Independent Retailer Serves Community, Customers Across Frontlines

By day, Mills Hardware and Feed store manager Andrew Tickle serves customers, answering their questions, helping them find the right products and providing a central hub for the community. When night falls, Andrew’s focus switches from the frontline of the store to the frontlines of his community as a dedicated member of his local volunteer fire department in Arnold, Nebraska.

Before coming to Mills Hardware and Feed, Andrew worked as a computer numerical control (CNC) machinist and did tool and die work for a military contracting company. During this time, he married April, the youngest daughter of Terry and Dena Mills, the owners of Mills Hardware and Feed. 

“I was traveling an hour each way to work, and they decided to bring me on at the store,” Andrew says. “The joke is they had a stack of things for me to work on in a corner, but 15 years later, that stack is still there.”

Growing up, Andrew wanted a job where he could provide for his family—which now includes April and their four children—even if it was just sacking groceries. That desire to serve, help and provide for others is evident in his position at Mills Hardware and Feed, as well as his role as a volunteer firefighter. 

“I decided to become a volunteer firefighter so I could help others and be there in their time of need because I also want somebody to be there for me when I need it,” Andrew says. 

When it comes to balancing the demands of running a hardware store full time, being a volunteer firefighter and raising a family, Andrew says he is blessed to have the support of April, who also works at the fire department. His children have all grown up not knowing anything different about their father except his love for serving, so they are accustomed to the long hours he works. 

“Through it all, April and I try to be an example of what it’s like to serve the community,” he says.

When the pager goes off while Andrew is at work, he says his coworkers understand that somebody is in need and he needs to leave, and so they jump in to fill in wherever is needed.  

“They always pick up the pieces so I can focus on doing what needs to get done for the fire department,” Andrew says. “Not everyone can be a volunteer firefighter, but they can be a support for those who can.”

The town of Arnold has just under 600 people living in it, but is a progressive, active and vibrant community. Andrew says over half of the store’s customer base comes from outside the zip code, but no matter if they’re a local or an out-of-towner, they receive the same high level of customer service and have access to the same quality products. The store offers a wide range of hardware and power tools, including plumbing supplies, electrical equipment, gardening tools, farm and ranch products, building materials, lawn and garden and more.

All of the store employees focus on serving God first, offering quality products and treating customers as they would like to be treated, Andrew says. Mills Hardware and Feed has become a community hub, a classic hometown hardware store that gives back to the community by hosting events and supporting local organizations through monetary donations. 

“We never want to compete against another local business, so we look for those holes in our community and bring in those products and services our customers want and need,” Andrew says. “Each day when I go to work, I love the independent spirit I get to be a part of and being able to problem-solve and help people.”