Dealer Profiles

Century Club Retailer Is Learning How to Pivot

Bortz Hardware in Greensburg, Pa., has been around since 1889, so this is not their first pandemic.
Bortz Hardware in Greensburg, Pa., has been around since 1889, so this is not their first pandemic.»

Since 1889, Bortz Hardware in Greensburg, Pa., has been helping customers hang a picture, fix a leaky pipe and repair a broken window screen. “Just a real hardware store,” said Owner Gary Adams, in an interview with Shannon Perrine, anchor of WTAE Pittsburgh.

These days, COVID-19 means the hot sellers have changed for the Do it Best member. “We’re selling a lot of plexiglass the last few days or a week,” Adams said.

They are also using plexiglass shields at the checkout station and having employees retrieve needed items to limit foot traffic, more signs that Adams has learned to pivot how he does business.

“You can call ahead if you know specifically what you want, and we’ll get it all together for you. We can take payment when you roll up,” he said. “You can still pay cash if you want, but you can put it on a charge card, or you can put it on a charge card before you even get here.”

Bortz Hardware asks customers to be considerate of the employees who are working hard to make sure they have what they need during COVID-19, and for another 100 years.

“People care about us. They care about the other shops that are downtown here. Our customers are wonderful,” Adams said.

To read more and see the video news report, click here.


Subscribe for Free

The Hardware Connection is a digital magazine targeted to independent hardware/home improvement retailers. It is the only industry magazine designed and distributed solely in electronic format and currently reaches over 60,000 people in the two-step channel.

The Hardware Connection publishes four Newsletters each year in addition to eight magazine issues.

To sign up yourself or additional staff to a free subscription to receive The Hardware Connection magazine and newsletter in electronic format, please click here.

Related Articles

Back to top button