Do it Best, True Value Open Dallas-Fort Worth Tech Center to Drive Digital Growth

Do it Best and True Value have opened a new regional technology center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to expand IT operations and strengthen the digital infrastructure supporting their network of independent retailers. Located at the Cypress Waters campus near DFW International Airport, the facility will serve as a base for developing data systems, software tools, and operational support across the combined organization.

About 20 to 25 team members will work on site initially, with additional hires planned as the operation grows. No employees are being transferred from Fort Wayne, Chicago, or other offices—every position in Dallas-Fort Worth is additive. Recruitment is already underway, with onboarding continuing through this year and into next.

“This expansion demonstrates our transformational thinking and our confidence in the future of the Do it Best Group,” said CEO Dan Starr. “By opening this tech center, we’re expanding our IT capabilities, accelerating critical initiatives, and ensuring all our dealers have the innovation and operational strength they need to succeed in today’s competitive retail marketplace.”

The new center enables the company to accelerate the development and deployment of technology that directly benefits its members and retailers, including enhancing: 

• Tools which give our dealers actionable data and insights to optimize product and category selection, drive more store traffic, and better serve pro and DIY customers.
• Ecommerce and digital tools, ensuring our members and retailers will win across channels.
• How the companies analyze and deliver data to guide our independent owners in making more informed, profitable decisions for their businesses.

In addition to daily operations, the Dallas-Fort Worth tech center will provide space for focus groups, training sessions, and vendor meetings centered on digital and data innovation. These sessions will allow dealers to engage directly in discussions about technology that impact their stores. The goal is to ensure every retailer—regardless of brand—benefits from data-driven insights, stronger digital platforms, and solutions that drive traffic and profitability.

The Dallas-Fort Worth region was chosen for its deep technology talent pool and proximity to more than 100 technology and vendor partners, as well as two nearby distribution centers in Corsicana and Waco. These advantages strengthen collaboration and recruitment opportunities, according to chief information officer Ken Widner,.

The new facility features a modern, collaborative workspace designed to support in-person communication and cultural alignment across the organization. The center will play a central role in advancing Do it Best and True Value’s technology initiatives through software development, data integration, and IT infrastructure improvements that enhance operational efficiency and responsiveness across the company’s 9,000-member dealer network.

Also based in Dallas, Nation’s Best—a Do it Best member company led by CEO Chris Miller, who received the 2024 Retail Beacon Award—represents the kind of digitally forward, growth-oriented retailer the new tech center aims to support through innovation and data-driven solutions. Nation’s Best currently operates 64 locations across 18 states, with a workforce of more than 1,200 associates.