Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
When Conrad Liesemer was 16 years old, he and his brother, Peter, then 14, left their homeland in Germany and arrived in Boston. There the boys got a job on a farm that was owned by a wealthy farmer. The Civil War was going on during that time, and the farmer gave Conrad $1,000 to take his son’s place in the Army.
Fortunately for Conrad, the war ended and he took his $1,000, moved to Canada and purchased a hardware store in Ayton, Ontario, in 1871. He relocated the store to Mildmay in 1873 and began the lengthy continuous operation. Although the building is much larger now, the Liesemer Home Hardware store is still located on the same corner lot.
For over 150 years, Liesemer’s Home Hardware has witnessed the independent home improvement retail grow and evolve and has remained a stalwart in Mildmay.
Pete Liesemer, the current owner, is a fourth-generation Liesemer and his son, Jared, the current operator, is the fifth generation. They are part of a long line of Liesemer family members who have walked the floors of the store, which are the original hardwood floors from when the store opened in 1873.
“To this day, the store is owned and operated by a Liesemer,” Jared says. “It has never left our family’s name, and we take pride in that. As Pete, my father says, ‘Hardware is in our blood.’”
Jared says the No. 1 key to 150 years of success has been staying on top of changes to stay competitive in the market. While the store still sells hammers and bulk nails, Jared says it has adapted and added niche categories like sporting goods, outdoor living and barbecue. Liesemer’s thrives on seasonal items and was one of the first dealers to bring in pellet grills in 2005. Local products are also big sellers, including extremely popular Mennonite-made clothing drying racks.
“When my dad was around my age, there used to be a section of the store called ‘Pete’s Penalty Box,’ where we sold every piece of hockey equipment customers needed,” Jared says. “Currently we are expanding our bike department and bringing in electronic bikes, which I know are going to go over really well.”
As a small, family store—with about 5,000 square feet of retail—Jared is the only full-time employee. But, the store’s two part-time employees deliver the same high caliber of customer service the Liesemer family has been offering for a century and a half.
“Sometimes in today’s retail world, the higher management positions are not on the floor helping in sales like it used to be,” Jared says. “But we rely heavily on our employees for countless tasks around the store, whether its mixing paint, receiving our daily shipment or anything in between. We are all in it together.”
Jared says they treat each and every customer like a friend, even if they are a new face, as he believes that friendliness and trustworthiness keeps customers coming back.
“For all five of the generations that have operated this store, the customers mean the most to us. If we treat them one step farther than the competitors, the customers will come,” Jared says. “Whether it is a contractor that is in a hurry and needs 12 gallons of paint or one of my friends’ grandparents, we make sure you get that warm welcome when you step foot in our store.”
Because the store is small, Jared says they are creative about utilizing the space and take advantage of the sidewalks outside the store as often as possible.
“When we were in lockdown mode from COVID-19, I remember wheeling pretty much every barbecue we had out on the sidewalk, along with other items such as clothes racks, lawnmowers, wheelbarrows and so on,” he says. “When we were not allowed to let people in the store, our motto was to bring the store out to them.”
The community appreciates the operation’s willingness to evolve and has supported the business through thick and thin. In return, Liesemer’s Home Hardware supports the community in various ways, including being members of the chamber of commerce and sponsoring local sports teams.
“One recent way we have been supporting the community is by raising money for different charities through selling our beef brisket on a bun, with the beef smoked right on the Liesemer boys’ Pit Boss pellet grills,” Jared says. “Without the support of Mildmay and the surrounding community, we would not be here. The relationships we have made with our customers go a long way.”
