Stars shine in Mo., Mont. and Neb.

For nine years, HBSDealer editors have searched the continent for signs of excellent hardware stores. The Hardware All Star program, recognizing one store from each of the 50 states, seeks retailers who have remodeled or expanded, stuffed their social media pages with customer testimonials, donated selflessly to community charities, or generally behaved in accordance with All-Star principles.

As the following retailers demonstrate, there’s no single path to achieve entry into the 2019 class of STIHL Hardware All Stars. But commonalities exist – such as service and knowledge.

Here are three more examples of All Star performance:

• Henkle’s Ace Hardware
Webb City, Mo.
Tune into Newstalk KZRG on Saturday’s for a weekly dose of home improvement radio with Cris and John Henkle. The owners of Henkle’s Ace Hardware broadcast how-to advice, special guests and husband-and-wife banter described by Cris as “a little snarky.” It works. And so does the store, thanks she says to the helpful employees who average 80 hours of training per year. Henkle’s features hands-on customer fix-it areas; and its own greenhouse. “We try to do everything differently,” said Cris. “We built our store differently from the beginning.”

• Westmart Building Center
West Yellowstone, Mont.


Tucked away in a remote corner of the Yellowstone National Park and Forest, this 40-year-old retailer is an oasis of home improvement service and materials for locals and tourists alike. Owner Greg Forsythe takes pride in his people’s ability to handle any project – motels to time shares, decks to doors. “You are a friend when you walk through our doors and a customer and better friend when you leave,” he says on his digital message to customers.

• Builders Supply Co.
Omaha, Neb.
Operating out of a single location in Omaha for 68 years, Builders Supply Co. can do it all, thanks to its employee-owned work force of 250 people. “We manufacture walls panels, trusses, windows, pretty much the full spectrum,” said Mike Rhodes, manager of the home center and design center. “And we’re always trying to be innovators and bringing in new products.” But the key to leading the market is collective experience. Says Rhodes: “We’re very knowledgeable.”

Click here to see the full class of 2019 all stars.