Nearly 11,000 attendees filled the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., from March 21-23 for the first-ever combined Do it Best and True Value Spring Market. For independent retailers, the experience ranged from cautiously optimistic to energized and impressed by the sheer scope of the event.
“It’s a good show. It’s big—being double the size, it’s really big,” said Chris Kassing of Kassing Lumber Company in Mt. Sterling, Ill., a Do it Best member since 2004. “It seems like it all happened pretty quick.”
For James and Christa McNeill of Chipley Hardware in Chipley, Fla., the event marked a new kind of complexity—and new possibilities.
“We’re excited. It’s a great layout,” James said. “There’s a lot to see. Great show, great food. Everything’s good about it.”
But he added that navigating the purchasing systems between Do it Best and True Value presented some confusion. “My only question is I want to use my Do it Best number for a lot of the things so that I hit my yearly purchase amounts. I can’t figure out how to buy the True Value stuff under the Do it Best number.”
Christa added, “It was a much-needed thing. We had a hard time getting inventory out of the True Value side. I know that’s going to catch up. In the meantime, we’re excited to partner with Do it Best. Just looking through their catalogs, they seem to have a lot more product.”
Some retailers brought experience from the merger with United Hardware which happened 10 months ago. Greg Leintz of Galens Hardware in Bagley, Minn., described the transition to Do it Best as smooth. “We’re still pulling out of the same distribution center, and so it really hasn’t affected us much,” he said.
He also noted upcoming improvements: “One big benefit is they have a real aggressive expansion and remodel program that we’re going to take advantage of this summer. We’re going to redo one of our stores.”
Karen Mayer of Busy Beaver Building Center in New Kensington, Pa., said she didn’t know what to expect but was impressed by what she saw. “We weren’t really sure what we were walking into,” she said. “But just from previous True Value shows and other industry shows, they’ve put on an impressive event.”
Mayer noted the presentation of both brands under one roof: “I like that they’ve got all the logos together. I didn’t know if it was going to be kind of separated. I think there’s positive messaging, and so far I’ve been very impressed.”
She also praised the market’s LBM focus. “True Value didn’t really have that LBM presence. We’ve already met with Do it Best about this, and our merchandise manager for lumber and building materials is incredibly excited.”
For Michael Fratz of Fratz True Value Hardware in Accident, Md., the transition has gone well. “I really liked everything Do it Best has done from day one after they found out about what happened,” he said. “It’s been good.”
And for Kurt Fetterman of 415 PRO Hardware in Dallas, Pa., the messaging from Do it Best leadership gave him confidence. “I’m very impressed, and I’m excited to see what’s going to happen after the last three years for us,” he said. “It’s only going to be better for all of us.”
Fetterman added that inventory access has improved significantly. “We were trying to get True Value and then they didn’t show up,” he said. “Their inventory was down, and I’m so glad they got it back. It seems to be closer to 95 percent or better.”
He also appreciated being able to draw from both networks. “They opened Do it Best warehouses up to us so we could buy from the two. That helped out tremendously,” he said.
Retailers expressed interest in where branding might go, but most weren’t overly concerned. “We want to stick with True Value,” Fetterman said, “but I’m willing to stick with whatever brand they choose to go with going forward. I’m excited for it. I think it’s nothing but a win for all of us.”
