September 5, 2025 • 14 mins
The co-op model empowers 9,000 independent hardware retailers to compete against big box stores through unified strength and comprehensive support systems. Jason Stofleth, VP of Merchandising at Do it Best, shares insights on how the recent acquisition of True Value is creating new opportunities for members.
• Merchandising at Do it Best covers vendor relationships, product selection, promotions, market events, and supply chain management
• Co-op model unifies independent retailers into a collective strength that helps them thrive in competitive markets
• Fall Market focuses on preparing retailers for spring season with emphasis on lawn, garden, and grilling products
• New partnerships with grill manufacturers Broking and Napoleon offer North American-made products with better margins
• Power Preview event allows retailers to experience outdoor power equipment and grilling products in action
• Marketing services help independent retailers create effective displays and signage for improved customer experience
• Combined strength of Do it Best, True Value, and United Hardware creates unprecedented scale for vendor partnerships
• Local retailers don't need national advertising—they need targeted strategies to win their specific communities
Watch the Video Version
Catch this episode of The Grit Blueprint Podcast on YouTube:
👉 Stefanie Couch on YouTube
Subscribe to Built to Win
Get exclusive insights, tools, and updates from Grit Blueprint, designed to help you lead and win in the building industry.
👉 Subscribe to Built to Win
Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint
Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com
👉 What Is Grit Blueprint?
Grit Blueprint is a media and growth company for the building industry. We help ambitious businesses in the building materials and construction industries grow through visibility, storytelling media, and smart systems.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Stefanie Couch (00:00):
Don't miss Power Preview tomorrow.
That is one of the best thingsI think at Market.
It's fun, it's outdoors, theweather is beautiful right now.
Jason Stofleth (00:06):
Fall Market is all about setting up for the
spring season, so we're hittinglawn and garden grilling very
hard at this market to make suremembers are ready to go.
Power Preview is on Friday atMarket.
It's at fall.
That event alone is a reason toget to Indianapolis every year
to experience, you know, outdoorpower equipment grilling live
and in action before the marketfloor even opens.
Stefanie Couch (00:29):
Welcome to the Grit Blueprint podcast, the
playbook for buildingunmistakable brands that grow,
lead and last in the built world.
I'm Stefanie Couch, the founderof Grit Blueprint, and I'm a
lifelong building industryinsider.
I was raised here, built mycareer here, and now my team and
(00:50):
I help others win here.
The truth is, you can be thebest option in your space and
still lose to someone else whosimply shows up better and more
consistently Each week.
On the Grit Blueprint, I'mgoing to show you how to stand
out, earn trust and turn yourbrand into a competitive
(01:11):
advantage that lasts.
If you're ready to be seen,known, chosen and become
unmistakable, you're in theright place.
Let's get started.
Welcome to the Grit BlueprintPodcast.
I'm your host, Stefanie Couch,and I'm here today with Jason .
Welcome to the show.
We are here on the floor liveat the event of the year for you
(01:35):
the fall market in IndianapolisBasically like the Super Bowl
of hardware and lumber right.
Jason Stofleth (01:40):
Absolutely.
It's great to be back in Indy.
We're super excited.
I'm super excited to be withyou today, so thanks for having
me on.
Stefanie Couch (01:47):
Yeah, absolutely , and this is sort of the calm
before the storm.
We're here on the market floor,there's Fortless beeping,
there's things being set up, theaction is happening live.
But we are talking today aboutsome of the cool stuff that
you're going to be showcasing,and you guys have some new
partnerships, and last year thebig announcement was True Value
coming on, that Do it Best hadpurchased True Value and you're
(02:10):
the VP of merchandising here, soI know you have a lot of things
you're in charge ofspecifically at Market.
Tell me a little bit about whatyou do at Do it Best.
Jason Stofleth (02:17):
No, that's a great question.
So merchandising for Do it Bestcovers vendors, products,
promotions as well as market, aswell as our entire supply chain
.
So managing vendorrelationships, deciding what we
stock in our distributioncenters, demand planning and
replenishment for those centers,promotional offers, partnering
(02:38):
with the marketing and salesteam, and then facilitation of
our two markets a year.
Stefanie Couch (02:42):
You're a busy man.
I got a a lot of things I'vegot a great team.
Jason Stofleth (02:45):
I've got a great team.
Stefanie Couch (02:47):
You actually have two markets a year, so I
was at the spring market.
