Spring 2018 Hardlines Strategies

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Take Time to Listen to Your Customers

Contents Ask the Expert .4 Customer Feature .6 Randall Lumber & Hardware Customer Feature 10 Palace Hardware Spring Market Preview 16 New Products 26 NRHA Scholarship Program 28 Employee Punctuality 30 E-commerce 34 Creating a Facebook Ad 36 Outdoor Cooking Trends 38 Hardware House 40 How Do You Go To Market?. 42 On the Cover: Hilario Serrano, director of retail operations and marketing for Randall Lumber and Hardware, and Rose Santistevan, store manager for the company’s newest location.

T o remain successful, it’s important for any business to always be thinking ahead, modifying various business strategies and asking customers for their feedback. We think it’s especially important for us to do this at Blish-Mize. In fact, in response to our most recent Buying Market feedback, we’re adding hours to our upcoming Spring Market, March 22-24 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas.

As part of our new schedule, we’re kicking off the Market Thursday evening, with an MVP (Most Valuable Profits) Event. We will be offering one-time-only spiffs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., along with special deals and food, drinks and music until 8 p.m. We hope you can join us for what’s sure to be a fantastic time, and will offer you the chance to capture special pricing. In the two days following MVP Night, you’ll have time to hit the Market floor, network with other retailers and attend educational seminars. We hope to see each and every one of our customers at the Market! Big-box retailers and the online marketplace will always present a challenge, but working beyond them to get to your customer is at the heart of our business, and yours. Dan Tratensek, executive vice president with the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA), will talk about the retail landscape and provide some suggestions of how brick-and-mortar businesses can compete in today’s changing marketplace. Even with those changes, there’s one constant: the importance of using the proper forms of advertising to best reach your customers. Jody Maude, advertising and communications manager with Distribution America, will talk about advertising services that can help your business. In the following pages, you’ll find profiles of two of our valued customers: Randall Lumber and Hardware, and Palace Hardware. Randall Lumber and Hardware recently opened a second location to increase market share and provide service to a broader audience in their community. Learn the “how” and “why” behind their decision on Page 6. Palace Hardware is receiving a warm welcome from their community after the new store opened in early 2017. Find out more about the new venture on Page 10. And read about their helpful prize win from the Fall Buying Market! Blish-Mize assisted both customers in taking their businesses to the next level, and we’re always happy to help anyone who is interested in a similar project. Don’t miss the story on Page 34, where we address retail automation and what’s to come in the future of the business. Knowledge is key to making the most of what technology will offer and finding ways to use it to our advantage. Once again, the team at Blish-Mize would like to thank you for your continued business. We, like you, are in the service business, and strive to offer all our customers the highest levels of service they expect and deserve. If there’s anything we can do for you, please feel free to reach out to me at any time at jonathan@blishmize.com.

Advertising Information Hardlines Strategies is published twice every year by Blish-Mize. Copyright 2018. For advertising rates and deadlines, please contact:

Blish Connor Blish-Mize

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

Jonathan D. Mize CEO and President

Blish-Mize isamember-owner ofDistributionAmerica

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