Prairie Grove True Value
Owners: Daren and Cathy Sargent
Location: Prairie Grove, Ark.
History: “The Fidlers started the business in the 1940s as an Otasco but changed to a True Value hardware store when they bought out the existing store in town and moved it to their facility in the 1980s. I was a mechanic and Cathy worked in an alternative school. However, we wanted to be self employed so we bought the store from the Fidler family in 2006, which turned out better than I ever dreamed. We have added to already successful business by increasing inventory and adding some lines. We used to come in and buy Coke out of the same machine we have now which still dispenses glass bottles but at a loss. Nonetheless that machine is part of the history of the place, and we don’t want to update it.”
Products and Services: “Farmers are an important part of our clientele, and some of our inventory is mainly for them. We sell Powell Feed, a local brand sold out of Siloam Springs, Ark., and milled in Green Forest, Ark. We also carry the STIHL line which all the farmers use, especially chainsaws, trimmers and leaf blowers which they use for cleaning out their round balers. We carry Rubbermaid stock tanks and fescue, rye and wheat seeds. We have 45 feet of nuts, bolts and screws as well as all of the tools to support their use. Electrical supplies are another important part of our business including breakers, fuses, electrical boxes and wire. We have almost anything anyone would need for plumbing and a broad spectrum of pet supplies and feeds. Finally, we have a large array of batteries for trucks, cars
and lawnmowers.”
Future Plans: “Northwest Arkansas is still growing very quickly, and the increase in the number of people has required us to increase product diversity. The result is our store has doubled in product diversity since we took over and we expect the growth to continue.”
