Star Ag Lumber & Hardware

A Retail Star is Born
Star Ag Lumber & Hardware Carves Out a Market Niche
Many retail stores start from modest beginnings, but few can compare to the story of Star Ag Lumber & Hardware in Middlebury, Ind. Here’s how one of the owners, Lavern Yoder, describes the early days of the business: “For the first year we had no building. No one knew we existed. All we had was a tiny shed with four phone lines and a fax line, mainly doing outside sales.”
Star Ag started up two years ago after a close-knit group of friends and family members who ran building-related businesses kept running into the same problem: the area needed a good, reliable source for lumber and building materials.
Yoder, who was doing vinyl fencing work at the time, thought there was an opportunity, as did Jay Graber, who operated Michiana Equipment, which sells poultry and farm equipment and supplies. Other partners include brothers A.J. and Jake Lambright.
The new retailers encountered a number of obstacles early on. The lack of a physical location put them at a decided disadvantage, but their hands were tied. It took 1-1/2 years to get a business permit because Star Ag’s location (adjacent to Michiana Equipment) is literally in the middle of the country. “Everything was stored outside or we borrowed space from Jay,” explains Yoder, who didn’t work full time at the business until this past June.
They tried to join the lumber buying group PAL (Progressive Affiliated Lumbermen), but their membership was refused. A second buying group, ENAP, had never heard of an LBM outlet that didn’t have a physical location, and they also turned down their membership request.
Next they got a cold shoulder when they started looking into hardware suppliers. “We initially contacted Orgill, but no one followed up with us. None of the co-ops would talk to us,” Yoder says.
When Yoder placed a call to House Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s headquarters they put him in touch with regional manager Dave Baumberger. “He said we have a new guy, A.J. Hughes, starting up a new territory in Indiana. I talked to A.J. at 10 a.m. and by 2 o’clock he was at my house. We became his third customer,” he says.
Yoder enjoys lining up vendors and sourcing products. “I had just about everything sourced and House-Hasson was the last primary supplier we sourced. Connecting with them is the best thing that ever happened to us—it gave us a whole new dimension,” he says.
Hughes formerly worked for Lehman’s Hardware, which caters to Amish customers in Ohio, so he knew the type of products Star Ag needed to be selling in Middlebury, which has a large contingent of Amish and Mennonite residents.
“I knew we needed hardware and A.J. understood our needs. He spoiled us. He was very aggressive, but in a good way,” Yoder says. “We couldn’t have asked for a better rep. I had a vision for the business and I’d run ideas by him and he’d say yes or no.”
Yoder says Hughes has gone above and beyond his expectations for service. “A.J. spent the better part of two weeks here helping us set up the store and get situated. I guess he figured it was a long-term investment, because I’m sure there were other things he could’ve been doing. House-Hasson is definitely there for their customers.”
Star Ag held a grand opening September 16-17, and the store was ready…barely “We were stocking shelves the night before. We didn’t have any hardware presence until the grand opening,” says Yoder, who adds that neighbors were surprised a hardware store was open in their midst—“they had no idea what we were up to.”
The store used House Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s circular program to promote the grand opening, which was an unqualified success. “Their grand opening was phenomenal. They’re doing extremely well at the outset,” says Hughes.
A month after their official opening one finds a steady stream of customers coming into the store—a Mennonite farmer looking for an odd-sized fastener, a contractor with a list of items and even customers phoning in large orders.
The vast majority of sales are currently in lumber, but the hardware side is just getting going. They bought the Gray Seal paint display and the Wooster Brush assortment at a recent market, and the merchandise mix is still being fine-tuned.
Yoder goes with House Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s suggested retails on pricing and has adopted the Priced Right Everyday!^® program to project the right price image. Big boxes are six miles away and there’s another hardware store in downtown Middlebury, so they know they are not immune from tough competition.
“We offer quality products at a fair price,” says Yoder, who adds that they only sell #1 Southern Pine and their dimensional lumber is the highest grade. “We don’t want to be known as the ‘seconds’ yard. Our primary customer is doing post-frame or ag building. We’ve done several house packages but that’s not our primary focus,” he adds.
A short-term goal is to hire an outside sales person who calls on contractors and smaller shops who need various products. “To continue growing we’ll have to do something different. But it’s kind of fun to see where we can go with this,” says Yoder, who appreciates that the days of operating out of a shed are finally behind him.
House-Hasson’s next dealer market is scheduled for January 5-7 at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.
In its 105th year of operation, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware serves 17 states, the Caribbean basin, and several other foreign countries. The company is approaching $200 million in annual sales.

The largest independent regional hardware distributor in America. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware is a full service, exclusively wholesale, hardware distributor.

