Wilkes County Hardware had locally based products before we purchased the store. One of those legendary local products had to be the famous “Holly Farms BBQ sauce”. We keep it year round and it “flies off the shelf” 🐔🐔🐔for local Chicken-Q’s or backyard BBQ’s.
The BBQ sauce is sold in gallons or quart size….
Richard & I wanted to grow our local product offerings, and we put it in as a business goal to work on. Someone recently came into our store and assumed that we had picked up local based products because another business in town had closed their doors. I was shocked at that statement. My response was quick, “we have always hosted local artisans here, this is not a new thing for us.”
Keegan Watson’s woodworking has been inside our store since he began as a woodworker. We are blessed to have his products showcased in our store& to call him as our dear friend.
We have expanded our locally based products significantly in the last few years. I have more time to develop this part of our business model now in my retirement. Richard & I each hold different roles as business owners. We have taken and spilt various roles as business owners. New product development & merchandising, marketing are just a few of my roles.
One new product I added to our store lineup that our customers love… Meyer’s Clean Day… we have an excellent selection of these products inside our hardware store. Thanks for shopping local with us.
I hope y’all will enjoy a glimpse inside our locally sourced products, all located in your hometown hardware store. Here’s a closer look at our made in NC items & locally sourced products.
Blum’s Almanac… these are locally made in Winston Salem, NC Ahhh… the seasonal favorite of so many of our customers… thank you so much for coming back to see us every year to purchase these wonderful cookies!!! Wilkes County made honey by Kevin Foster, it is amazing to see how this stuff flies out the door like a little honey 🐝 bee !!! Valley Forge Flags… made in the USA A new product offering… pottery by Little Corner Pottery. Thank you to Lisa Pruitt for sharing her gorgeous pieces with our customers!!! Land of Canaan Goat Milk soap by Kendal Finley Privette. These soap are aesthetically beautiful and selling fast!!! Welcome to our store!!! Handcrafted by Keegan Watson, he continues to “bowl us over” with his amazing work!!! Another amazing piece by Keegan… cutting boards are a great gift idea For unique items… Chelsea Brown has got us covered. Eric & Chelsea design together as Made in McGrady… more pictures to follow Rustic, & beautiful designs- Eric Brown makes his wooden cutting boards to withstand the constant use in the kitchen. Made in McGrady has been a huge part of our store for many years now. We love you dearly Eric & Chelsea!!! Sometimes products come to us out of customer problem solving… Richard Cardwell began making these carpenter bed traps for us a few years ago out of need. We appreciate it!! Thank you!!! Blackwonder soil builder… amazing new NC based product to add nutritional value to your clay soil or boost your plants growth. Get growing with this great product today!! NC sourced BBQ sauces Blake Farms made an appearance at WCH around Mother’s Day.. those hanging baskets didn’t last long Baskets made by Betty Miller, locally made here in Wilkes County. Gorgeous work!!! Amazing & quirky pieces by Gia, always a beautiful gift choice!!! Making kitchen work lighter… these are locally made here in Wilkes County. Thanks Cindy for always sharing a batch of your handiwork with us.Don’t be “bugged” by insects, we have a locally made insect repellent made here in Wilkes County!!! Thus doesn’t leave a oily residue on your clothes or skin. Bee Wax Candles made by Gypsy Ridge Honey Farm, beautifully designed by Brandie Foster. All of our logo wear is locally sourced through another local business. A huge thank you to Cooks Sporting Goods for believing in us, and working together with us for each unique design Amazing flavor!!! A must try!!! Thanks for sharing your product with us!!! Great company to work with & NC made!!!When masks were required, we found an excellent local source for these!!! NC peanuts!!! These are selling fast!!! Also available at our pop up shop local at Carolina Treasures on Main Made in the USA, locally found at WCH Lavender soap.. can’t keep it on the shelf!!! Made in Wilkes County… a go to snack but so much more!!! Brushy Mountain Granola is absolutely an awesome company to work with and a fabulous product… all flavors are equally delicious!! This NC sauce is truly “Off the Hook”!! Mark McMasters, a super nice guy!! This NC sauce is a great selling product We sold out of these handcrafted stars at Christmas time, thanks Betty Miller We source Molasses locally when it is available Our pumpkins out front in the fall, locally sourced. Thanks JC!!!😊These were locally sourced by our neighbors down the street, Cormoto Graphics. We are currently sold out of these.. would love to hear what type of stickers y’all would love to see next… Yep, you truly can use it on everything. Great tasting food coming up!!! Another view of Gia’s work 😍We still have a few prints left by local photographer, Tate Finely, breathtaking views!!! We appreciate y’all so much! Thank you for shopping local with us and supporting our small business and helping other artisans grow their respective businesses. Thank you!!! Thanks for being a part of #thehardwarelife
Memorial Day is fast approaching, for many people, this holiday weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer. It is also for us, one of the busiest times of the year.
