Content about Fort Wayne

Kearney, Neb.-based Builders will accept the 2013 “Tools of the Trade Award” during the National Hardware Show, to be held in Las Vegas May 7-9.

Builders operates a professional lumberyard/home center and full-line countertop manufacturing facility in Kearney, Neb.; a  professional lumberyard with design center and truss plant, in Grand Island, Neb.; and a contractor/pro sales office and truss plant in Denver. 

Customers entering the Menards store in Fort Wayne, Ind., pass through a turnstile and immediately confront a great wall — the wall of "household essentials & more."

Just beyond the shelves of chips and cereal and sparkling cider, the wall marks an increased presence for cleaning supplies. While not exactly standard fare for your typical home improvement giant, some experts say carrying everyday items makes perfect sense in today's retail environment.

Do it Best Corp. has awarded Simpson Strong-Tie its 2012 Vendor of the Year award for Overall Sales Growth. This is the first time the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op has given the distinction to the same company two years in a row.

One of the challenges facing independent hardware stores in late 2012, as an election looms and uncertainty reigns, can be classified under the headline: “Good problem to have.” Specifically, it’s the challenge of managing a business through an upswing.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp. promoted Jason Hipskind to regional sales and business development manager for the southeastern United States and hired Jean Fahy to serve the western United States. Both will focus on building and strengthening member-owner relationships with the co-op.

Hipskind is a 13-year veteran of Do it Best, most recently serving as a RetailPLUS! manager for the past two-plus years. He also brings extensive experience in retail development and member support over the previous decade to his new position.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp. enhanced its e-commerce website devoted to the sale of Channellock products.

The new site, Channellockproducts.com, is a subsidiary of Do it Best Corp. and is described as “powered by Doitbest.com.”

The site is one of the outcomes of a major initiative in 2009 that brought certain Channellock products exclusively into Do it Best stores in the categories of protective gear, wet/dry vacs, flashlights and other licensed products. 

Do it Best plans to build a $30 million Retail Service Center (RSC) in Sikeston, Mo, replacing the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op’s existing facility in nearby Cape Girardeau.

Mydoitbest.com, the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op's member-exclusive communication portal, is receiving a facelift and a makeover.

According to the co-op, the new enhancements include a cleaner look, a smoother interface, streamlined navigation and enhanced search capabilities.    

The site is currently undergoing testing and fine-tuning, guided by member feedback. It is expected to go live in the next one or two weeks, the co-op said.

Do it Best Corp. added to its leadership team at its Fort Wayne, Ind., world headquarters.

The co-op promoted Scott Liggett to Application Development Manager within its Information Technology division. Liggett will guide the company’s continually expanding efforts to enhance their offerings of mobile applications and technological efficiencies in supply chain management.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp. has named Rich Lynch as its retail marketing director.

Lynch will oversee and guide the co-op’s retail marketing efforts through its 4,000 member-owned stores worldwide. He will also help drive the company’s member education and training programs.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op Do it Best Corp. named company veteran Randy Rusk as its new communications director.

In the position, Rusk will help develop and implement the Do it Best Corp. communications strategy and manage all internal and external communications efforts, including video, education and training initiatives, creative development and campaign execution, as well as media and public relations.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest differences. Then again, sometimes it’s the big things.


The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp., fresh from its October Market in Indianapolis, is advancing a slate of initiatives both large and small. Projects range from reprinting its field staff’s business cards to building what it calls a digital World Class Commerce Center. And as CEO Bob Taylor sees it, they are all in service of one overarching goal: serving the members. 


Let’s start with the big plans first.