When you need hardware, is your first thought of a "big box" store? I know mine can be, but after my experience at Girard's today, I am going to try to break myself of that. Maybe I need to put a note on my door or in my car.
Girard's is small, and jam packed with merchandise. The whole store would fit into one department of a big box.
When I entered the store, I was immediately greeted by an employee. I said, "Where's your painting stuff?" He didn't tell me where it was. He didn't point. Instead, he walked with me to the aisle.
On the way, I said, "I'm not really going to paint. I'm refinishing a dresser, so I need stripper and finishing oil." When we got to the strippers, he pointed out which ones were liquid and which were gels. He said, "Gels are easier to use because they stay where you put them." Okay, I picked a gel. I told him about a spray-on paint remover I had bought somewhere else (a big box). He replied, "Those don't work all that well, so we stopped carrying them."
I mentioned two other things I needed: disposable paint brushes and a wire brush for stripping. He took me to both items, then pointed out one wire brush that was four cents cheaper than the others.
We went to the finishing oils and he helped me to pick one that was just right after I had everything I needed, we walked to the register and he rang me out. I think the price may have been cheaper than the big boxes, but even if it were a little more, I would gladly pay!
My whole shopping excursion to Girard's, from walking in the door to walking out with my merchandise, took less than 5 minutes!
At a big box, I would still be walking to the paint department. And I had a personal shopper at Girard's!
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