Hardware All Stars: Iowa & Texas

Selecting just 50 All Stars is never easy. This year was no exception, given the amount of qualified candidates that came to the attention of HBSDealer editors.

Selecting just 50 All Stars is never easy. This year was no exception, given the amount of qualified candidates that came to the attention of HBSDealer editors.

It comes down to finding the retailer with a little extra -- be it exceptional service, an unusual market niche, or perhaps just a really great story.

The April issue of Hardware + Building Supply Dealer magazine contains the full list of 2015 honorees. Here are more highlights, two states at a time, of the 2015 All-Star project, which is sponsored by Epicor.

Iowa

Kramer Hardware of Clear Lake

Clear Lake, Iowa



Larry and Judy Kramer opened the original Kramer Hardware in Clear Lake in 1989. Since then, that location has been converted to the Village General Store, but the Kramer enterprise moved on to establish three North Central Iowa locations.

This includes the current Clear Lake store, which is carrying the torch of big-box-beating inventory, service and strong social media engagement at a local level. A large smattering of five-star reviews on Facebook can't be wrong.

Texas

M&D Supply

Beaumont, Texas



Memorial Days are a big deal at M&D Supply, the community institution that hosts an observance including bands, veterans and elected officials.

The largest single-store purchaser out of Ace Hardware's Dallas RSC, it's also the state building association's 2014 Houston district "Family Owned Business of the Year." That's because what started in the family in 1967 stayed in the family three generations later, now with more than 130 employees in three locations.

More than anything, customers love being treated to free popcorn and soft drinks while they shop.