There's a lot of thingshappening with the True Value at
that point, but the scale ofeach market keeps getting bigger
.
Tell me a little bit about howyou're actually helping members.
So, for those who may not know,do it Best is a co-op.
It is the largest co-op in theworld.
Yes, and now with True Value,what is it?
(03:08):
9,000 members 9,000 retailers,yeah 9,000 retailers all over
the US.
Tell me a little bit about thatscale that you're able to help
people, and what does a co-opreally do to help its members?
Jason Stofleth (03:20):
Co-op model is all about unifying the
independence into a singularstrength so that they can
compete and thrive.
We help members do things thatthey otherwise can't do
themselves.
Buying products is just a pieceof what it is to be a retailer.
You need support, you needservices, you need tools that go
(03:44):
along with the products tobring customers into the store
and to have those sales go outthe front door.
That's what we're all about ishelping the independent thrive
and compete against the big onesout there.
Stefanie Couch (03:55):
I love the independent business.
My dad and my granddad owned alumberyard and harbor store, so
I grew up selling hardware.
I used to take people back tothe plumbing aisle when I was
about 12.
And for some reason peoplewould go back there.
I was really confident that Icould be the help that they
needed and we would go back toaisle 12 and we would figure out
those puzzle pieces and theywould hopefully fix their pipes.
Jason Stofleth (04:18):
Yeah, there's not a more exciting category
than PVC pipe and fittings.
I mean, that is where it's at.
Stefanie Couch (04:23):
Well, electrical can be quite a lot more
exciting, which is why I stayedaway from the advice on that.
I'm like people probably won'tdie if I tell them the wrong
thing with a PVC versus CPVC,but bad things can happen if I
give them bad electrical advice.
As a 12-year-old I felt likethat was even too risky, even
for me.
Jason Stofleth (04:41):
Yeah, good move.
Way to avoid that one.
Stefanie Couch (04:43):
But I think one of the things that I see a lot,
especially with this partnershiplearning more about what Do it
Best and True Value offer isthat the independent lumberyard
and retailer hardware store,paint store, lawn and garden all
the people that you serve cancome and buy a tool or they can
come and buy a whole inset thatyou guys have curated Like.
(05:05):
They have 10 stores, 100 stores, 1,000 stores because you do.
You have 9,000 members andyou're leveraging the scale and
power of purchasing as 9,000instead of one or two or three.
That is so huge for dealersthat are selling in the market.
Tell me a little bit about howyou go about curating programs
and finding the best fit forvendors.
(05:25):
I know at this market you'reactually introducing a big
partnership with two new grillvendors.
Tell me a little bit about that.
Jason Stofleth (05:32):
Yeah, so Broking and Napoleon are here and are
showing out in a very big way.
Stefanie Couch (05:39):
I saw them setting up.
I'm excited.
Jason Stofleth (05:41):
We're excited for both those partnerships that
we've formed.
We're essentially going to havemade in North America product,
most of which is made in theUnited States a high quality
product that can compete withany brand out there at an
equivalent retail.
That makes retailers moremargin when they sell it.
So it's an absolute home runfor retailers.
(06:02):
And your earlier comment abouthow do we curate you know
partnerships and relationships.
It's truly putting the retailerfirst, the member first.
And what do they need in theirstore to compete and draw in
consumers and thrive in theircommunities?
And so we're looking for brands, we're looking for cutting edge
(06:23):
products, and then you knowpartners that are going to help
drive traffic into the stores tobuy those products, because
it's great to have a product,but if nobody knows about it or
if the store can't get it out tothe consumer, then it doesn't
go anywhere.
So we need partners that aretruly in it to be with us on
(06:47):
that journey.
Stefanie Couch (06:48):
Well, I think brand is something I love to
talk about because I believepersonally that brand is
probably the most underestimatedthing that can really help a
business.
And people think of branding aslogos and you know colors and
all that.
And look, I'm a girl that wearsa hat all the time, super
colorful, and I think that doesdraw attention.
But real visibility is aboutconsistency and it's about
(07:10):
connection with people, beingable to tell stories and share
experiences with people thatthey resonate with, that hit
them where it matters, that theyremember and want to come back
to.
And I think a lot of thesebrands do such a great job of
that of helping members tell thestories that their consumers
are going to pay attention toand they're going to connect
with.
