Kyle, Ben and Carter Little represent the fourth generation of the family-owned Little Hardware Company. PHOTO: CORINE OLARTE CREATIVE CO.

For over 100 years, customers have counted on the family-owned Little Hardware Company in Charlotte, North Carolina to always have the right tools for the job. Now, the fourth generation of the family is leading the company into its next century.

With its central location in Charlotte’s Gold District, named for the historic gold mines in the area, the company continues to serve customers who come in from every direction.

The overall management team consists primarily of members of the Little family. Nevan Little, company president, began working around school hours as a teen.

Nevan, his sister Leslie, vice president and their cousin Kearns, vice president and secretary, are the remaining members of the third generation that are working at the store.

Two other members of the third generation, Gray Little, (Nevan and Leslie’s brother), and cousin Alec Little, died from cancer in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Little Hardware has since transitioned to the fourth generation consisting of Alec’s son Kyle, and Gray’s son Ben. In addition, Nevan’s son Carter and Kearn’s son Tucker Little have come onboard.

Within such a tight-knit family company, which extends to its 28 employees, the loss of Gray and Alec was deeply felt. Kyle and Ben were already working full-time and able to cover many of the responsibilities their fathers had.

Before coming on full-time in 2008, Kyle wanted to be a lawyer. After college, he worked as a paralegal but he decided to give the family business a try.

“I found that if you have skills that can be used anywhere, you can work anywhere,” Kyle said. “There’s a lot of opportunity here to have an impact on my family and be a little creative at the same time.”

His focus became the administration of the company’s ERP system and creation of Little Hardware’s e-commerce division.

“The hard part is enriching your data with useful information,” he says. “There’s a whole B2B aspect of the e-commerce side that I think most people don’t consider.”

With an interest in the financial aspect of the business, Kyle is the the present company treasurer.

Likewise, after college, Ben took on electrical and plumbing purchasing, among other tasks, like managing the warehouse and property maintenance. His cousin Carter earned an engineering degree before coming onboard full-time and Tucker recently arrived after finishing his service with the U.S. Navy.

Borrowing a page from both his father and grandfather, Nevan does not plan on retiring soon. “I plan on being here as long as I’ve got something to do and I’m needed,” he says.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Each member of the Little family who has been part of the business have taken various paths to working their way into the company. Most started in the warehouse or stocking shelves and then advanced to working with the sales team before moving more into administration. Each tends to develop their own position within the company.

“We’ve all started with the basics, learning the inventory,” says Kearns Little. “You’ve got to know the inventory in order to sell it. We all have our strengths that we can draw upon.”

It is a culture of family and product knowledge that makes Little Hardware successful. Everyone can play off each other’s knowledge base by learning something and growing.

“I think the number one reason that this company has been so successful is every family member who has worked here, has had a job to do and every one of them has done that job well,” says Billy Austin, Little Hardware sales. “They have put nothing but foremost thought into this hardware store and that’s the reason for success.”

The company has almost no employee turnover with employees being on staff for 25, 30 to 49 years.

Employees recognize that the family members are involved with them, providing opportunities for discussion and input. There is no doubt that if anything impacts an employee’s life, the Little family will be there in support.

“We convey that we value the employees and their contributions, because we don’t do it all by ourselves, it’s a team effort,” Kearns says.

HARDWARE AND MORE

At its founding in 1922, Little Hardware Company was established as an auto parts and salvage operation. Founder AJ Little, with some siblings and his father, then purchased the neighboring Wilmore Hardware store, marking the company’s first major market adaptation.

Offering a mix of everything, it was the service and product knowledge that would establish Little Hardware’s long-standing reputation in Charlotte.

Starting with a mix of hardware products, Little Hardware expanded its range to include some hunting, fishing, and archery gear in the 1950s.According to family members, it was when the store moved to its current location, across the street, in the late 1960s that truly saw the customer base shift.

The third and fourth generation of the Little family. Front row includes Kearns, Leslie and Nevan Little. Back row is Ben, Kyle and Carter Little. PHOTO: CORINE OLARTE CREATIVE CO.

“It went from more hardware to industrial to contractor, because we adapt,” Nevan says.

Today, rebuilt after a fire in 1986 on the same site, and with an added section that connects to the original warehouse, Little Hardware now takes up nearly two city blocks with a total of 50,000 square feet, consisting of 19,000 square feet of showroom space, 26,000 square feet of warehouse and approximately 5,100 square feet of office space.

Dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, the preliminary lines of power tools sold by Little Hardware Company were Miller Falls and Black & Decker. According to Nevan, the addition of Robert Bosch Tool Corp. pushed Little Hardware to being more industrial and contractor focused.

