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The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA), Hardware Retailing magazine and the National Hardware Show®, have named four outstanding independent home improvement retail leaders as their 2015 Industry Top Guns.
Beginning in 2007, the NRHA, Hardware Retailing and the National Hardware Show have recognized independent home improvement retail leaders for distinction as the best of the best, by inducting them into the ranks of the Industry’s Top Guns. Over the past nine years, 35 individuals have been named Industry Top Guns.
The award is considered the highest honor an independent home improvement retailer can receive from the industry. Top Guns are selected based on the success of their retail operations, their contributions to the industry beyond their own businesses and their commitment to innovation at retail.
This year’s class includes:
Bobby Fuller of Fuller & Son Hardware in Arkansas.
With six locations serving the Little Rock market, Fuller & Son Hardware has been family owned and operated since 1921. Fuller & Son has continued to drive progressive programs in its markets including a triple guarantee on price, in-stock products and service. Most recently, Fuller & Son began using in-store price check kiosks to allow customers to compare the stores’ prices with those at the local big boxes.
Michael Fujimoto of HPM Building Supply in Hawaii.
HPM Building Supply has been serving customers throughout Hawaii since 1921 and has emerged as one of Hawaii’s leading building material providers with 5 retail locations, a metal roofing, wall panel and truss manufacturing facility, a pressure treated lumber plant and a lumber and sheet goods distribution center throughout the islands. Not only does HPM serve as a model in retail success and efficiency but the company is deeply involved in both industry and community organizations including the HPM Foundation which supports local non-profit organizations with donations in excess of $50,000 annually.
Jason Haley of Great Lakes Ace in Michigan.
Great Lakes Ace has been serving Michigan since 1946 most recently as ACO Hardware until 2014 when the chain embarked on a massive re-branding of its stores to Great Lakes Ace. Joining the Great Lakes Team as COO last year – Haley and his team have completed an aggressive plan to rebrand, and re-launch their 47 stores as Ace and are making great progress towards their vision of, “Being the first choice in every Great Lakes neighborhood for home preservation.”
Rolando Robles of Anawalt Lumber in California.
Robles has served as Anawalt Lumber’s president and CEO since 2009 and has led the California-based company’s growth to its current four locations. Together with his team, Robles has helped Anawalt Lumber, which has been in business since 1923, expand into new markets and broaden its customer base, all while focusing on leadership development and fostering a friendly, family-focused work environment.
“The Industry’s Top Gun Awards began nearly a decade ago as a way to illustrate that the independent segment of the home improvement industry was not only continuing to thrive but also the source of broad innovation in retailing and community involvement,” says Dan Tratensek, publisher of Hardware Retailing magazine. “We think this year’s class of Top Guns truly embodies the principles of innovation, success and community spirit that the awards were intended to recognize.”
The individuals selected as the 2015 Industry’s Top Guns will be featured in a special section of the May 2015 issue of Hardware Retailing magazine and participate in a live panel discussion at the 2015 National Hardware Show, which will be held May 5-7 in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
