Petersburg Do it Best Hardware was one of only five independent home improvement retailers nationwide recognized as part of the Beacon Awards program.
Honored in the Best New Store Over 20,000 Square Feet category, Petersburg Do it Best Hardware co-owners Dennis and Sherry Bishop and Eric and Robin Smith attended the awards banquet held at The Hardware Conference in Marco Island, Florida. The Beacon Awards is a premier national industry awards program developed by The Hardware Connection magazine and The Hardware Conference to recognize the best of the best among home improvement retailers, while encouraging a new generation of retailers to make their mark.
“Petersburg Do it Best Hardware’s inclusion is part of the Beacon Awards long history of highlighting retailing excellence,” stated Chris Jensen, editor/principal of The Hardware Connection, the hardware industry’s leading digital publication. “The Bishops and Smiths have created an exceptional shopping destination that is undoubtedly inspiration for our industry.”
The family’s journey began almost 25 years ago with a small neighborhood store housed in an attractive brick building on Main Street. Revenues, while good, had stalled by 2014. The Bishops’ daughter, Robin Smith, and son-in-law, Eric, both successful entrepreneurs, began expressing their interest in becoming part of the store’s long-term plans. The Smiths recognized the need for growth and were thrilled at the prospect of joining the family business to make an impact.
Over the next two years, the four collaborated and brainstormed, which led to securing a new location with an unusual twist – they would move in to a much larger building recently closed by a faltering big-box retailer. The new location fit the need for space—28,000 square feet—and is situated near a major interstate.
On April 2, 2016, 2,000 people lined up for the grand opening to find the same welcoming and expert Petersburg staff, along with an expanded product mix. Petersburg Do it Best Hardware offers a deeper selection in core departments and added new products such as the popular Melissa & Doug interactive toys. In truly focusing on the whole family, including stocking kid-sized carts and holding child-specific events, the Bishops and Smiths have brought Main Street values to a larger space.
“It is an honor to be recognized with this award. We are humbled and appreciate the acknowledgement for all of our hard work,” said Dennis Bishop.
“Dennis and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the incredible support of Robin and Eric, the commitment of our devoted staff, and our loyal customers, with whom we share a special bond,” added Sherry Bishop.
Petersburg Do it Best Hardware is backed by the strength of its status as a member-owner of Do it Best, a US-based hardware, lumber and building materials co-op with thousands of member-owned locations in the United States and more than 50 other countries. You can read the full story on Petersburg Do it Best Hardware’s Beacon Award in the September/October issue of The Hardware Connection.
The Hardware Connection is the only magazine designed and distributed solely in an electronic format for independent hardware retailers. With a circulation of more than 60,000, the award-winning publication boasts the largest database of any print or digital publication in the industry.
