Mitch Stadtlander one of 2025 Young Retailers of the Year
Cedar Mountain GM Celebrated for Store Transformation
Cedar Mountain Country Store General Manager Mitch Stadtlander.
Mitchell Stadtlander, general manager of Cedar Mountain Country Store True Value, was recently honored as one of eight recipients of the 2025 Young Retailer of the Year award by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA). The recognition took place in July at the Independent Hardware Improvement Conference in Orlando.
Nestled in the scenic heart of southern Utah, just a stone’s throw from Bryce and Zion National Parks, Cedar Mountain Country Store has evolved from a traditional hardware shop into a full-service country store under Mitch’s leadership. His journey with the store began in middle school, working evenings and weekends. Today, as general manager, he’s played a pivotal role in modernizing operations and expanding the store’s offerings.
One of Mitch’s standout achievements has been leading the store’s transition to the Paladin Point of Sale system in 2024. According to NHPA, Mitch spearheaded the entire process—from researching solutions and negotiating the purchase to managing the rollout. He collaborated closely with the Paladin team to tailor the system to the store’s unique inventory, including custom UPCs for fresh produce, meats, and animal feed. He also ensured staff were fully trained for a seamless transition.
The results speak for themselves. By leveraging Paladin’s automation tools, Mitch eliminated roughly 24 hours of manual work each week, boosting both accuracy and efficiency across the board. Read more about Mitch on Page 26 of the NHPA’s Hardware Retailing
Healdton Family Center, Becker Hardware named DiB Members of the Year
Do it Best Hardware recently unveiled its 2025 Members of the Year, recognizing 28 standout stores across the country and two Paladin clients made the list. Healdton Family Center and Becker Hardware, long-time Paladin partners since 2004 and 2017 respectively, were among the honorees.
Located in Healdton, Oklahoma, Sonya Penter’s Healdton Family Center lives up to its name by offering a wide range of products—from garden soil to stylish apparel all under one roof. Serving the Healdton and western Carter County communities since 1973, the store has become a trusted one-stop shop in south central Oklahoma, just north of the Red River and near Wichita Falls, Texas.
Becker Hardware has deep roots in Ossian, Iowa, dating back to its founding in 1885 by Joseph Becker. Now in its fifth generation of family ownership, Ryan Becker continues the tradition in Winneshiek County, northeastern Iowa. Like many small-town hardware stores, Becker Hardware goes beyond the basics, offering everything from HVAC and pump services to power tools, paint, and more. Read more about Do it Best’s Members of the Year
Hardware Retailing
- House-Hasson Hardware Announces Retirement of CEO Steve Henry
- Blish-Mize Brings the Deals at its 2025 Fall Buying Market
- Job growth slows in August
- Lowe’s continues expansion Into Texas
- Ace Hardware and DoorDash launch exclusive nationwide partnership
- Do it Best and True Value 2025 Fall Market kickoff spotlights new marketing initiatives
- House-Hasson’s Steve Henry weighs in on upcoming fall market, tariffs and goals for 2026
HBS Dealer
- New tariffs on lumber imports
- HIRI revises 2025 Home Improvement Market Forecast down to 2.5%
- August’s NAICS 444 sales took a dip
- Do it Best describes sales as ‘solid’
- Do it Best and True Value go big in Indy
- A strong quarter for Ace Hardware
LBM Journal
- Builder confidence steady, future sales expectations hit 6-month high
- Do it Best, True Value announce 2025 Vendors of the Year
National Retail Federation
Retail Dive
- Halloween spending to hit record $13.1B
- Consumer confidence falls on dimming outlook for labor market
- Inflation speeds up to 2.9%, fastest pace in 2025, as job market slows
- Holiday sales could grow up to 3.4%: Deloitte
- Unemployment ticks up as tariff-related uncertainty slows hiring
- Home Depot closes on GMS acquisition
