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Keremeos retailer sees opportunity in dollar goods

Merchant sees new opportunity, seizes moment to diversify Keremeos’ retail offerings
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Sean Donovan of Keremeos Hardware stands in front of his new retail line up. The former hardware store is converting to dollar store items as business owner Donovan sees a market niche to be filled in Keremeos.

 

Finally, a good news story coming out of downtown Keremeos.

Sean Donovan of Keremeos Hardware is converting his store to “dollar items” after a lengthy look at local market conditions and input from the community.

“I am phasing out hardware items and replacing them with two dollar items,” he explained, “we will eventually change the name to “Keremeos Toonie.” Donovan further explained that many of his customers requested dollar store items, and with the closure of K and S Variety,  there was even more opportunity to move into “everyday” merchandise.

“We had many items that had us competing Irly Bird and South Valley Sales,” Donovan observed of his hardware inventory.

Roughly half of the store is now devoted to racks and shelves of common everyday items, including kitchen utensils, aluminum and foil ware, kitchenware, toys, cosmetics, Christmas decorations and other everyday items.

“My  biggest problem now is finding the space to sell more two dollar items,” Donovan laughed.

He hopes the changeover will be complete by next month, when he plans to hold a 40 per cent off sale on remaining hardware items. The changeover is receiving “good feedback” from his customers so far, Donovan added.

Kermeos Hardware - a.k.a. Keremeos  Twonie - is open formo 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Monday through Saturday.