Fall 2019 Hardlines Strategies

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Times, They are a Changin’

Contents Ask the Expert 4 Marketing Services 6 Operations 10 Featured Products 14 Fall Market Preview 18 Online Traffic 24 Customer Profile 26 Schuyler Home & Building Supply Customer Profile 32 Triple B Hardware Customer Profile 38 Hometown Lumber and Hardware Hardware House 42 On the Cover: Schuyler Home & Building Supply owners Tami and Art Lindberg have put a great emphasis on serving their Nebraska community since taking over the business in 2017. It has since become a go-to spot for homeowners and builders alike.

T imes change. People change. Businesses change. For almost 150 years, we’ve learned that change is not a bad word—it is a fact of business. You have to evolve in order to compete in this industry. You have to constantly keep your vision fresh and think beyond the current times. In this issue of Strategies , we’re featuring a pair of successful stores that have embraced the concept of change and evolution.

At Triple B Hardware in Bremond, Texas, owners Tony and Joyce Bielamowicz have been running a successful family hardware business for decades. However, with a recent change in wholesaler for the first time since they opened their doors, the couple is developing a new relationship with Blish-Mize as one of our newest customers. Schuyler Home & Building Supply, located in Schuyler, Nebraska, and Blish-Mize have been in business together since before owner Art Lindberg began working at the store. Now, Art and his wife Tami are not only learning how to best run their building supply store, but also how their relationship with Blish-Mize can help them continue to grow and succeed. The relationship Blish-Mize builds with each of its customers is always developing and changing with the times. We are constantly looking to new technologies to see how we can improve performance. We’re always reviewing our promotions, marketing and advertising programs to make sure they are generating strong customer response and maximizing their benefits to retailers. And, as always, we are working to update and enhance our fulfillment and delivery routes so we can be as efficient as possible. From our business services, including Xpress Ads marketing tools, to partnerships with online service providers like Pointy, Blish-Mize is working to keep our customers on the cutting edge. We’ll look to provide the best options for each of our customers as they choose what is best for their business plans. Our industry must also embrace change in order to succeed. Blish-Mize has never shied away from trying new programs and innovations for our customers, and neither should you. As we move into our 149th year of business next year, we look forward to continuing to modernize our company in order to better serve you. As always, should you have any comments or suggestions for Blish-Mize, please feel free to reach out to me personally at jonathan@blishmize.com.

Advertising Information Hardlines Strategies is published twice every year by Blish-Mize. Copyright 2019. For advertising rates and deadlines, please contact:

Blish Connor Blish-Mize

Jonathan D. Mize CEO and President

223 S. Fifth St., Box 249 Atchison, Kansas 66002 Toll free: (800) 995-0525 (913) 367-1250

(913) 375-2505 (cell) (913) 367-0667 (fax) e-mail: blish.connor@blishmize.com

Blish-Mize isamember-owner ofDistributionAmerica

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