Throwback Thursday: An early ‘90s Kmart prototype
The Jan. 4, 1993 issue of National Home Center Store News, the forerunner of HBSDealer, documented Kmart’s effort to capture more of the home improvement market, and “go head to head with the nation’s hardware stores.”
Under the headline “Kmart hammers image as ‘America’s Tool Source,’” the article covered the opening of a new prototype outside of Detroit in Auburn Hills, Mich. The store featured expanded skus, some higher price points and easy-to-shop merchandise presentations, according to the article.
“Were’ not looking to compete with Home Depot or Builders Square,” said Bill Underwood, who was senior VP and general merchandise manager – hardlines, for Kmart. “But we are looking at competing with the hardware stores. We want to attract more men into the store.”
Kmart was the parent company of the home center chain Builders Square.
Some of the home improvement upgrades announced in 1993:
The expansion of BenchTop was the key move in the effort to step up the chain’s DIY offering.
Kmart's 1993 Auburn Hills, Mich., prototype store.
BenchTop, which was backed by a lifetime guarantee and was introduced earlier in the 1990s, was designed to take on Sears and its Craftsman line. The article reported that Kmart executives were optimistic in this challenge. Larry Thompson, coordinator of house brand development for Kmart, claimed that Kmart’s BenchTop products were priced lower than similar Craftsman products, and were designed to meet or exceed Craftsman quality standards.
Clearly, Craftsman won that battle of the brands. And hardware stores survived the threat from “America’s Tool Source,” while Kmart today operates in bankruptcy protection as a part of the dwindling Sears Holdings empire.
HBSDealer’s Throwback Thursday is sponsored by Schaffer Associates, a national management consulting firm specializing in executive search and organizational strategies for the hardware, home improvement, building materials, and consumer products industries. As the premier management consulting firm serving the industry, we help build organizations and leadership teams that foster corporate growth and success well into the future. Contact us at SchafferAssociates.com.
Under the headline “Kmart hammers image as ‘America’s Tool Source,’” the article covered the opening of a new prototype outside of Detroit in Auburn Hills, Mich. The store featured expanded skus, some higher price points and easy-to-shop merchandise presentations, according to the article.
“Were’ not looking to compete with Home Depot or Builders Square,” said Bill Underwood, who was senior VP and general merchandise manager – hardlines, for Kmart. “But we are looking at competing with the hardware stores. We want to attract more men into the store.”
Kmart was the parent company of the home center chain Builders Square.
Some of the home improvement upgrades announced in 1993:
- Expansion of the chain’s BenchTop private-label hand tool program;
- A decreased Stanley presence – except for screwdrivers and tape measures;
- New signage and merchandising for Black & Decker power tools; and
- A Colorgen color-paint-matching computer system.
The expansion of BenchTop was the key move in the effort to step up the chain’s DIY offering.
Kmart's 1993 Auburn Hills, Mich., prototype store.BenchTop, which was backed by a lifetime guarantee and was introduced earlier in the 1990s, was designed to take on Sears and its Craftsman line. The article reported that Kmart executives were optimistic in this challenge. Larry Thompson, coordinator of house brand development for Kmart, claimed that Kmart’s BenchTop products were priced lower than similar Craftsman products, and were designed to meet or exceed Craftsman quality standards.
Clearly, Craftsman won that battle of the brands. And hardware stores survived the threat from “America’s Tool Source,” while Kmart today operates in bankruptcy protection as a part of the dwindling Sears Holdings empire.
HBSDealer’s Throwback Thursday is sponsored by Schaffer Associates, a national management consulting firm specializing in executive search and organizational strategies for the hardware, home improvement, building materials, and consumer products industries. As the premier management consulting firm serving the industry, we help build organizations and leadership teams that foster corporate growth and success well into the future. Contact us at SchafferAssociates.com.