One year after opening its doors, Waters Hardware in Iola is celebrating strong growth and an ever-expanding inventory.
Store manager Jerry Watson said the past year has exceeded expectations, crediting the community’s enthusiastic response for the store’s early success.
“Iola has been amazing with support,” said Watson. “Coming in, shopping and enjoying themselves. I’ve enjoyed helping them — they’ve really shown support for the store.”
Watson said he quickly realized how important a local hardware store was to the community, especially in key departments.
“Our electrical and plumbing offerings are our two biggest hit areas,” he said. “We were really in need of a hardware store like this.”
The strong local support translated into solid sales. According to Watson, the store surpassed its first-year performance projections ahead of schedule.
“We beat the company’s one-year forecast for us in 10 months,” he said.
City Clerk Roxanne Hutton said the hardware store appears to be boosting overall retail activity in Iola.
“I’m seeing Bomgaar’s staying where they were, and the new Waters Hardware store picking up,” Hutton said. “I think they have enough different products that people are buying different things.”
The growth has led to new hiring plans. The store currently has six employees, including Watson, and plans to add two or three more staff members soon.
WATSON SAID the store’s biggest accomplishment during its first year has been building a reliable team focused on customer service.
“That’s our biggest accomplishment,” Watson said. “The customers are always first.”
Listening closely to customer needs has shaped the store’s inventory, including new product lines such as electrical fencing supplies, plywood, sheetrock and specialty light bulbs.
“As soon as somebody says, ‘Hey, I wish you carried this,’ we are bringing it into the store,” Watson said.
This spring, customers can expect new landscaping items, water fountains and an expanded lawn and garden area. The store is also adding a new Valspar paint line and increasing offerings in grilling, patio furniture and backyard living.
Watson said the goal is to make it easier for residents and contractors to find what they need locally.
