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Engaging with customers of all ages in a creative way, Madison Lumber & Hardware in Ketchikan, Alaska, opened up the Projects Room where it hosts how-to classes. Madison Lumber & Hardware CFO Janice Walker says the idea for the Projects Room stemmed from the company’s commitment to the community over the last five decades.
The company purchased a neighboring building in 2021, and as leadership was going through the vision process, they decided to add the Projects Room to host events covering minor home repair and new product information with the community. After two years of demolition, renovation and new construction, the new building opened to the public in September 2023, and the first Projects Room event was held in January 2024.
“In the past, we held ladies night events to use power tools and build something, and they always sold out,” Walker says. “These classes had to be held in the summer because they were hosted in our warehouses and receiving areas, which are unheated. This new space opens up more opportunities for events.”
Currently, the store offers one Projects Room project each month. Store associate Caitlin Driscoll offered to take on managing the Projects Room and has worked with fellow employees to develop a calendar of projects. The projects covered include home repair projects like drywall repair, tiling and minor plumbing repair and craft-focused projects using materials from the store, such as epoxy pours and planter box construction. Driscoll has two sessions a month scheduled for each monthly topic, and for the home repair projects, she relies on staff with specialized knowledge in the topic.
In addition to those classes, the store also offers projects around the holidays geared toward children where younger customers can make a craft in a purpose built room.
“Our community members are interested in learning more about home repair and maintenance,” Walker says. “For the more ‘crafty’ projects, the community wants to come and spend time with like-minded people making something they can take home. Plus, they continue to use the new knowledge and skills to pursue more projects.”
Learn more about how retailers are engaging with the community through store events in our Checkouts section.