I mean, outdoor living is fun,because I mean what's more fun
(07:33):
than fall football and a greatgrill with a steak or a hot dog
or hamburger on it?
You know there's got to be agolden retriever in the
background playing tennis, andthen it's just the American
dream, right?
Jason Stofleth (07:42):
That's right.
Stefanie Couch (07:43):
Hopefully my Georgia Bulldogs are on the TV.
Jason Stofleth (07:46):
We'll see.
Stefanie Couch (07:48):
I don't know.
I mean, does that incite you insome way, Jason?
Jason Stofleth (07:50):
You know, go Georgia.
Okay, well, I'll help you out.
Stefanie Couch (07:54):
I mean, I do think my Bulldogs have a good
chance this year of having agood season, but we'll see.
It's early yet.
But I do think this market is agreat way for people to come
and see these new products inreal life, touch them, feel them
.
Jason Stofleth (08:04):
Just like your Georgia Bulldogs.
Right, it's a brand.
Yeah, a brand is a feeling, andthat's exactly what we do it
best.
Or a member's you know ownbrand.
It's all about creating afeeling for that consumer and,
(08:24):
you know, getting their heartand their you know commitment to
buy local and to come intotheir store versus any other
store.
Stefanie Couch (08:28):
One of the things that hit me, since we're
talking about football, is youknow I was watching College Game
Day.
I love football, but I'm mainlyonly watching now because Peter
the Golden Retriever is onthere every week.
Kirk Herbstreit's dog is likethe number one star, but in the
background there was a lot oforange branding.
That show is sponsored by avery large big box store, yes,
(08:49):
and I cannot imagine the amountof money that they pay for the
sponsorship.
But what actually hit me isthat what people in independent
retailers shouldn't say.
Well, I can never afford tosponsor College Game Day.
The truth is that unless you'retrying to win over every person
in America which mostindependent retailers are small
businesses in one area or even asmall region you don't need to
(09:12):
buy out College Game Day or theSuper Bowl.
You need to win your localperson in the store that's at
their home football game, at thehigh school or maybe their
small college or any of thosethings.
And I think some of theservices that you guys offer
here allow people that maybearen't marketers, they're not
thinking about branding in theirsleep.
They can come and find thoseresources with your teams here
(09:35):
at Do it Best that can help themdo that easily.
So tell me about your servicesa little bit and how you help
people merchandise their productin a way that people do love to
come by.
Jason Stofleth (09:44):
Yeah, so with respect to the display of the
products, or the planograms, soto speak, you know how the
product is presented on theshelf is so critical.
And then the signage to makethe shopping experience easy for
the consumer is a criticalpiece of what we provide.
So not just the products, buthelping them display the
(10:07):
products in a way that makes iteasy for the consumer to make
the purchase.
Our marketing team, our salesteam, they do a great job with
getting our brands out there,partnering with us on our vendor
brands, our product brands, todraw traffic into the store.
They're making sure that wehave strong promotional offers
(10:27):
as well to keep that sharppricing image.
So the marketing services aloneare the most comprehensive
offered in the industry.
Yeah, so that's what it's allabout is setting the retailer up
for success.
Stefanie Couch (10:43):
If someone's here on the floor and they've
never been here before, I feellike they might be shocked by
how all out people go.
So I was walking down earlier.
There is a full tractor trailerthat is a actual crocodile
truck.
Jason Stofleth (10:56):
Yes.
Stefanie Couch (10:57):
So you've got a little bit of everything here.
That's for crocodile cloth,which is a hand cleaning wipe.
Yeah uh, you've got bissellright next door.
That's gonna have puppiestomorrow and sunday the puppies
are back.
I'm probably going to borrow onefor the rest of my podcast time
here hope no one misses it.
And then you've got a lot ofother things.
So tell me some of thecategories that if someone's
here in Indy they shoulddefinitely go check out.
(11:19):
I know there's some things thatyou guys just offer that are
Hallmark.
Tell me about that.
Jason Stofleth (11:22):
Yeah, so Fall Market is all about setting up
for the spring season.
So we're hitting lawn andgarden grilling very hard at
this market to make sure membersare ready to go come February,
march next year.
So power preview is on Fridayat markets at fall.
So that event alone is a reasonto get to Indianapolis every
(11:46):
year to experience, you know,outdoor power equipment grilling
live and in action.
Stefanie Couch (11:51):
So last year I got to drive a really cool
riding lawnmower.
