Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
On Friday, Do it Best and True Value retailers from around the country will converge in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2025 Fall Market. This October will mark one year since Do it Best announced its intentions to purchase True Value, and this event will continue to unify retailers and provide a shared buying experience for both brands.
Do it Best president Nick Talarico and True Value president Dent Johnson sat down with Hardware Retailing and shared the biggest benefits retailers will gain from attending.
Hardware Retailing (HR): How will the Fall Market bring both Do it Best and True Value retailers together?
Nick Talarico (NT): The Fall Market is all about integration, bringing Do it Best members and True Value retailers onto a shared show floor with combined buying opportunities. This unified approach not only creates a unified buying experience across the massive market floor but also fosters stronger relationships between stores across both brands. Do it Best and True Value dealers will see firsthand how much more powerful we are together in leveraging scale, vendor partnerships and exclusive deals that benefit every attendee.
HR: What will the buying experience look like and how will it differ from the Spring Market?
Dent Johnson (DJ): At the Spring Market, our focus was on establishing momentum and giving everyone a first taste of what collaboration could look like. For the Fall Market, we’re building on that success by expanding integrated buying across the entire show floor. The experience will feel seamless—more categories combined, more exclusive buys and a wider range of opportunities that reflect the full strength of both companies. The goal is to make purchasing easier, more intuitive and more rewarding for retailers, no matter their banner.
HR: What will be some of those new highlights attendees will not want to miss on the show floor?
NT: There will be several new elements that we’re really excited about. A few standouts include:
- Special buying zones featuring exclusive Market-only deals, like the hundreds of VIP Deals at exceptional discounts.
- New product launches and vendor showcases that highlight innovation and seasonal readiness, including our new grill portfolio with Broil King and Napoleon.
- Immersive displays in our Planogram Zone that demonstrate how to maximize merchandising and drive in-store sales in Solutions in Action and Assortment City.
HR: How will business updates be delivered at the Market and beyond?
DJ: We’re taking a transparent, candid approach. At the market, CEO Dan Starr will be presenting a fireside chat-style address, sharing a clear look at company performance, our collective road ahead and how we’re getting there together. This will go beyond numbers, focusing on the strategy and vision that guide us forward.
Beyond the market, we’ll continue delivering consistent updates through our established communication channels. Transparency is something we know True Value retailers in particular have needed, and we’re committed to making it a cornerstone of how we lead.
HR: What is the latest on the True Value bankruptcy proceedings, and how have those been impacting retailers?
DJ: Since late November, our focus has been on moving forward, bringing stability and delivering on the expectations our retailers should have from their growth partner. Thanks to the combined strength of Do it Best and True Value, we’ve been able to maintain consistency in supply, continue investing in programs that drive growth—like relaunching national brand awareness, e-commerce and store design—and reassure retailers with the stability of the co-op model.
Most importantly, we’ve been transparent with updates along the way, ensuring that retailers understand what’s happening and what it means for them. The overwhelming feedback we’ve received is that this clarity, paired with our ability to keep product flowing and opportunities expanding, has helped retailers stay focused on serving their communities and growing their businesses.
