Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Owner Kari Hardy, inventory manager Julie Williams and executive assistant Kayla Meise are excited for Hardy Hardware's transition to Ace Hardware.
DAVENPORT-An up-and-down 2.5 years battling in business has resulted in some good news for Hardy Hardware. The local hardware, build supply, garden and feed store is buying into the Ace Hardware franchise and hopes to have its new-look, fully stocked business ready in the next six months.
It's a move owner Kari Hardy said provides the store with the best product availability amongst potential partnerships they researched.
"Hopefully we won't be 'Hardly Hardware' anymore," inventory manager Julie Williams joked.
After a lengthy legal battle with prior ownership was resolved in May, Hardy set sites on an Ace move.
"Even with (supply) shortages, they believe in backing smaller hardware stores," Hardy said. "They make sure you actually have the products you're offering."
The store could reach maximum capacity in stock with the move, she said.
"It's a good marriage for us and for the town," Hardy said. "Prices will be comparable or better because we've (previously) had to outsource."
The move comes on the heels of a rather dramatic first 2.5 years in business.
"Our grand opening was March 15, 2020, a Sunday," Hardy said. "The next day, the governor announced he was shutting the state down."
Fortunately for the business, Hardy Hardware was considered an essential business and did well in 2020.
But supply chain issues that came on the heels of the pandemic affected many businesses, and Hardy Hardware was no different. Hardy said their original supplier dropped from 80% availability to 43%.
"We changed our supplier who was at about 60%," Hardy said. "But it was higher priced."
That, combined with the aforementioned legal battle, forced ownership to make the decision to not pay employees for 11 straight weeks. Some employees stayed with the company for part or all of that time, and their pay was back-paid in full, Hardy said.
"It's amazing what they did for us and for this town," Hardy said. "Every person has sacrificed."
Hardy said locals will begin noticing the Ace changes in January. A supply truck will arrive to begin to stock with Ace products, which will include Carhartt products, she said. "We'll probably have to shut down for a bit as we fully stock," Hardy said.
She added that she hopes for a grand re-opening in April. The store will include an Ace sign next to the Hardy Hardware sign, but the familiar faces will remain.
"People still have to deal with Hardy Hardware," Hardy laughed.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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