Stihl Hardware All Stars: Conn., Del., Iowa

It takes a little more to be a Stihl Hardware All Star.

Since 2011, HBSDealer has reached out to suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, vendors, retailers and homeowners in search of high-performing, service-oriented, community-minded hardware store, lumberyard or farm and ranch dealers worthy of All-Star status.

It’s a tribute to this industry that each year brings a surplus of high-quality nominations. The companies profiled have earned their place on the list of 50 — one from each state. And they join an elite fraternity of honorees.

Here’s to the class of 2017. And here are three more stars worth gazing at.

Connecticut

True Value of Litchfield

True Value of Litchfield underwent a conversion in 2012 that continues to pay dividends. And the sales floor is covered in a building with significant curb appeal. But co-owner Roger Mahieu Jr. gives credit where credit is due: “Our customers have made us who we are today, with their loyalty and their suggestions,” he said. “In fact, we have comment cards, and we took a lot of them into consideration when we upgraded to Destination True Value. And it really paid off.”

Delaware

True Value Wilmington

True Value Wilmington’s Thomas Veasey is a big believer in customer convenience. “That’s why we work pretty hard to keep enough cashiers on call, and we have a lot of people on the floor,” he told HBSDealer. The store has been in the Veasey family since 1984, fending off bigger competitors. Second-generation owners Jason and Theresa Veasey have high expectations for 2017, as a store renovation that began in January nears completion.

Iowa

Lockridge Inc.

Five members of the Housh family keep 4 locations humming – Dale Housh, his wife Jill, sons Clint and Caleb (who also serves the community as mayor of Seymour, Iowa) and daughter Courtney. Together they help run a business that has grown from a small hardware store and lumber yard into a local leader in supplying materials for new home construction, remodeling, and farm and fencing. No detail is too small, including installation of solar panels on one of the store’s roofs.

See the full Class of 2017 All Stars  — presented by Stihl — in the May issue of HBSDealer.