Grand opening for award winner in Wisconsin
Nelson True Value, a past winner of the Golden Hammer Retailer Award (2009) and no stranger to the True Value Best Hardware Store in Town awards has moved into a better store.
The Prairie du Chien store in Western Wisconsin opened earlier this month.
“The grand opening went great,” said Dan Kanis, co-owner. “The response from our customers was amazing. In three days we had 3,184 transactions and sold over 1,300 gallons of paint.”
Formerly known as Modern True Value, the store was purchased in 1998 by Roy Kanis, who renamed it Nelson True Value. He added 5,000 sq. ft., expanding the lawn and garden department. Today’s owners, Dan Kanis and Mark Brueggen, purchased the store in 2002.
Dan’s son Jacob joined Nelson True Value as co-owner in 2014.
In February, Nelson Agri-Center in Viroqua, Wisconsin – also owned by Kanis and Brueggen and also in the western part of the state -- received a “Best Hardware Store in Town” award from True Value Company.
One reason for the stores’ success is their emphasis on people, said Dan Kanis, who received guidance from Fred Nelson, who founded Nelson Agri-Center in 1954.
“He always instilled in us that if you hire the right people and take care of them, they’ll take care of our customers and our business,” he said. “Treat them like family. Make them responsible for buying products for their departments and get out of their way.“
He also stressed the importance of training and education.
Features of the new Nelson True Value include:
• New and improved garden center;
• Color experts in the new paint and decorating center; and
• Expanded farm and ranch department.