[Hardware] Knight’s Home Hardware is family-owned and operated

[FazzNoth]

Knight’s Home Hardware in West Lorne is a family-run business operated by Jeff Knight and his family. Jeff and Teresa purchased the store in June 1988 from Rudy Huver, who had operated the independently-owned operation for 12 years (Son David still works there.)

Huver had purchased the former Crest Hardware store from Fischer and Kemp in 1976.

The current store is the amalgamation of Lemon’s Department store (Jim Lemon was my landlord when I studied for the ministry in Toronto), the post office and the Crest Hardware buildings.

Jeff and Teresa operate the store, with their children, Chris and Holly, helping out as needed. There are nine employees, and their jobs require them to become knowledgeable about many diverse types of products and uses – selling retail hardware, cutting keys, carpet cleaning rentals, window, screen and door repairs, glass repairs, paint selection and mixing, seasonal gardening products, and kitchen wares.

Jeff and Teresa previously worked in grocery stores, in Shelburne and Dundalk, with the IGA chain. Jeff was also a volunteer firefighter. Upon moving to West Lorne, they immediately found the community to be welcoming to the extent that Jeff remarks that it was if the village and surrounding area “adopted them.” Jeff and his staff love serving the community to the best of their abilities, and plan to continue to so.

Unlike many business chains, Home Hardware stores and owners are not franchisees. Home Hardware is a co-operative, with all of the store owners being “owners” of the company.

Home Hardware was founded in 1964 in St. Jacobs, Ont. by Walter Hachborn.

Jeff Knight says because Home Hardware is a co-operative, he’s permitted more control of what the business stocks in-house, while allowing him to special order any of the thousands of items available from the company’s warehouses in St. Jacobs.

“Instead of me working for the warehouse, with them telling me what to stock, they serve us and our customers instead, by providing what we want,” he said.

He further explained that the ordering process is straightforward and deliveries are on Wednesday mornings. The item will usually arrive by then, unless it is back-ordered.

https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/knights-home-hardware-is-family-owned-and-operated