Now, Bosch is the third largest power tool supplier, behind DeWalt and Milwaukee Tool, respectively.

Makita also has gained ground among customers.

There is so much history within the power tool industry. DeWalt is now the best-selling power tool brand for Little Hardware. Nevan recalls that the DeWalt brand was once going to be a segment of the Black & Decker Industrial brand. However, DeWalt was pushed so hard that the Black & Decker Industrial brand name was eliminated.

Outside of power tools, Little Hardware maintains entire sections for hand tools, safety products, plumbing, electrical, fasteners, janitorial and more. Brands such as Brighton-Best International, Simpson Strong-Tie, Louisville Ladders, Knaack, 3M, Fall Tech, Kraft, Diamond Products and Champion are just a few of the dozens from the company’s line card.

“I started from scratch with just the one little room and built it into the empire that it is now,” Dawson says. “Basically, if we sell it, we pretty much can repair it.”

Little Hardware is certified as an authorized warranty repair site for numerous brands and only factory genuine parts are used. All employees can take classes, mostly online, via either the manufacturer or Sphere 1 as new products are developed.

SERVICE LIKE NO OTHER

Paul Dawson, Little Hardware service manager at his station in the store’s repair shop. PHOTO: CORINE OLARTE CREATIVE CO.

More important than carrying such a plethora of brands, when customers come in looking for something, the goal is to have it in stock.

“People come here and say, I’ve been all over the place, looking for this and you have it,” Kearns says. “One day, I finally just said, how about making us your first choice instead of your last.”

The idea that if you come to Little Hardware they will likely have the item in stock or will find it for you has carved out a niche for the company.

Customers regularly cite how the staff at Little Hardware is knowledgeable about the products and truly makes them feel comfortable and appreciated.

“You come in and you get waited on,” Kearns says, noting that it’s the difference that has kept Little Hardware in business for over 100 years.

Based on the company’s history and that of its customers, many employees and customers know each other by name.

Also, due to the company culture of shared knowledge, when questions are asked, if the first person doesn’t know the answer, chances are another employee will.

“You call me. I know what you’re talking about. I’ll bring it right to your jobsite,” Billy says.

Echoing Kearns, he agrees that it is that one-stop shopping experience that keeps bringing people back to Little Hardware. Billy adds, in comparison, that someone shopping at another store may request something that isn’t available but can be ordered a few days later even though the customer needs it that day.

“The majority of the time, we can manage that,” Billy says. “It saves customers time and money if they can get what they need in one stop. Telling someone you’re going to do something and doing it, that’s the key.”

Little Hardware Company is continuing into its second century of business with its fourth generation on board. Customers and their employees continue to return to the assurance of quality service and quality products.

“If we don’t have what you need, we’ll try and find it for you,” Nevan says.

Every business can say they offer service, but Nevan and the rest of the family believe Little Hardware has its 100-plus-year history to prove its legacy.

LITTLE HARDWARE AT A GLANCE

FOUNDED: 1922
OWNERSHIP: Privately Held
SALES TERRITORY: Charlotte Metro Area
BRANCHES: 1
STAFF: 28 - Inside Sales 10; Techs 4
FACILITY SIZE: Office 5,100; Showroom 19,000; Warehouse 26,000
MARKETS: Industrial, Construction and MRO
SERVICES: Delivery, Sharpening, Power Tool Repair

>> LINE CARD ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE:
Locate these advertisers using the advertiser index on page 8.

LINE CARD: Orgill, SBD – DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Freud America, Champion Cutting, Louisville Ladder, SBD – Powers, Makita, Falltech, 3M, Brighton-Best International, Voltec, Kraft, PrimeSource, Master Padlock, Apex Tool Group, Husqvarna, Intercorp, Guardway Corporation, Krylon Products Group, Magnolia Brush, Diamond Products, Poly-America, Simpson Strong Tie, I-Con, Knaack, Rust-Oleum, Majestic Glove, Stabila

AFFILIATIONS: STAFDA, Sphere 1

WEBSITE: www.littlehardware.com

This article originally appeared in the April/May 2025 issue of Contractor Supply magazine. Copyright, 2025 Direct Business Media.

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CONTRACTOR SUPPLY MAGAZINE

The April/March 2025 issue of Contractor Supply magazine is here!

Our cover story, Four Generations, One Legacy,  for more than 100 years, customers have counted on the family-owned LIttle Hardware Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina to always have the right tools for the job. Now, the fourth generation of the family is leading the company into its next century.

Also in this issue are Industry Updates on Adhesives and Sealants; Anchoring Systems; and Safety Equipment.

This digital edition, sponsored by BECK AMERICA Inc., is fully searchable and contains live links to every advertiser and new product listing. Click away!