Page 32 - Spring 2013 Hardlines Strategies

32 Spring 2013 • Hardlines Strategies
VENDOR PROFILE
and the transcontinental railroad. “A lot
of jobs were done manually back then, so
the hand tools we made had a big role.
We have long roots in the industry and
the building of the nation,” Saffron says.
Ames True Temper also has much to
offer the independent retailer, such as a
comprehensive, good-better-best line of
products; products that can’t be found
at big-box stores; and a regular presence
at the Blish-Mize Buying Market with
assortments and displays tailored to the
needs of the independent channel.
The True Temper True American line,
a made-in-the-U.S.A. line of tools, is
one of those lines not sold at big-box
retailers. “There have been significant
increases in popularity in the buy-local
and buy-American trends,” Saffron
says. “These trends all bode well for
the independent.”
He says the company treasures its
relationship with Blish-Mize, too. “It’s a
long-standing and friendly relationship.
Blish-Mize has been a proponent of the
True American line, and it’s been one of
the company’s primary growth vehicles.
It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”
At a Glance
Ames True Temper
Year Founded: 1774, by Oliver Ames
President: Les Ireland
Headquarters: Camp Hill, Pa.
Principal Products: Hand tools, power tools
Genova: A New Face
for Plumbing
In 1962, Robert F. Williams founded
Genova as he sought to develop more
economical, easier-to-install plumbing
systems. He replaced the metal pipes
and fittings with plastic ones, which
changed the nature of plumbing in the
building industry.
“Genova has been at the forefront of
the innovation that has taken place in
the plumbing and building industries
over the past 50 years,” says Jeanette
Kellogg, Genova’s vice president of sales
and marketing.
Some milestones for the company have
been the distribution of PVC-DWV pipe and
fittings; adding new manufacturing plants in
several states; introducing vinyl rain gutter
and downspout systems; and producing
vinyl fencing, decking and railing.
Genova and Blish-Mize have been
partners for almost all 50 years of
Genova’s history. “We have been great
partners because it is a partnership based
on both companies having similar values
and vision,” Kellogg says.
Genova supports independent retailers
with quality products, merchandising and
advertising programs. Other value-added
attributes include efficient shipments on
designated truck fleets, a dedicated customer
service department and an engineering staff
to assist with technical questions.
“Independent retailers play a key
role in their communities and the industry
as a whole,” Kellogg says. “They are
passionate about their businesses. Genova
supports independent retailers with
innovative, quality products that solve
their customers’ plumbing and building
material needs at competitive prices.”
At a Glance
Genova
Year Founded: 1962, by Robert F. Williams
President: Robert M. Williams
Headquarters: Davison, Mich.
Principal Products: Pipes; fittings; vinyl
fencing, decking and railings
Stanley Black & Decker:
Teaming Up
In 1843, Frederick Stanley started a
workshop in New Britain, Conn., where
he began manufacturing hardware.
Two decades later, his company began
manufacturing hand planes, hammers
and screwdrivers. By 1900, it was the
largest manufacturer in the country.
Over the next several decades, Stanley
continued to add new products, such as
specialty tools during World War I and
World War II, the electric drill and other
power tools, and the Utility Knife and
Phillips head screwdriver (both of which
the company invented).
The company also introduced the power
lock and retractable measuring tape.
Meanwhile, Duncan Black and Alonzo
Decker had started a small shop in
Baltimore in 1910. The two filed their first
patent—for a portable electric drill—in
1916, the same year they launched a
portable air compressor. Black & Decker
expanded into Canada, the United
Kingdom and Australia in the 1920s. Like
Stanley, it manufactured products for
soldiers during both world wars.
Black & Decker also started a line of
drills and other D-I-Y accessories in the
1940s and outdoor tools in the 1950s.
In 2010, the two companies merged
together. “We preserved the brands the
way they’ve always been,” says Todd
Langston, director of brand marketing
for Stanley Black & Decker. “We
protected the DNA of each brand—each
has its own set of characteristics.”
In celebration of its 170th anniversary
this year, Stanley Black & Decker will be
working with the Smithsonian Institution
to put together a series of exhibits
recognizing the company’s inventions
and accomplishments.
The company is also a source for
American-made products. “We have a lot of
products made in the U.S., and we want to
work hard to send the message that we’re
an American company,” Langston says.
“We’ve been a significant part of history.”
At a Glance
Stanley Black & Decker
Year Founded: 1843, by Frederick Stanley
President and CEO: John F. Lundgren
Headquarters: New Britain, Conn.
Principal Products: Hand tools,
mechanics tools, pneumatic tools,
hardware, security products, hydraulic
tools, power tools and accessories.