Page 3 - Spring 2013 Hardlines Strategies

Hardlines

Strategies

•

Spring 2013

3

Contents

Hosting the Big Event

pg. 4

Read ideas for special events that can

build excitement around your store.

Cash in on Rental

pg. 10

Do you know how Blish-Mize can help

you get started in the rental business?

Market Preview

pg. 16

Find new opportunities and big savings at

the Blish-Mize 2013 Spring Buying Market,

coming on March 22-23.

Merchandise Review

pg. 22

Ask yourself these questions as you review

your assortments andmerchandising.

PartScription

pg. 26

Learn how a niche in parts and supplies

can boost your sales.

Industry Leaders

pg. 30

Read how four manufacturers have led

the industry.

On the Cover:

Mike and Lisa Unterreiner of Hartman

Hardware in Shawnee, Kan.

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Advertising Information

Hardlines Strategies

is published twice every year

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

Blish-Mize isamember-owner

ofDistributionAmerica

Time for a Checkup

W

e all know the wisdom of going to the

doctor, even if we don’t go as often as we

should. Doctors know how to tell just by a

few simple observations if we’re healthy or if there are

some problems that need to be addressed. The sooner

we get those problems fixed, the longer we’ll stay

healthy and happy.

Your business isn’t much different. When was the

last time you gave your store a checkup?

There are a lot of vital signs you shouldn’t ignore. For example, low

average transaction sizes may indicate customers aren’t finding the whole

project and maybe it’s time to revisit your assortments or your merchandising.

Products that haven’t sold in a while may indicate you need to do a line

review and dump outdated merchandise.

Let me suggest that, no matter how healthy you think your business

might be, you take some time this year to take your store to the retail

doctor. Blish-Mize has some tools to help. Think of our Retail Profit

Management system (our RPM) as the doctor’s toolkit where you’ll find

everything you need to give your store an honest, head-to-toe evaluation.

For example, when was the last time you evaluated your market to see if

there were product categories you were missing? What about pricing: are you

priced competitively while still getting the maximum margin? Are you missing

sales because of poor merchandising? Are your assortments outdated?

To stay competitive in today’s marketplace, you need to be asking yourself

these, and more, questions continually. The RPM program covers all the

vital parts of your business, including product assortment, pricing strategy,

advertising, inventory management, store design and employee training.

At the upcoming Spring Buying Market we want you to see for yourself how

you can use some of these tools, so we’re bringing back the “mini-store.”

At the last Market, we introduced the mini-store and filled it with our best

assortments in the Lawn and Garden and Paint categories. This spring, we’re

highlighting key assortments from the Plumbing and Electrical categories.

I also encourage you to think about products or services you’re not

offering, but could be. In this issue of

Hardlines Strategies

, we highlight two

important programs.

The first is Rental. Rental fits naturally into your store because your

customers likely need to rent tools, so why send them somewhere else? Our

program is completely customizable to fit your needs.

The second is PartScription. With PartScription, you have access to millions

of repair parts. You already specialize in helping customers fix their homes; it’s

a natural fit to help them fix other items around the home, like appliances, lawn

and garden equipment, and HVAC systems. These programs are all part of the

way we’re helping you diversify and grow your business.

Start checking the vital signs of your business. Take advantage of all the

opportunities Blish-Mize has to offer. Start planning now for a healthy and pros-

perous year. See you at the Market!

Jonathan D. Mize

President and COO