Fall 2014 Hardlines Strategies

CUSTOMER FEATURE

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to everybody. We value our opportunity to partner with them. We think we do a great job with Blish-Mize, and Blish- Mize does a great job with us. “Blish-Mize knows what we’re looking for, and that extra communication on their part helps make us more competitive. We feel like we’re really in tune with the employees there, and they with us.” Star also works with Blish-Mize on mer- chandising ideas, store remodels and more. “The Blish-Mize team has helped us on a number of store remodels,” says Patrick. “And they’re available

for anything—they even have moving gondolas we’ve been able to use. When we’re doing something major like a remodel, Blish-Mize is our go-to for ideas, help, everything.” Blish-Mize also helps Star Lumber main- tain its independence, something Patrick says is of high value to the company. “We value our flexibility and want to be able to adapt to our customers,” he says. “We don’t want them to think they’re buy- ing from a national chain, because that’s not what we are. Our customers buy from Star. Blish-Mize allows us to be extremely com- petitive and still have our independence.”

“He’s in the stores all the time,” he says. “He knows every one of our employ- ees, from sales people to receiving dock workers to managers, and they all know him. We almost need to give Doug an office here. “He’s in tune with what we’re doing and has become a trusted partner. We can’t say enough about how important he is.” That knowledge goes both ways. Patrick says Blish-Mize is probably the only sup- plier or vendor Star works with where it knows all the employees. “We have toured Blish-Mize’s Distribution Center, and we know the employees on the shipping dock,” Patrick says. “There’s an immense amount of trust when you know every- one in an organization and have access

Blish-Mize also helps Star Lumber maintain its independence, something Patrick says is of high value to the company.

Star’s selection of Hardware House products has become very popular with its customers.

14 Fall 2014 • Hardlines Strategies