2024 Retail Beacon Award

Buchheit

Perryville, Missouri

Retail Beacon Award

From a single truck in 1934 to a multi-divisional enterprise, Buchheit’s longstanding commitment to teamwork and customer service earns them the 2024 Retail Beacon Award.

Click below to watch Buchheit’s Beacon Award presentation video:

The wagon wheel in Buchheit’s logo is deeply meaningful to the Buchheit family, owners of this Perryville, Missouri-based company and recipients of the 2024 Retail Beacon Award.

“The wagon wheel is symbolic of how we operate as a team,” says CEO Tim Buchheit. “Each spoke must function for the wheel’s success, just as every team member must serve our customers and communities.”

Founded by Rudy Buchheit during the Great Depression in 1934 with a single truck and a promise to help his neighbors, the company began by bringing goods from St. Louis to locals. “Our communities are our essence,” says Jon Buchheit, executive vice president. “Most of our team members live and were raised in the communities they serve.”

Throughout its history, Buchheit has been recognized for retail excellence and community involvement. Notable accolades include Kenny Buchheit, a second-generation leader, being named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Perry County Community Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2021. Other honors include the Orgill Pinnacle Award, American Legion Employer of Veterans Award, and Hamilton Carhartt Retailer of Excellence Award.

Buchheit has grown to include 850 employees 20 retail stores, a logistics company, agricultural division, cabinet manufacturing unit, and metal production business. Active family members, including Tim, Jon, Doug, and Jeff Buchheit, along with Kristi Hahs, are deeply involved in daily operations and serve on the board.

Buchheit’s innovative leadership, employee recognition, and customer-focused assortment distinguish it as a retail hardware industry leader and worthy recipient of the Retail Beacon Award. “It’s an honor to be recognized,” says Tim Buchheit. “Our success is driven by happy customers and team members, and we are grateful for this recognition.”
 

Rebuilding Better, Bigger after Fire

Resilience and tenacity have been enduring traits throughout the company’s history. Founded out of the necessity to bring agricultural goods to the city and urban goods back to farmers during the Great Depression, Buchheit has faced numerous challenges during its 90-year history, including a devastating fire in 1986 that destroyed the company’s only store. The Buchheit family and its community rallied together, enabling the store to operate out of an outbuilding the very next day.

In 1988, the company opened its second store in Sparta, Ill., and continued to grow, reaching a total of eight stores by 2021. The decision to rebuild and expand has led to substantial growth, including the recent acquisition of 12 Orscheln Farm and Home stores.
 

Community Roots Run Deep

Community involvement is a cornerstone of Buchheit’s corporate culture, exemplified by programs such as Handshakes for Heroes, Wreaths Across America, and the Buchheit Family Foundation, created in 2020 to give back to the communities the company serves and team members in times of need, mirroring the support the family received after the 1986 fire.

With a customer base that is 70 percent do-it-yourselfers, including many farmers, Buchheit is deeply connected to its rural roots. They support Future Farmers of America and 4-H programs and helped found the American Tractor Museum in Perryville, showcasing Kenny Buchheit’s rare antique tractor collection.

Buchheit’s community commitment is also evident on social media. Their most popular Facebook post announced the reopening at 11 p.m. of a store to support tornado victims. “Our store was busy that night, offering both product and emotional support,” says Jared Hotop, president of retail operations.

Culture of Employee Engagement

Buchheit’s commitment to learning and development is evident at Orgill Dealer Markets, where executives, management, buying staff, and associates actively participate in numerous learning seminars. By providing tools and fostering a company culture that encourages participation at all levels of management, Buchheit ensures that team members understand the operations of the company and have opportunities to contribute. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment among team members, making Buchheit a strong, successful, and driven company where everyone feels they are part of something big.

Even Buchheit’s in-house CRM system is designed to encourage employee engagement. The system is complemented by a learning management portal, a recognition platform, and an internal social network. These tools allow team members to share accomplishments, inspire each other, and foster a sense of unity, even across great distances. By cultivating a company-wide and consistent culture, Buchheit effectively brings its team together and encourages everyone to exceed expectations, according to Jon Buchheit.

