Home improvement center is ready for business
Staff reporter
Seacat Do it Best Hardware and Lumber is hitting stride.
Formerly a True Value franchisee, owners Brad and Anita Seacat decided to look at options other than franchise. They also had wanted to expand their hardware business to include a lumberyard.
"This was always part of the plan," Anita said, "to become a home improvement center."
They were courted by Do it Best and was offered a cooperative which is different from a franchise. This cooperative of independent business owners allows members to purchase items in larger quantities at a lower cost.
Additional buildings were constructed near the hardware store for lumber, insulation, and other construction and home improvement materials.
Before the Seacats changed brands of merchandise and corporate affiliation, they purchased the former Marion Lumber Company, downtown Marion, on Nov. 29, 2005.
"We purchased it so we could sell lumber before and after the cooperative came through," said Anita. "We knew it would take a while to get the new buildings constructed."
They became a Do it Best store a month later.
As it turned out, they discovered it wasn't going to work out the way they had planned. They sold lumber materials and hardware supplies that was part of the inventory at the former downtown lumberyard but decided it wasn't cost effective to operate at two separate locations.
"When we knew the time frame for the new buildings, we had an auction (at the downtown store)," Anita said. Actually, they sold the downtown building prior to the auction but the new owner didn't take possession until after.
The two new lumberyard buildings were constructed in the spring at the business park location. A third building is in the works for additional inventory. Racks will be installed for ease of handling the merchandise.
Dan Holub of rural Marion was hired as lumberyard foreman and also provides customer service in the hardware store.
A fence was erected around the outdoor buildings for safety and security.
The Seacats purchased the downtown True Value hardware store at 301 E. Main, nearly eight years ago. When they outgrew their downtown location five years ago, they moved to their current location at Marion Business Park.
"We've been contacted for bids on numerous projects," said Anita, "so people realize we're here."
She emphasized that they are open until 5 p.m. on Saturdays to serve their customers.
"Currently we're not open on Sundays but may consider it if there is a need," Anita said.
They also make deliveries of lumber and construction materials.
