House-Hasson sees big increase in store sets

Store owners are negotiating very good rates per square foot, from $10 to $15 down to $3 to $5

December 19, 2012 | By Ken Clark

Knoxville, Tenn.-based distributor House-Hasson Hardware says it is seeing almost twice the level of store sets -- new or expanded stores -- in 2012, compared with the 2011 rate.
“We’ve seen 2012 emerge as one of our best years in terms of helping people become hardware store owners and dealers,” said Don Hasson, president of House-Hasson.
In 2011, House-Hasson performed 15 of what are called “store sets.” In 2012, that number will grow to more than 30. The company expects 2013 to be even more active, according to Dave Helfenberger, House-Hasson’s VP marketing. The square footage of new or larger stores is increasing substantially as well, according to the company.
Surprisingly, one reason is the weak economy.
“Some of the problems in the economy make it easier to open or expand a hardware or lumber business,” Helfenberger said. “Many commercial buildings have been sitting empty for a long time. It’s a buyer’s market. Properties are selling or renting at reasonable or historically low prices.
“Store owners are negotiating very good rates per square foot, from $10 to $15 down to $3 to $5. What I recommend is that they ask for six months free and six months half-price. It’s remarkable how often they get it. Most store sets have traditionally been between 3,000 sq. ft. and 5,000 sq. ft.; this year they’re more than double that because of the low prices. We’re doing two that are more than 25,000 sq. ft., and one is 137,000 sq. ft.”
House-Hasson is a 105-year-old, family owned company that serves some 2,000 dealers in 17 states and the Caribbean. The distributor’s sales are about $200 million annually.

Source: Home Channel News

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

http://www.househasson.com

Sloan Hardware -A TRADITION OF RETAIL

Sloan Family Expands to Third Store

If House-Hasson Hardware had such a thing as a Bonus Buy Breakfast back when the company started in 1906 you can bet a member of the Sloan family would have been in attendance. They have been loyal customers of the company that long.

The Sloan family is one of House-Hasson’s oldest accounts, getting its start as a general merchandiser just after the Civil War and with roots in hardware retailing that date back to 1901. Bill Sloan’s father opened a hardware store in Madisonville, Tenn., in the 1940s that is now known as Sloan Center, and Bill continues to work 60-hour weeks running that operation.

A second store in Vonore, Tenn., was purchased in 1993. Sloan’s of Vonore is a one-stop shop offering a full 6,000-square-foot hardware store in addition to grocery, fuel and convenience items. Bill’s son, T.K., oversees that store, which made its big expansion into hardware in 2004.

Although the Sloan family business has been thriving, Bill knows you can’t afford to pass up opportunities that come along. When he learned of a store available in nearby Loudon, Tenn., he decided to take the plunge and add a third location.

They took over the store, renamed Sloan’s Village Home Center, on January 1, 2012, and quickly set about making major changes. Sloan’s daughter, Whitney Grubb, who has been keeping the company’s books for about 15 years, has taken the reins as manager of the new store, working hand in hand with her father and brother to get the store running to their satisfaction.

Tellico Village is a planned retirement community in Loudon that was developed by Cooper Industries around Tellico Lake beginning in 1985. Cooper Industries felt the community needed a hardware store to serve the residents, so it opened one up about 20 years ago. Tellico Village is pretty well built out now with about 7,200 residents, so Sloan’s Village Home Center should have no problems attracting customers to a revitalized store.

“Opening up a full-service hardware store is a great opportunity in that area,” comments Don Hasson. “The Sloans are such good people, and T.K. and Whitney take after their dad with  strong values and work ethic.”  

The Sloans know hardware retailing, but they also are smart enough to know when to look outside for help. The first call is always to House Hasson Wholesale Hardware and their long-time sales rep, Art Jackson. 

 “We started talking about buying the store last November and had several meetings with Art Jackson and David Helfenberger,” Whitney explains. “House-Hasson was here with a reset crew the day we took over. The reset crew was wonderful.”

The 25,000-square-foot store includes a Bass Pro Shops and a full garden center. “We have LBM here, which we’ve never had before and the garden center is also new to us,” says Whitney, who adds that they retained all the old employees including the general manager who had been there since the store was built.

The Vonore store does a booming sporting goods business with a Bass Pro Shop, so the manager there helped them set up the Bass Pro Shop in the new store, according to Whitney. A strong assortment of fishing supplies is stocked along with live bait, which should be well-received with a lot of lake properties nearby.

The Sloans feel comfortable taking on the risk of a third store, since they know their wholesale supplier has their back. “The customer service from House-Hasson is very good. You can call up the owner of the company and talk to him or to Taylor Hasson. It’s a family business just like ours,” says Whitney. “We love our salesman, Art Jackson, who we view as part of the family.”

The family finds it beneficial to attend all the House-Hasson dealer markets. “I always enjoy attending the shows and especially enjoy going to Opryland,” Whitney says. “It’s good to see the new lines of products and talk to other dealers.”

Bill and T.K. handle the pricing for the stores, largely following House-Hasson’s lead but adjusting where necessary. Customers can’t miss the large banner signs in Sloan’s Village Home Center touting the everyday low prices. Years of experience have taught the Sloans that a successful hardware business depends on having what the customer needs at a fair price and offering outstanding customer service. “We’ve received a lot of positive comments from customers so far,” says Whitney. 

She started working in the business at age 11, working right up until she went away to college. “I later taught for four years but was always doing work for the stores,” she says. 

 That tradition of pitching in to help the business is getting passed along to the next generation. Whitney’s 12-year-old son, Will, likes to cut boxes and he helps put away merchandise, while 10-year-old daughter, Julia, likes to cashier, taking after her 15-year-old sister who has been a cashier at the Madisonville store for three years. T.K’s son, Tafton, also works at the store.

 The kids are literally immersed in the store environment on a daily basis, since Whitney homeschools Will, Julia and Russ along with her nephew Tafton  in a backroom area of the store that has been repurposed for learning activities. “We pick the curriculum and have hired a tutor to oversee everything. It’s a great way to spend quality time with the kids while still working in the store,” she says.

If the kids pay close attention, they will learn everything there is to know about hardware retailing. And then you can watch as the fifth generation of Sloans makes their mark in the industry.

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

http://www.househasson.com

Don Phillips has been named VP operations for regional hardware distributor House-Hasson Hardware.

In his new role, Phillips supervises House-Hasson’s Knoxville, Tenn., and Prichard, W.Va., warehouses, which are staffed by 176 employees and have a combined 700,000 sq. ft. of product space.

“The wholesale hardware business is very competitive; that’s certainly something I’ve seen first-hand in the last year,” Phillips said. “House-Hasson’s customer service and relationships with our dealers are the reasons the company has grown for more than 105 years, through good and bad economic times. As a major hardware distributor, House-Hasson’s warehouse operations must run well to support everything this company does.”

Phillips joined House-Hasson in April 2011 as head of the company’s Knoxville warehouse.

“Don’s background prepared him well for his role with us, and his performance has proven that he’s a top-level organizer, manager and thinker,” said Don Hasson, president of House-Hasson. “Our overriding goal is the profitability of our dealers, and warehouse operations are absolutely crucial to that effort. Don understands that and makes good things happen.”

After graduating from high school Phillips served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985. Following basic and advanced training he was assigned to Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla., as a ship’s communications supervisor. After his discharge, Phillips enrolled at the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1989 with a degree in industrial management.

Source:Home Channel News

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

http://www.househasson.com