PRO Group, Inc., PROflash July 16, 2009

GERALD TUCKNESS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS SERVICE WITH BUTTERY

Gerald Tuckness of Llano, Texas based Buttery Company, Inc., celebrated his 40th anniversary with the company this year. John Buttery commended Tuckness’ achievements. “Gerald Tuckness began working for our company on May 17, 1969. His early tenure included loading trucks, filling orders, and maintaining one of our main buildings before we realized what a talent we had. My dad named him as head of receiving, and in 1972, made Gerald a purchasing agent. Gerald is one of the most detail oriented people we have in the company. His category of items routinely produces the highest return on investment and the highest fill rates – a very difficult combination to achieve. For every task we have asked of Gerald, he goes well beyond the call of duty. Our trade shows have been successful largely due to Gerald’s foresight and dedication. Gerald truly cares about our company; it’s impossible to replace that quality!” Currently, Gerald also serves on the PRO Group, Inc. Merchandise Committee.

Congratulations Gerald!


Gerald Tuckness		Gerald Tuckness with Buttery Team

BRIAN YOUNG OF YOUNG’S PRO HARDWARE HONORED AS YOUNG RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Young’s PRO Hardware, located in upstate New York, has changed dramatically in the last six years, and most of these changes have one common denominator: Brian Young. Within the last five years, Brian helped increase his store’s sales and he has invested back into the business by updating the store with a new POS system, fixtures, and lighting to help enhance his store’s effectiveness. Brian’s dedication and innovation are what got him noticed and ultimately honored by the North American Retail Hardware Association as a Young Retailer of the Year. Nominees for the Young Retailer of the Year award must be 35 years of age or younger and are judged for their career advancement, professional accomplishments, goals for the future, education and community involvement. Shari Kalbach, managing director for PRO Group, Inc., traveled to San Antonio, Texas this month to see Young accept his award at the NRHA Convention. Kalbach said, “In this day and age, it is great see a young man put his heart and soul in succeeding as an independent hardware retailer. We are proud to have Brian as a part of the PRO family”.



	Brian Young - Young Retailer of the Year

Bostwick-Braun’s Board of Directors elected former Senior Vice President of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Beach to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The Board of Directors also elected Brenda Smith as the company’s Senior Vice President of Finance. Pete Georger was also promoted from Regional Manager to Director of Sales. Learn more about The Bostwick-Braun Company here.

Distributors met with manufacturers during the Group Merchandising Conference organized by PRO Group, Inc. and Val-Test Distributors June 1-3, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Atlanta. Read the full Press Release here.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 518,000. Read the Full Press Release Here

Privately-owned housing completions in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 811,000. Read the Full Press Release Here

Smart Money reported that retailers are responding by printing coupons, slashing prices and pairing up with high-quality brands on deals exclusive to their stores. Some of the retail sectors hit the hardest include car dealers, home furnishings retailers, apparel, electronics and full service restaurants. Source: SmartMoney.com

Smith & Hawken, the industry’s first upscale gardening retailer, will close its doors by the end of the year. Although the 56-unit chain had been struggling for months, the announcement by parent company Scotts Miracle-Gro came as a surprise to many employees, according to several media reports. Source: Home Channel News. Read the full story here:

The American Hardware Manufacturers Association’s AHMA Home Improvement Industry Confidence Indexes declined in June, with the Current Situation Index falling 12.5 points from May’s Index of 54.2 to 41.7 (October 2008 = 100) and the Future Expectations Index falling 24.1 points to 162.1 from an all-time high of 186.2 in May. Read full Press Release here.

Joy Smith, merchandise manager for PRO Group, Inc. has shared her insights on some key trends impacting consumer preferences during some recent PRO Group, Inc. events.

What’s In: Not So Big, Sleeker, Minimalist, Right Sized, Frugal, and Value Positioned.

What’s In Sustainability, Less is More, Quality not Quantity, Value Positioning

The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.