Randy Andes had a dream. Twenty-four years ago, in July 2001, Randy and Shirley took a leap of faith and opened their first Randy’s Hardware.
After working for other people for years, he always wanted to go out on his own. His wife, Shirley, backed him up, saying years down the road, when he was old and sitting on the porch, she didn’t want him to have regrets of never having tried!
Over the years, their dreams have expanded to include four stores in total – the original Randy’s Hardware in Timberville, one in Bridgewater, Mt. Jackson, and Ruckersville.
Randy got into hardware growing up, he was always “tinkering”, and as his dad said, always taking things apart. After high school, he attended Blue Ridge and started working for a poultry plant. Then, took a job with Rocking R Hardware in Timberville. When he left Rocking R, he went to work for Rockingham Co-op for 27 years. Around that time is when he decided, after dealing with the corporate world, he could do better as an independent.
He rented his first building for the store, and has learned quite a bit over the years on negotiating a lease, and what will work for his business plan. Four storefronts later is a testament to his success.
The big news is, Randy has finally decided to retire. When asked if he had actually retired, because he can still be found at the Timberville store, Randy said, “We are still waiting for all the accounting, and legal side of transferring the ownership to Christian. It’s taking a little longer than we thought it was going to take. As long as I am listed as one of the owners, I’m hanging out!”
The new owner is Christian Herrick, Randy and Shirley’s son-in-law, so it is keeping the business in the family. Christian has been involved in Randy’s Hardware for 17 years. Christian’s children have also been involved in the business, helping during special events, promotions, inventory, helping with remodeling. Randy and Shirley’s daughter, Rachel, Christian’s wife, is also involved in the business, so it is definitely, and will continue to be, a family affair. The Andes have another daughter, Erin, who lives out of state and is not involved in the business. Shirley laughingly added, “ We made both girls work for free while they were growing up!”
Shirley is behind the scenes but an integral part of the business. Randy admits, “She is the rock, she is what keeps us together!” She is responsible for all the accounting, inventory work, and taxes. When asked if she was retiring, Shirley laughed and said, “No, and I am working more hours now than I have ever worked!” When they first opened, Shirley said Randy didn’t take a paycheck for four years, she worked while raising two kids. It was a tremendous commitment for them both.
Since he has worked here so long, Randy says his idea of retirement is he can choose to wake up and go fishing, or go to the store. “I will miss it.” He will still be helping train new employees, because that is what he likes to do. He will always be available to solve problems or answer questions, and Christian welcomes his input and presence! Christian has always made it clear that he will not change the business, things will remain the same, including the level of service their customers have come to expect. Sadly, Randy has found that many small businesses, particularly in hardware, “don’t have a transition plan when they age out, they don’t have children who want to continue the business, and there is not a good market to sell it. Their only option is to close. I am very fortunate that I have Christian to continue to grow it. And that’s his goal, he wants to grow it into more locations. Christian’s goal is to have 10 stores when he is ready to retire! He has a good management team in place.”
Randy’s favorite part of the day is helping people solve problems. He can always find the parts people need to make their projects work. He likes to teach that to all his employees. “It can be difficult now, because we may have to teach them how to repair a toilet that was made in 1969, and then we’ve got the other side, where we are using these smart light bulbs that work through your phone. You have to know how to work with things from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, and also be in tune with what is going on today! Every day is a new challenge, and the team we have working here now – they embrace that challenge. That’s what we look for. When we hire a person, we don’t look for their mechanical ability, plumbing ability, or electrical ability, we look for their desire help people and to learn how to help them.”
Randy’s has always strived to develop a loyal customer base. The years have proved that to be the case. Despite the big box stores and hardware chains, Randy’s has stood the test of time.
Thankfully, Randy will also continue writing his column in the Chimney Rock Chronicle. He enjoys the feedback he gets from people who read it. Soon, Shirley and Randy will be able to take vacations together, something they had never been able to do until very recently. It is definitely something they both look forward to!
Stop in and visit Randy and Shirley – as they say, “we don’t mind questions, we don’t mind them at all!”
Randy’s Hardware
14064 Timber Way, Timberville, VA
540-896-5403
*5836 Main St, Mt Jackson
540-477-3129
*120 N. Main St, Bridgewater, VA
540-828-3801
*148 Cedar Grove Rd, Ruckersville
434-481-1794