Orgill Supports Diverse Product Mix

The diversity of product offerings is a crucial factor in the stores’ success, catering to a wide range of needs from home improvement categories and building supplies to agriculture, farm, and pet products.

A key to Buchheit’s growth has been its relationship with distributor Orgill. At Orgill Dealer Markets, Buchheit’s team participates in seminars to improve their business. “Orgill provides access to a wide range of products and services crucial to our growth,” says Jon Buchheit. “Their warehouse, 45 minutes from our headquarters, allows us to be nimble in serving our customers.”

Buchheit’s connection to its communities is reflected in its customer-driven store design and diverse product offerings, catering to a wide range of needs from home improvement supplies to home repair assortments like Fluidmaster plumbing products.

“Fluidmaster is successful due to its reliability and wide product mix,” Hotop says.

During his remarks after accepting the Beacon Award, Jon Buchheit said: “Our team made this award possible.” He added, “The other thing you need to get an award like this is good business partners. Fluidmaster has been in our store for 50 years. Epicor came to us the day after the fire and asked how they could help. We participate in all of Orgill’s programs.”

Innovative Programs, Technology Enhance Customer Engagement

Buchheit has made significant strides in enhancing customer engagement and loyalty through its innovative programs. The Buchheit Buyer$ Club and the eBATE program have been central to this effort. The Buyer$ Club offers exclusive discounts and promotions, while the eBATE program, entirely electronic, allows customers to earn rebates that never expire, encouraging repeat purchases. Promotions such as “Earn 12% Back Weekends” further incentivize customers to engage with the store regularly. These programs, alongside investments in technology and custom CRM tools, have helped Buchheit boost customer loyalty and increase average ticket sizes.

For business operations, they rely on Epicor’s Falcon software. “The relational database structure allows us to create analytics and processes for data-driven decisions,” says Hotop.

Nation’s Best

Retail Beacon Award

CEO Chris Miller’s leadership has rapidly expanded Nation’s Best into a retail powerhouse with a community-driven growth model and innovative practices that earned it the 2024 Retail Beacon Award.

Click Below to Watch the Nation’s Best Beacon Award Presentation Video:

Since its founding in 2019, Nation’s Best, led by CEO Chris Miller, has rapidly become a standout in the retail hardware industry, and is a recipient of the 2024 Retail Beacon Award. Headquartered in Dallas, and maintaining a strategic partnership with Do it Best, Nation’s Best has grown to encompass 60 locations across 18 states, employing more than 1,200 associates. The company’s success is rooted in a thoughtful acquisition strategy, a deep commitment to community involvement, and an emphasis on modernizing the hardware retail landscape while retaining local culture and traditions.

A Focus on Strategic Growth

Nation’s Best has adopted a unique growth model focused on acquiring well-established, profitable businesses, particularly in secondary markets. Unlike many retailers that rebrand and overhaul stores after acquisition, Nation’s Best preserves the original store names and empowers local management to maintain their individual business identities. This approach has allowed the company to retain customer loyalty while seamlessly integrating new operations.

Miller’s background in finance plays a significant role in this strategy. Miller began his career working for an oilfield services company before transitioning to retail hardware in 2006 as CFO of Parker’s Building Supply. His deep involvement in store operations and management experience at Parker’s led him to become vice president of operations at U.S. LBM, overseeing multiple locations across the country.

“Coming from the finance world, I consider myself a numbers guy,” Miller explains. He looks closely at financial metrics like balance sheets, P&Ls, and receivables to assess each acquisition, ensuring that Nation’s Best only pursues businesses with strong financial foundations.

“But I’ve learned that numbers alone don’t tell the whole story,” Miller adds, acknowledging the importance of the personal relationships and community ties that are so integral to the retail hardware business.
 

Modernizing Stores and Empowering Teams

A key component of Nation’s Best’s success is its focus on modernization. Through initiatives like upgrading store infrastructure and implementing cutting-edge technologies, including the Tracula inventory-tracking system, Nation’s Best improves operational efficiency while enhancing customer experience. After each acquisition, the company invests in upgrading buildings, remerchandising stores, and expanding product lines.