http://www.househasson.com

Shuman Owens Supply-Ready to Serve

Shuman Owens Hardware Store

House-Hasson’s Team Approach Wins Over Shuman-Owens

Tom Bacon has followed a very simple philosophy that has suited him well since he first entered the hardware business at the age of 16 in Pembroke, Ga.—“It’s all about hard work and taking care of customers,” he says.
That’s why it made perfect sense for Tom to turn to House-Hasson Hardware to help him open a third store in West Columbia, S.C., this past year. In House-Hasson, he found a supplier that followed the same principles of working hard and doing whatever was necessary to take care of their customers.
“House-Hasson takes care of any problem that crops up and our salesman, Bill Barnette, is very good,” Tom says. “He’s on top of everything.”
Tom and his wife, Christine oversee the main store on Shop Road in Columbia, while son Wayne manages a second location in Denmark, S.C. The third store is operated by son Mark and his wife, Stephanie.
With a 60-year track record of success, Tom Bacon has continually risen to the challenge of meeting the demands of his customers as well as the arrival of the big-box stores. “We carry a lot of hard-to-find items that the big boxes don’t have,” he says.
The new store was built from the ground up, and House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware played a key role every step of the way. As Tom was evaluating what would be the best company to partner with in his new location, the choice came down to House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware and another wholesaler. When the dust settled and all the facts were on the table, Tom chose to partner with House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware for five key reasons:
1. Representation—Time and time again, Barnette proved to be a valuable asset to the Bacon family. House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware works from a team approach and Barnette brought in House-Hasson’s marketing team to discuss the best steps for Shuman-Owens to take. Discussing everything from circulars, store design and product assortment to pricing, merchandising and fixturing, they worked as a team.
“Everyone at House- Hasson Hardware helped us to make the opening of our third location the best ever,” Tom says. “The grand opening was unbelievable. House-Hasson helped with free door prizes, manufacturer representation and demonstrations. It was the best we have ever had at Shuman-Owens.”
2. Design concept—From the beginning, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware proved to be the better choice. They wanted Shuman-Owens to be the story teller as customers arrived. So armed with surveys, discussions and plans, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware developed a set of blueprints that proved to be the best.
3. Product selection—House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware stated upfront that they wanted to utilize my current inventory in addition to the new inventory they recommended, Tom points out. “Their one-each stocking was a money maker for us and allowed us to restock with A-B items that would turn and minimize our investment,” he adds.
4. Advertising—“House-Hasson’s custom circular is by far the best in the industry. It allows us the flexibility to tell our story with products other than what House-Hasson stocks such as lumber, doors, shingles and countertops,” says Mark, who adds that it has proven to be an attention grabber at the new location. “Matter of fact, it has caused great concern with our competition such as Ace, Lowe’s and Home Depot, who have sent management to shop and take pictures. When they do that I believe they are concerned.”
5. Support—“No doubt about it House-Hasson is one of the best supporting companies we do business with,” Mark says. “Whether it’s promotion, product, delivery, special orders, commodities, buying or customer service, House-Hasson is a great, team-oriented company.”
The new store’s 5,500-square-foot salesfloor is kept sparkling clean with all merchandise fronted and no holes on the shelves. Stephanie says they get a lot of compliments from customers on the look of the store, so they make sure it looks as fresh as the first day they opened.
According to Mark, the family started planning for the new store about a year ago. “We just felt the area needed a hardware store and we found a great location that was near a busy intersection,” he says. House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware researched the demographics, which showed there was good market potential.
The store opened up in May and held a grand opening event on July 4^th weekend that attracted a packed crowd. They have been pleased with traffic so far, and Stephanie says they plan to start experimenting with Facebook to further promote the business.
Customers quickly discover that Shuman-Owens offers product breadth and friendly, knowledgeable service and that they will find solutions to their customers’ problems even if it may be out of the norm. That’s also meant stocking what makes sense for the trade area. “My dad would never dream of selling bird seed, but Bill suggested we add it to the inventory and we’ve sold a lot of it,” Mark points out.
Adopting House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s Priced Right Everyday!^® program ensures the store projects an image for having competitive prices. “Most of the time we handle pricing and merchandising, but Bill points things out to us,” says Tom, whose future plans include opening up one more store for another son, Adam.
The Bacon family has established a unique source of revenue. Taking advantage of the fact the main store is located across the street from the University of South Carolina football stadium, they use their store’s parking lot and charge fans for parking. “If it’s game day, you know where to find us,” Tom jokes.
House-Hasson’s next dealer market is scheduled for January 5-7 at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.
In its 105th year of operation, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware serves 17 states, the Caribbean basin, and several other foreign countries. The company is approaching $200 million in annual sales.
http://www.facebook.com/househasson
http://www.househasson.com

Shaw Building Supply-Re-Generation

Shaw Building Supply Boosts Sales by Expanding Hardware Offerings

On Mt. Olive Road, about 12 miles north of Birmingham, Ala., Willard Shaw stood eyeing his pocket watch and counting the passing cars. Every minute, about six cars would roll down the road. Good enough, Willard thought. With that kind of traffic, he believed it would be a good place to open a building supply store, and the grand opening was November 16, 1974. Since then, Shaw Building Supply has become a multi-million dollar, multi-generational family business.
Willard Shaw passed away in 1991, yet his family business legacy continues. Just about every member of the Shaw family is involved in the business, including Willard’s wife, Evelyn, son Herbert (who recently retired), son Jerry and his wife Cathey McCluskey Shaw, daughter Tracy Shaw, and daughter Nelda Butler and her husband Jim Butler.
The next generation of the Shaw family has also started working at the company and it includes Jerry and Cathey’s daughter Catherine Price and her husband Robert Price, and Nelda and Jim’s daughter, Caroline Cummings.
And just as the family grew, so did the company. For decades, the company enjoyed steadily increasing revenues, topping $12 million in 2006. Then came the economic downturn. Like so many other retailers across the country, Shaw Building Supply was hit hard—perhaps even a bit harder because the bulk of their business relied on housing starts, which dropped to near zero in just a few months.
“Housing is a big part of our business and when the housing starts dropped off, our trucks weren’t moving,” Cathey says. “It was the first time we had to lay off anyone, ever.”
In response to the economic downturn, the store shut down a lumberyard and reduced inventory. The store also cut the number of employees. At its height, the store had 40 employees and now employs about 25. The business now needed to rely more on hardware.
When the business first opened in 1974, it offered contracting services and lumber with a minimal hardware selection. After about seven years, the store introduced its first full line, and now hardware accounts for about 40 percent of the business.
When the company’s main hardware supplier, Moore-Handley, was acquired by House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware in 2009, it led the Shaws to explore their options. To make the climate a little tougher, it was about this time that Lowe’s opened a store about eight miles south.
“When Lowe’s first opened, a lot of our walk-in business disappeared,” says Jerry, who adds that the family quickly realized that their new distributor would need expertise on competing with the big boxes.
After evaluating several wholesaler suppliers, the Shaw family decided the House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware program fit their needs the best. Adds Jerry, “And when we looked at the final line, House-Hasson had better prices.”
House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware believed the store could benefit from a resetting, a rejuvenated advertising campaign and an evaluation of in-store pricing. “It took a while for us to decide how to proceed with House-Hasson and they were very patient and came up with solutions that worked for us,” Jerry says.
During the course of three months this past summer, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware helped the Shaws redesign the store, beef up the assortment, add new merchandise and adjust pricing.
“House-Hasson really helped us with our displays and restocking,” Cathey says “We just had a bare minimum. Because we didn’t have that much on our shelves, word got out that we were going out of business. That obviously wasn’t the case, but it’s about perception. We weren’t providing the right perception.”
The Shaws appreciated how House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware was able to tailor the remerchandising to the needs of the business. “House-Hasson worked with us and used shelves we had,” Cathey says. “We couldn’t have done the reset if they didn’t work with us. They really bent over backward to help.”
Along with redesigning some endcaps, one of biggest changes in the store was creating a display wall of power tools. Previously, the tools were on shelves in the middle of aisles. “Before the reset, some customers didn’t even know we sold power tools,” admits Robert, who points out that power tool sales have tripled in the past few months.
But one of the biggest benefits to the store’s bottom line was examining the pricing structure within the store, especially compared to the new big-box competition.
“We didn’t know what items were price sensitive or impulse buys,” Jerry says. “House-Hasson helped us with perception. Lots of folks think the big-box stores are cheapest, but House-Hasson helped us show people that they’re not.”
In addition to making suggestions on what products to add to the store’s inventory such as heaters, garden accessories and herbicides, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware helped the Shaws identify which items are price sensitive in their area. “It turns out we were high on price-sensitive items and on other, higher-margin items we were way low,” Robert says.
Insulating spray foam and ladders were a couple examples of price-sensitive items the store had priced too high. On the other end, items such as nuts, bolts and screws could be priced higher for a better return.
According to Casey Williams, the House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware territory manager for northeast Alabama, one of the goals is to continually introduce new products and help tweak displays.
“Anything where we’re changing an endcap and the look of the store will get the customer’s attention,” Williams says. “Having new items in the store means you’re keeping up with the competition. It’s important for customers to know about new products and that stores keep adding new items that will sell in their market. That will continue to increase customer traffic because they know they are a one-stop shop.”
Once prices were set right and the store was stocked with a larger assortment, it was time to give the store’s marketing a little freshening. Previously, the store would place quarter-page ads in the local paper, and often wouldn’t receive much response.
Shaw Building Supply has started using House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s circular program, which has already helped drive foot traffic. In addition to the circular, Williams and the House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware team helped Shaw plan a customer appreciation day for November.
In 2009, sales were $4.5 million and the following year revenue increased to about $6 million. Walk-in traffic continues to pick up, and three or four employees have to be at the front counter at all times to handle the steady foot traffic.
“They’re a great store with friendly people and hometown atmosphere,” Williams says. “The customer service they provide is through the roof.”
House-Hasson’s next dealer market is scheduled for January 5-7 at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.
In its 105th year of operation, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware serves 17 states, the Caribbean basin, a