I'm definitely planning ondoing that.
Jason Stofleth (11:56):
Absolutely so.
I mean that alone is anexperience in itself, before the
market floor even opens thefollowing day.
So then, you know, outside ofthe seasonal categories, you
know we have many, many of ourareas are core to the hardware
store.
We have everything a hardwarestore, home center, lumberyard
(12:16):
needs, but some of ourhighlights this market are tools
, along with plumbing andelectrical.
We have so many offerings inthose core areas.
I don't know if you had achance to check out the DeWalt
booth, but DeWalt is making astatement.
You know, Stanley Black Decker,they're really stepping up big
for this market, making astatement.
(12:37):
So you know, Stanley BlackDecker, they're really stepping
up big for this market, making astatement.
Stefanie Couch (12:38):
I love the tools booths.
They always let me touch thingsand like use new things, and
the gadgets are always fun.
I love that.
Well, I'm going to get overthere tomorrow and check out
some of these amazing booths.
Don't miss Power Previewtomorrow.
That is one of the best thingsI think at market.
(13:00):
It's fun, it's outdoors, theweather is beautiful right now,
yes, and I am excited to justsee what you guys keep doing
with your amazing partnershipsthat you're building and some of
these products that I've neverseen before.
You guys are finding like somereal hidden gems.
Jason Stofleth (13:14):
Well, yeah, and or you guys are finding like
some real hidden gems.
Well, yeah, and what'sinteresting is, with the
combined strengths of bothcompanies coming together along
with United Hardware you know,all three companies coming
together within the last 12months we now have even more
scale and, you know, the vendorcommunity is now even more
excited to partner with us, andthey want their brands on our
(13:35):
shelves.
We mentioned 9,000 retaillocations.
Why wouldn't you want to haveyour product, your brand, on
each one of those shelves?
And so that's what this is allabout is is getting their brand
out there in front of themembers, getting members
familiar with the new programsand products that we have to
offer and, um, also giving themsome great deals while they're
(13:58):
here to maximize their profits.
Stefanie Couch (14:00):
Yeah Well, thank you for all you're doing to
make sure that independents inthis market can thrive and win,
because it's competitive outthere and they need all of the
help that they can get frompeople like Do it Best and True
Value to really make sure thatthey're capitalizing on every
opportunity.
So thank you for everythingyou're doing and I appreciate
you sitting down with me on theGrit Blueprint Hope you have a
(14:21):
killer market, just go crush ittoday.
Jason Stofleth (14:22):
All right, thank you, Stefanie, appreciate it.
Stefanie Couch (14:23):
Thank you for listening to the Grit Blueprint
podcast.
If this episode helped youthink a little differently about
how to show up, share it withsomeone in your building world
who needs it.
If you're ready to turnvisibility into growth, then
head to gritblueprintcom tolearn more and book a call to
talk to us about your growthstrategy.
(14:44):
Until next time, stayunmistakable.
Don't miss Power Preview tomorrow.
That is one of the best thingsI think at Market.
It's fun, it's outdoors, theweather is beautiful right now.
Jason Stofleth (00:06):
Fall Market is all about setting up for the
spring season, so we're hittinglawn and garden grilling very
hard at this market to make suremembers are ready to go.
Power Preview is on Friday atMarket.
It's at fall.
That event alone is a reason toget to Indianapolis every year
to experience, you know, outdoorpower equipment grilling live
and in action before the marketfloor even opens.
Stefanie Couch (00:29):
Welcome to the Grit Blueprint podcast, the
playbook for buildingunmistakable brands that grow,
lead and last in the built world.
I'm Stefanie Couch, the founderof Grit Blueprint, and I'm a
lifelong building industryinsider.
I was raised here, built mycareer here, and now my team and
(00:50):
I help others win here.
The truth is, you can be thebest option in your space and
still lose to someone else whosimply shows up better and more
consistently Each week.
On the Grit Blueprint, I'mgoing to show you how to stand
out, earn trust and turn yourbrand into a competitive
(01:11):
advantage that lasts.
If you're ready to be seen,known, chosen and become
unmistakable, you're in theright place.
Let's get started.
Welcome to the Grit BlueprintPodcast.
I'm your host, Stefanie Couch,and I'm here today with Jason .
Welcome to the show.
