Thad Whicker, Cozart Lumber, Rockwell, N.C.
♦ I’m a Rowan Free Press email subscriber and have enjoyed reading your articles for some time. I’ve read your past articles on local business and big national chains. The article I have attached for your reading is informative and thought you may have an interest in reading. This article is geared to the Home Improvement and Building Supply Industry, and although helps strengthen the position of small business in communities, it also touches on the importance of national chains too. I’m a small business owner, and I realize the importance of national chains as the competition makes us a better business. My intention in sending this is not to gain “free press,” but I’ve enjoyed reading similar Articles and thought I would pass this along. See the link below.
http://www.hardwareretailing.com/home-sweet-home/
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Editor’s Reply: I Strongly Support “Cooperative Affiliations” Such as Ace Hardware, True-Value, and LMC.
Thad:
Enjoyed your highly informative letter and magazine study. When I lived in Salisbury I did most of our hardware purchasing at Bernhardt’s Hardware (An Ace Hardware affiliate) on Main Street.
I noted the study in Hardware Retailing mentioned Ace Hardware, True Value, and LMC all nationally known “cooperatives” who do large scale buying and warehousing for their affiliates which makes for cheaper prices for their customers.
I am a huge proponent of “cooperatives”. Here in Madison, Wisconsin many of the areas successful businesses are cooperatives such as Hi-Vee (a supermarket) and PDQ (a gas station/convenience store). We also have Ace Hardware, True Value, and LMC in Madison and Dane County. Most often I buy from retailers offering the best prices and products. Ace Hardware, True Value, and LMC work for me. I’d like to see more independent “shop local” businesses became cooperatively affiliated so they might offer more competitive prices. It’s disappointing to see independent bookstores selling at list price and dying out. Perhaps someone in the independent bookstore business will note the great power of group purchasing and warehousing through cooperative affiliation. Maybe someone is already doing it?
Best, Steve
