Peavey Industries Ltd. is launching a new retail concept — and Blackfalds will be the site of its first store.
The Red Deer-based retailer, which operates 29 Peavey Mart outlets across the Prairies, plans to open a MainStreet Hardware store in Blackfalds late this fall. If all goes well, similar businesses could pop up in other communities, said Brian Dagg, Peavey Industries’ manager of store operations.
Dagg pointed out that MainStreet Hardware will be distinct from the Peavey Mart chain, which is known for its mix of agricultural and hardware supplies, as well as general merchandise. The new store will be geared to the needs of small-town residents, he said, with basic hardware like hand tools and fasteners, pet supplies, housewares from cleaning supplies to small appliances, lawn and garden equipment such as barbecues and outdoor furniture, work clothing and paint.
“It’s not agriculture. It’s going to be an urban store.”
Dagg said Peavey Industries is regularly invited to open Peavey Marts in small communities. Often, the economics simply don’t work.
MainStreet Hardware should help bridge the retail gap, he said, giving small-town consumers an alternative to driving to larger communities to fill their basic hardware needs.
“These are usually going to be a smaller community where their access to hardware products is very limited, if not non-existent.”
Peavey Industries has been working on its new concept store for some time, but timelines were accelerated when Blackfalds Ace Hardware closed at the end of July.
“This opportunity in Blackfalds came up and it’s probably pushing us ahead of our time,” said Dagg, who hopes to open for business by early November.
MainStreet Hardware will occupy the same 6,000-square-foot premises at 4910 Broadway Ave. that Ace Hardware used. It’s expected to employ a half-dozen staff, including three or four full-time workers.
“We’d love to find a local Blackfalds person for manager,” said Dagg.
Because many of the products to be carried by MainStreet Hardware are sold in Peavey Marts, the business will benefit from Peavey Industries’ buying power, he said.
“If you’re one (store) trying to buy, it gets very hard to be competitive.”
Dagg is optimistic that other MainStreet Hardware stores will follow the Blackfalds prototype.
“This is the one that’s going to set the pace for other ones.”
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com