Brad Sawdon is best known as co-founder of the Holland-based medical startup KODE Health, which recently raised $27 million to expand. But on this day, the conversation turned from venture capital to nuts and bolts. This is a story about hands-on hardware and the enduring role of a century-old store in the community.
Brad Sawdon: "I've lived in Holland for about eight or nine years now, and came here as a customer and just kind of fell in love with the store. There's kind of a magic that exists here—authenticity to the store, the history. I've started businesses, built businesses before. And I always had this thought in the back of my mind that it'd be really interesting to own this and see what I could do with it. And so, when the opportunity arose, I started to get to know the owner a little bit, chatted with him, and actually in his living room struck a deal. And so here I am. It was the intent to keep this place, to retain the magic that it has, but still allow it to exist for another 165 years."
Brad Sawdon: "I think there's a grit you tend to find in West Michigan—particularly in the Graafschap/Holland area here—that has allowed this place to exist for 165 years. And I think people are drawn to the culture of this store, the service you get, the knowledge that we can bring to the table for customers. But we're a partner in your project. We're also a place to come and just update [people] about, you know, how the deer are looking this year for deer season, or whatever it may be. There's a certain camaraderie that the employees have here, that the community has, that allows us to connect really well as a store."
Brad Sawdon: "I think... I think all of it. I think you can walk down the aisles and there's things that have probably been on the shelves, maybe a little bit too long. But there's a lot of things you won't find anywhere else. So kind of wander around the store. It's always fun to see what you can uncover. But I think what always grabs people's attention is the gun section, where you walk in for the first time. Maybe you don't expect us to carry firearms, but we view it as any other tool. It's a part of the store. It's almost like the candy aisle for folks here—where you come in for a nut or a bolt, and you may pick up a new rifle for deer season at the same time."
Brad Sawdon: "Yeah. We've added some cap guns and things like that. My goal is to get more stuff in here that draws the kids in and gets their hands dirty, if you will, where they can build projects. We're looking to expand the store in the right way—to have a spot where there's a scrap wood pile for kids, where they can come and build projects. Maybe we have classes for building bird houses, things of that nature. So, the more we can do to draw the kids in and teach them, or give them opportunity to learn the skill sets that come with a hardware store is, I think, good for everyone."
Brad Sawdon: "I guess the challenge of buying the store [is that] there's so much history in it. As I look to bring in new inventory to expand the retail square footage, my main goal is to keep the character and the charm of the store—but to continue to add product and things that people need so we're relevant to the community for the next generation. And to do it in a way that keeps that history. And so, we've added things like Xtratuf boots and Darn Tough socks, and we'll continue to expand our sporting goods section. But adding new tools, new displays, new products that are relevant for the community but don't change the character of the store is gonna be a challenge. I haven't quite figured out how we'll accomplish that, but that's the goal—to expand where we can, where it makes sense, but retain that that charm."
"What's interesting is when I walk around town or go to Graafschap church, a lot of people come up to me who remember this place when it was across the street—the original location. And then in the 80s, they moved the store over here for just more space. And I have people come to me all the time saying they remember their grandpa, their great grandpa, coming into the store. And there used to be a coal stove that heated the entire store, and they would stand around in the winter to get warm around that stove. And so that's really cool for me to see and hear those kinds of stories, that people have personal connections with this place going years and years back. I want to have that going forward into the future. And so, trying to build an environment that will create that is part of my goal."
Brad Sawdon: "You'll see out front, I bought an old 1949 Ford truck to use in parades and as a sign for the store. As we have parades in town, I want my kids to be in the back of the truck passing out candy as we go through town. I work with the cadet program at Graafschap church, and we just finished a new addition with a great wood shop. We've seen the program grow from a handful of kids to over 50 boys. I think there's a real desire for parents to get their kids back into woodworking and metal working. And if the store can be an extension of that desire and give kids access to tool kits or scrap lumber or project lumber that they can use to build bird houses or things, I think there's a desire for that. I'd love for the store to be a part of that resurgence, if you will, of getting kids back into more manual, hands on tasks."
Eric McKee is a lifetime resident of West Michigan. Married with two energetic boys, he spends his days balancing work with dad life. Also, a firm believer that Almond St. Claus Windmill Cookies are the ultimate snack (and maybe a little too good).
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