Willits Power and Hardware Supports Wildfire Relief in Northern California
It truly takes a village to fight California wildfires. Last year, wildfires caused more than $10 billion in damage across California, making 2017 the costliest year for wildfire damage in U.S. history. The state’s firefighters are known as heroes far and wide for the brave and necessary work they do on the front lines, but here’s a story you may not know: Those crews are supported behind the scenes by…read more →
3 Simple Resolutions You Can Make and Keep This Year
Ringing in a new year inevitably leads to self-reflection; we look back at the past year to see where we can make improvements and how we can do better. We all desire to give back, be healthier, and have better relationships. But we don’t always have solid plans or steps to achieve those goals. Well, we might be able to help you there. We have 3 simple resolutions you can…read more →
True Value Home Center Supports a New Kind of Home Building Project
For the past decade, the folks at True Value Home Center have worked hard to support their customers’ home improvement and building projects — but it’s not just residential homes they’re helping to build. As the winners of Independent We Stand’s most recent Indie Acts of Kindness Cash Mob, True Value Home Center is also helping to build a home for its community’s four-legged residents. The Indie Acts of Kindness…read more →
5 Main Street Events to Visit in January
The holiday season may have ended, but a new year has just begun. This month, start the new year off with local fun that’s every bit as festive as last month. From food tastings to photo opportunities, January’s Main Street events will inspire you to be more local in 2018. Downtown Burger Battle January 2-31, 2018 Sioux Falls, South Dakota The South Dakota Cattleman’s Foundation will present its 5th annual…read more →
Havasu Hardware Embraces a Town Tradition
Every year, Lake Havasu City invites thousands of residents and visitors to experience its unique culture with Winterfest, a two-day event filled with entertainment and vendors of all kinds. The annual celebration brings crowds of people to downtown’s McCulloch Boulevard, but it posed a challenge for at least one local business on the block. After dreading the crowds for several years, Havasu Hardware found success by embracing this beloved town…read more →
Seattle Mart Brings Main Street to Market
When Seattle’s Pacific Market Center closed, the search for a new wholesale marketplace began in the Pacific Northwest. In 2016, that search culminated with the opening of Seattle Mart, a wholesale center with 33 permanent showrooms to connect local makers with regional retailers. Soon entering its second year, the new Seattle Market is set to gear up for a special week celebrating the Pacific Northwest’s independents. Seattle Mart opened its…read more →
Akard True Value Hardware Turns Community Involvement into a Hobby
Leigh Ann Akard owns Akard True Value Hardware, the third-generation family-owned hardware store opened by her grandfather in Zionsville, Indiana, in 1955. When she’s not focused on outdoor power equipment and DIY supplies, Akard has a worthwhile hobby: giving back to the local community. “Community involvement is a labor of love,” Akard recently told The Hardware Connection. “What better hobby could I be involved in?” This time of year, the…read more →
Bellevue Turns Small Business Saturday into a Local Success Story
For the first time this year, small business leaders in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, launched a coordinated effort to celebrate Small Business Saturday as a community on Nov. 25. The Bellevue Initiative for Growth and Revitalization (BIGr) leveraged local and national resources to get small businesses and consumers excited about shopping small. A kick-off to the holiday shopping season, the Small Business Saturday celebration also kicked off a new experience for many…read more →
Carr Hardware Named 2017 Independent Small Business of the Year
Congratulations to this year’s Independent Small Business of the Year award winner – Carr Hardware! The team at Carr Hardware is taking home the title, but they’re not taking home everything – the team is donating the $5,000 cash award to help build a splash pad for local children in Pittsfield, Mass., home to the store’s main branch. “Our community supports us, and we support them, we saw that come…read more →
5 Lessons from 2017 that Small Business Owners Can Take into the New Year
This year, small businesses across the country faced changes in technology, regulation, competition and more. In some places, small businesses even weathered real storms, from wildfires to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. As challenging as storm surges and market consolidation may seem, this year’s ups and downs created a series of important learning opportunities for local and independently owned businesses. The Small Business Spirit Remains Intact. When Amazon announced its…read more →
