Spring 2019 Hardlines Strategies

Blish-Mize also helped make updates to how departments are merchandised. Instead of a large board at the end of an aisle listing products that can be found there, each individual product location has a flag sign above the aisle that brings customers directly to where they need to be. Even more importantly, Blish-Mize was able to help the Star Lumber & Supply team cull its current product selection to more accurately reflect the “better-best” mentality it wanted for its stores. Monckton and Stuhlsatz spent many meetings with Blish-Mize representatives deciding on which vendors it should focus on, and the wholesaler reached out to its contacts to find the most professional lines available. “We gave Blish-Mize our ideas and thought process, and they ran with it,” Chippeaux says. “They were patient in the selection process and encouraged us as we looked closely through product selections. At the end of the day, we’re very happy with where we ended up.”

The refocusing of Star Lumber & Supply involved a teamof peopleworking together. Somemembers of that team include (from left) Randy Chippeaux, Gene Stuhlsatz, Allen Spurgeon and TomMonckton.

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