The Beacon Awards are an important recognition program that honors the best of the best dealers who represent the future of the hardware industry.
The Beacon Awards ceremony is hosted annually at Independent Home Improvement (IHI) Conference. The 2025 winners were recognized on the first night of the Conference, on July 30.
In addition to Best New Store, Retail Beacon Awards are awarded for each of the participating wholesalers and this year we will celebrate the first Digital Beacon Awards. The Beacon Awards are sponsored by Epicor, Ettore Products Company, Fluidmaster, IHI Conference and Hardware Connection magazine. Wholesale sponsors are Do it Best, Orgill and True Value. The Digital Beacon Awards are made possible by WD-40 Low Odor.
2025 Beacon Award Winners
- 2025 Beacon Awards
Reinventing a Big Lake Landmark — Three Sons True Value Hardware Wins Beacon Award for Best New Store
The remodeled Three Sons Hardware in Big Lake is a welcoming destination, offering products and services tailored to Minnesota’s lake-country…
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A Small-Town Hub, Reinvented — Coulee Hardware Wins Beacon Award for Best New Store
Coulee Hardware serves Grand Coulee, Wash., home to fewer than 1,000 residents. It’s an essential hub for locals and the…
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Rebuilding Stronger, Serving Bigger — Matt’s Building Materials Wins Beacon Award for Best New Store
Matt’s Building Materials’ Pharr location showcases a redesigned layout and expanded assortments, with Orgill’s support helping optimize product selection and…
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Short-Form Storytelling, Long-Term Loyalty — Sullivan Hardware & Garden Wins Digital Beacon Award for Digital Excellence
Pat Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Hardware & Garden in Indianapolis, treats social outreach as a storefront window: Show the people,…
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Building Community, One Customer at a Time — Randy’s Do it Best Hardware Wins Retail Beacon Award
Randy’s Hardware serves Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with locations in Timberville, Bridgewater, Ruckersville and Mount Jackson. It’s known for its innovative…
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Legacy of Leadership & Service — Peter’s True Value Hardware Wins Retail Beacon Award
Peter’s True Value in Milford, Michigan, has grown from a 5,000-square-foot store into a 20,000-square-foot home center that’s a trusted…
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Built on Tradition, Thriving on Innovation — Theisen’s Wins Retail Beacon Award
Continuing a legacy of family leadership and community giving at Theisen’s. From left: Pete Theisen, associate and customer engagement manager;…
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2025 Beacon Awards Winners Announced
Honorees to Be Recognized During Awards Gala at the 2025 IHI Conference, July 30–31 at JW Marriott Grande Lakes in…
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NEW! Digital Beacon Awards Recognize Standouts in Online Engagement, Social Media, and E-Commerce
Hardware Connection is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Digital Beacon Awards, a new initiative launched this year…
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2024 Beacon Award Winners
- Dealer Profiles
Building Business on Relationships, Innovation
Koopman Lumber Beacon Award for Best New Store Koopman Lumber’s Dennis, Mass., location transformed an antique dealership into a modern…
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Legacy Expands with Community-centric, New Location
Kevin and Ann Evers had a quick introduction to the retail hardware business. Putting in an offer on their local…
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2024 Retail Beacon Award Winners
- Dealer Profiles
Winning Formula: Teamwork, Tradition, and Community
Buchheit has grown to include 850 employees 20 retail stores, a logistics company, agricultural division, cabinet manufacturing unit, and metal…
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Building with Heart, Strategic Leadership
Nation’s Best Retail Beacon Award “I’ve learned that numbers alone don’t tell the whole story,” Miller says, and he believes…
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