How to Start a Hardware Store

Summary: The hardware store business is an ideal start-up business because it is extremely profitable. To generate revenue quickly, you must know what you are getting into. This article offers tips on how to open a hardware store business.

Hardware stores provide consumers with tools and construction materials needed to build, maintain, and improve their homes and properties.

Examples of home improvement merchandise are as follows: automotive supplies, building materials, electrical supplies, hand and power tools and accessories, hardware, home decorating products, house wares, lawn and garden items, lumber, paint/paint sundries, plumbing/heating/cooling products, sporting goods and more.

If you are thinking of starting your own hardware store then now is the best time to do so. Why? The demand for retail stores of this nature have grown tremendously because of the upsurge of the do-it-yourself phenomenon.

To help you in this endeavor, enumerated below is list of things a hardware store owner must know:

• Advertise your retail hardware store aggressively, and if you can, try to establish a low-price image and put emphasis on convenience shopping.
• Before jumping in the water, make sure you know how to swim. Ask yourself if you have sufficient experience to start and operate a hardware store.
• If you are considering buying a previously owned hardware store, make sure you know the reason why the business is being sold. Try to find out how the sales volume for the store is, is it high or low? And the reason behind it. Also, check out the market price to see if the owner gave you a fair figure. Don’t forget to negotiate to get a better deal.
• In choosing a location to open a hardware shop, consider the following factors: the neighborhood’s prospect for growth, the age and income of your customer base, the amount of competition in the area, and the accessibility of the area.
• Study the competition in the area. Find out the strengths and weaknesses of the other players in the locale. Find out how you can compete with them.
• The average size of a typical independent hardware store is between 20K to 30K square feet or larger. Maximize the full use of your space by installing a lot of shelving and display cases. The more items your browsing patrons come into contact with, the better. This will translate to additional sales for you.
• The perception that this industry is dominated by big players is just that, a perception. Although retail chains are important in this industry, in no way do they control the total retail distribution channel. They may have the bigger market share but small to mid-size hardware stores do enjoy their own portion of the consumer pie. In fact, studies reveal that independent hardware stores can compete successfully with the large chains. In some cases, consumers find them better than corporate chains because of their personalized approach.
• You can get your stock from three sources. One, full line hardware wholesalers, two direct from the manufacturers, and three, secondary or specialty distributors. The usual avenue chosen by most independent hardware store owners is via wholesalers. When affiliating with wholesalers, you get to receive marketing and advertising support as bonus.
• Your target market would be the local community. As such, your inventory of products must be geared to cater to their preference and needs. Ensure satisfactory customer care by providing personal service and hiring/training your staff to make them leaned in the field of home improvement and construction.

1. lori (4/26/2008)

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE MARK UP SHOULD BE? I AM HEARING DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES.

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2. daniel (4/26/2008)

usually your distributors will help you out giving you a unit price and suggest price list.

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3. Donna Herrington (6/29/2008)

how much money do you think i will need to start?

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4. carl (7/9/2008)

Don’t be fooled. a hardware store is a huge investment that takes meticulous planning. it is not a one man show anymore and will take a team of dedicated people to see it be successful and by the way, the DIY market is trending down as the population ages, that's why so many of the big box stores are pushing installation services. good luck.

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5. Dennis Clark (7/17/2008)

I have been working on opening a nationally known hardware store in my town since December 2006 and it is now July 2008. What a ride!!! Start, stop, start, stop... Be prepared for a lot of stress, time and money. we are almost ready to open in October 2008.

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