The largest independent regional hardware distributor in America. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware is a full service, exclusively wholesale, hardware distributor.

http://www.househasson.com

Jefferson Barns & Lumber-A New Look

Jefferson Barns & Lumber Completely Revamps Store

Tony Donahue knew he needed to do something to spruce up his store, but he didn’t even know where to start. He had always operated with the understanding that he knew where to find everything in his disorganized store, and it didn’t matter if his customers couldn’t find products because that’s where his helpful service came in.

Donahue, who owns Jefferson Barns & Lumber in Sumter, S.C., sees his retail business in a new light now, after some persuasive advice from House Hasson Wholesale Hardware representatives. His store recently underwent a complete remodel and remerchandising, which has dramatically improved the store’s look while making it more appealing to pro and homeowner customers.

House Hasson Wholesale Hardware handled every aspect of the reset, coming up with a detailed assortment plan that had a place for everything and everything in its place. A 5,000-square-foot salesfloor that had once been home to controlled chaos is now organized neatly by product category.

“Our store now has a constant theme throughout: We are here to better serve you, our customers. Departments are distinguished, categories are merchandised together and we are better priced than ever before,” Donahue says.

As his House Hasson Wholesale Hardware sales rep, Bill Barnette, explains, “Tony had been doing business with Monroe Hardware for over 20 years. As the demographics of Sumter changed, Jefferson Barns had to change to meet the demands of its contractors and regular customers. With several lumber, building material and hardware retailers closing, the demand grew. Tony knew he needed professional help to position his store for the anticipated growth.”

J. Aldridge had started calling on the store when he was with Monroe Hardware, and he carried over that relationship when he joined House Hasson Wholesale Hardware. “He got me converted,” Donahue explains. “Now whatever House-Hasson says, I do. They have helped turn my company around to be the best retailer in the area.”

Barnette got House Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s marketing and store planning team involved, and shortly after the store layout was finalized House Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s store set-up crew arrived. “They stayed for six weeks and did an amazing job,” Donahue says. “I’m very pleased with the work they did.”

The floors were redone and spiffed up, the three-acre yard was cleaned up and a paint room was created. “We’ve started to build up our paint business since we added Valspar paint,” Donahue points out.

Since then Barnette has been working with the retailer on gross margins, pricing levels and endcap promotions to help better market the store’s new offerings. “I get great service from Bill. He gives me lots of useful advice,” Donahue says.

The slow economy had caused several other local home improvement retailers to shut down, so Donahue took advantage and hired key salespeople such as Steve Watts. “He’s brought in big contractors and helped us triple our business.”

Helping out was the fact an army base was relocated to Sumter, which has made a big difference in the economy and housing market. “Houses are selling good. We’ve been lucky here and our business has been great,” says Donahue, who adds that sales are split evenly between hardware and LBM products.

He has been in business since the age of 19 in 1982, starting out with storage barns and then gradually expanding first into lumber and then finally hardware. As the name implies, Jefferson Barns still manufactures storage barns to specification, and the company also sells a selection of carpet, flooring and paneling. It employs 12 full-time and three part-time employees.

Donahue’s daughter, Crystal, works the salesfloor, while another daughter, Amanda Lewis, handles the bookkeeping and back-office tasks. His girlfriend, Amy Quick, also works the salesfloor, which is seeing more homeowner and contractor customers these days.

“House-Hasson’s great pricing has made a real difference. It’s boosted my margins and my walk-in trade has been better since the remodel. Customers can tell the difference,” Donahue says.

House-Hasson’s next dealer market is scheduled for January 5-7 at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.

In its 105th year of operation, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware serves 17 states, the Caribbean basin, and several other foreign countries. The company is approaching $200 million in annual sales.

http://www.facebook.com/househasson

http://www.househasson.com

Bailey's Carpet & Hardware-Rising From the Ashes

Bailey’s Hardware Rebuilds After Fire Destroys Business

The bitter cold and gusty winds made it a December night like many before, but Jeff and Carolyn Bailey would remember the night of December 15, 2010, for far different reasons. Around 2 a.m. they awoke to the sound of a fire raging out of control right next to their home…and it was their business that was being consumed by the flames.

Bailey’s Carpet and Hardware in Salyersville, Ky., was quickly engulfed in flames that were fanned by the gusty winds and if that wasn’t bad enough, the Baileys were not sure the fire could be stopped before it also destroyed their house. Firefighters were alarmed to discover 15 to 20 propane tanks sitting in front of the store, adding another level of danger.

“It just seemed like a bad dream,” Jeff says. “We couldn’t believe that this was happening to us.”

The store ended up a complete loss—nothing was salvageable—but the Baileys’ adjacent house was spared. “The firefighters said if the wind had been blowing more in the other direction the house would have been gone too,” Jeff recalls.

