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An unwavering commitment to service has been Hamm Hardware and Building Supplies’ heartbeat for over 100 years: service to God, service to community and service to customers.
Owners Ladison and Glenn Hamm represent third and fourth generation ownership of the store, which first opened its doors in 1926 in Prosperity, South Carolina, a small, one-stoplight town. Today, Hamm Hardware is a full-service hardware, lumber and building-supply dealer, offering lumber and building materials, windows and doors, tools, electrical and plumbing supplies, paint and other products supporting everything from everyday repairs to major construction projects.
“Our goal is to be a true one-stop shop—a place where a contractor can get what they need for the job while the homeowner tackling a Saturday morning project feels just as welcome and well served,” says Glenn Hamm, co-owner of Hamm Hardware.
The store has approximately 25 employees, many of whom have been with Hamm Hardware for decades. Glenn says employees take pride and ownership in their work. Team members understand that they’re not just working in the store, but they’re part of the Hamm Hardware experience and a big reason customers keep coming back.
“We’ve had employees leave for another chapter in their careers and eventually find their way back,” Glenn says. “They know our culture, they know our customers, they know what Hamm Hardware represents and ultimately, they choose to come back home. We’re proud to be a place that former employees look back on fondly; we see many of them in the store regularly.”
Personalized customer service is what sets Hamm Hardware apart from the crowded retail landscape, offering competitive prices and maintaining a robust inventory
“Customers can buy almost anything online with a few clicks, but there is still tremendous value in walking into a store, talking with someone who knows what they’re doing and getting real help with a project,” Glenn says. “We lean into that.”
Community involvement is part of the fabric of Hamm Hardware. For 100 years, Hamm Hardware has grown alongside
the community it serves. Ladison, Glenn and the Hamm Hardware team believe that the store has a responsibility to help make the community stronger.
“We support and sponsor local athletic teams, schools, churches, civic organizations and clubs, along with fundraisers, tournaments, community events and local projects,” says Ladison. “When you walk into our store, you see a wall dedicated to the teams we’ve sponsored over the years. It’s more than a display; it’s a visual history of the families, kids and organizations we’ve been fortunate to support.”
Multiple members of Hamm Hardware’s ownership and team have served in the community as coaches, scoutmasters, volunteer firefighters, youth group leaders, mayor and town council members and in county planning.
“When you’ve been part of a community for 100 years, you don’t just sell to your neighbors; you live alongside them,” Ladison says. “Your kids grow up together. We’ve watched generations of families grow up and come through our doors. Those relationships are one of the greatest privileges of being a community business.”
As Hamm Hardware looks to the future, the store is prioritizing expansion and strengthening its strong foundation of faith, family and service. Hamm Hardware is planning for a new 15,000- to 20,000-square-foot facility on a ten-acre site, with a goal for plans and infrastructure to be finalized in the next year.
“We’re proud of our history. We want to take what has made Hamm Hardware successful for 100 years: faith, family, service, community and knowledgeable people, and use those principles, with the technology of today to build the next chapter,” Glenn says.
