New fixtures

A hub of the Sundance community, the hardware store on Main Street made its reputation as a convenient local destination for paint, appliances and fixtures. Now going by the name Sundance Hardware and Sporting Goods, the store reopened under new ownership over the weekend.

“Our goal is to be very positive for the town. We want people to shop here and not have to go somewhere else,” says Brent Fowler, who now co-owns the store with wife Carolyn.

The previous owners were ready to move on, he says, but the Fowlers felt the store too important for a hands-on community like Sundance to allow it to disappear. Once a business closes down, says Brent, it’s tough to get it back.

“It’s very important to this town. Do you want to come in here and spend a couple of dollars and buy a little package of screws, or do you want to go all the way to Spearfish?” Brent says.

“That’s the importance of this store, so we want to make sure it stays here for the town of Sundance.”

The business will no longer be split into sections under different names to represent the sporting goods, guns and hardware aspects of its stock, which was previously the case due to separate ownership, though all these things will remain available. From now on, says Brent, it will known simply as Sundance Hardware and Sporting Goods.

“We are still doing the sporting goods part of it, but I don’t think we’re going to have a separate name to it, it’s just all going to be one entity,” Brent says. “It was very important that we kept the name Sundance in there to let everybody know this is part of Sundance.”

Customers will notice changes almost immediately, Brent says. In terms of layout, things will be moved around for greater accessibility; for instance, small appliances are moving up from the basement.

“I don’t want it in the basement because when elderly people come in and they want cleaning supplies or a set of gloves or their coffee pot went out, I don’t want them walking down the stairs to go get that,” Brent says.

“The plumbing and electrical stuff I don’t have a problem with because usually, if you’re coming in to get that stuff, you probably can walk down the stairs.”

The Fowlers have added a “Fertilizer Room” just to the right of the main door, where customers can relax and converse with coffee, water and treats on Mondays. Meanwhile, Brent and Carolyn intend to greatly increase the selection of hardware items visible on the shelves.

“Our idea is to increase the size of the hardware part and handle more hardware products. We’ll expand it out a bit more so we have more to offer and people still don’t have to drive to go get it,” Brent says.

“In plumbing [for example], we’ll increase the size of piping we carry so there will be a good enough variety here that they should be able to tackle whatever they need to tackle. I want to increase the fixings, like faucets and for up under your sink when something goes bad – I want to get more parts in for that so you don’t have to go somewhere else for that.”

This increase in variety will be the case for every aspect of the hardware available, from paint colors for mixing to electrical goods, Brent says. He will also be increasing the selection of pet goods and items for horses (as space allows) and the back area will continue to stock a good selection of guns, ammo, binoculars, scopes and other sporting goods.

“The license [system], when I get it, will stay. I don’t know if we’re going to bring WyoLotto back in or not,” he says.

The first delivery of hardware items is on its way this week – the first of many, Brent says, filling empty spots and ensuring the shelves are full to bursting with items customers need.

“We’re going to learn, too, from what we order,” says Carolyn, explaining that the initial period of running the store will be a time of figuring out what people need and what’s less popular and adjusting as necessary. “It’ll be a learning curve for us on the ordering, but it shouldn’t take long to learn it.”

The Fowlers are keen to find out what customers want from the store and are very much open to requests, Brent says. Notepads will be made available for suggestions – “I’m all for it,” he says.

“I want the contractors to come back in here. I want to know what they need and I’m willing to give them a discount to buy from me,” he says.

The new owners would like to hear from customers about items they purchase regularly and would like to see stocked. “I am more than willing to bring that in the store,” he nods.

“Even if it is something they need once a year, they can let us know before they need it so we can order it,” Carolyn adds.

The Fowlers are also willing to work with customers to source items that aren’t available on the shelves.

“If we can’t get it from our supplier, we’ll find someone we can get it from,” Brent says. A truck comes in once a week on Tuesdays with new items so customers can expect to wait a maximum of seven days.

“If it’s not with our supplier, though, we might have to hunt it down.”

As time goes on, Brent believes the store’s selection has potential to continually grow.

“The longer we are open and the more we deal, the more outlets that are going to be out there for us to be able to get into…there are all sorts of companies out there who would love for us to sign up with them and buy good from them,” he says.

Meanwhile, Brent is a constant bargain hunter, grins Carolyn, and always on the lookout for special somethings that will now be put out for sale in the store. “If I find a bargain, I pass it on,” agrees Brent.

“We’re willing to do what it takes to get the business here. We want the business here and I really believe the people want it here too,” Brent continues. “What we want everybody to know is that we are here for the people of the town.”

The Fowlers are planning an open house event in the spring, once the shelves are fully stocked and the store is in its final configuration. In the meantime, the new owners invite the community to visit the store, share suggestions and check out the changes as they happen.