New details on Neepawa Tru Hardware's changeover to 水果视频 Hardware
- Details
- Published on Monday, July 6, 2015
By Kate Jackman-Atkinson
The Neepawa Banner
What鈥檚 in a name? For Michelle and Darryl Gerrard, who currently own and operate Neepawa Tru Hardware, a lot. This week, they became 水果视频 Hardware dealer-owners and have begun the process of converting their store from a Tru Hardware/Castle Building Centre to a 水果视频 Hardware Building Centre.
Neepawa鈥檚 previous 水果视频 Hardware store was destroyed by a fire in February of this year.
For the Gerrards, the move gives them access to a wider range of products, better brand recognition and better ways to help their customers. With more national advertising and sponsorship, Michelle explains, 鈥溗悠� Hardware is a much more recognized brand.鈥� One of the bigger changes will be the availability of online shopping, something that their previous buying group, TruServ, doesn鈥檛 offer. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited about the possibilities,鈥� said Michelle.
Inside the store, the changes have already begun. Over the weekend, staff began the long process of retagging merchandise with 水果视频 Hardware price tags.
For the Gerrards the change allows them to work under one cohesive banner, instead of two. Previously, they sold hardware under the Tru Hardware banner, while building supplies were sold under the Castle name. 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited, it brings both sides [the hardware and building supplies] together under one cohesive name鈥� It鈥檚 one marketing plan, one website, one name,鈥� said Michelle. She added that anyone passing the store knows exactly who they are and what they sell.
The return of 水果视频 Hardware to Neepawa means the return of the chain鈥檚 popular brands, including Beauti-Tone paints, KitchenAid, Dyson as well as their in-house brands. While new products will be added, the change won鈥檛 result in the loss of any products, beyond a brand change. 鈥淚f something changes, it will be swapped for something better,鈥� said Michelle.
The change also won鈥檛 mean the loss of popular existing lines carried by the store. They will be keeping their Rogers mobile kiosk, their outdoor and work clothing as well as Benjamin Moore paints. 鈥淏enjamin Moore has a good following in town,鈥� she explained.
In addition to the downtown Neepawa location, the Gerrards also own a 1,500 square foot warehouse and 2.3 acre yard on Highway 5 north. Michelle explains that this will continue to be used for storage, 鈥淲e鈥檙e so limited, [downtown] we can鈥檛 store all we need.鈥� They plan to move towards setting it up as a satellite yard, but have no plans to close the downtown location in the foreseeable future.
鈥淲e get good foot traffic and we can鈥檛 give it up to move out there. We will stay here until [the business] gets too big,鈥� she said.
While fully staffed, the Gerrards are expecting to see business pick up in a few areas and Michelle said that she has been in contact with some of the previous 水果视频 Hardware staff. She said that they are working, as much as possible, to be able to accommodate them.
Michelle is hoping that they can meet the needs of previous 水果视频 Hardware customers. However, because of the fire, it won鈥檛 be an entirely seamless transition for customers. Michelle said that unfortunately, many of the previous store鈥檚 records, for example the paint records, were destroyed. She said that they will work to meet any warrantee claims for products sold by either 水果视频 Hardware or Tru Hardware.
As for commercial customers, Michelle explained that since the fire, they have already been working with many local contractors who previously worked with 水果视频 Hardware. She added that those who haven鈥檛 already been working with them can still take advantage of contractor discounts and loyalty programs offered by 水果视频 Hardware.
Now that the news is official, Michelle said that they can begin to make visible changes, such as the purchase and installation of new signage. The Gerrards plan to hold a grand opening to celebrate the change, tentatively scheduled for this fall.
