Fall 2013 Hardlines Strategies

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

We Keep Working for You T hank you for choosing Blish-Mize. We value your business. If you were to ask me what we’re doing to keep you competitive, I’d

Contents Your Competitive Edge pg. 4 Do you know how Blish-Mize cuts your costs and keeps money in your business? pg. 10 Read why the owners of J.P. Lumber in Oakland, Iowa, chose Blish-Mize. pg. 16 Don’t miss your chance for bargain buys and informative seminars at the 2013 Fall Buying Market. pg. 25 Use the Year-End Review tool to develop a selling strategy for 2014. Maximize Your Ads pg. 26 Learn how the On-Demand program can help you advertise online. pg. 32 Plan to visit these four vendors Blish-Mize is bringing to the Fall Buying Market. On the Cover: Jerry and Suzanne Pierce, J.P. Lumber in Oakland, Iowa Retailer Feature Market Preview Year-End Review A Perfect Fit

start with a list of 50 reasons of why Blish-Mize has an advantage over other distributors. You can read a few of those 50 reasons on Page 4. What have you done to keep your business competitive this year? Whether your competitors are down the street or in the next town, your customers

will always have choices of where they do business. You know that if you want to be their retailer of choice, you need to find ways to set yourself apart. Here at Blish-Mize, we follow that same strategy. For example, beginning next year, your Blish-Mize sales representative will present you with a year-end review of all of the purchases you made through Blish-Mize in 2013 compared to 2012. This review will include purchases by department, inventory usage, adjustment history and more. With this information in hand, you and your sales representative can work together to improve your profitability. In the report, you will also find a promotional calendar for 2014 as well as a review of the full range of programs and services Blish-Mize offers so you’re not missing any opportunities that could help you. We will offer the year-end review every year, and it comes at no charge to you . Its biggest value will be in how it helps you get a new perspective on your business and improve your profitability. Speaking of promotions, in this digital age, it is increasingly important to reach your customers at their computers, tablets and smartphones. It couldn’t get much easier, or less expensive, than our On-Demand advertising program. This year we made several enhancements to this program, which makes it easier to publish your circular online. You’ll want to attend the seminar at the Market to learn more about our 2014 advertising program options. I’d also like to introduce our new e-Delivery paperless service. You can now choose to receive your packing lists, invoices and month-end statements via email and/or fax. This option allows us to communicate with you quickly and efficiently, saving you time and cutting down on some of the paper stacked up around your office. Finally, more opportunities are in store for you at our Fall Buying Market. Along with all of the bargain prices from our vendors, we have an exciting lineup of seminars. In addition to the 2014 Advertising Program update, representatives from the North American Retail Hardware Association will share how you can create a more effective employee-training program. Then, on Saturday during breakfast, they’ll talk about how your brick-and-mortar store can compete in the online marketplace. Read more about our Fall Buying Market on the following pages of Strategies . Make plans to attend our Market and make this competitive advantage work for you.

Advertising Information Hardlines Strategies is published twice every year by Blish-Mize. Copyright 2013. For advertising rates and deadlines, please contact:

Blish Connor Blish-Mize

223 S. Fifth St., Box 249 Atchison, Kansas 66002 Toll free: (800) 995-0525 (913) 367-1250

(913) 375-2505 (cell) (913) 367-0667 (fax) e-mail: blish.connor@blishmize.com

Jonathan D. Mize President and COO

Blish-Mize isamember-owner ofDistributionAmerica

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