What would you do with $100,000 to improve your business? This spring, the National Hardware Show® asked that question and received nearly 200 applications for its new Reimagine Retail program. Reimagine Retail was launched to invest in and support the future of independent home improvement retailers. The retailers submitted ideas that ran the gamut from tech-savvy ambitions intended to improve operations and customer experience to store refreshes that could take a traditional hardware store into the future. Prior to the show, a panel of industry professionals selected 10 finalists for the Reimagine Retail program. The judges then selected Soda Spring’s very own Carib
ou Jack’s Trading Co. and their idea to expand their outdoor cooking department by adding a Cafe inside their store.
When asked why the judges were impressed with Caribou Jack’s submission, Rich Russo, VP of the National Hardware Show® shared the following thoughts; “we were really excited by their vision to create a gathering space that was built upon products they already sell and are so passionate about. The Lau family also has a great history with their community that dates back over 100 years, we loved their dedication to Soda Springs and the surrounding communities.” Additionally, Russo stated that “the community was also a factor in our decision. We were able to see a real passion from locals for their community and are confident that they will support Caribou Jack’s new venture and other local businesses.”
“I think it was maybe the first time I was speechless, at least for a few moments,” said Robert Lau regarding the announcements that they had won. “Our son, William, kept saying over and over that it wasn’t if we won, but when we won. We would smile at his confidence. There were so many great submissions that just being a finalist was a great honor. When we won, I just thought of William’s confidence and decided I should listen to him more often,” Lau said with a smile.
Caribou Jack’s has received the first installment of the grant and is currently building a structure that they are calling “the barn.” It will house product that is currently in the store that does not need to be in a climate controlled setting. The next phase is almost a complete reset of the store, shuffling products around to make room for the Cafe. The final stage is building the Cafe and a grilling porch out the back of the store.
Lau shared that the Cafe will focus on food items that are different from the restaurants in the area. “Our primary focus is cooking on Traeger grills. We’ll start by offering four different smoked meats every day served a variety of ways. We are stillfinalizing a menu, but our focus is to provide a different choice instead of a competing choice.”
The idea for the Cafe has been several years in the making. “Seventeen years ago I led the effort to open Cafes instead of bank branches for ING DIRECT. When ING DIRECT was purchased by CapitalOne, I wondered what would become of the Cafe program. I was excited to read that they just opened a new one a few months ago in Austin, TX. It is wonderful that something I worked so hard on continues to grow and expand. I hope my ancestors have the same feelings regarding our efforts to build upon their accomplishments in establishing Soda Springs.”
“Adding a Cafe to the mix at a hardware store made perfect sense to me. Since we built the new building a few years ago, we have been trying to find a way to fund this expansion. When the grant application came out, I knew exactly what I wanted for our focus. This is a phenomenal blessing from Rich and his team at the National Hardware Show.® The confidence and enthusiasm that they have shown is humbling, not only for us and our store, but also the community as a whole,” added Lau.
The future of the Reimagine Retail program is bright. “We are excited to parter with the Lau family for the first imagine retail program. They are working hard to put the grant to wo
rk to build their business and help us build a strong foundation for the future so we can help more independent retailers fulfill their dreams. We couldn’t be happier.”
“I think what this program is all about, as well as what the National Hardware Show team have done, is sparking the idea of reinvesting in communities and retail around our country. The Internet is great, and big-boxes are great, but so are locally owned retail stores,
which are the lifeblood of the economy. People shouldn’t forget them. The Reimagine Retail program allows a store to reinvent itself and stay relevant for years to come. This program helps shine a spotlight on smaller communities; there are thousands across the country. We don’t want people to forget the small business owners,” stated Lau.
Lau concluded, “I can’t express just how grateful, thankful and humbled I am by this opportunity. It is truly a blessing for my family and myself and hopefully for our wonderful community.”