Distribution America, PRO Group merge to form Hardlines
Distribution America (DA) and PRO Group (PRO) announced that effective April 1, 2022, they will be operating as Hardlines Distribution Alliance (HDA), a service management company representing over 65 member distributors nationwide.
Shari Kalbach, formerly vice president and COO of PRO Group, has been appointed president of HDA and will direct the management team and staff.
“With the formation of HDA, the organization will be capable of offering more robust programs and services to respective distributor, retailers, and vendor partners,” said the company.
“These enhanced programs will continue to allow independently owned hardware, farm and ag, lawn and garden, and paint retailers to compete in today’s competitive retail environment.”
Steve Henry, CEO of House-Hasson Hardware Company and chairman of the board of Hardlines Distribution Alliance, said, “The synergies we will all benefit from by combining the best of DA and PRO will enable us to better position customers for success in the highly competitive hardware and home improvement marketplace. House-Hasson is excited about the future of HDA and the reimagined powertrain that will drive success and opportunity.”
Doyle Wallace, president and CEO of Wallace Hardware Company, mentioned the unique benefit the alliance would have for their company. “This is a great step forward for the industry and for the entire network served by HDA and helps us all better combat the giant online and big box competition our segment of the channel faces.”
In addition to merchandising, marketing, and advertising services, Hardlines Distribution Alliance boasts over $7 billion in annual purchasing strength across its member distributors, said the company.
It is with these robust services and purchasing power that HDA hopes to build a stronger hardware and home improvement channel for the benefit of all partners in the industry.
“This move is a natural evolution for DA and PRO combining all of our core strengths for the benefit of distributors, retailers, and vendors served by both organizations,” said Steve Synnott, president and CEO at PRO Group, Inc.
Jonathan Mize, chairman of Distribution America and CEO and president of Blish-Mize Co., concurred. “The shared services of HDA will continue to allow all members to cater the programs to fit their individual needs while everyone at HDA, including our vendor partners, will be helping us focus on growth and new market share opportunities. A shared service relationship like this has been long overdue.”
Another driving factor behind Hardlines Distribution Alliance was the already successful Executive Planning Conference that brings together DA and PRO members in one setting.
With a combination of resources, vendor attendees can meet with distributor members from both groups while only traveling to one location, said the company. This same strategy is what makes the alliance between the two companies so immensely beneficial to members and partners of each group.
Hardlines Distribution Alliance is a multidivisional international merchandising and marketing organization with corporate headquarters in Denver.