Sales territory expansions and sales staff additions in Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio helped propel House-Hasson Hardware’s June dealer market to the highest ever-attendance for the company’s summer market.
The event was held at the Wilderness of the Smokies Resort in Sevierville, Tennessee, just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Attendance, which is normally around 2,000, was up at least 10 percent, according to the company.
“We’re very pleased,” says Don Hasson, president of House-Hasson Hardware.
“Our geographical area expanded into Louisiana when we acquired Long-Lewis Hardware (formerly headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama),” he says. “We’ve added salesmen in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and those areas are showing solid growth.”
Hasson says the targeted areas were central Pennsylvania; Ohio north of Columbus; and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“Adding territories is working well,” Hasson says. “A significant percentage of our growth in past years was through acquisitions, but it’s to the point where there aren’t that many independents available to acquire. Our strategy is changing somewhat to accelerate growth through even greater store sales for our dealers and by adding territories.
“For example,” he says, “we’ve had an expanding presence for years among Amish dealers, and we saw a strong increase in Amish dealer attendance as a result of our expanded focus in Ohio. Overall, we’re very pleased with everything we’re seeing across our entire region.”
Hasson says market attendance is influenced by dealers liking the discounted deals available at the company’s three annual markets as well as the events held, which are enjoyable for dealers and their families.
House-Hasson’s next market is scheduled for Oct. 20-22, at the Sevierville Events Center in Sevierville, Tennessee.
“Our dealers love coming in the fall to East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” Hasson says, “and we love to see them.”
For House-Hasson dealer market information, visit House-Hasson’s website.