CUSTOMER FEATURE
Quality and Value
Of course, partnering with Blish-Mize
means Star will receive products of the
highest quality and value.
“We can always count on Blish-Mize to
be very competitively priced, and the qual-
ity is always there,” says Patrick. “They’re
willing to plan with us, and as a result,
we’re able to adapt to the market very
quickly. We’ve found it really pays to align
ourselves with Blish-Mize.
“Having the right product here all the
time is what really matters to our custom-
ers,” Patrick says. “Blish-Mize’s accuracy
is incredible. They ship us what we need,
when we need it.”
Star Lumber has stocked Hardware
House products from the beginning, and
Patrick says those products have been very
popular in the store.
“It allows us to have a house brand
name nobody else in our market is sell-
ing,” he says. “There’s an amazing amount
of SKUs, and it’s nice to have a branded,
yet value-minded, product array. We have
builders who have switched from brand
names to Hardware House and love it.”
Going to Market
Star Lumber staff has a big presence at
Blish-Mize Markets—Patrick says he usu-
ally sends six or seven buyers to each.
“It may seem like we send a large group
to the Markets, but I support it, because
I know they’re building relationships,”
he says. “The biggest and best thing that
comes out of the Markets is that our buy-
ers spend a good amount of time with the
Blish-Mize staff. We take the opportunity
to sit down and have meetings and talk
about what we’re focusing on in our stores.
The Markets are great events, and they’re
very valuable for us.”
A Year of Celebration
Star Lumber is celebrating its 75th anni-
versary in 2014, and the staff is marking it
with a year of celebrations.
In addition to promoting the anniver-
sary at customer events, contractor expos
and employee gatherings, including plans
for an employee picnic at the zoo, Star
employees marked the occasion earlier
this year by participating in a home build
for Habitat for Humanity. The company
is also going to be a Pacesetter for United
Way this year and was awarded the
Spirit of Wichita award by the local
chamber of commerce.
Star Lumber also held a 75th anniver-
sary event in the spring, which Blish-Mize
CEO & President Jonathan Mize, Blish-
Mize Vice President of Sales Doug Long
and Weathers all attended.
“It meant a lot to us to have them all
there,” Patrick says. “We really appreci-
ated them taking the time to visit and to
help us celebrate.”
The store has everything its DIY and pro customers alike need for home building and remodeling.
The company is also
going to be a Pacesetter
for United Way this year
and was awarded the
Spirit of Wichita award
by the local chamber
of commerce.
16
Fall 2014 •
Hardlines
Strategies
