Strategies Spring 2026_No Crops

OPERATIONS

Winning Locally 5 Best Practices to Compete for Local Business

I ndependent hardware stores don’t win by trying to outmatch Amazon or big-box chains on price or selection. They win by knowing their communities

“You can’t out-Amazon Amazon,” says Jill Hathaway, senior director of entrepreneurial education at the UMKC Innovation Center. “You’ve got to stop trying to carry everything and really focus on what your community needs.”

and fostering relationships that national retailers can’t replicate.

26 Spring 2026 • Hardlines Strategies