Spring 2022 Hardlines Strategies

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Contents Ask the Expert . . . . . . . . . . 4 Online Traffic . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Spring Market Preview . . . . 8 Featured Products . . . . . . 16 Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Hiring Strategies Customer Feature . . . . . . . 30 BES Supply Customer Feature . . . . . . . 38 RAKS Building Supply Hardware House . . . . . . . . 44 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

I t’s hard to walk through any city or town these days and not see “Help Wanted” signs posted in every window. From restaurants to retail, staffing shortages abound. It’s a serious challenge we all must tackle to move forward. Some of it has to do with the pandemic and the economy. At Blish-Mize, we’ve been lucky. Some Blish-Mize employees, myself included, have been around for multiple decades. We make an effort to routinely recognize employee efforts and make moments out

of these milestones. But at times, like everyone, we have struggled to fill our open jobs. Unemployment is a puzzle we must all continue to plow through to survive and continue building a great team. Speaking of hiring, on Page 22, read about some amazing strategies for how you can hire more effectively, incentivize employees to stay and develop loyalty to last through the years. Then, at the Spring Buying Market, be sure to attend the presentation from Melanie Moul with the North American Hardware and Paint Association on even more key hiring and employee engagement strategies. You won’t want to miss it. Survival in a post-COVID-19 economy also means pulling together to see what you can accomplish outside of what is normally prescribed. One store that really prides itself on building together as a team is Eskridge Lumber, a small-town lumber yard located in Eskridge, Kansas. Read their story on Page 46. Another customer success story on Page 30 is BES Supply Store. Buyer Robert Baze, a mainstay at the Blish-Mize Markets, was recently recognized as an outstanding community member by the City of Carlsbad Fire Department. Baze has gone above and beyond to provide personal protective equipment for first responders and the community. Read about family-owned and -operated RAKS Building Supply in central New Mexico on Page 38. Their roots in the local communities and family feel truly set them apart and have contributed to their growth and success. We hope you will join us at our Spring Buying Market where you can find our returning vendors, new items and some favorites from our own brand, Hardware House. It’s been a crazy couple of years and we hope that you can join us for relaxing, winning, buying and good old-fashioned fun. We know it is hard to take time away from your store with everyone stretched so thin, but we encourage you to take a moment and a breath and reward yourself with a quick weekend away. You and your team deserve it.

Eskridge Lumber On the Cover RAKS Building Supply owners

Richie Tabet and Kenny Trujillo operate five locations in central New Mexico with a focus on product selection, customer service and supporting the local communities and youth.

Advertising Information Hardlines Strategies is published twice every year by Blish-Mize. Copyright 2022. 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

Warm Regards, Jonathan D. Mize CEO and President jonathan@blishmize.com

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

Blish-Mize is a member-owner of Distribution America

Hardlines Strategies • Spring 2022 3