We are here on the floor liveat the event of the year for you
(01:35):
the fall market in IndianapolisBasically like the Super Bowl
of hardware and lumber right.
Jason Stofleth (01:40):
Absolutely.
It's great to be back in Indy.
We're super excited.
I'm super excited to be withyou today, so thanks for having
me on.
Stefanie Couch (01:47):
Yeah, absolutely , and this is sort of the calm
before the storm.
We're here on the market floor,there's Fortless beeping,
there's things being set up, theaction is happening live.
But we are talking today aboutsome of the cool stuff that
you're going to be showcasing,and you guys have some new
partnerships, and last year thebig announcement was True Value
coming on, that Do it Best hadpurchased True Value and you're
(02:10):
the VP of merchandising here, soI know you have a lot of things
you're in charge ofspecifically at Market.
Tell me a little bit about whatyou do at Do it Best.
Jason Stofleth (02:17):
No, that's a great question.
So merchandising for Do it Bestcovers vendors, products,
promotions as well as market, aswell as our entire supply chain
.
So managing vendorrelationships, deciding what we
stock in our distributioncenters, demand planning and
replenishment for those centers,promotional offers, partnering
(02:38):
with the marketing and salesteam, and then facilitation of
our two markets a year.
Stefanie Couch (02:42):
You're a busy man.
I got a a lot of things I'vegot a great team.
Jason Stofleth (02:45):
I've got a great team.
Stefanie Couch (02:47):
You actually have two markets a year, so I
was at the spring market.
There's a lot of thingshappening with the True Value at
that point, but the scale ofeach market keeps getting bigger
.
Tell me a little bit about howyou're actually helping members.
So, for those who may not know,do it Best is a co-op.
It is the largest co-op in theworld.
Yes, and now with True Value,what is it?
(03:08):
9,000 members 9,000 retailers,yeah 9,000 retailers all over
the US.
Tell me a little bit about thatscale that you're able to help
people, and what does a co-opreally do to help its members?
Jason Stofleth (03:20):
Co-op model is all about unifying the
independence into a singularstrength so that they can
compete and thrive.
We help members do things thatthey otherwise can't do
themselves.
Buying products is just a pieceof what it is to be a retailer.
You need support, you needservices, you need tools that go
(03:44):
along with the products tobring customers into the store
and to have those sales go outthe front door.
That's what we're all about ishelping the independent thrive
and compete against the big onesout there.
Stefanie Couch (03:55):
I love the independent business.
My dad and my granddad owned alumberyard and harbor store, so
I grew up selling hardware.
I used to take people back tothe plumbing aisle when I was
about 12.
And for some reason peoplewould go back there.
I was really confident that Icould be the help that they
needed and we would go back toaisle 12 and we would figure out
those puzzle pieces and theywould hopefully fix their pipes.
Jason Stofleth (04:18):
Yeah, there's not a more exciting category
than PVC pipe and fittings.
I mean, that is where it's at.
Stefanie Couch (04:23):
Well, electrical can be quite a lot more
exciting, which is why I stayedaway from the advice on that.
I'm like people probably won'tdie if I tell them the wrong
thing with a PVC versus CPVC,but bad things can happen if I
give them bad electrical advice.
As a 12-year-old I felt likethat was even too risky, even
for me.
Jason Stofleth (04:41):
Yeah, good move.
Way to avoid that one.
Stefanie Couch (04:43):
But I think one of the things that I see a lot,
especially with this partnershiplearning more about what Do it
Best and True Value offer isthat the independent lumberyard
and retailer hardware store,paint store, lawn and garden all
the people that you serve cancome and buy a tool or they can
come and buy a whole inset thatyou guys have curated Like.
(05:05):
They have 10 stores, 100 stores, 1,000 stores because you do.
You have 9,000 members andyou're leveraging the scale and
power of purchasing as 9,000instead of one or two or three.
That is so huge for dealersthat are selling in the market.
Tell me a little bit about howyou go about curating programs
and finding the best fit forvendors.
(05:25):
I know at this market you'reactually introducing a big
partnership with two new grillvendors.
Tell me a little bit about that.
Jason Stofleth (05:32):
Yeah, so Broking and Napoleon are here and are
showing out in a very big way.
Stefanie Couch (05:39):
I saw them setting up.
I'm excited.
Jason Stofleth (05:41):
We're excited for both those partnerships that
we've formed.
