Contents
Ordering Made Easy
pg. 4
Blish-Mize makes product ordering
easy for you.
Customer Feature
pg. 8
Read about how Star Lumber and
Blish-Mize work closely together.
Customer Feature
pg. 18
Learn how Blish-Mize gave Hostetler’s
Feed & Farm Supply a new look.
Market Preview
pg. 22
Get ready to save at the Blish-Mize 2014
Fall Buying Market.
SmartBook
pg. 28
Read about Blish-Mize retailers who have
found success with the SmartBook.
A New Partnership . . .
pg. 31
Learn more about Blish-Mize’s
partnership with Titan LED Lighting and
what it can mean for your store.
On the Cover:
Chris and Patrick Goebel of Star Lumber
in Wichita, Kansas.
THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Advertising Information
Hardlines Strategies
is published twice every year
by Blish-Mize. Copyright 2014. 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-Mize isamember-owner
ofDistributionAmerica
Keeping You on
the Leading Edge
I
t’s an exciting time to be a retailer!
Employment numbers are up, housing starts
are rising and consumers are looking to tackle
more d-i-y home improvement projects—all activi-
ties that will add growth for you, our valued cus-
tomers. We value our partnerships at Blish-Mize,
and we’re so happy to be standing by Star Lumber
as they celebrate 75 years of business. As one of
the Industry’s Top 300 Retailers, Star has proven it
isn’t afraid to innovate and create new strategies for success.
Developing strong relationships with both customers and vendors
is an essential part of the equation of distribution. One of the
ways Blish-Mize has always strived to lead the industry is through
technology integration. On both our Retail Services side, as well as
with our Operations, we’re constantly energizing the business with the
ultimate goal of helping you have access to the most powerful tools
and services that help your business. Staying current and connected
to your needs is our No. 1 priority, and Blish-Mize is committed to
taking steps to invest in infrastructure and programs that will ensure we
are positioning the company, and yours, for a long future of service.
Technological improvements at Blish-Mize have taken many forms over
the past years. From improving our accuracy rates to almost 100 percent
to giving you access to your purchase histories at our Buying Markets
through our new SmartBook program, we are always looking for ways to
improve and grow. This year, we’re focusing on some facility changes we
think will have a positive effect on all aspects of our business and yours.
One of our most exciting initiatives is our adaptation of voice-picking
technology at our Distribution Center. This technology will help our
employees process orders quicker and more efficiently and will improve
accuracy and fill rates. See more information on Page 32.
In addition, we’ve installed new LED lighting in both our office
and Distribution Center. This simple change is anticipated to save us
65 percent in utility costs, which we can pass on to you. By making
investments in LED lighting now, we believe we will save on expensive
overhead costs and help you do the same. Read more about it on Page 31.
Be sure to check out all the details on these new initiatives throughout
the magazine, and please feel free to call me whenever you may need
something. I love to talk about the industry, the future of Blish-Mize,
your business and our continued partnership.
Jonathan D. Mize
CEO and President
Hardlines
Strategies
•
Fall 2014
3