The Baileys’ ordeal was just beginning. As they sifted through the charred remains of their business, the reality of the situation started sinking in. “We had very little insurance, only $90,000, because the cost was so high and we hadn’t re-evaluated it in awhile,” Jeff admits.

The business had started in 1993 mainly as a carpet store, but they began gradually adding hardware after turning to House Hasson Wholesale Hardware in 1995. That would be the relationship that would offer new hope for their optimistic plans to rebuild.

“House-Hasson has been very responsive. They discussed how to rebuild the store and how to build back the inventory, and they found fixtures for us,” Jeff says. “They were extremely generous with the terms, which is the only way we could’ve gotten the business going again.”

They have always had the same territory manager, Larry Collins, and he quickly jumped into action so they could reopen as soon as possible. “Larry does a good job of taking care of us. He’s just like family,” Jeff says.

Rebuilding efforts started in February after the cleanup was finally completed. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware helped plan the new store inside and out, and one of the design goals was to make it more convenient for Bailey’s customers. For example, the front entry was designed so there are no steps into the store. The aisles are a little wider and the lighting a little brighter.

The merchandise mix was tweaked to add more core hardware products while making sure space was allocated to niche such as fireplaces and heaters, outdoor power equipment, Carhartt clothing, Georgia boots and, of course, carpeting. “We added work clothing just before the fire and we kept that so we have a nice variety for customers to keep them from driving to another town,” Jeff says.

Lawn and garden is now a big category and they also added Gray Seal paint and installed the Husqvarna timber display. “They come in to buy a weedeater and discover we sell shirts and paint too,” he points out.

House Hasson Wholesale Hardware makes sure they stock the products their customers need and they make pricing recommendations, which is helpful because Bailey’s competes against a Lowe’s 15 miles away.

The store reopened the day after Labor Day, Sept. 6, and early returns have been promising. “We still have a few holes to fill, but we’re getting there. We’re definitely carrying more hardware products, which makes us more valuable to our customers,” says Jeff, who also serves on the city council.

They were planning a grand reopening for November, which will be a chance to thank the community for their support during their time of need. “The community response has been very gratifying,” Carolyn says.

The Baileys jointly own the business with Jeff’s brother, James, who operates Bailey’s Furniture and Appliance down the street. Family takes care of family, which is why they were not surprised that House Hasson Wholesale Hardware stepped in to help them revive their business.

“House-Hasson has been absolutely wonderful. They always take care of any issue,” Jeff says. “I couldn’t ask for anything more out of a supplier.”

Bailey is a man of strong religious faith but after the fire he found himself wondering, “Lord, is that you talking to me?” He briefly questioned why such a tragedy could happen to him and his family, but soon came to the conclusion that he was blessed.

“We take our life, health and business for granted. Everything in a store is replaceable but not people’s lives. This event let me know that some things are temporary,” Jeff says. “There are so many times I’ve seen an unseen hand at work in my life, and He has never let me down. So we pray God will bless this store and we count our many blessings.”

House-Hasson’s next dealer market is scheduled for January 5-7 at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.

In its 105th year of operation, House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware serves 17 states, the Caribbean basin, and several other foreign countries. The company is approaching $200 million in annual sales.

http://www.househasson.com

http://www.facebook.com/househasson

House-Hasson Hardware Adds 2,500 Items to Paint Supplies Inventory

House-Hasson Wholesale Hardware announced that it has added 2,500 new items to its paint sundries inventory, according to a press release. This addition will enable hardware dealers to create complete paint stores within their hardware stores.

House-Hasson President Don Hasson said an example of the store-within-a-store concept will be set up at the company’s upcoming dealer market, scheduled Sept. 29 – Oct. 1 at the Wilderness Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“We’ll construct a small model paint store at the market to show dealers what they can do with these new items,” Hasson said. “A hardware store can sell anything a paint store can sell. Whatever makes it more convenient for customers to shop with our dealers makes our dealers a stronger destination for customers.”

Lines Added or expanded:

• Cabot Stains
• Old Masters 
• Gray Seal
• Valspar
• PPG. 
• Wooster Brush
• Purdy
• Hyde Tools
• Minwax
• Tyvek

BRANCHING OUT Jarvis Hardware Gives Community a New Store to Support

When Johnny and Candi Graves decided to take the plunge and open a second store, they were placing their faith in House Hasson Wholesale Hardware as much as in themselves. It was their House Hasson Wholesale Hardware sales rep, Gary Keck, who had told them about the opportunity and convinced them it was a risk worth taking.
So the Graves went ahead and opened Jarvis Hardware in Montgomery, W. Va., this past November. The town that had once been home to three hardware stores was in need of an entrepreneur willing to take another chance, since all three stores had come and gone. “We just felt the area needed a hardware store,” Johnny says.
A few years ago when Candi’s father was ready to retire after 27 years of operating Jarvis Hardware in nearby Gauley Bridge, W. Va., Johnny and Candi had agreed to take over the business. But Johnny had kept his factory job to make sure they kept a steady income. The new store meant he could quit his factory job and devote his full attention to making their hardware business a success.
Although a hardware store had gone out of business in the Montgomery location, Keck found the building was available for a reasonable rent and thought it would make a good opportunity for the Graves to expand to a second location, since it was just 10 miles from their other store in Gauley Bridge. “I felt strongly that Johnny and Candi could make it work,” he says.
So far, so good, as they see new customers come into the store every day. “We have been very pleased with the response we’ve gotten so far. It’s been well-received by customers,” says Johnny, who adds that they even had customers coming in before they were officially open, so they knew they were meeting a need.
House Hasson Wholesale Hardware helped them plan the assortment and did the complete store set, a process that went very smoothly, according to the Graves. “Gary has been a big help. He’s always taken care of our needs,” Johnny adds.
They continue to tweak their product selection a little as they see what products customers are seeking. Plumbing and electrical have emerged as the top-selling categories. “We hope paint can be a draw, since we put in a full line of Gray Seal paint,” says Candi.
For now, they are only using one half of the building covering about 2,000 square feet of salesfloor space plus a small warehouse. “We hope to grow into the other side eventually, but right now we’re out of room,” says Johnny, who would like the additional space to expand into pool chemicals and lumber.
Sporting goods and bait are big sellers at Gauley Bridge, and there is an expectation those categories can develop into strong traffic-building niches at the new store. A convenience assortment of hunting and fishing equipment is currently in the inventory.
The Gauley Bridge store has a 7,000-square-foot salesfloor. The Graves have been able to maintain sales in that store despite the down economy, so they take that as a positive sign for business out of the Montgomery store.
The new location is on a heavily traveled road, so that’s another plus.”We’re getting ready to do some advertising to let more customers know we’re here,” says Candi, who spends most of her time at the Gauley Bridge location.
House Hasson Wholesale Hardware has also helped them with pricing, and they have heard lot of good comments about how reasonable their prices are. “The nearest big boxes are 30 miles away, although the high price of gas means customers are less likely to get in their car and drive to buy what they need if they can get it from us,” Johnny says
They enjoy going to the markets, finding them a beneficial way to improve their business from attending the seminars, interacting with other dealers and taking advantage of bargains.
“We also like using the CD Toolbox. It’s very easy to use,” Johnny says.
Looking back at all the hard work it took to get the store open, the Graves say they are glad they found a reliable partner in House Hasson Wholesale Hardware. “Beverly Perry and everyone in customer service have been great. You can call up and they always take care of any problem you have,” Johnny says. It’s easy to do business with House Hasson Wholesale Hardware.”

