Old Man Winter has largely hidden his nasty scowl this year, but February is known for its frigid temperatures. It’s better to be prepared for the artic chill than to scurry around to repair a problem during an emergency.
“We have pipe insulation so your pipes don’t freeze,” said Morrison Hardware and Industrial Supply owner Bernadette Doud. “We have weather stripping, shut-off valves, and we carry the Pex line which many contractors are going to now instead of PVC pipe because it can expand up to six times its size.”
Bernadette and her husband, Dwayne, have been making steady improvements to Morrison Hardware since buying the store and taking over operations June 1, 2016. It’s located at 141 E. Maple Street in downtown Morrison.
Hardware staples such as nuts, bolts, screws, drill bits, and chalking are always popular items, along with paint, sprayers, knives, tarps, and industrial magnets. Keys are also made.
“We sell a lot of Rust-oleum spray paint,” said Bernadette. “We also mix paint and do the computer color match so it’s exactly right. We sell Glidden, which is really good paint.”
Morrison Hardware also sells, repairs and makes hydraulic hoses. The store is an exclusive dealer of Klein tools, which are high quality and carry a replacement warranty.
Bernadette said she just returned from a trade show and has plans to attend another one this month. She says the shows are a great way to stay up to date on what’s happening in the hardware industry.
“They show the new products that are coming out and they’re also looking for feedback,” said Bernadette. “They’ll show a product and provide information on it to see how many people are interested in carrying it.”
Dwayne helps Bernadette stay in the loop about the latest construction trends. His business, Warren Custom, specializes in construction and remodeling projects and is known for its quality workmanship.
There are plans to expand Morrison Hardware to add a kitchen and bath showroom. This will tie the two businesses together because products on display in the showroom can be installed by Warren Custom.
“We have a lot of customers tell us we carry items they can’t find anywhere else,” said Bernadette. “I recently had a contractor drive all the way down from Murfreesboro because he couldn’t find what he needed up there and he found us online.”
Feed is one of the new lines that has been added due to customer request. Horse and chicken feed are available, along with mineral salt. Dogfood is also sold.
As for upcoming months, Bernadette said plants will begin arriving in March and she plans to continue the tradition of providing baby chicks for sale to correspond with Easter in April.
The business has extended its Saturday hours and now stays open until 4 p.m. It had previously closed at noon on Saturday. During the week, hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 635-2265.