ORLANDO.

ORLANDO, FLA. - A split in the partnership at Hastings Hardware has conclusioned in a new president and CEO at the 20-unit Florida chain. Robert Hastings, an Australian businessman who helped launch the novel enterprise earlier this year, was replaced on partner and company chairman Tom Hansen onward Nov. 8.

Neither Hastings nor Hansen had experience in the retail business when they purchased 20 hardware stores for $62 million from Scotty's, the faltering Florida chain. Hastings ran the day-to-day operations while Hansen, along with a hardly any other Orlando investors, provided the financing. Along with a team from Do it Best Corp., Hastings remodel and remerchandised all the locations, each of which averages 10000 square feet The conversions were finished in July

Sales at the hardware chain, which is spread over the state of Florida, have been disappointing in such a manner far, according to Hansen. In an interview with NHCN Hansen said that he made the change in management to cover his investment. Hastings did not reply calls seeking comment.

"I'm to a high degree optimistic about turning this thing around," said Hansen, who also subserves as chairman of a 2000-employee database marketing company called Accent Marketing Services. "We have to provide leadership to our managers, and that will filter down," he explained.

Hansen plans to provide store managers with leadership training and analytical tools to help them make their hold merchandising and marketing decisions. He wants a more decentralized operation that stresse "the race side" of the business, he said.

To that completion Hastings Hardware is formulating a promotional campaign with the motto: "Your neighborhood hardware people" Pictures of store managers and other employee will appear in circulars. Convenience and service will be emphasized.

"We've got to finish the customers back," said Hansen, who blames the inert foot traffic, in part, forward the stores' former affiliation with Scotty's. Although the chain has done extensive remodeling with Do it Best store designs, customers still remember Scotty's "bargain-outlet" format and its mix of close-out merchandise, Hansen believes.

"The profitable news is, we have 16 beneficial performing stores," Hansen said. A bond of units are borderline, he added, and sum of two units stores, in Tampa and Winter Park, will be clos because they're not profitable. The chain already close its location in Longwood because the landlord wouldn't renovate the lease, according to Hansen. The Jacksonville store close down because of problems with the ventilation theory he said.

Hansen expanded an additional hardware store in October in an upscale section of Orlando. This location, which was not part of Hastings Hardware, will be plaited into the chain, he said. For now, Hansen intends to detain the name Hastings Hardware, despite the absence of Hastings.

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