The largest independent regional hardware distributor in America. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware is a full service, exclusively wholesale, hardware distributor.

http://www.househasson.com

The Hardware Ladies Crescent Springs Hardware Finds Success is All in the Family With House Hasson Wholesale Hardware

If you’ve been to a House Hasson Wholesale Hardware Dealer Market, then you probably know about the four hardware ladies who dress in matching costumes. “We like to have fun at the markets,” explains Liz Hall, who is the one who comes up with the last-minute ideas for costumes that relate to the market theme. Whether they are all decked out in baseball uniforms or cowboy hats, they are hard to miss.

            Hall is one of three generations of family members who work at Crescent Springs Hardware in Crescent Springs, Ky., a business that was started by her grandparents in 1972.

Rose Wilson is the matriarch of the business that she operated with her husband, Bill, until he passed away in 2004.

            Wilson has kept the store going with a lot of help from four kids and three grandkids who are active in the business. She handles receivables but is also a fixture on the salesfloor, taking time to chat with long-time customers. Her sons Mark and Michael (known as Bubba) work in a related operation that sells and repairs commercial mowers in a separate building that shares a parking lot with the hardware store. Daughter Cathy Croley handles screen and lamp repair, while daughter Pam Holstein oversees the sales and service of residential outdoor power equipment and the daily paperwork. Hall can generally be found helping customers in the lawn and garden department or checking in outdoor power equipment.

            The main salesfloor is handled by Wilson, Croley, Holstein, Hall and a female employee, which means customers are most likely to be waited on by a woman. “Some of our customers are impressed that five women work upfront. As women we aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty,” Hall says.

            Adds Croley, “It’s not a big deal that the store is run almost entirely by women. A lot of guys come in and say you gals really know your stuff. We still have the occasional guy come in and ask for a man to help them.”

            They all know how to provide expert service, which is why the store has so many loyal customers who are willing to pay a premium for that personal touch. “It’s very seldom that we don’t have what the customer wants,” Wilson says. “And we don’t get a lot of customers who say ‘I can get this somewhere else for less.’”

            By the same token, they maintain loyalty to House Hasson Wholesale Hardware because of the great service they get from the wholesaler. “Our salesman, Ray Langdon, is the best. He’s very dedicated,” Wilson says. “He helps us put away our order and even waits on customers. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware takes care of everything.”

            Adds Croley, “We deal a lot with House Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s customer service department. They’re awesome. It seems like we call them every day for something.”

            Croley notes that they have developed a unique niche selling, installing and repairing snowplows and salt spreaders. “It’s opened up another world for us. We don’t have to worry about competing with the big boxes on it and it gives us a way to keep our employees busy in the winter,” she says.

            On the retail side, outdoor power equipment is a huge business for them, both for sales and repair work. “Right now we have about 300 mowers that need to be repaired, but that’s actually low for us,” says Holstein, who adds that customers seem more inclined to fix their mowers these days than buy a new one.

            Holstein spent 18 years in a management role with a big company, but when they wanted her to transfer to California, she decided to return to the family business. That was 13 years ago. “I wanted to see family members, so that’s why I returned. We all get along so well,” she says.

            She put her organizational skills to work in the outdoor power equipment department, assigning people to the right roles and making sure there was a proper paper trail to keep track of jobs. Everything runs smoothly now.

            “We all have our niches in the business,” Croley points out. “This is all I’ve known since I was 13 and I consider myself lucky. I get to see my family members every day and we have a lot of fun working together.”      

            Hall started out doing warranties on power equipment and has been there 11 years. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I just fell in love with the business,” she says, pointing out that for awhile her great-grandmother was involved as the fourth generation of the family.

             Greeting every customer that comes in is what separates Crescent Springs Hardware from other retailers, according to Hall. “Customers come back time after time. To them, it’s priceless to be able to get in and out quickly,” she says.

Holstein is especially proud that they have never had to lay off people, even as the economy slowed down. “Taking care of our employees is important to us. We have a unique business and are very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with it,” she says.

            With a Dealer Market coming up soon, you can be sure the ladies of Crescent Springs Hardware will be coming up with something special. “The markets are so important. We know we need to be smart with our buying to stay competitive and you learn so much,” says Croley. “Plus we have so much fun.”

One-Stop Shop for Discounts Big John’s Closeouts Emphasizes Trust with Customers

Mike Barnett has learned a few things about hardware retailing through the years, and the most important lesson is displayed prominently in a big sign outside his front entrance. The owner of Big John’s Closeouts makes sure customers at his new store in Mountain City, Tenn., know they are entering a business that will treat them fairly.

“We mention the purpose of the business on our sign outside. I want to give customers a place to shop with honesty and integrity,” he says. “It’s important to me to operate a business where customers feel good about coming through our door. We’re happy to help them.” To further reinforce the faith-based values that he follows, Barnett has posted a plaque near the service counter that lists the 10 Commandments from the Bible.

Customers seem to be receptive to Barnett’s message of trust, as the store is already doing brisk business despite being open less than two months. Each customer who walks in receives personalized attention, whether they are looking for a particular type of door or new flooring for their kitchen.

Big John’s sells everything you would expect to find in a home center from flooring, sinks and kitchen cabinets to doors, windows and siding. But it also sells all the core hardware categories such as paint, tools, electrical and plumbing, with additional products available via special order.

