Do it Best

Home Channel News selected 50 hardware stores -- one from each state -- for inclusion in the second annual Hardware Store All-Star list. The stores distinguish themselves with strong customer service, innovative approaches to retail, and a connection to community and customers.

The alphabetical listing of All-Star stores, one from each of the 50 U.S. states, continues here with Virginia and Washington:

Cleaning supplies and storage have become a separate category with their own dedicated buyer at Do it Best Corp., the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op. Amanda Harmeyer, the organization’s former associate merchandise manager for housewares, has been promoted to merchandise manager for Cleaning Supplies and Storage, a newly created position.

A five-year veteran of Do it Best, Harmeyer previously worked in merchandising for two international retailers. 

More than a 100 Do it Best Corp. staff, vendors and member-owners began building a new home for Habitat for Humanity in the co-op’s home town of Fort Wayne, Ind. 

The project is scheduled to run through early October. In addition to fully staffing the build, Do it Best Corp. is also completely funding the project, including materials and professional service provided by licensed specialists. This is the second company build the co-op has sponsored, with the first coming in 2006.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp. has re-launched an enhanced version of mydotbest.com, its member exclusive portal for up-to-the-minute communication, program information and product knowledge, including the rollout of a more robust online catalog. 

As Home Channel News continues its march across the United States touting high-performance hardware store retailers, here are three champions of -- from west to east -- diversification, customer centricity and gardening prowess:

A “proven, productive” team member replaces the retiring Dave Cole. 

Former Do it Best and Valspar executive joins the agency as an “account ambassador.”

Litchfield, Mich.-based Wolfinger Hardware was already going strong for 25 years when Arnold Gerberding approached...