How’s Business? Georgia Hardware Store Sees Sales Surge, Plans Lumber Expansion

Richie Taylor
Morris Ace Hardware
Alma, Georgia

Taylor discusses sales growth of 25% to 28%, strong contractor demand and plans to add lumber.

How are sales and customer counts? We’re up, probably in the neighborhood of 25% to 28%. It’s a small town here, and we are the blueberry capital of Georgia. We have a lot of contractor business and housing is one of the things on the rise here.

What’s unique about your business? We are family owned and have been for 60-some years. We’re very customer friendly and offer curbside pickup. Customers can be at home, order, and we’ll have the order ready when they get here.

Best niches? One strong department is our paint. We have Ben Moore and have low-grade paint all the way up to $100 a gallon paint. Another thing we’re known for is YETI products.

Any recent surprise best sellers? One product came in a couple weeks ago, and it’s selling like crazy. It’s the Coleman Collapsible Cooler. They have really taken off.

What do you have planned for 2027? The only thing we don’t sell right now is lumber. Our goal is to be selling lumber by the end of 2027. We’re doing construction work on the front of building, repairing some storm damage. After we finish that, we’ll get plans drawn up to expand our warehouses and set up to house lumber.

Explore more How’s Business reports and other news in Hardware Connection.