A Hardy way of running Mitre 10

‘S crews, spanners and saws, at Mitre 10 Mega we’ve got it all.’ It sounds like a shabby sales pitch but for Darrell Hardy hardware is, and always will be, a lifelong passion.
Darrell is the managing director of Hardy’s Mitre 10, a locally owned business that has been trading in Pakenham since 1954.
You could say hardware was in Darrell’s blood and as a child he literally lived the dream of one day operating a hardware store.
“I grew up living above my parents’ shop on the corner of Main and Station streets in Pakenham so I guess you could say I was destined to get involved,” he said.
Involved is an understatement.
In partnership with his brother Steve, Darrell has grown Hardy’s Mitre 10 to now spread across three Pakenham locations, including the latest addition, a brand new Mitre 10 Mega on Bald Hill Road.
But Darrell’s 40year involvement with the iconic Pakenham company has been a journey of epic proportions.
In 1976 and after both his parents had passed away, Darrell, then 27, and his brother Steve, 20, took over the running of the business that then employed 11 people.
Darrell and Steve made a promise; to continue serving the local industry with an unequalled passion for good old fashioned customer service.
The business expanded through the 1980s and joined the Mitre 10 group late in the decade.
Quickly outgrowing the original shop, Steve and Darrell opened a brand new store in Station Street and established a trade store on Bald Hill Road.
Fastforward to Saturday, 7 October 2006 and Hardy’s Mitre 10 has added another remarkable achievement to its long list of business feats.
Saturday marked the official opening of Mitre 10 Mega, an impressive 30aisle retail warehouse bursting with 30,000 individual product lines.
For Darrell, it was a dream come true.
“It’s been a big effort to get all this up and running. The staff have been sensational, I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
The Pakenham megastore is only the second privately owned and operated Mitre 10 Mega in Australia.
The rapid growth and change has turned Hardy’s Mitre 10 into a family operation, with three generations of the Hardy clan having been involved with daytoday management since the business began.
Darrell’s son Matt is the general manager of the company, which now employs close to 100 staff.
“Alongside my brother Steve, and his children Scarlett and James, and with Matt as the general manager, it really is a family affair,” Darrell said.
And there could be more on the way.
“I have three grandchildren, Tom and Max from my daughter Bridget, and Lilly from Matt, so who knows one day they could all be doing work experience here,” Darrell laughed.
But the Mitre 10 family is much more than just those born into the business, according to Darrell.
“All the staff are part of the family. We are so proud of the team that works at all three of our locations, they are the backbone of the company,” he said.
Despite the spotlight being firmly focused on the new Mitre 10 Mega, Darrell said the Station Street Mitre 10 and garden centre remained the heart and soul of the company.
“Our Station Street store has developed such an incredible relationship with its customers.
“There is a real focus on sharing our passion with every customer who walks through the door,” he said.
In a contrasting life, when Darrell is not involved in the hectic daytoday running of the company, he lives on and operates an asparagus and cattle farm in Dalmore with his wife, Barb.
“Barb and I love it down there. The farm is great and is a definite passion of ours,” he said.
It also gives Darrell the chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and think about the big picture.
The decision to open the Mitre 10 Mega was made with great consideration but Darrell believes that a successful business must be dynamic to stay in touch with trends and innovations.
“Today, customers want a shopping experience, they want a big range and cheap prices.
“Since opening the original timber and hardware store more than 50 years ago, the company has gone through some sort of major change every 10 to 12 years.
“The opening of the new store is another chapter and definitely the most exciting,” Darrell said.
After 40 years of service to the company, Darrell has a simple business philosophy.
“Mix great staff with good customer service and everything else flows from there,” he said.
“I’ve read business books and heard people talk about other stuff but talking to customers and being genuinely interested in what they do is the most important thing.”
Now 58 years old, Darrell said retiring or taking a back seat is the furthest thing from his mind.
“I get asked that question on a daily basis now, when am I going to move away from the daily running, or even retire,” he said.
“The answer is simple; for as long as I continue to jump out of bed every morning and love coming into work and chatting to my staff and customers, I’m here to stay.”
Saturday’s official opening could have even rejuvenated Darrell’s lovelife passion for his company.
“It was such a success, there were cars parked right down Bald Hill Road, trade was great and customers were coming from everywhere.
“I spoke with people who had come from Warragul and Phillip Island, there were plenty of new faces,” Darrell said.
It is clear that both Darrell and Steve share a vision to keep the Hardy way of doing business forever alive.
“The drive to do well has been there from the very beginning.
“If you have that enthusiasm and are willing to change with the times, the sky is the limit,” Darrell said.