James Hatcher '80: The Legacy Continues
A decade ago, James T. Hatcher III became president of Pleasants Hardware, Inc.
Just 38 years old, he succeeded Jack Williams who had succeeded Hatcher’s father who had succeeded his grandfather who had succeeded Henry Pleasants, who founded the company in 1915.
The 1980 Collegiate graduate, who began working weekends and summers in the stock room when he was 15, definitely had a tough act to follow.
Just 38 years old, he succeeded Jack Williams who had succeeded Hatcher’s father who had succeeded his grandfather who had succeeded Henry Pleasants, who founded the company in 1915.
The 1980 Collegiate graduate, who began working weekends and summers in the stock room when he was 15, definitely had a tough act to follow.
Though the company had become a wholly-owned subsidiary of C.F. Sauer Inc. in 1989, a move which allowed it to grow more quickly, he also had a tough task ahead.
In 1999, Pleasants operated two stores, the familiar landmark at 2024 West Broad near Downtown Richmond and a newer venue in Short Pump, and had a long history of providing friendly, expert service to customers.
Problem was, there were other small, locally owned hardware stores of long standing in Central Virginia, and the popularity of the giant national chains that threatened to drive the little guys out of business.
“Back then, there were maybe two dozen different hardware stores, general merchants, and home supply companies in the Richmond area,” Hatcher said.
“We realized that the only way to grow was through the smaller convenient-store channel rather than the ‘big box’ 100,000-square-foot plus megastores.”
So one day Hatcher called his old friend Bob Wake, a 1981 Collegiate alumnus, former Cougar track teammate, Sigma Phi fraternity brother from the University of Virginia, and president of Tom Brown Hardware.
“We’d researched the market to see where there was a large enough customer base to allow us to expand,” Hatcher continued, “and everywhere we looked, there was a Tom Brown.
“Bob and I met for lunch one day, and I told him what we were thinking. He agreed with our assessment of the market that for success and growth, it was better for one company to do it well rather than fight it out and drain resources.
“We made an offer. They accepted. We had a deal put together in a couple of months.”
Pleasants now has 8 venues in the Richmond area, including one which opened June 10 on Patterson Avenue between Libbie and Maple, and contract offices in Harrisonburg and Virginia Beach.
Strategically located, each has roughly 10,000 square feet.
“There has to be a demand in the market for what you’re providing,” Hatcher explained, “but, really, you can go into a grocery story, convenience store, or big box hardware store and buy similar products.
“People are looking for an alternative shopping experience. We define that as knowledgeable staff, location, and ease of shopping. They’re the 3 legs on the stool. All are equally important.
“We want people to be able to get to us easily, find what they want, and get the help they need.
“It’s not much more complicated than that.”
Hatcher rose through the company ranks.
After his stint as a stock boy, he unloaded trucks in the warehouse.
After college, he served as assistant store manager from 1984-1986 and as purchasing manager from 1986-1989.
He helped open the Harrisonburg facility in 1989, stayed two years, and returned to Richmond in 1991 as vice-president.
When his father retired in 1994 and the company was restructured, Hatcher became vice-president for administration overseeing finance and human resources.
Five years later when Williams retired, he became president.
A decade into his tenure, Hatcher approaches his job with the same joie de vivre that he did the first day.
“I’m not the handiest guy in the world, so it’s not the hardware per se,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s really several things. I love running a business, being ultimately responsible for what happens. I like the challenge of being in a competitive environment.”
Hatcher can visit each of his stores and call virtually all 220 Pleasants employees by name. Likewise, the vast majority address him as James rather than Mr. Hatcher.
“I feel fortunate to work in an industry that attracts good quality people,” said Hatcher, "and I feel fortunate to work in an organization with a long-standing reputation in the market.
“At the end of the day, our people are really our most valuable asset.”
--Weldon Bradshaw
Back
In 1999, Pleasants operated two stores, the familiar landmark at 2024 West Broad near Downtown Richmond and a newer venue in Short Pump, and had a long history of providing friendly, expert service to customers.
Problem was, there were other small, locally owned hardware stores of long standing in Central Virginia, and the popularity of the giant national chains that threatened to drive the little guys out of business.
“Back then, there were maybe two dozen different hardware stores, general merchants, and home supply companies in the Richmond area,” Hatcher said.
“We realized that the only way to grow was through the smaller convenient-store channel rather than the ‘big box’ 100,000-square-foot plus megastores.”
So one day Hatcher called his old friend Bob Wake, a 1981 Collegiate alumnus, former Cougar track teammate, Sigma Phi fraternity brother from the University of Virginia, and president of Tom Brown Hardware.
“We’d researched the market to see where there was a large enough customer base to allow us to expand,” Hatcher continued, “and everywhere we looked, there was a Tom Brown.
“Bob and I met for lunch one day, and I told him what we were thinking. He agreed with our assessment of the market that for success and growth, it was better for one company to do it well rather than fight it out and drain resources.
“We made an offer. They accepted. We had a deal put together in a couple of months.”
Pleasants now has 8 venues in the Richmond area, including one which opened June 10 on Patterson Avenue between Libbie and Maple, and contract offices in Harrisonburg and Virginia Beach.
Strategically located, each has roughly 10,000 square feet.
“There has to be a demand in the market for what you’re providing,” Hatcher explained, “but, really, you can go into a grocery story, convenience store, or big box hardware store and buy similar products.
“People are looking for an alternative shopping experience. We define that as knowledgeable staff, location, and ease of shopping. They’re the 3 legs on the stool. All are equally important.
“We want people to be able to get to us easily, find what they want, and get the help they need.
“It’s not much more complicated than that.”
Hatcher rose through the company ranks.
After his stint as a stock boy, he unloaded trucks in the warehouse.
After college, he served as assistant store manager from 1984-1986 and as purchasing manager from 1986-1989.
He helped open the Harrisonburg facility in 1989, stayed two years, and returned to Richmond in 1991 as vice-president.
When his father retired in 1994 and the company was restructured, Hatcher became vice-president for administration overseeing finance and human resources.
Five years later when Williams retired, he became president.
A decade into his tenure, Hatcher approaches his job with the same joie de vivre that he did the first day.
“I’m not the handiest guy in the world, so it’s not the hardware per se,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s really several things. I love running a business, being ultimately responsible for what happens. I like the challenge of being in a competitive environment.”
Hatcher can visit each of his stores and call virtually all 220 Pleasants employees by name. Likewise, the vast majority address him as James rather than Mr. Hatcher.
“I feel fortunate to work in an industry that attracts good quality people,” said Hatcher, "and I feel fortunate to work in an organization with a long-standing reputation in the market.
“At the end of the day, our people are really our most valuable asset.”
--Weldon Bradshaw
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