Throwback Thursday: Safe, with Handy Dan
The Aug. 29, 1977 issue of National Home Center News, the forerunner of HBSDealer, shined the editorial spotlight on home security under the headline "Security still a growth category."
To illustrate the point, a photo depicts a Handy Dan "Home Protection Center," including a scrambled list of bolts, locks, bars and other items to keep homes safe. The illustrated Handy Dan himself says "Let Handy Dan show you how to install security devices to protect your home and property."
Around the industry in the late 1970s, safety was a big seller. "Security is a big, big area for us now," Steve Jones, a buyer for NBC's Coooper's Ward & Harrington and People's Lumber chains, told NHCN. "We've increased our SKUs by 30% in the last year."
A big driver of sales for Denver's Economy of Lumber in 1977 was the media, according to buyer Stephen Stookesberry. A robbery in a headline put cash in the register. And at the Ohio Handyman chain, Ed Grimes reported that locksets were big sellers, along with "see-through door viewers."
It's interesting to imagine what these dealers would think of high-tech security and video systems that are commonplace today. Send us your thoughts to [email protected].
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.
To illustrate the point, a photo depicts a Handy Dan "Home Protection Center," including a scrambled list of bolts, locks, bars and other items to keep homes safe. The illustrated Handy Dan himself says "Let Handy Dan show you how to install security devices to protect your home and property."
Around the industry in the late 1970s, safety was a big seller. "Security is a big, big area for us now," Steve Jones, a buyer for NBC's Coooper's Ward & Harrington and People's Lumber chains, told NHCN. "We've increased our SKUs by 30% in the last year."
A big driver of sales for Denver's Economy of Lumber in 1977 was the media, according to buyer Stephen Stookesberry. A robbery in a headline put cash in the register. And at the Ohio Handyman chain, Ed Grimes reported that locksets were big sellers, along with "see-through door viewers."
It's interesting to imagine what these dealers would think of high-tech security and video systems that are commonplace today. Send us your thoughts to [email protected].
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.