Throwback Thursday: Harry’s vs. the warehouses

Back in 1984, Harry’s Ace Hardware was a six-store New Orleans institution in a town seeing a wave big box competition in the forms of House Works and The Home Depot.

An article in the July 2, 1984 issue of National Home Center News, the forerunner of HBSDealer, explained in a headline: “Harry’s staves off warehouses; hikes ad budget, cuts prices.”

On local television, Chairman Jake Becker played the role of company spokesman, and life-size cardboard cuts were places in all the stores.

The retailer also pursued education in the face of large, well-funded competitors. A “Personnel Enhancement Program,” was described as “a combination pep-talk, sales training seminar and company history lecture.”

Mystery shoppers were employed, and merit system was instituted for good deeds, (for instance, catching shoplifters).

Harry’s dates back to 1910. Happily, DIYers can still visit one of two Harry’s Ace Hardware stores in New Orleans today.

# # # 

Have you seen home improvement history? Send us a note at [email protected].