“We work within the first 90 days to identify areas for improvement,” Miller explains.

Whether it’s adding a new line of power tools or implementing better inventory control systems, Nation’s Best ensures that stores remain competitive in their local markets. Nation’s Best often finds opportunities to freshen or expand product lines. A common addition for new locations has been quality paint lines. “Every single store grows their paint business with what we bring to the table,” Miller says.   

Despite these modernizations, the company is committed to preserving the unique identities of each store. The company’s playbook for new acquisitions ensures consistency in operations, but it also gives local managers autonomy to adapt to their specific markets.

Community Involvement at the Core

One of the defining characteristics of Nation’s Best is its deep commitment to the communities it serves. From the start, Miller and his team have prioritized retaining the local traditions of the stores they acquire. For example, Calaveras Lumber in California has long been a supporter of the 4-H club. Nation’s Best has continued that involvement, purchasing prize-winning cows at county fairs and donating the meat to employees.

“Community involvement is not just something we check off a list; it’s part of who we are as a company,” Miller says. The company’s non-profit foundation, NB Cares, reflects this philosophy by supporting local charities and providing scholarships. Additionally, Nation’s Best has raised more than $1 million for causes like Arrivederci ALD, a charity focused on combating childhood diseases.

Building a Culture of Trust and Relationships

Nation’s Best’s approach to acquisitions is rooted in trust and relationship-building. Miller is personally involved in every acquisition, ensuring that the culture of the business aligns with the values of Nation’s Best.

“I don’t want to change a store’s culture; I want to build on it,” Miller says. This hands-on approach extends beyond the initial transaction—Miller maintains relationships with previous owners, whether they remain involved in the business or not.

For Do it Best members, Nation’s Best offers an avenue for streamlined succession planning. “Third- and fourth-generation families who have made the choice to sell to Nation’s Best can see their businesses thrive and continue to be relevant in the marketplace,” Miller says.

For many of the family-owned businesses that Nation’s Best acquires, selling is an emotional decision that goes beyond a simple financial transaction. Miller understands the significance of this decision and takes the time to build trust with each seller, often maintaining open lines of communication well after the sale is complete.

“They can always call me if they have concerns, and we’ll work through them together,” Miller says.

Navigating Expansion with Flexibility

As Nation’s Best has expanded rapidly, Miller and his team have faced the challenge of making quick, impactful decisions. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, just months after Nation’s Best was founded, Miller had to decide whether to continue acquiring businesses amidst uncertainty. Miller credits his team with helping to guide the company through this period of rapid growth.

“I don’t make decisions in isolation—I involve my team in all major strategic moves,” he says. This collaborative approach has allowed Nation’s Best to stay nimble, even as it continues to grow. The company’s acquisition strategy remains focused on home centers, hardware stores, and lumberyards, resisting the temptation to expand into unrelated business areas.

Future Growth and Innovation

Looking ahead, Nation’s Best shows no signs of slowing down. While store count is not Miller’s primary focus, he emphasizes that the company will continue to seek out well-run businesses that align with its culture and values.

“We’re not racing to a finish line,” he says. “It’s about finding the right businesses and integrating them into our family.”

In addition to expanding its store footprint, Nation’s Best is also exploring new ways to enhance its operations. One of the essential tasks after an acquisition is updating the computer system to enable Nation’s Best to manage the business. “For all stores, converting to Epicor Eagle is critical to running a large business in real time,” Miller says.

Recognition with the Retail Beacon Award

Receiving the 2024 Retail Beacon Award is a testament to Nation’s Best’s remarkable achievements in just a few short years. “Being recognized with this award is an incredible honor,” Miller says. “It’s not just for me—it’s for our entire team and all the mentors I’ve had along the way.” The award reflects the company’s commitment to excellence, both in terms of retail operations and community involvement.

As Nation’s Best continues to grow, Miller remains focused on maintaining the company’s core values: trust, community, and innovation. “We’ve built something special here,” he says. “And we’re just getting started.”