We're essentially going to havemade in North America product,
most of which is made in theUnited States a high quality
product that can compete withany brand out there at an
equivalent retail.
That makes retailers moremargin when they sell it.
So it's an absolute home runfor retailers.
(06:02):
And your earlier comment abouthow do we curate you know
partnerships and relationships.
It's truly putting the retailerfirst, the member first.
And what do they need in theirstore to compete and draw in
consumers and thrive in theircommunities?
And so we're looking for brands, we're looking for cutting edge
(06:23):
products, and then you knowpartners that are going to help
drive traffic into the stores tobuy those products, because
it's great to have a product,but if nobody knows about it or
if the store can't get it out tothe consumer, then it doesn't
go anywhere.
So we need partners that aretruly in it to be with us on
(06:47):
that journey.
Stefanie Couch (06:48):
Well, I think brand is something I love to
talk about because I believepersonally that brand is
probably the most underestimatedthing that can really help a
business.
And people think of branding aslogos and you know colors and
all that.
And look, I'm a girl that wearsa hat all the time, super
colorful, and I think that doesdraw attention.
But real visibility is aboutconsistency and it's about
(07:10):
connection with people, beingable to tell stories and share
experiences with people thatthey resonate with, that hit
them where it matters, that theyremember and want to come back
to.
And I think a lot of thesebrands do such a great job of
that of helping members tell thestories that their consumers
are going to pay attention toand they're going to connect
with.
I mean, outdoor living is fun,because I mean what's more fun
(07:33):
than fall football and a greatgrill with a steak or a hot dog
or hamburger on it?
You know there's got to be agolden retriever in the
background playing tennis, andthen it's just the American
dream, right?
Jason Stofleth (07:42):
That's right.
Stefanie Couch (07:43):
Hopefully my Georgia Bulldogs are on the TV.
Jason Stofleth (07:46):
We'll see.
Stefanie Couch (07:48):
I don't know.
I mean, does that incite you insome way, Jason?
Jason Stofleth (07:50):
You know, go Georgia.
Okay, well, I'll help you out.
Stefanie Couch (07:54):
I mean, I do think my Bulldogs have a good
chance this year of having agood season, but we'll see.
It's early yet.
But I do think this market is agreat way for people to come
and see these new products inreal life, touch them, feel them
.
Jason Stofleth (08:04):
Just like your Georgia Bulldogs.
Right, it's a brand.
Yeah, a brand is a feeling, andthat's exactly what we do it
best.
Or a member's you know ownbrand.
It's all about creating afeeling for that consumer and,
(08:24):
you know, getting their heartand their you know commitment to
buy local and to come intotheir store versus any other
store.
Stefanie Couch (08:28):
One of the things that hit me, since we're
talking about football, is youknow I was watching College Game
Day.
I love football, but I'm mainlyonly watching now because Peter
the Golden Retriever is onthere every week.
Kirk Herbstreit's dog is likethe number one star, but in the
background there was a lot oforange branding.
That show is sponsored by avery large big box store, yes,
(08:49):
and I cannot imagine the amountof money that they pay for the
sponsorship.
But what actually hit me isthat what people in independent
retailers shouldn't say.
Well, I can never afford tosponsor College Game Day.
The truth is that unless you'retrying to win over every person
in America which mostindependent retailers are small
businesses in one area or even asmall region you don't need to
(09:12):
buy out College Game Day or theSuper Bowl.
You need to win your localperson in the store that's at
their home football game, at thehigh school or maybe their
small college or any of thosethings.
And I think some of theservices that you guys offer
here allow people that maybearen't marketers, they're not
thinking about branding in theirsleep.
They can come and find thoseresources with your teams here
(09:35):
at Do it Best that can help themdo that easily.
So tell me about your servicesa little bit and how you help
people merchandise their productin a way that people do love to
come by.
Jason Stofleth (09:44):
Yeah, so with respect to the display of the
products, or the planograms, soto speak, you know how the
product is presented on theshelf is so critical.
And then the signage to makethe shopping experience easy for
the consumer is a criticalpiece of what we provide.
So not just the products, buthelping them display the
(10:07):
products in a way that makes iteasy for the consumer to make
the purchase.
Our marketing team, our salesteam, they do a great job with
getting our brands out there,partnering with us on our vendor
brands, our product brands, todraw traffic into the store.
They're making sure that wehave strong promotional offers
(10:27):
as well to keep that sharppricing image.
