United Hardware Distributing Company is a full-line wholesale hardware distributor, providing products, retail programs, and support services to independent retailers. Headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, United Hardware services dealers from it’s 400,000 square foot distribution center located in Milbank, South Dakota, and delivers to locations in eighteen states.

A complete merchandise assortment of over 55,000 items are stocked in the Milbank distribution center. Dealers are provided weekly scheduled delivery by United Hardware's carrier. Merchandise purchased from the warehouse is competitively priced and stacks up favorably to other major hardware wholesalers. Additionally, dealers can purchase factory-direct to their stores.

The corporate philosophy and objectives are “to provide quality name-brand goods at the lowest possible initial cost; and develop total merchandising, operational and promotional programs to assist United’s dealers in becoming more successful”.

The company achieves it’s objectives through sound business principles that first and foremost benefit our dealers. As an example, as independents United’s dealers set their own margins and prices. As part of it’s commitment to ensure dealers the lowest cost of goods, United Hardware is a member of a $2.2 billion buying group, Distribution America.

United Hardware directs all of its activities to help each of its dealers to be successful. New programs are continually introduced to benefit its dealers. In 2004, a “Ranch & Pet” program was introduced. Designed to capture the fast growing hobby farm market, dealers can start a free-standing “Ranch & Pet” store or add this major category to their existing businesses.

In addition to "Ranch & Pet," United Hardware has developed several "Power Programs" to help its dealers at retail. United Hardware's "Power Programs" are specialized turn-key programs designed to assist dealers in capturing their market's sales potential in specific categories by attracting new customers, appealing to a current customer base or market segment, while maximizing a store's overall sales.

Service to individual members and customers is the focus of the entire staff. United Hardware dealers have access to experts in a host of service support fields. These include; retail accounting, purchasing, store design and setup, variable pricing, point-of-sale computers, marketing programs, retail store operations, advertising, and merchandising.

History:

The roots of the company go back to the fall of 1945 when E.J. "Gene" Koblas acquired an interest in the United Hardware Distributing Company. Shortly after that, he organized a buying group of 100 furniture stores on a membership basis, using the name United Furniture Distributing Company. On January 1, 1949, the two enterprises merged to form the United Hardware & Furniture Company.

In 1952, Koblas issued stock to each of the members in the Hardware Division, while retaining the controlling interest. In 1953 the furniture division was sold. Koblas retained a minority interest and served as the chairman of the board of directors.

In October 1957, the dealers exercised their option to buy out Koblas remaining stock. They established a board of directors made up of seven member-dealers. The full membership elects directors each year with no blank proxy ballots allowed. United Hardware Distributing Co. is registered with the State of Minnesota as a corporation and is 100% dealer owned.

The board elected Elem Peterson as president. He and the board approved the appointment of Newcomb Diehl as general manager. Diehl served in this position for fifteen years. In this period the company went through tremendous growth and change in sales volume and the number of members and employees.

By the late 60’s the company had outgrown its headquarters in the warehouse district north of downtown Minneapolis. The old complex consisted of one-and-two story buildings and was split by a railroad track.

In 1967, United Hardware moved to a new warehouse and office facility in the Minneapolis suburb of New Hope. The new building had more than 300,000 square feet of warehouse and office space.

In 1973 Diehl retired and the board elected Warren R. Goldberg as President and CEO. Goldberg guided the company through the inflation of the 70s and the recessionary period of the 80s. The company continued to grow and prosper and in 1979 needed to move again.

The new corporate headquarters is in a 40,000-square-foot facility in Plymouth, Minnesota. The warehouse was enlarged several times and remained at it’s New Hope location.

In 1990 United Hardware entered into negotiations with Amdura Corporation. Through the resulting agreement, United acquired additional hardware stores and a new distribution center in Milbank, South Dakota. The new warehouse facility has 400,000 square feet of space and stocks more than 55,000 items.

In the fall of 1991, the board hired David Heider as President and CEO. Heider's goals are to maintain the high quality of service United Hardware's dealers have come to expect. Under the Hardware Hank trade name, United Hardware has developed a dominant presence in the upper-midwest. With the addition of the Trustworthy Hardware Stores, Golden Rule Lumber Centers and non-franchise/independent dealers, United Hardware now services over 1,200 stores in eighteen states.

After more than 50 years of growth, the company is not about to rest on its laurels. United Hardware's sales have grown to over $170 million annually. The United Hardware management team and employees continue to seek innovative ways to help our dealers increase their share of the ever-growing Do-It-Yourself market.