Diane and Dave Anderson, owners of Hazen Hardware Hank display some of their winnings from the United Dealer Market.

Paladin Partners at United Market Featured

A pair of Paladin clients were highlighted in Hardware Retailing’s coverage of the United September Buying Market.

Dave and Diane Andersen, owners of Hazen Hardware Hank, in Hazen, North Dakota, are expanding their store to increase space for all their departments and add a rental department. They also scored by winning one of the Hanko games at the market.

The Andersens have been Paladin clients since 2015.

The grand opening of Tammy and Dave Mollet’s BC Hardware in Buffalo Center, Iowa.

BC Hardware, in Buffalo Center, Iowa, was also called out in the magazine article.

New to both the United market and Paladin, owners Dave and Tammy Mollet were attending their first United market. Tammy told Hardware Retailing their focus has been on driving traffic to their stores by offering products and services not available in competing big-box stores.

Dave and Tammy purchased the store – formerly known as Murra Hardware – from the Murra family in February 2023 and started up with Paladin in April. Read more

Kelly’s Chelan Hardware has been in business since 1958.

How’s Business? Pretty Good for Kelly’s Chelan Hardware

The Hardware Connection features a section in its magazine called “How’s Business?” For Kelly’s Chelan Hardware, the answer to that question must be “Pretty Darn Good.”

Kelly’s Hardware, a long-time Paladin client, was highlighted earlier this year when Gene Kelly was honored by Estwing with a Golden Hammer Award for 50 years in the industry. Gene joined his brother Wayne in the family business in the 1950s. The store also celebrated 65 years in business in October.

Patrick Kelly, the latest generation of Kelly to own the venerable store, embraces the business’s history decorating it with a 1952 vintage phone booth, and a 1929 Ford Model A delivery truck. That said, he doesn’t rely on the store’s reputation for its loyal following. Read more on page 18

Halloween Hardware

Hardware stores have become almost as popular as candy stores and grocery stores when families begin stocking up for Halloween. The National Retail Federation says American consumers would spend close to $12 billion on Halloween-related activities and 53% of those surveyed said decorating their homes and yards would be a significant portion of that investment.

A Paladin client was highlighted in the October Hardware Connection for their Halloween spirit. Powell Ace Home Center, which has stores in Covington and West Lebanon, Indiana, was one of the stores featured for its Halloween spirit.  See the decorations on page 46

Hardware Retailing

• True Value Announces 2024 Spring Reunion dates, focus on retailer growth
• Retailers stand together at Wallace Distributing 2023 Fall Market
• True Value supports Maui School impacted by wildfires

LBM Journal

• Do it Best announces Fall 2023 Open Buying Day

HBS Dealer

• At Orgill, a ‘Rising Star’
• Do it Best leader honored in Indiana
• True Value ‘glowing’ to New Orleans

Retail Dive

• Holiday spending to surpass pre-pandemic levels: Deloitte
• Monthly retail sales from the US Commerce Department
• US online holiday sales to surpass $221B this year: Adobe
• Gen Z headed to malls this holiday season: report
• Credit card debt tops $1 trillion, before the holidays even arrive

Retail Customer Experience

• Retail crime cost over $112B in 2022
• 50% of consumers frustrated with rewards, loyalty programs
• Hourly retail store associates value flexibility