So the marketing services aloneare the most comprehensive
offered in the industry.
Yeah, so that's what it's allabout is setting the retailer up
for success.
Stefanie Couch (10:43):
If someone's here on the floor and they've
never been here before, I feellike they might be shocked by
how all out people go.
So I was walking down earlier.
There is a full tractor trailerthat is a actual crocodile
truck.
Jason Stofleth (10:56):
Yes.
Stefanie Couch (10:57):
So you've got a little bit of everything here.
That's for crocodile cloth,which is a hand cleaning wipe.
Yeah uh, you've got bissellright next door.
That's gonna have puppiestomorrow and sunday the puppies
are back.
I'm probably going to borrow onefor the rest of my podcast time
here hope no one misses it.
And then you've got a lot ofother things.
So tell me some of thecategories that if someone's
here in Indy they shoulddefinitely go check out.
(11:19):
I know there's some things thatyou guys just offer that are
Hallmark.
Tell me about that.
Jason Stofleth (11:22):
Yeah, so Fall Market is all about setting up
for the spring season.
So we're hitting lawn andgarden grilling very hard at
this market to make sure membersare ready to go come February,
march next year.
So power preview is on Fridayat markets at fall.
So that event alone is a reasonto get to Indianapolis every
(11:46):
year to experience, you know,outdoor power equipment grilling
live and in action.
Stefanie Couch (11:51):
So last year I got to drive a really cool
riding lawnmower.
I'm definitely planning ondoing that.
Jason Stofleth (11:56):
Absolutely so.
I mean that alone is anexperience in itself, before the
market floor even opens thefollowing day.
So then, you know, outside ofthe seasonal categories, you
know we have many, many of ourareas are core to the hardware
store.
We have everything a hardwarestore, home center, lumberyard
(12:16):
needs, but some of ourhighlights this market are tools
, along with plumbing andelectrical.
We have so many offerings inthose core areas.
I don't know if you had achance to check out the DeWalt
booth, but DeWalt is making astatement.
You know, Stanley Black Decker,they're really stepping up big
for this market, making astatement.
(12:37):
So you know, Stanley BlackDecker, they're really stepping
up big for this market, making astatement.
Stefanie Couch (12:38):
I love the tools booths.
They always let me touch thingsand like use new things, and
the gadgets are always fun.
I love that.
Well, I'm going to get overthere tomorrow and check out
some of these amazing booths.
Don't miss Power Previewtomorrow.
That is one of the best thingsI think at market.
(13:00):
It's fun, it's outdoors, theweather is beautiful right now,
yes, and I am excited to justsee what you guys keep doing
with your amazing partnershipsthat you're building and some of
these products that I've neverseen before.
You guys are finding like somereal hidden gems.
Jason Stofleth (13:14):
Well, yeah, and or you guys are finding like
some real hidden gems.
Well, yeah, and what'sinteresting is, with the
combined strengths of bothcompanies coming together along
with United Hardware you know,all three companies coming
together within the last 12months we now have even more
scale and, you know, the vendorcommunity is now even more
excited to partner with us, andthey want their brands on our
(13:35):
shelves.
We mentioned 9,000 retaillocations.
Why wouldn't you want to haveyour product, your brand, on
each one of those shelves?
And so that's what this is allabout is is getting their brand
out there in front of themembers, getting members
familiar with the new programsand products that we have to
offer and, um, also giving themsome great deals while they're
(13:58):
here to maximize their profits.
Stefanie Couch (14:00):
Yeah Well, thank you for all you're doing to
make sure that independents inthis market can thrive and win,
because it's competitive outthere and they need all of the
help that they can get frompeople like Do it Best and True
Value to really make sure thatthey're capitalizing on every
opportunity.
So thank you for everythingyou're doing and I appreciate
you sitting down with me on theGrit Blueprint Hope you have a
(14:21):
killer market, just go crush ittoday.
Jason Stofleth (14:22):
All right, thank you, Stefanie, appreciate it.
Stefanie Couch (14:23):
Thank you for listening to the Grit Blueprint
podcast.
If this episode helped youthink a little differently about
how to show up, share it withsomeone in your building world
who needs it.
If you're ready to turnvisibility into growth, then
head to gritblueprintcom tolearn more and book a call to
talk to us about your growthstrategy.
(14:44):
Until next time, stayunmistakable.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.