumber & Hardware, a storefor its old-fashioned charm,* knownmodern service and smart selection.GeorgiaStone’s Home CenterQuitman, GeorgiaJim Stone’s first store went up in1959. Today, the 10-location chainis running on its third generation,*EEllmmer’s Carpenter’s Color ChangeWoWokouutoutItt gyyoouu’’lll knonow eexxacxaaccctltltly whenwhheenn yoouur fillllerwer isreadready ttoo sanand ana d ppaaiinntt. Or chchooosese thheeforrmfomuulla ththatt dririesrieess to a naattuuraraall wowoodwoododttoonene foorr sttaaaininning.inngg.1THE#WOODDFILLER*BRANDFIND IT ATA HARDWARERETAILERNEAR YOU.*based on 2011/2012 U.S. Sales Dataseptember 2014 17

Steamboat Ace Hardware,Steamboat Springs, Coloradohas paid off big time for Pro X Home Center, whichnow houses a new double drive-through lumbershed and additional property. The growth will continue next year, as recently purchased property for aplanned expansion shows confidence in the future.*with strong links to its Georgia and North Floridacommunities. Cases in point: the Hunter’s Night Outevent in the fall, animal shelter and pet adoptionefforts and childhood cancer research campaigns.HawaiiHPM Building Supply(Multiple locations)With five Hawaii locations, Big Island’s HPM (HawaiiPlaning Mill) brings the All-Star traits of growth18 september 2014and service. A recent expansion has extended thedealer’s reach to Oahu, Maui and Kauai. That’s goodnews for those communities, as the HPM Foundationhas donated more than 50,000 annually to* 11 different non-profit organizations.IdahoPro X Home CenterBonners Ferry, IdahoA doubling-down on marketing effortsIllinoisGeneva Ace HardwareGeneva, IllinoisHaving recently reopened under newownership, Geneva’s Ace outpost isturning heads for its quality of service,knowledgeable staff and inviting layout, as wellas its willingness to pioneer new products andpilot new co-op programs. A tendency to guidecustomers from start to finish on their projectsplaces this store in All-Star territory.IndianaStevenson’s Ace Hardware* Crawfordsville, IndianaStevenson’s holds its own against someof the biggest big-box names in the industry, and it’s also the first Ace to includea Sears Hometown Store inside its four walls. ButHOMECHANNELNEWS.com

the work of an All Star is never finished — thecompany added 2,000 sq. ft. of selling space and4,000 new items in the past year.*IowaSteve’s Ace Home & GardenDubuque, IowaAmong Ace’s Coolest HardwareStores of 2014 is Steve’s Ace Home & Garden,which manages to bring together a baby gearstore, flower section, gift shop, grilling supplies, wine and cheese outpost, three greenhouses, a nursery area and more — all underone happening roof.*KansasStrasser HardwareKansas City, KansasIn the same location for the past90 years, Strasser leads the market in powertools and Stihl equipment. At 40,000 sq. ft., thisTrue Value All Star carries hard-to-find items ina format described as a sort of cross betweenhome center and industrial hardware dealer.HOMECHANNELNEWS.comKentuckyBenton Hardware*Benton, KentuckyRecognized by Marshall County readers as thearea’s “No. 1” hardware store, Benton Hardwarehas the traditional strengths — paint, electrical,plumbing — combined with modern, local marketing. Check out its Ice Bucket Challenge entryon its robust Facebook page.level), owner Cody Vidrine does things like nab therunner-up title for outstanding Business Person ofthe Year.MaineParis Farmer’s Union(Multiple locations)Serving the farm and ranch needs ofMaine, New Hampshire and Vermont isLouisianaVidrine’s AceHardwareVille Platte, LouisianaRecent winner ofVille Platte’soutstanding*businessaward,Vidrine’s is a community stalwart. Whenhe’s not coaching thehigh school baseballteam (sometimes tostate championshipFrom left: Andy Eckman,store manager, andTom Sato, owner, ofWilton Hardware,Wilton, Connecticutseptember 2014 19

Paris Farmer’s Union, which was incorporatedin Maine in the year of 1919. Still going strongin 2014, the retailer consistently competeson price and value, and it knows how to helpnovices and seasoned pros alike.*MarylandCourtland HardwareBel Air and Fallston, MarylandBig years for Courtland Hardware include 1883,the year of its founding; and 2013, the year itremodeled to Destination True Value. So far,sales are up 35% year-to-date. Empowering itsemployees is a key to this All-Star store’s success — leading to better decisions on the salesfloor, and longer-tenured staff.*MassachusettsO’Connor Hardware and RentalBillerica, MassachusettsThis 65,000-sq.-ft. store is big in a lot of ways.A sophisticated lawn-and-garden business (it’sone of the top Scotts dealers in all of New England)works in concert with strong paint and rentaldepartments. The True Value store sends directmail circulars every two weeks to 50,000 people,and promotes itself on cable TV each morning.MichiganRylee’s Ace HardwareGrand Rapids, MichiganAs a cream-of-the-crop Ace*“Coolest Hardware Store,”Rylee’s serves its community ina number of ways, including buying and sellingused ice skates and hosting free weekly cookingdemonstrations in its kitchen. This All Star hasa serious side, too: over-investing in emergencysupplies to make sure its community is preparedfor the worst.*MinnesotaMarvin Home CenterWarroad, MinnesotaLocated in Hockey Town, USA,Marvin Home Center skates not tothe puck, but to where the puck is going. It keepsits mix fresh with plumbing, sporting goods, tools,cabinets, lawn and garden, housewares and rentalequipment in a 50,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art facility. The United Hardware member has been servingthe 1,800-population community since 1912.MississippiHuntington Lumber & Supply Co.Hazlehurst, MississippiHuntington Lumber’s new third-generation owners came in at a pivotal timefor the business. The store had just consolidatedinto a single location, and brothers John and DavidHuntington decided to make room for growth. Anadditional 12,000 sq. ft. and 24,000 SKUs later,the brothers have an All-Star destination that’salso female-friendly.**MissouriKing City Lumber Co.King City, MissouriIt wasn’t that long ago that King CityStone’s Home CenterQuitman, Georgia20 september 2014HOMECHANNELNEWS.com