One of the 25 Best Stores in America

Given the strong tendency for forum members to buy and promote local businesses I thought some of you might be interested in this article.

http://www.cantonrep.com/business/x1699 ... in-the-U-S

The story is about my hometown (Independent) hardware store in Hartville, OH. The store was named one of the 25 Best Independent Businesses in America. Hartville Hardware is the poster child for how a business can (and in my mind should) be ran. They have 175 employees, 40% of whom have been there for over 10 years. One of these employees is my best friend Matt who works in the paint dept. Matt has been there for over 15 years and probably knows more about paint/stains and finishes than the entire paint dept. at Lowes. There is this kind of expertise in every dept. In return for their loyalty and expertise the company provides more than a living wage...plus bonuses, 2 weeks (plus) of vacation, paid sick days and company provided health insurance...and they still manage to make money. Helluva way to run a railroad.

Good article, hope you'll read it.

they hiring?

Nice article. Taylorsville still has an old fashioned hardware store that's pretty good,nothing compared to those guys,but still a "real" hardware store.
While reading that article I couldn't help but notice the flashing ad on the top of the screen from the Cremation Society offering a 700 dollar basic cremation special....impulse purchase?

a well run business, good customer service, turning a profit, happy customers. corporate america are you listening..

I recall reading a couple of years ago about a construction company somewhere in Wisconsin (but for the life of me I can't recall the name of the company) that had been in business for over 30 years and had never laid anyone off. The paid higher than prevailing wage and had an unbelievable benefit package. In return for this employer loyalty the employees did whatever it took to stay busy and help keep the place running during the slow times...from secretaries painting walls in the offices to project managers washing construction vehicles.

Every time I see one of these traveling circus motivational/business seminars advertised in the paper I think about places like this construction company and (now) Hartville Hardware. Wouldn't it be great if instead of being motivated by speeches from some stab you in the back Fortune 500 exec corporate America would take a lesson from folks like this instead ?