Written by Buy Indie‘s Vince Wadhwani
It’s easy to justify going to an independent clothing boutique to find a unique outfit. After all, who wants to walk into a bar wearing the same thing as everyone else? But when it comes to our housewares and hardware, the equation often becomes a lot less complicated. Though you may not find a pink toolbelt over at the Home Depot, you also won’t find too many people fretting because they’ve got the same hammer as their best friend. For most of us, price and selection rule.
Despite those challenges, local good guys Logan Hardware have been able to thrive in an environment of chain hardware stores. They’ve got the advantage of being backed up by the Ace cooperative, which keeps pricing reasonable, but their success goes beyond that. “One of the things we pride ourselves on is the customer service. We’re going to say hello when you come in the door, we’re going to ask you what you need to complete your whole project, not just if you’re looking for the lightbulbs,” said Robbie Kaplan, Logan’s buyer.
Logan Hardware is actually deceptively large, so if you haven’t yet wandered in for that do-it-yourself project, you might be surprised to learn that they also have a large selection of housewares too. “You’ll find sink trays and dish towels, but you might also find a really fancy salt and pepper shaker or professional series Oxo knives. People are constantly saying they had no idea a hardware store would carry this sort of thing.”
With stores in Glover Park, Tenleytown, one in Baltimore and a fifth location opening up soon, Logan Hardware hasn’t forgotten that it’s the community that matters. They’ve teamed up with Habitat For Humanity and several other local businesses to build somebody a home in Northeast DC. The initiative is called Ms. Manor and they’re knee deep trying to raise $145,000 and rally volunteers for the effort. Interested people can visit their registry and buy any one of the dozens of items needed to build the house. From toilets to light switches, there’s something in everyone’s price range. A Happy Hour and Silent Auction are planned for September 20th at Hotel Helix to bolster the fundraising effort.
You can check out the entire interview with Robbie Kaplan on Buyindie.