Barnett has discovered that even discount shoppers want to shop in an organized fashion, so Big John’s is not a mish-mash of bargains scattered around the floor like they were just loaded off the truck. It is set up like a traditional hardware store, with aisles, fixtures and well-merchandised endcaps.                            

            

“Mike really wanted to have a neat and clean store, so we helped him plan out how to present all the different categories,” explains Charlie Hunigan, his House Hasson Wholesale Hardware Distributor’sterritory manager. A full selection of Valspar paint is merchandised near the front, which helps demonstrate to female customers that the store can meet their needs.

           

“We had looked at Mountain City in the past but the timing wasn’t right,” says Barnett, who was apprehensive about opening a second store due to the economy. “But we negotiated a good lease agreement and our vendors really worked with us.”

            

Having a good supplier in House Hasson Wholesale Hardware Distributor also helped. “They have good products and good prices, and we’re very happy with them,” he says. “Charlie does a great job taking care of us, particularly on returns.”

            

Barnett also owns a Big John’s Closeouts store in Elizabethton, Tenn., that opened in 1997 and used to be part of a chain of Big John’s stores operated by Paty Lumber Co. When Paty sold the company to Pelican Building Center they closed all the Big John’s outlets except the one in Elizabethton. Barnett and Jerry Bowers were long-time employees of that store, and in 2001 they bought the business. Barnett later became the sole owner, but Bowers remains as his operations manager and also works closely with House Hasson Wholesale Hardware Distributor’s buyers and vendors to handle the important role of purchasing. After all, closeout inventory takes a little more legwork to secure than just reordering from the warehouse.

            

The rising price of gas makes customers shop closer to home, according to Barnett, who has the added advantage of being able to tout that his prices are below wholesale. He pays close attention to the big boxes’ pricing, because he cannot afford to be viewed as high-priced with his closeout format. “If we’re out of line with our prices, then we hear about it from our customers,” he says.

A special room near the front contains true closeouts—items marked to be moved at discounts up to 50 percent—and a bargain bin displays tools at rock-bottom prices. With merchandising and signage reinforcing the value message, it combines to send a strong inducement to budget-conscious shoppers who are looking to save a buck. Big John’s also promotes daily specials on its web sites, along with sample pricing galleries for categories such as roofing, siding, cabinetry, lighting and flooring.

About 70 percent of Big John’s inventory is overstocked or liquidated merchandise and the rest is blemished or transportation-damaged items. Barnett allows returns or provides store credit only on unblemished goods. He brought in some of his best-selling items from Elizabethton and stocks more electrical and specialty lumber in Mountain City. “We’re still building up our inventory,” he points out.

House Hasson Wholesale Hardware Distributor helped Big John’s hold a grand opening on April 23, with customers expressing appreciation that they now have a low-price, one-stop shop for home improvement products. The store’s location on a heavily traveled road means most people are aware it is there.

Additional exposure comes from word-of-mouth from vendors, who are delighted to have an outlet for their overstock merchandise.

Barnett has started dabbling in social media, but for now he’s focusing on keeping the website updated regularly. There are deals available, and he wants to make sure his customers look him up first. “We’re grateful for the response so far, and we look forward to serving the community for years to come,” he says.


House Hasson Wholesale Hardware

Potter Plumbing & Hardware Undergoes Reset with House Hasson Wholesale Hardware

 Ron Potter wasn’t sure what to do; he just knew that something needed to be done. His business, Potter Plumbing and Hardware in Grayson, Ky., was at an important crossroads.

He had been buying from House-Hasson since he bought the business in 2007 from Rick Adams, who had operated it as Adams Hardware. “I had sold wholesale to plumbers my whole career, but combined that business with the hardware store when I took over. I gradually moved more into hardware and lumber over time, but the store needed a lot of work,” he says.

House-Hasson conducted an RPM study that outlined some of the changes that Potter needed to make to improve his product assortment and merchandising. The underlying consensus was that he needed to enhance the shopping experience for his customers to make his store their first choice for hardware products.

The building used to be set up to host a flea market, with different booths stationed around the floor. As Potter continued to expand more into hardware, there was not a clear organization to how products were displayed, which made it confusing for customers.

Adding urgency to the situation was the fact that two new hardware stores were scheduled to open soon in the area. “That was definitely a concern,” Potter admits.

With a blueprint for improvement in hand from the RPM study, Potter turned to House-Hasson to direct a complete reset of his store. Previously he just had basic paint, so a full line of Gray Seal paint was added. The lawn and garden department was greatly expanded. Assortments were strengthened in other core categories.

 The salesfloor’s clutter was transformed into a well-organized layout that was more conducive to shopping. Endcaps were placed at the ends of aisles and stocked with top sellers and impulse items, topped by value-driven signage. Shelves were stocked full and fronted with merchandise that was right for the market. Departmental signs were installed throughout to help customers find what they were looking for. Dingy ceiling tiles were replaced and exposed HVAC ducts were covered up.

The store’s old dark lighting was replaced with bright lighting to provide a more appealing atmosphere.  Aisles were cleared of clutter so that customers could roam freely with shopping carts.

To Potter, who was hospitalized with a medical condition as the reset project kicked into overdrive, the transformation was stunning. “I’m real happy with what they did to the store. Everybody that comes in

 He credits his House-Hasson sales rep, Glen Mullins, for seeing the project through.

“He pushed me to get this reset done and he’s been here constantly to make sure everything was getting done the right way.”

Such dedication does not surprise Potter, who has been buying from House-Hasson for as long as he has owned the business. “I’ve always been satisfied with House-Hasson. They treat me right and take care of any problem I have. I have complete faith in Glen.”

 Although plumbing and lumber are his best-selling categories, Potter expects to sell a lot of paint now that he has added a full line of paint and accessories. “That business has been doing well so far, and it’s brought in some female customers,” he notes. The brighter lighting has also been a big hit with female shoppers. 

House-Hasson helped Potter Plumbing & Hardware organize and host a grand reopening on April 1-2, which attracted a very good turnout. “We got a lot of comments about how nice the store looks now,” says Potter.

The nearest big boxes are 45 miles away, but that doesn’t mean Potter can get complacent about his pricing, particularly with new competition moving in. That is why he has adopted the Priced Right Everyday!^® program and is paying more attention to his pricing. Placing promotional buys on endcaps also helps him project a low-price image.

 He loves going to the House-Hasson markets, especially now that he has more inventory to keep stocked up on. “That’s the time to buy, because the deals are great. It makes a lot of sense to take advantage of the discounts on everyday items,” he says.

