Spring 2019 Hardlines Strategies

COMPANY NEWS

Celebrating 60 Years of Business Even after 60 years of supplying a diverse customer base stretching from agricultural professionals to summertime lake-goers, Canton Farm Supply has been a labor of love for Lua and Duane Vanmeter. Canton Farm Supply, located in Canton, Oklahoma, was founded in 1953. In 2003, the business was awarded the Estwing Golden Hammer Award in recognition of 50 years in business. “Customers make a big-time commitment to head into town and pick up what they need, so we want to make sure they’re not leaving disappointed,” Lua Vanmeter says. New Flooring Options Coming to Warehouse Blish-Mize customers have a new vendor to seek out at the Spring Buying Market. Brokering Solutions will be offering its flooring brand, Designer Choice, which includes 26 different styles of flooring and transitions. The styles reflect the most popular items available from Designer Choice, which has DIY-ready flooring in laminate and vinyl formulas. On the Buying Market show floor, retailers will be able to find several examples of display and merchandising options that can fit the size and space of their businesses, large or small. “Our main purpose as a company is to assist those independent lumberyards and building supply stores to level the playing field with big-box stores,” says Ben Honeycutt, sales manager at Brokering Solutions. “Blish-Mize is a trusted distributor, so it was a logical step for us to make these products available through their warehouse,” he says. The company’s luxury vinyl flooring is waterproof and can be installed with just a utility blade. Its laminate flooring is also DIYfriendly, providing a free-floating flooring solution that locks together.

The laminate flooring comes in an assortment of realistic wood designs, while the luxury vinyl flooring comes in wood designs, as well as stone and marble patterns. For more information, visit brokeringsolutions.com. Saying Goodbye A couple of familiar faces will be leaving the Blish-Mize family in 2019. In March, Rich Clem, catalog manager, will retire after 50 years, and in April, regional sales manager Brad Uhrmacher will be retiring after 36 years of service. “We will certainly miss Rich and Brad, and we appreciate their hard work over the years,” says Jonathan Mize, CEO and president. “They’ve done so much to contribute to the company’s success, and we thank them for their efforts and know they will enjoy retirement,” he says. Sales Team Expansion Blish-Mize continues to grow. As of Feb. 1, the company added about half a dozen new sales reps as it officially expanded further south into south-central and southeast Texas, northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas. “With HDW Inc. closing their doors, we’ve built an expansion plan that includes these new territories,” says Clay Uhrmacher, vice president of

sales and marketing. “Part of that plan includes bringing on board five former HDW sales reps, as well as a few other reps to cover these areas. So far, it’s been a smooth transition.” Blish-Mize also has dedicated company delivery trucks to those areas, he says. The changes went into effect Jan. 1. “We are excited to serve these territories and expand our service to any former HDW customers,” says Mize. “We know these can be changing and challenging times for those retailers, but they can have faith in us standing the test of time.”   Finding New Opportunities Blish-Mize has announced some departmental changes and promotions that took effect in early 2019. They include: • Amy Knoch has been promoted to executive vice president of human resources. • Cindy Kane is Blish-Mize’s marketing director. • Sarah Lee is the company’s new purchasing director. • Jason Drury is a new regional sales manager. “These employees have all done a stellar job in their previous roles at Blish-Mize, and we’re excited to see them excel in the new opportunities that await them,” says Mize.

42 Spring 2019 • Hardlines Strategies