Nuts & Bolts of How Local Hardware Stores Compete with the Big Guys
Ever need a hard-to-find part to finish a home-improvement project? The little guys at some local hardware stores will dig deep to help you find that part and pluck it from a drawer in Aisle 15. It's part of what they do best.
At Palos Ace Hardware, it is Aisle 15. And “it” is the secret of how some local hardware store owners compete against their big-box counterparts. The sign inviting customers into the aisle is headed by the words “nuts, washers, fasteners” and the space is considered a treasure trove for customers searching for parts to help them complete a furniture restoration project or an emergency plumbing repair job. The aisle is a destination place for do-it-yourselfers. “It’s probably one of the most concentrated number of items in our store per square foot,” said Dan Harris, the store owner at Palos Ace Hardware for the last 14 years. “It’s always those specialty parts—that one unique piece you need and you can’t find it anywhere else. It probably …
John Groskopf
4:57 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
was there two weeks ago looking for fasteners for a piece of car trim. After about a 1/2 hour of the clerks time i left with what i thought would work. just finished attaching the trim piece today. thanks a bunch for all the help and ingenious idea to remedy my delema. very helpful staff more ›