STIHL Hardware All Stars: Kan., Ky., La., Maine
The 2021 class of STIHL Hardware Store All Stars represent community-oriented, customer-focused, high-performance hardware-and-building-supply retailing at its finest. From each of the fifty United States, HBSDealer recognized an All Star performer.
You can read about all 50 honorees here in the digital issue of HBSDealer. Additionally, HBSDealer.com will highlight a handful of honorees each week, working our way from Alabama to Wyoming. Here, the All Star showcase continues with representatives from Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine.
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Kansas
Arrowhead Hardware
When Kent Schaper took over Baldwin City’s Arrowhead Hardware in 2018, he made two big moves. First, he fixed the inventory situation. (It was down to scraps.) Second, he led a transformation of the store’s mindset that is best described as “Yes, we have that.” A 25-year veteran of Westlake hardware, Schaper summed up his retail philosophy this way: “Give the customer what they want.”
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Kentucky
W.D. Bryant True Value
Long-tenured employees, loyal customer base, and family ownership across four generations: That’s how W.D. Bryant True Value earned its All Star status. Two locations — Corbin and Williamsbrug — deliver expertise in building, remodeling, gardening or just plain repairing projects. W.D. Bryant was founded 1928, and continues to prove its commitment to serve its Kentucky communities.
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Louisiana
Interstate Building Materials
Founder and CEO Kyle Martinez is no stranger to industry awards. Two years after he founded the Many, La., business, Martinez was named a Young Retailer of the Year in 2016. Since then, the story is one of growth and service. The company has grown from seven employees who focused on contractors to a team of 23 people who embrace builders and walk-in DIYers.
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Maine
Lumbery
“Our goal is to get people to think differently about lumber,” said Lumbery founder and CEO Michael Friedland. The Cape Elizabeth business stepped into the ring in late 2020 with an idea to bring locally sourced forest products to its customers. The All Star is also passionate about its customer service. For instance: A convenient membership-model Tool Library allows customers to check out tools for a couple of days.
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Have you seen All-Star quality retail performance? Share with us your suggestions for the 2022 class at [email protected].