Hardware stores (in a number of countries, "shops"), sometimes known as DIY stores , sell household hardware for home improvement including: fasteners , building materials , hand tools , power tools, keys , locks , hinges , chains , plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools , utensils , paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for use at home or for business. Many hardware stores have specialty departments unique to its region or its owner's interests. These departments include hunting and fishing supplies, plants and nursery products, marine and boating supplies, pet food and supplies, farm and ranch supplies including animal feed, swimming pool chemicals, homebrewing supplies and canning supplies.
21-489: The True Value Company is an American wholesaler and Hardware store brand. The corporate headquarters are located in Chicago . Historically True Value was a cooperative owned by retailers, but in 2018 it was purchased by ACON Investments . In October 2024, True Value filed for bankruptcy. Competitor Do it Best agreed to purchase the company. The independent retailers it supplies branded as "True Value" are not part of
42-437: A 1999 audit, accounting irregularities of about $ 100 million were discovered originating from pre-merger Cotter & Company, leading to a $ 131 million loss that year causing the value of TruServ stock to plummet. During this period (1999–2001), a number of hardware stores chose to leave TruServ to join competing hardware cooperatives including Ace Hardware and Do It Best. TruServ Corporation brought in new management, eliminated
63-447: A hardware store in the US to repair broken windows and screens, repair power equipment such as lawn mowers, re-key entry locks, make copies of house keys and car keys, re-wire lamps and vacuum cleaners, sharpen knives and cutting tools, make minor repairs to faucet and shower parts, repair kerosene heaters and cut and thread plumbing pipe. The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA )
84-785: A new 1.4 million square foot facility, set to open that fall, intended to service approximately 1,000 stores located in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania . Along with the new distribution center True Value also adopted the "hub-and-spoke" model . On November 1, 2022, True Value acquired the Agway Trademark from Agway Farm & Home Supply. On October 14, 2024, True Value filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it continued to face liquidity challenges caused by inflation and rising interest rates. The company plans to sell itself to competitor Do It Best for $ 153 million. True Value owns General Paint & Manufacturing (GPM),
105-757: A paint manufacturing plant, and supplies paint to other companies. The facility manufactures latex paints, oil based paints, stains and aerosols exceeding 7,300,000 gallons annually. GPM also manufactures a complete line of jansan/cleaning chemicals. True Value's house brands, including Green Thumb , Master Electrician , Master Plumber , Lawn Chief and Master Mechanic , are manufactured by many different suppliers to company specifications. Hardware store In Australia hardware stores specialise in home décor and include large selections of paint. There are three major hardware companies in Australia: Bunnings , Mitre 10 and Home Hardware . Home Hardware
126-997: A particular category. These stores are usually grouped together in a shopping district. Examples are groups of stores that specialize in: In the United Kingdom , hardware stores can be known as ironmongers , DIY stores and home improvement stores. British retail chains include B&Q , Homebase , and Wickes . Australian hardware chain Bunnings opened their first shop in St Albans in February 2017 and planned to convert several other Homebase shops into pilot Bunnings shops after acquiring them in February 2016. Larger hardware stores may also sell building supplies including lumber, flooring, roofing materials and fencing. Such stores are often referred to as home-improvement centers or home centers. There may be fewer hardware stores in
147-616: A range of household hardware , building supplies , heaters , air conditioners , garden products , barbecues and camping gear . There are 84 Mitre 10 member stores around New Zealand, including 19 in Auckland. Together, the members employ more than 8000 staff. Mitre 10 was started in Melbourne, Australia in 1959 as a local co-operative, with the initial 8 independent operators pooling their resources for shared advertising and promotion. Separate state-based companies were formed in
168-460: A wide variety of items. Indian hardware stores are similar to hardware stores around the world, offering products from several categories such as plumbing, machinery, household, gardening, manufacturing, cobbler, carpenter, and electrical. Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Mark Conelly ( CFO ) Mitre 10 is a New Zealand chain of home improvement stores established in June 1974. The company sells
189-440: Is a retailers' co-operative and has many banners which store owners trade under. Since the acquisition of Bunnings by Wesfarmers in 1994, the big-box store concept has changed how new hardware stores are built. In 2004, Mitre 10 built its first supercentre Mitre 10 MEGA with an average store size of 13,500 m . These were later either closed or turned into large-concept Mitre 10 stores. In 2011 Masters Home Improvement entered
210-402: Is a membership organization that provides training and resources for hardware store owners and publishes a trade magazine in print and online. European-based stores include: In India hardware stores are mostly small businesses, with no major store chains that carry a large selection of products. Stores lack ample floor space compared to their Western counterparts, but are usually stocked with
