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After picking me up from the hotel, we were driven to the office of the tour company where I met the rest of my group. They were all tourists from India. We had a few minutes to walk around while waiting for our transport, so the first thing that caught my eye is this little shoe store. The area around Kusadasi is apparently well know for leather goods. This little corner shoe store is testimony to that. The store had just opened for business, it's just past 8 am, so there was no pushing, or anyone urging us to buy. (Ephesus (Efes)/ Selcuk, Kusadasi, Turkey, Nov. 2014)
PMS... lol!
Gulfport Merchant's Association present the 14th Annual GeckoFest. 3129 Beach Blvd., Gulfport 33707
Finding the Right Match
Richner Hardware Discovers House Hasson Wholesale Hardware
When the economy is slow, unemployment is high and people are buying only the essentials, hardware retailers understand they need to keep their expenses under control. For Dave Murch, that was becoming increasingly difficult while buying from Ace Hardware.
“The high fees were an issue. Either I got too small for them or they got too big for me,” says Murch, who operates Richner Hardware in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Luckily he had a good backup plan. He had bought products from House Hasson Wholesale Hardware for a period of time about five years ago, and he decided to give them a shot at being his main supplier. He’s been buying solely from House Hasson Wholesale Hardware since July.
“House Hasson understands our needs as an independent, family-owned store,” says He Murch. “It’s no secret that we face a great deal of competition from the home improvement mega-stores in the area, so we’re constantly looking for ways to stay competitive and offer our customers the best products and service available. We’re confident this new partnership will enable us to stand strong as a local, family-owned business and continue to compete with the big guys.”
He had not seen his Ace rep in three years, and is pleased with the increased attention he receives from his new supplier. “We’re pretty self-sufficient, but it’s nice to know help is available if needed,” Murch says. “The folks at House Hasson Wholesale Hardware are service-oriented and I see my salesman, Bernie Sinclair, every week.”
He notes that Don Hasson stopped in to see him several years ago and Taylor Hasson dropped by in June. “It’s amazing to get that feeling of being wanted. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware has a personal touch that’s so important,” Murch says.”
That’s just like the personal touch that Richner Hardware provides to its customers, the type of personal service that can’t be found at the five big boxes that are nearby. “A customer will say to me, ‘I remember when my dad brought me in here,’ but I’m still amazed at how many people don’t know we’re here,” Murch says.
To change that, he has begun using the House Hasson Wholesale Hardware circulars and promotes the fact the store has been “On the square since 1919.” After all, Richner Hardware is the oldest family-owned business in Twinsburg.
Their daughter is giving the business a shot in the arm by setting them up with a Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/RichnerHardware). For now, she is the one handling all the postings until Murch becomes more familiar with it. She posts hardware tips of the day and seasonal tips and has even been promoting the benefits of Gray Seal’s no-VOC paint line—Extraordin-aire™. They promote the store’s Facebook page on the back of coupons. “We have 145 fans and it’s starting to build momentum,” Murch says.
His wife, Liz Terrill-Murch, helps out by taking care of the books. It was her great-grandfather, Charles Richer, that started the business in 1919. Murch, who has been involved in the business for 31 years, says the store’s current location sits on the site of the original building, although his father-in-law built a new building there in the 1970s. Antique farm tools grace the walls, a reminder of the business’ deep roots in the community.
Including a downstairs selling area, the salesfloor totals 8,000 square feet of space, focused on the basics in the core categories. “I’m constantly looking for a good niche, but it’s elusive. Maybe I should put up a sign that says ‘Mom and Pop Hardware,’” Murch says. He finds people come into his store for the little stuff but go to the big boxes for bigger projects.
“With access now to more than 50,000 name-brand items, we’ll be able to carry and order just about anything our customers could need or want,” he adds.
It's time to buy local for back to school! Go to www.independentwestand.org/buy-local-for-back-to-school/ to find out how you can make a difference in your community by buying school supplies at local businesses
Minister of State for Small Business Naomi Yamamoto speaks to the Quesnel and District Chamber of Commerce about the role of small business in the BC economy.
Gulfport Merchant's Association present the 14th Annual GeckoFest. 3129 Beach Blvd., Gulfport 33707 #GeckoFest
Recycled (closed store)
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