With the hard work behind him now, Potter has a new sense of confidence in his business.

“We can do a better job of serving customers and I feel we’re better positioned to compete now,”

 he says.

Don’t Miss the Hot Deals In Hot-Lanta

Click Here to Register Now

            House-Hasson is America’s largest independent regional hardware distributor, and we are getting ready to host the biggest event in the company’s 105-year history. Our Summer 2011 “Hot Deals in Hot-Lanta” Dealer Market takes place Thursday, June 23rd through Saturday, June 25th at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

            This is the first time we have brought our show to Atlanta, and we’re really rolling out the red carpet for dealers. There is so much to see and do you may want to come in a day early or extend your stay for a day or two. The Cobb Galleria Centre is conveniently located to all the major attractions and is just 20 minutes from the airport.

            We invite you to join us for the hardware industry’s premier 2011 buying event. Allen Winn and his team of buyers have been working hard on the “Hot Deals in Hot-Lanta” for months, making sure you have access to the most unbelievable deals you have grown to expect from House-Hasson. If you are going to take the time to attend one of our markets, then we want to make sure we’ve done everything we can to make it worthwhile and productive. If you are looking for additional margin opportunities and deep discounted specials to use in promotions, then “Hot-Lanta” is the place to be this June.

            “The convention facility is very nice and it’s in a very safe area, with all the hotels right close by,” says Mike Woolf, vice president-sales. “We think our dealers are going to love seeing what Atlanta has to offer.”

            The summer market is one of three markets House-Hasson holds annually. Not just another buying show, this event can help ensure your store’s standing as a premier retailer:

            Use this event to buy right through:

·        Bonus Buy specials on commodity items and merchandisers

·        Expanded pallet area with buys on “A” items  

·        Seasonal buy-ins

·        Booth specials from every exhibitor

·        Drop-ship specials

·        Coupon specials on key items

·        LBM specials

      You can see what’s so special about this market—there are specials galore. Network with manufacturers and get early, direct information about new products; trends in their product categories; and other ways you can let consumers know you are the expert in what’s happening in the hardware and home improvement arenas. Carry the product mix needed for your region.

            The market will introduce scores of new manufacturers and products.  It’s the perfect opportunity to analyze your current product mix and consider new additions. This can help you attract new customers, increase your ticket size with existing customers and let shoppers know they can one-stop shop at your store.

Bonus Buy Savings

            The biggest highlight of a House-Hasson market is always the Bonus Buy Breakfasts on Friday and Saturday mornings. The Bonus Buy merchandisers will again be featured on Friday, but we are changing things up for Saturday. In Hot-Lanta the Bonus Buy items will be on display in a special area of the market on both days. This way everyone can take advantage of these deep discounted specials.

            At House-Hasson we don’t just believe in selling an item for less than regular price—anyone can do that. We believe in selling items at such unbelievably reduced prices that the auditors are wondering whether we should have our heads examined. We are talking about some serious rock-bottom prices.

            The savings spectacular starts with a Hot-Lanta complimentary breakfast at 7:30 on Friday morning in Ballroom A-G, with breakfast catered by some of the finest chefs in Atlanta. You can look forward to eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, hash browns, homemade biscuits, all done southern style.

            Then beginning at 8 a.m. Allen Winn will present the fantastic Bonus Buy merchandisers. Most of the assortments we feature are less than $500 with a 50 percent cash spiff. All merchandisers offer great-selling products and some are designed for House-Hasson dealers only. To top that off, we stock all of these products in the warehouse.

            The Bonus Buy item specials will be located in booths 1247-1251 and 1346-1350 all day Friday and Saturday. Each item will be displayed with special prices and plenty of staff will be on hand to help you with ordering. “We wanted to change things up a little for the open-stock buys,” Winn says, adding that dealers must place these orders during the show. “Don’t wait and don’t forget about it or you’ll miss the opportunity.”

            Dealers and their family members will still be able to enjoy a continental breakfast on Saturday morning in Ballroom A-G from 7:30-8 a.m. to get everyone fueled up and ready to work the busy show floor.

Hardware in Paradise

            When the market closes on Friday the fun is just beginning. Experience the fun and excitement of a true party put on House-Hasson style. Put on your shorts and tropical shirts and plan on enjoying a relaxing evening. “We’re trying something different that we think our dealers will have a lot of fun with,” Woolf says. “Everyone can wear shorts and Hawaiian shirts.”

            The festivities start with a special cocktail reception at 6 p.m. in Ballroom A-G. Join your fellow dealers, vendors and House-Hasson staff members in a casual atmosphere. This private party is exclusively for you.

            Chefs will be working all day to prepare a true “Cheeseburger in Paradise” experience you will not forget. There will be plenty of food, fun and entertainment. Jeff Pike and A1A Band will be performing and they are the official and original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show—sanctioned by Jimmy Buffett himself. And what would a summer beach party be without Buffett music? This is music that everyone can sing along with.

            Jeff Pike and A1A Band bring to life a highly energetic, colorful, family-friendly Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show. When attending one of their performances you can expect to hear all of your Buffett favorites such as “Cheeseburgers in Paradise,” “Margaritaville” and “Come Monday.” You will also be treated to some classic Reggae as well as some original A1A rock music.

            Jeff Pike has performed with Jimmy Buffett in concert and was a featured performer on Jimmy’s “Barometer Soup Radio Special CD.” A1A’s first CD, “A1A-Live,” was produced by Buffett’s bass player. A1A performs as a six-piece musical ensemble that promises to provide House-Hasson dealers and guests with a truly unforgettable “Hardware in Paradise” experience.

Travel Rewards Program

            House-Hasson can help keep your travel costs down. If you haven’t already, be sure to join our Travel Rewards and Room Reimbursement programs in time for the June Market. More and more dealers are discovering it’s a no-brainer to participate in these cost-saving programs. Both will save you money on the cost of traveling to the June market, which like our other markets is centrally located to reduce your traveling expenses.

            For every $8,000 in purchases made at the June market, a dealer is reimbursed for one room night (maximum of three nights) at the House-Hasson Hardware special rate, plus tax, at one of the three host hotels: Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel, Sheraton Suites Galleria-Atlanta or Embassy Suites Atlanta-Galleria. Both stock and factory orders count toward the purchase totals. To receive reimbursement you must submit your room receipt no later than July 18, 2011.   

            Each participating dealer will receive 5 percent of their May warehouse purchases, at their regular buying plan price, to be applied toward their travel expense for our Atlanta market. You will be reimbursed at 40 cents per mile, round-trip, from your store to your host hotel.