Pool season has already been underway for us… lots of prep before the pools can open safely. Many people may not be aware, but we do the day to maintenance on two local pools.
Before a pool opens, lots of hours go into the process as many pool owners know
The extra effort, hours, and labor usually comes after we close our doors each day or before we open in early morning, so that these pools can be accessible to guests when they need them. Days are often long during pool season.
Richard was very thankful to have Gerald’s experience & expertise in the pool business when we purchased the hardware store 6 summers ago. Gerald was very gracious and stayed with Richard that first summer to help him through that first big pool season. We are extremely thankful for Gerald and all of his knowledge, & kindness that he continues to share with us each visit in our hometown hardware store.
At Wilkes County Hardware, we have a “wall of fame” of the previous owners. I love this picture of Gerald.
Local Pool owners are returning to Wilkes County Hardware in order to begin the process of opening up their pools, gathering pool chemicals, & having pool water tested…(The trail of unusual water bottles samples has started… from jelly jars to empty water bottles. Each water bottle sample is unique to each pool customer.) Some folks are doing great with pool maintenance and are just stocking up on pool supplies.
Pool water samples come in all shapes and sizes…
One significant change this year is the absence of chlorine tablets due to ongoing shortages. We have “plunged right into the waters” answering phone calls, & taking questions regarding chlorine tablets.
At this point, we are currently out of stock in chlorine tablets. We have plenty of granular chlorine available for purchase in 25 pound tubs and 100 pounds. We are hopeful that the shortage will not continue.
One notable conversation point that has been noticed, is that some customers are unsure about how to use granular chlorine.
Granular chlorine works in a very similar manner as one would shock the pool water & usage of granular is the same as “shocking” the pool.
In order to use granular chlorine effectively, take a clean 5 gallon bucket add some pool water then add granular chlorine. You never want to add water after the granular chlorine, it could create a volatile reaction!!!! Always begin with water. Stir mixture … 15-30 seconds … with a suitable “stick” (wooden paddle, handle, pvc pipe). Pour about half mixture into pool and add in more pool water into bucket and stir again. Pour remaining granular chlorine solution into pool.
Always use a bucket to stir up chlorine… often times he will use a bucket to stir up other types of pool chemicals as well to ensure even distribution into pool as to not have it sink to bottom.., as this photo demonstrates
As always, we are available to answer any questions you may have in regards to your pool. Richard spends on average 10-15 minutes with each pool water test he completes, answering & doing a quick analysis for each customer… at no charge to the customer.
Each pool water analysis is free, the information is often invaluable to a pool owner!!!
We hope that each customer will leave empowered with knowledge of how to “dive” into pool water chemistry and have fun splashing safely all summer long.
Spring flowers are blooming beautifully… my peonies are looking absolutely gorgeous this year. This is the week to be in the garden!!! May is a busy season of planning, planting and growing. Tomatoes plants are going in the ground this week!!!
Garden boutiques are the best!!!
“As I work in the garden, the garden works on me”…
According to Blum’s Almanac Zucchini, squash, green beans, cucumbers anyone??? Tomato planting time has arrived!!! Authentic whiskey barrels make excellent flower planters
This little stem broke off a few days ago from a grocery store bouquet of flowers . I hated to see it go in the trash can. It seems to be thriving in a tiny crystal bowl with a bit of water. I was amazed to see it still looking so great today.
To all mom’s out there following my blog, let me be one of the first to wish you a blessed Mother’s Day.
May you always be resilient like this flower… blooming beautifully in midst of calm or chaos. As storms arise in your journey, may you be grateful for the rain to help the blooming flowers grow, and find sunshine to light your path.
Blue skies and sunshine outside our back door at Wilkes County Hardware
Gardening is the best “dirt therapy” AND you get tomatoes. For many gardeners, this is probably a very true statement…
Over the last few weeks, we have had numerous questions on when to plant tomatoes. Our standard answer has been when the fear of frost has passed.. usually sometime after Mother’s Day.
According to the almanac gardening guide, the best time to plant tomatoes is in the sign of cancer. The next cancer sign is May 14-16.
Check out the gardening guide for this week. Y’all will have a few good planting days ahead. The details are in today’s photos… have a great week in the garden 🪴 y’all !!!
Have a great week in the garden y’all!!!
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The Hardware Life - A wife's journey into the hardware business 