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I'm a traveling man

A vital component of Contractor Supply Magazine has always been its cover feature about one of the many tool distributors across the country.

For this April/May issue, the focus falls on Little Hardware Company in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Located in what was once Charlotte’s prime industrial district, Little Hardware sells and services a complete line of brands across multiple applications. With its well-known history for having almost everything in stock, it is no surprise the company has more than a few photos of delivery vans from Grainger, White Cap and other competitors lined up outside of its doors as drivers run in to pick up products for customers that they did not have available.

I think you will find that the heart of Little Hardware’s story is about family. Attempting to keep pace with names and faces across the various generations was not easy. At one point a new person walked into the room and introduced themselves and I realized I had been misquoting someone from the wrong generation in my notes the entire time. Looking back on it, I shudder to think what a Zoom interview would have been like.

While technology exists for me to conduct interviews for these cover features without leaving the office, one of the distinctions of Contractor Supply has always been that we consistently recognize the importance of engaging directly with our readers.

For many, work-associated travel can be a burden. Personally, I find it to be a nice benefit. I enjoy flying and as an editor, I much prefer meeting people in person.

Also, travel is just a natural part of being part of the trade publication industry.

As any frequent traveler knows, we all have our so-called “tales of woe” involving flight delays, missed layovers, cancellations, or other issues. No pun intended, but little did I know what I was in for as I ventured out for my interview at Little Hardware.

As planned, I was to fly out on Tuesday, stay the night, conduct the interview in the morning and fly home Wednesday evening.

Fortunately, the interview at Little Hardware itself went excellent, with a pleasant introduction to the company’s family story. By the time I arrived at the airport, I was in good spirits and looking forward to heading home via a freshly booked flight, after the first was cancelled.

Weather intervened and I remained in Charlotte another night before spending an entire day between airports or airplanes. I started my day around 8:30 a.m. EST Thursday at the Charlotte airport and walked through my door at home in Wisconsin at about 2 a.m. CST Friday.

While frustrating or even annoying, rest assured, the experience will not dissuade me from continuing my ventures. I always look forward to continuing my journeys across the country to learn more about the evolving nature of the tool distribution industry.

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