Hardware All Stars: Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon

The common theme of the 2016 class of Hardware All Stars is local market leadership, whether its a single location dealer like Sawyer’s True Value, or a 34-unit dealer like T.H. Rogers Lumber Company.

The full All Star list, and more examples of high-performance community-oriented retailing, appeared in the May issue of HBSDealer.

Here’s an intimate look at three of the honorees:

Ohio

Orme Do It Best

The late Dick McC

oy was a well-known and highly respected second-generation owner of Orme Hardware. Fully stocked shelves and an exciting retail presentation formed the basis of 

his approach. Up to his passing in March 2016, he had grown his business from its original location in Cambridge to seven stores in eastern Ohio, with the newest addition in Arcanum coming in May.

No niche is off limits at this Ohio institution, and the stores offers a complete line of beer and winemaking supplies, plus beekeeping items.

Oklahoma

T.H. Rogers Lumber Company

With 34 stores ranging in size from 1,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet, T.H. Rogers wields the buying power of a large company in order to get the most innovative products at the lowest prices for its customers. And it does so in 34 unique stores.

It also shows that it cares about its individual employees. In 1993, T.H. Rogers Lumber Company adopted an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Today the ESOP owns 41.6% of the company.

Oregon

Sawyer’s True Value

The motto of this The Dalles, Oregon, hardware and rental outlet is “Think Outside the Big Box,” and Warren and Jared Sawyer have done just that, creating an ambience at Sawyer’s that is far removed from a warehouse home center. From “Pallet Projects” to “Ladies Nights Out” events and “Birds and Beekeeping” classes this hardware store knows what it takes to create a buzz.

The retailer’s Facebook rating generated a 4.6 stars, out of 5. “Always friendly, Always helpful,” reads one review.

Do you know a hardware store, lumberyard or farm and ranch retailer worthy of All Star status? Let us know at [email protected].