Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Harlan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in the hardware business. As a child I would read books on top of the bags of cement, draw on the paper that used to come between the sheets of glass we sold and set up a play store in the back room. I began working full time when I graduated from high school in 1975, and despite receiving a degree in visual art from Georgia State University in 1980 I have been here ever since.
This is a family-owned business. When my dad died in 2003 I managed the store for my mom. When she died in 2016 I became the proud owner!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardware business, in general, has seen a lot of changes. Prior to the advent of Home Depot, it was quite a different business model. We have learned to adapt along the way. We have had to reevaluate the items we stocked and the services we offered. But we made up our minds that no one would exceed us in customer service. That is what we are known for!
Personally, I have battled breast cancer twice and lost my husband to a heart attack in 2003. He was only 49. He and my died in the same year. It was a pretty tough time.
Vickery Ace Hardware – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As I mentioned previously we are known for our customer service. We greet people at the door and escort them to what they are looking for. We have a lot of knowledge in plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden and just basic hardware questions. Our fastener department is one of the best in our county.
We are a full-service store. We cut glass, cut and thread galvanized pipe, repair lamps, replace watch batteries, build and repair window screens and doors, in short, we try to do everything we can to help our customers. Including the gentleman who came in at least twice a year to get us to reset his clock in his car to the right time after daylight savings!
And we are part of our community. We have a Little Free Library that we built and installed on the outside of our building. We have hosted high school art shows and bluegrass groups. We are in the process of adding a mural to the side of our business painted by a local artist. We feature many locally made items in our store, from handmade soaps and mugs to honey and leather wallets.
And the best thing about our store is our cat, Nails. He is a great ambassador for the community. Loves to be petted and talked to each day!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
In 2009 we were named the Best Hardware Store in Atlanta Magazines Best of Atlanta annual award.
In 2016 we were picked as the Hardware All-Star for the state of Georgia by Hardware Building Supply dealer magazine.
Contact Info:
- Address: 881 Concord Rd Smyrna, GA 30080
- Website: vickeryhardware.net
- Phone: 770-435-4567
- Email: vickeryhardware@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickeryhardware/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickeryhardware
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
