Meet the 2022 STIHL Hardware All Stars: Ga., Hawaii, Idaho
Here are the next three in the latest class of STIHL 2022 Hardware Store All Stars that represent community-oriented, customer-focused, high-performance hardware-and-building-supply retailing at its finest. From each of the 50 United States, HBSDealer recognized an All-Star performer.
You can read about all 50 honorees here in the digital issue of HBSDealer. Additionally, HBSDealer.com will highlight a handful of honorees one batch at a time. Three 2022 high performers from Georgia, Hawaii and Idaho are featured below.
Georgia
When a veteran suffering from PTSD walked in and confided in Adam Keith, third-generation owner of Keith’s Ace Hardware, a large store in Dalton, Ga., who also owns a kennel, the owner offered him the support of a new puppy. That relationship started Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, which trains dogs to become PTSD companions. Keith said, “we train the veterans along the way while training the dogs to reconnect them to society.”
Hawaii
Originally, hardware store owners from Minneapolis, Dana and Mary Lundquist, visited Hawaii in the early 1950s and decided to stay, and in 1954, found Hardware Hawaii in Kailua. The 2,000 square foot store was in the middle of Kailua Shopping Center. Gabby Pahinui and his band played at their grand opening. Today this Orgill dealer is run by son David with four stores and a distribution center.
Idaho
This single-unit dealer located in Victor, Idaho, was founded in 2003 on the principles of service, value and quality. The company’s name says “lumber,” but Valley Lumber & Rental offers much more. Valley sells top brands in hardware, hand and power tools, and power equipment. The dealer also carries a full range of rental equipment. Valley says its goal is to always meet the needs of homeowners and professional contractors by providing superb products with the expertise needed to complete any job.
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Special thanks to STIHL for its support of the ALL-STAR project. (Note: Not all honorees are STIHL dealers.)