DON'S LUMBER PRO HARDWARE WINS PAUL L. COSGRAVE MEMORIAL AWARD

Weider's PRO Hardware, Danny's PRO Builder's Supply and Barmon PRO Lumber also earn honors

			Denver, July, 24, 2007… Denver-based PRO Hardware has named Don's Lumber PRO Hardware of Greensburg, Ky. the winner of the 2007 Paul L. Cosgrave Memorial Award. The company, owned by the Basham family, was also recognized as the 2006 PRO Hardware Retailer of the Year for Wallace Hardware Company at Wallace's spring "Proud to be an American" Dealer Market in Gatlinburg, Tenn. in May. The Paul L. Cosgrave Memorial Award, presented annually to a PRO Hardware retailer, recognizes superior commitment to the principles and ideals of effective hardware merchandising developed by PRO Hardware founder Paul L. Cosgrave. "We are honored and humbled to have received the Paul L. Cosgrave award and to have been named as a PRO Hardware Retailer of the Year," said Don's Lumber PRO Hardware Manager and Buyer Brian Basham. "While we have received awards in the past, this one is extra special because our employees did all of the work on our Greensburg location. Everything we do goes back to them and this award reflects their hard work, from moving shelves to laying tile during store hours and after hours. I know my Dad would be especially proud of this award."
	Don's Lumber PRO Hardware Greensburg, Kentucky From Front to Back and Left to Right: Wanda, Troy, Brian and Chad Basham 2007 Paul L. Cosgrave Memorial Award Winner 2006 Wallace Hardware Company, Inc. PRO Retailer of the Year

Don's Lumber, with a home office in Vine Grove, Ky., has three retail locations, a stand-alone Rental Stop store, a drywall operation, a truss plant and a reload distribution center.   The Elizabethtown, Ky. store earned the Paul L. Cosgrave award honor in 2001. Founded 14-years ago by the late Don Basham, Don's Lumber PRO Hardware is now run by his widow, Wanda Basham, and their three sons. More than half the store's 19 employees have worked for the family for more than a decade.

Business is booming at Don's Lumber, where sales increased nine percent last year. The owners expect that trend to continue in 2007. Their top customers are the area's contractors and tradesmen, who account for 80 percent of their total sales.

The Bashams attribute the stores' success to hard work, long hours, great employees and the guidance provided by Wallace Hardware and the PRO Hardware programs.

"Wallace Hardware and the PRO Hardware program are both part of the heart and soul of our company and represent the past, present and future of Don's Lumber," Basham said. "They have been by our side from the beginning. Integrity and honesty were very important to my Dad and I know he thought very highly of both Wallace Hardware and PRO.  I feel the same way, and so does the rest of my family."  Basham added that the company has decided to invite representatives from Wallace Hardware to the company's annual holiday dinner, which is attended by all employees and their spouses. "Many of our employees do not have a chance to attend the Wallace Hardware dealer markets and PRO Hardware Achievers Club trips, so this will give us as a company a chance to show our team how important Wallace and PRO is to us," he said.

The Basham family and their employees are well respected among its distributors, who marvel at the stores' continued forward momentum.

"Don's Lumber PRO Hardware in Greensburg, Ky. is a living testimony to perpetuating a legacy," said Richard Snowden, Vice President of Wallace Hardware Company. "Don Basham was a very forward-thinking, innovative business man. He instilled this visionary thinking in his sons, Brian, Troy and Chad. He also developed it in his Greensburg team including Chris Coule, store manager, and Rick Collins, hardware manager. With determination and hard work, they make the Greensburg store fit Don's vision."

Other Award Winners

* The 2007 Paul L. Cosgrave Award finalist and the 2006 PRO Hardware Retailer of the Year for The Bostwick-Braun Company is Weider's PRO Hardware of Honeoye Falls, N.Y. 

"Weiders PRO Hardware represents what is right with being an independent retailer — especially an independent hardware store," said The Bostwick-Braun Company PRO Program Director, Damian Nicholson. "Ned Green and his family epitomize what can be accomplished with perseverance, persistence, and ingenuity."

* The 2006 PRO Hardware Retailer of the Year for Long-Lewis Hardware Company is Danny's PRO Builder's Supply of Centre, Ala.

"Danny's Builder's Supply is being honored because of his total commitment to and support of the PRO Program and Long-Lewis Hardware Company," said Dwight Brown, general sales manager for Long-Lewis Hardware Company. "Because of this partnership, Danny's continues to experience exceptional growth in hardware sales."

* The 2006 PRO Hardware Retailer of the Year for Horizon Distribution is Barmon PRO Lumber of Sultan, Wash.

"Dan Barmon has always sought to provide his base with solid values and a fun loving shopping environment," said Mike Dawson, retail division manager for Horizon Distribution. "Barmon Lumber is proof that one can build a successful business by listening to your customers."

PRO Hardware Retailers of the Year are selected based upon merchandising, inventory management, PRO key supplier support, advertising, store identification, sales and financial performance.
 

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Headquartered in Denver, PRO Group, Inc. www.pro-group.com <http://www.pro-group.com/> is a merchandising and marketing organization with purchasing power exceeding $3 billion through its 40 Member Distributors.
 
 
Note to media: Digital photographs of award winners available upon request to LeAnn Dawson of PRO Group, Inc. at leann.dawson@pro-group.com  303-792-3000.

Photos:

For More Information Contact:
Shari Kalbach, PRO Group, Inc.
303-792-3000

shari.kalbach@pro-group.com

or

Ruth Furman, ImageWords Publicity & Writing
(702) 255.8288

ruth@ruthfurman.com