Golden Hammer strikes for Orchard Supply Hardware

San Jose, California-based Orchard Supply Hardware, a 75-store chain with a focus on paint, repair and the backyard, will receive the Retailer of the Year award during Hardware + Building Supply Dealer magazine’s Golden Hammer Awards ceremony May 5 at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas.

The annual award recognizes a home improvement company for its performance and strategy. The mostly California retailer (Orchard Supply also operates three stores in Oregon) has ambitious growth plans to reach the 100-store mark by the end of 2017. And its distinctive “neighborhood store” concept seeks to capture the middle ground between warehouse home center and corner hardware store.

“Orchard Supply has one of the most exciting concepts in the home improvement arena,” said HBSDealer editor Ken Clark. “When you visit a store, you see a fresh approach to home improvement. And it’s clear that they take quality very seriously.”

Inside the company’s typical 36,000-sq.-ft. store, customers see traces of the company’s heritage (it was founded in 1931 as a purchasing co-operative) and a merchandise emphasis on paint, repair and the backyard. Also visible are areas of “upscale affordability,” a term the retailer has embraced as a differentiator.

Orchard Supply is owned by Mooresville, North Carolina-based Lowe’s. It operates as a stand-alone division, headed by president Bob Tellier.

“These are exciting times for Orchard Supply Hardware, and this award belongs to all the associates across our company who work hard every day,” Tellier said. “We believe we are in a great position to grow, and we appreciate the vote of confidence from Hardware + Building Supply Dealer.”

Past winners of the HBSDealer Retailer of the Year Award include Stine Home & Yard (2014), Rocky’s Ace Hardware (2013) and Tractor Supply Co. (2007).

In partnership with the National Hardware Show, coming to Las Vegas May 5-7, HBSDealer will host the Golden Hammer Awards in a special area on the show floor on May 5.

Hardware + Building Supply Dealer is a property of Lebhar-Friedman Inc. Founded in 1925, Lebhar-Friedman is a leading media and marketing company serving the retail industry and targeted consumer markets. Diverse, forward-thinking and committed to excellence, the staff delivers award-winning content and high-impact marketing products across all media channels.