            If you choose to fly, the incentive can be applied to the cost of up to two coach airline tickets booked by May 15, 2011. To be eligible for the travel rewards reimbursement you must:

·        Reserve your room in the House-Hasson room block at any of our three host hotels.

·        Purchase a minimum of $8,000 at the market.

·        Sign up for the Rewards program online or on the invitation registration form.

Keep in mind that the travel rewards will not exceed the price of the plane tickets and

mileage for one vehicle. The incentive is good for the June market only and cannot be carried over to the next market.

            Make your travel plans today!

           

Three Host Hotels

            The Cobb Galleria Centre’s on-site specialty mall and the Cumberland Mall, directly across the street and accessible by pedestrian bridge, make shopping convenient. The three host hotels are all conveniently located to the convention center so there is no need to get in your car and drive to the show each day.

The Cobb Galleria Centre connects directly to the 521-room Renaissance Waverly Hotel (2450 Galleria Parkway), which offers sophisticated accommodations including a dramatic 14-story atrium. This AAA 4-Diamond hotel is the crown jewel of the Galleria shopping and office complex. House-Hasson’s special rate is $119 plus tax. For reservations call 1-770-953-4500 and use code HHHA.

Guests enjoy the exclusive boutique shops of Vinings Jubilee and the Cumberland Mall located across the street. Dining options include the Atrium Café for breakfast, Starbucks for coffee drinks and Medici, which features Tuscan-inspired grilled favorites including handmade pastas, fresh seafood and prime meats. After the show is over you can relax and unwind at the trendy Tosca Blu Bar or at the circular sunken Atrium Bar.

            The Sheraton Suites Galleria-Atlanta (2844 Cobb Parkway S.E.) has been redesigned with deluxe, two-room suites and refreshed décor, new bathrooms with sleek granite, flat-screen TVs and the sumptuous Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed featuring a pillow-top mattress, ultra-soft duvet and crisp white sheets.  

            Just across from the Cobb Galleria Centre and adjacent to the Cumberland Mall, the Sheraton is a great choice for your stay. Surf the web for free at the Sheraton’s new connectivity hub, enjoy a swim in the hotel pool or get a workout in the updated fitness center. Complimentary shuttle service is available within a three-mile radius of the hotel. House-Hasson’s special rate is $105 plus tax. Call 1-888-627-7047 or make reservations online at www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/househasson.com.

            The Embassy Suites Atlanta-Galleria (2815 Akers Mill Road) is also located across the street from the Cobb Galleria Convention Centre. The hotel’s suites are luxurious and relaxing. Each two-room suite offers a fantastic range of amenities, with guests enjoying the pleasures of two televisions; a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker; high-speed Internet access; and two telephones with data ports.

            The Embassy Suites provides tasty dining options from a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast to mouthwatering meals served in the Skylight Bar and Grill. The hotel hosts a nightly Manager’s Reception with a complementary beverage for guests. House-Hasson’s special room rate is $104 plus tax. For reservations call 1-770-984-9300.

            When you attend a House-Hasson market you will be treated like a premier dealer. Our staff is focused on providing you with hospitality and helping you succeed now and in the future.   

For more information, please contact Mike Woolf at mwoolf@househasson.com or call 800-333-0520, ext. 212. We hope to see you in Atlanta!

Two Information-Packed Seminars on Tap

            We have simplified our seminar program for this market to ensure even more dealers have a chance to take advantage of this learning opportunity. Two excellent seminars are scheduled for Thursday, June 23, the day before the show opens.

Using Social Media to Increase Your Business—2 p.m., Meeting Room 104

            If you’re not on Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites, you’re missing a tremendous opportunity to increase your business. Even if you’re already using social media, House-Hasson can work with you to make it perform even better.

            Take advantage of this new technology before your competition beats you to it. House-Hasson’s Taylor Hasson and Ron Yatteau have a wealth of information to share to help you promote your business.

            We’ve incorporated social media into House-Hasson’s 2011 advertising program. Included is an on-demand flier you can generate and blast to your consumers in just minutes. If your local news predicts a snowstorm, send a color flier to your customers telling them about your snow-preparation products such as snow shovels, ice melt, sleds and more. It’s an immediate way to communicate.

            Ron and Taylor’s seminar includes information on creating your store website and in-store website promotions, Internet search engine optimization (so your website is found fast), email marketing and social media marketing on Facebook and Twitter.

            In today’s expanding communications world, your choice is to be a leader or be left behind. Use this new and exciting technology to grow your customer base and sales figures.

More Effective Marketing—3 p.m., Meeting Room 104

            Philip Mitchell, author of “Discovery-Based Retail—Unlock Your Store’s Potential,” will host one of the most informative seminars you’ll ever enjoy. Philip’s book is a great tool for dealers willing to embrace change or who decide it’s time to do something different.

            Branding, marketing and advertising can become confusing. This seminar will give you a better understanding of how these three elements fit into your retailing efforts to create success.

            We’ll take a short historic look at traditional advertising and examine what’s happening today. With social media and digital advertising quickly taking prominence over print and radio, it’s important to understand how you can take advantage of new techniques and tactics. We’ll review data and give you suggestions to more effectively use your advertising dollars.

            You won’t want to miss this seminar.

Market Preview—4-6 p.m., Exhibit Halls A-D

            When the seminars end all dealers are invited to a special market preview from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in exhibit halls A, B, C and D. The preview gives you an early opportunity to see the market layouts, specials and to visit with vendors. Our House-Hasson staff, salesmen, buyers and regional managers will be there to meet and talk with you. We look forward to seeing you at the preview.

           

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, June 23 Seminars: 2:00 p.m. Using Social Media To Improve Your Business 3:00 p.m. More Effective Marketing To Unlock Your Store's Potential 4-6:00 p.m. Market Preview - Exhibit Hall Friday, June 24 Time Activity Location 7:30 a.m. Bonus Buy Breakfast Ballroom A-G 8:30 p.m. Market Opens Exhibit Hall A&B 12:00 p.m. Lunch Ballroom A-G 5:30 p.m. Market Closes Exhibit Hall A&B 6:00 p.m. Dealer Reception Ballroom A-G 6:30 p.m. Dinner Ballroom A-G Saturday, June 25 Time Activity Location 7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast Ballroom A-G 8:00 a.m. Market Opens Exhibit Hall A&B 12:00 p.m. Lunch Ballroom A-G 4:00 p.m. Market Closes Exhibit Hall A&B