Opinions on the Do it Best deal
Last week, United Hardware and Do it Best announced that they intended to merge.
“We believe deeply in the power of the co-op model. It’s about partnership, mutual growth and shared success,” said Dan Starr, president and CEO of Do it Best.
The merger, said Do it Best, is expected to deliver significant benefits to member-owners, employees, and customers through enhanced scale, efficiency and innovation.
“We are embarking on a significant milestone in our journey as a cooperative that will change our future for the good,” said Chad Ruth, president and CEO of United Hardware, home of the Hardware Hank brand.
HBSDealer reached out to a few retail hardware store dealers across the country to hear their opinions on the move. Here are a few of those thoughts:
From Chris Jeffries, a Do it Best dealer in Kentucky:
“It’s great for all Do it Best existing members. Do It Best now will have more buying power which will lower the cost of products. It will help the co-op as a whole. Better rebates, adding another warehouse and also can add more inventory to the existing warehouse new and old products.”
From Dan Flaherty, a new Hardware Hank dealer in Wisconsin:
“There are some concerns with the Do it Best POS system as we get into busy season, but the merger sounds like everyone is on board with it and we expect it to improve on buying and on deals.”
From Vince Christofora, a Do it Best dealer in New York:
“Exciting news. Growth through responsible acquisitions should always be on the co-op’s radar. From what I have learned this should be good for the United members as well as the Do it Best members. Acquiring a distribution center, as well as its members, should make the transaction much easier and minimize the impact to my fellow Do it Best owners,” said the dealer.
“Looking forward to the dust settling and seeing how United’s strategic partnerships can benefit my own, as well as, the co-op’s business,” the dealer said.
From Drake Crabtree, a new Do it Best dealer in Ohio:
“Being a new member in the Do it Best family and having nothing but positive interactions thus far, the merger is another positive indicator for growth under the brand,” said the dealer.
“The combined forces instill confidence in the ability to provide a stronger selection of product as well as continued competitive pricing across the board. Consolidation in the industry can be scary but I see positive outcomes from this deal,” the dealer said.
Do you have insights worthy of sharing on the merger between Do it Best and Unithed Hardware? Send them to us at [email protected].
