Germantown Hardware on full display
NEW ORLEANS—Front and center at the Orgill Spring Dealer Market was a celebration of retail best practices in the form of an 18,200 sq. ft. model store patterned after the recently remodeled and revamped Germantown Hardware.
Here on the show floor and inside the model store, where real-world merchandising ideas and other best practices were explained by experts wearing real Germantown Hardware-branded uniforms (grey, knit polo shirts), retailers explored new core assortments, bold displays and innovative technology.
Germantown Hardware, located a short drive from the Orgill headquarters in Collierville, Tenn., has been serviced by Orgill for decades. The relationship tightened in 2020, when Orgill’s wholly owned subsidiary Central Network Retail Group acquired the store.
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Inside the 18,150 sq. ft. store, core categories were built with Assortment Optimization Technology -
Lawn and garden is one of the strengths of Germantown, where power equipment makes a statement. -
In the fastener aisle, a color-coded ‘destination’ shopping experience. -
Grills (like this 30,000 BTU beast) represent big-ticket opportunities, while grill accessories offer strong margin boosters. -
Impulse sales were a point of emphasis at the Orgill market, and also in the Germantown Hardware model store. -
The “Paint Works” destination paint department is built on color, tools and advice.
With the aid of Tyndale Advisors, Orgill’s retail consulting subsidiary, CNRG went to work on a number of initiatives with the goal of hitting on practices that could benefit the entire Orgill dealer base. Here in New Orleans, many of those concepts were on display in the Germantown Hardware branded replica store.
“This is the first time we have had a model store that is such a close representation of a real-world operation,” said Phillip Walker, president of Tyndale Advisors. “This is a great way we can spotlight the leading edge programs we are featuring at Germantown, but do it in a way so that more of our customers can see it.”
Like the actual store back in Tennessee, the model store on the show floor is a traditional hardware store with a covered outdoor garden center. It also features seasonal flex areas for popular categories, including outdoor living, grills, wild bird and outdoor power equipment.
The store also features a robust impulse-item selection at the point of sale.
“We’re just getting started and scratching the surface of what we can do as a living lab at Germantown Hardware,” said John Sieggreen, Orgill’s executive vice president of retail.
The live Orgill Dealer Market ran through Feb. 11. Meanwhile, the distributor’s companion Online Buying Event continues through Feb. 19.
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A little seasoning goes a long way in Germantown, Tenn., and many other markets. -
Orgill Fan Builder loyalty program featured at the checkout with full Epicor POS integration. -
Sporting goods assortment.