231-846: The Canadian unit of The Home Depot in 1994. Canadian Tire , Central , Kent Building Supplies , Lowe's and many smaller chains also sell hardware in Canada. Most hardware stores in China, whether in the city or rural areas, are small, family-owned, non-franchise companies. They provide similar products to Western hardware stores, including plumbing and electrical supplies, tools, and some housewares. They do not normally carry lumber, fishing supplies, gardening products, or boating supplies. Some rural hardware stores supply animal feed, such as chicken feed. Common to most non-Western countries, China has specialty hardware stores, dedicated to selling products in
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#1732787330366252-570: The Mitre 10 brands for New Zealand after changes to the ownership of the Mitre 10 operation in Australia. Despite sharing the same heritage, the modern operations in New Zealand and Australia are separate. Mitre 10 was formerly involved in the production of Mitre 10 Dream Home , a reality television series which ran from 1999 until 2013. From 2016 to 2020, Mitre 10 became the sponsor of
273-482: The ServiStar and Coast to Coast brand names, and streamlined operations by closing many of the regional distribution centers. In 2006 TruServ Corporation was renamed True Value Company. In July 2017 True Value was offered for sale, and competitor Ace Hardware expressed interest in purchasing it. Eventually, in 2018, international private equity investment firm, ACON, purchased True Value. In 2019 True Value announced
294-472: The True Value Company. Elwood Adams Hardware of Worcester, Massachusetts claims to be the oldest operating hardware store in the US, having begun business in 1782. Part of the popularity of American hardware stores is the range of services they provide. Most retail outlets only sell goods, while some hardware stores custom-make or repair a large variety of household items. It is common for
315-800: The US now than in the past, but according to the US Census Bureau, there were still 14,300 hardware stores in the US in 2005, employing on average 10 employees each. Despite competition from large chain stores (commonly referred to as big-box or destination hardware stores, e.g., The Home Depot , Lowe's and Menards ) new hardware stores in the US continue to open. There are four major nationwide wholesale suppliers to hardware stores. All four report more than US$ 1 billion in annual sales. Two of them operate as retailers' cooperatives : Do It Best Corp, from Fort Wayne Indiana, and Ace Hardware from Oakbrook Illinois. Hardware store owners purchase stock in these suppliers and may choose to include
336-596: The assets of Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Company (formerly led by Adolphus C. Bartlett ) for $ 2.5 million, acquiring the True Value trademark for $ 2500 as part of the acquisition. ServiStar Hardware (formerly American Hardware Supply) had previously purchased Coast to Coast Hardware and had renamed itself to Servistar & Coast to Coast Hardware. Their hardware stores were operating under either ServiStar or Coast to Coast retail identities. In 1997 they merged with Cotter & Company to form TruServ Corporation. During
357-469: The bankruptcy and will continue operating. True Value Company was originally composed of four hardware cooperatives and a hardware wholesaler: American Hardware & Supply (ServiStar), Coast to Coast Corporation, Cotter & Company (True Value), and Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Company. Cotter & Company was established in 1948 by John Cotter with 12 original member stores. The cooperative grew in membership and in 1962 Cotter & Company purchased
378-403: The late 1980s the chain expanded its to include home and garden products. In 1994 the "Mitre 10 Home and Trade" brand was established. Two brand names (Hammer Hardware, Mitre 10 Mega) further expanded the Mitre 10 presence in both the small and large towns and cities. There were 50 Mitre 10 stores in 1999, 113 in 2003 and 83 in 2019. In 2010 Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Limited took full ownership of
399-576: The market and opened more than 49 stores, with an average footprint of 13,500 m . Masters Home Improvement, which was the second-largest hardware chain in Australia, closed in December 2016. Bunnings also operates in New Zealand, competing against Mitre 10 New Zealand and Hammer Hardware . The Australian Bunnings and Mitre 10 Mega format have also been introduced to New Zealand. Home Hardware , Rona , Canac, BMR Group and Réno-Dépôt are Canadian hardware retailers. Aikenhead's Hardware became
420-515: The name of the cooperative in the advertised name of the store. Hardware stores also purchase from a variety of regional wholesalers and specialty manufacturers. Some hardware stores operate rental businesses which can offer equipment from construction tools to inflatable playhouses. The major hardware cooperatives provide brand name rental advertising and support for hardware store owners including Just Ask Rental, Party Central, Grand Rental Station and Taylor Rental, all four of which are brands owned by
441-516: The years following. An overall licensing company was established in 1964. The co-operative concept became known to New Zealand hardware shop owners, and on 28 June 1974 the New Zealand Herald reported "some of the smaller firms in the timber and hardware merchandising field are grouping together to present a unified buying and selling front." The first member's meeting in 1974 consisted of twelve members representing fifteen stores. In
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