Serving Professionals and Homeowners Alike
For help with that next painting, gardening or home repair project, do-it-yourself enthusiasts need look no further than Boulder Creek Hardware.
Boulder Creek Hardware serves the region with a large assortment of home renovation, remodeling and repair items.
"We are a hardware store that has everything Boulder Creek needs," said Doug Conrad, who has owned the store together with his wife Ann Marie since 2001.
Along with a complete selection of house wares, cooking utensils and appliances, Boulder Creek Hardware provides full sporting goods, electrical, plumbing and automotive departments. An Authorized Stihl¨ Dealer, Boulder Creek Hardware sells and services its large tool selection including the popular Stihl¨ saws and other outdoor power equipment.
The store also includes a complete gardening department stocked with a whole line of fertilizer and insecticides, while a newly remodeled paint department rounds out the choices with computer color matching and Cabot Deck Care, a high quality line of products. Completed last year, the remodel added the computer color matching system while expanding the selection of sundries and added faux finishing.
Growing the Business
Originally raised in the East Bay, store owner Doug Conrad's father was a rancher, and Doug grew into the hardware business learning through experience.
"This is what I do best," Doug said.
During a long career with Orchard Supply Hardware, Doug traveled throughout the United States before things changed in the management of the store.
"I got pretty high on the ladder there; then it was bought by Sears," Doug said.
After leaving OSH, he moved to Felton and purchased the hardware store.
"I wanted to get back to my small town roots," he said.
Doug is also a former firefighter, which he said he misses, especially when the fire engines go rolling by the store. He had served with both Boulder Creek and Felton fire fighters.
Expanding his business, Doug opened Scotts Valley Outdoor Power last September.
"We kind of outgrew this shop [in Boulder Creek], and were getting a lot of requests to work on other things," he said.
While Boulder Creek Hardware specializes in Stihl¨ products and service, the Scotts Valley store can service "anything with a small engine," including lawnmowers, and Husqvarna and Craftsman equipment.
Active in the local business community, Doug is also a past president of the Boulder Creek Business Association, and was recently named vice president of the newly revived San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce.
"That is going to be really exciting to have a cohesive group for the Valley and be able to promote business and economic vitality," he said.
Authorized Stihl¨ Dealer, the World's Leading Chain Saw Brand
Doug says Stihl¨ sales and service probably comprises the largest part of the store's business.
"We are one of the largest Stihl¨ dealers on the West Coast," Doug said. "We have people who travel from all over the Bay Area for Stihl¨ products and service."
In addition to making the number one selling chain saw in the world, Stihl¨ produces an extensive line of outdoor power equipment including trimmers, blowers, sprayers, hand tools, protective apparel and a full line of accessories.
As an Authorized Stihl¨ Dealer and Stihl¨ Elite Dealer, Boulder Creek Hardware is part of a network of servicing dealers that includes more than 8,000 independent Stihl¨ dealers nationwide.
"They are a leader in all sorts of emissions technology that we have to stay abreast on," Doug said. "They were the first people to come out with a catalytic converter on the saw."
Because Stihl¨ dealers require factory training, Doug has traveled to Stihl¨ headquarters in Virginia Beach for training, and in August will continue his training at the Stihl¨ factory in Germany.
"We get to see where Stihl¨ started, the factory, and a quick trip to Switzerland where they make the chain," he said.
All Stihl¨ saws are manufactured
in either of those two locations, Doug noted.
Stihl¨ is used by professionals
and homeowners alike. The MS290 20-inch bar is the world's most popular chain
saw, Doug said.
Stihl¨ also uses a four-mix motor, that is "a hybrid between a two-stroke and a four-stroke, which produces a cleaner, more powerful machine," Doug said.
The motor is currently in the blowers and trimmers and will soon be available in the chain saws too, Doug said. Prices for a Stihl¨ saw start at $179, and "the sky's the limit," he said.
Boulder Creek Hardware is part of the True Value network of stores, which Doug described as basically a buying co-op.
"It's a group of members, and those members pool all their resources together to purchase products at the best price," he said. "In this day and age you need to be partnered with a buying power like True Value to be able to be priced right and [keep inventory] in stock."
A Colorful History
The building, which is now Boulder Creek Hardware has an impressive past. The 115-year-old building was recently bestowed with a historic landmark blue plaque, awarded by the County of Santa Cruz to structures of historic or architectural significance.
According to records of the Boulder Creek Historical Society, in 1896 the town newspaper, The Mountain Echo, was published in the building. The building also served at one time or another as the town post office, a grocery store, and a shoe repair business.
The publisher of The Mountain Echo was a man named McQuestion.
"At one point in time, Mr. McQuestion had financial problems so actually printed the paper on leaves," Doug said. Examples of these leaves are on display at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum.
The Mountain Echo — part of it still original — was modernized in the '30s, he added. "All these four different buildings were joined together to make our store," Doug added. "It creaks and groans at night."
Many people know Doug as a local history buff, evidenced by the large mural on the side of Boulder Creek Hardware, which depicts the late-19th century Boulder Creek railroad station and the area's historic timber flume.
The San Lorenzo Valley Museum in Boulder Creek is a great tourist destination, Doug noted.
"We are big supporters of the museum," he said. "It has all the logging history, and it is just fantastic."
Boulder Creek Hardware is located at 13110 Central Ave. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit online at www.bouldercreekhardware.com or telephone 831-338-6833.