Dale Hardy Supplies Owner Reflects on Longevity & Customer Dedication
Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Dale Hardy Supplies has been a staple in Logansport since the original staff first opened its doors in 1955. Gracie Byroad has worked at the store for the last 20 years. Today she runs it with her mother, Cindy Blackman, and her sister, Rhiana Lavender.
Byroad was attending Purdue University when she decided to take a break from school and look for a job instead. She visited the store because she heard its owners were looking for help, and she met Dale himself. He told her to report back the next morning to start working.
“Then, he was looking for more help later on, and so I asked my mom and my sister to join,” Byroad says.
When the previous owner was ready to retire, it made sense for Byroad and her family to take over. Byroad herself says the family could not imagine being anywhere else, and a big part of that collective mentality comes from the relationships built with customers throughout the years. Strong relationships with customers is something that the entire staff at Dale Hardy Supplies values, and the employees put in the work to make sure each patron is well taken care of.
Known for offering the largest selection of Carhartt clothing in Indiana, Dale Hardy Supplies has much more for customers to enjoy. The staff offers shoes, and sells everything from pet supplies to overalls to kayaks. Customers can select from a wide range of brands – the shelves are stocked with Twisted X, Redwing, LaCrosse, John Deere, Old Town and more.
Not only can customers pick from a wide variety of brands, but Byroad and her employees also offer a wide variety of services for customers. The staff offers leather repair, shoe fitting, custom leather and special-order clothing. Few changes have occurred within the store itself throughout the years, but the amount of products offered has drastically changed.
“In the ‘50s Dale started buying [fur] for trading, and selling Carhartt clothes and rubber boots, and then the Redwing clothing and Carhartt boots took off,” Byroad explains. “We’ve added some great brands. Old Town kayaks and canoes, Lodge cookware, knives, ENO hammocks, Keen utility footwear. They’re all good boots.”
When a customer buys a pair of boots from Byroad and her team at Dale Hardy Supplies, the staff records the kind of boots purchased, what size, and any additional information needed. As a result, if the customer comes back and would like to purchase more boots, the staff can reference exactly what that customer needs.
“We look at our records, look at their card, and send them out with what they had before,” Byroad explains. “We truly want you to be happy with your purchase. We carry the smallest to the largest sizes in both boots and clothing.”
The entire team at Dale Hardy Supplies cares about serving customers, right down to Ance, the resident Labrador mix greeter. Serving customers is a top priority for Byroad and her employees, even during uncertain times.
“During these difficult times, our hours might be sparse or we might have to close, but we aren’t going anywhere,” Byroad says. “We will be here for many years to come to serve our customers. We appreciate each and every one of our customers.”
The shop’s service goes beyond customers in the store. Byroad and her team host a raffle every year around Christmas. The winners are selected on Christmas Eve, and all of the money raised in the raffle is donated to in-need families in the area.
Just as the employees at Dale Hardy Supplies are dedicated to the customers and the community, the store’s customers seem to be dedicated to the store. Byroad says many people become “lifers” once they walk through her doors. That allows the store to serve more than 10 Indiana counties.
Dale Hardy Supplies is located at 683 North County Road 225 West in Logansport. For more info, call 574-753-6843 and visit dalehardysupplies.com. Call-ahead orders for pickup are currently accepted during hours of operation.
Comments 1