Motley Hardware: A Store Rooted in Service, Sustained by Heart

There’s a kind of magic in small towns. Not the flashy, cinematic kind—but the kind you feel when someone goes out of their way to help you find a specialty nut or drives across a field to deliver tools to your broken-down tractor.

Motley Hardware owners Bruce and Terri Ekert

The Heart of a Community: Motley Hardware

That kind of magic is alive and well at Motley Hardware. Here, Bruce and Terri Ekert have been quietly transforming a community staple. It's not just about parts; it's about help, humor, and a familiar face.

A Journey to Ownership

Bruce didn’t set out to run a hardware store. He’s a draftsman by trade. He moved north to enjoy the peace of the woods and ended up purchasing hunting land that happened to border Terri’s. Fireside chats turned into friendship and eventually led to marriage. The store came into play almost by accident.

“I opened the paper one day and saw an ad—‘hardware help needed.’ I thought, ‘I could see myself doing that until I’m 70,’” Bruce recalls. He worked at Motley Hardware for five years. Then, the previous owner, overwhelmed and juggling multiple businesses, approached him with a proposal: buy the store.

At first, Terri said no. She was nearing retirement from the post office and wasn’t looking for a new venture. But the more they talked, the more it made sense. There were perks like flexibility, autonomy, and a chance to serve their community in a new way. “She said, ‘Can I do the books?’ and I said, ‘Absolutely,’” Bruce laughs.

Daily Operations and Community Connection

Today, Bruce manages daily operations: ordering inventory, assisting customers, and fielding phone calls well past closing time. Terri complements his efforts by assisting customers and handling the financials. Together, they’ve built a culture of service that’s worth celebrating.

Motley Hardware isn’t just a store—it’s a hub. People come in with plumbing issues, pet food needs, questions about bird seed, and tales of turkey hunts. Bruce answers every call with the same spirit: “Let’s figure it out!” Sometimes he helps a farmer mid-harvest with an urgent tool delivery. Other times, he troubleshoots plumbing fixes over the phone late at night. “Every day, it’s something different,” he shares. “Everyone’s working on a project,” Terri adds. “It’s constant, and we love it.”

Building Loyalty Through Service

That personal approach has earned Motley Hardware loyalty from miles around. “There are two hardware stores in Staples,” Bruce notes. “And still, people drive here. They say, ‘You take care of us. Why would we go anywhere else?’”

Milking local trust is crucial to their success. The phrase "community is everything" resonates deeply here. Moreover, buying the store wouldn’t have been possible without the support of NCEDA’s Revolving Loan Fund. Bruce and Terri learned about this lending opportunity through First International Bank in Staples. Thanks to this support, they could purchase the business. “It made a huge difference,” Bruce says. “The process was smooth, and we got the help we needed.”

Growth and Adaptation

Now, two years into ownership, the Ekerts continue to evolve. Bruce studies sales reports every night. He adjusts inventory to meet seasonal needs and customer demand. They’ve added shelves, expanded product offerings, and now stock over 16,000 different items—everything from chainsaw chains to goat milk soap. “If someone comes in looking for something we don’t have, I tell them, ‘It’ll be here next time!’”

Challenges and Triumphs

Of course, challenges arise—long hours, late-night requests, and the occasional inventory overload. But Bruce is clear about what drives them forward: “Customer service. That’s the heart of this place.”

And people feel this commitment. “Everyone knows Bruce,” Terri says. “They come in asking for him by name. It’s the relationships, more than the merchandise, that make the difference.”

Future Aspirations

Even without room to expand physically, Bruce and Terri think strategically. They’re reinvesting in existing resources, working toward stronger systems, and improving shelving efficiency. Their goal is to sustain their pace while supporting a community that depends on them.

When asked what they are most proud of, Bruce responds without hesitation. “People trust us. They come back. They know we’ll help them find what they need, even if we have to go out of our way to do it.”

The Unmeasurable Value of Personal Service

It’s the kind of service you can’t order online. The kind that turns a hardware store into a lifeline for its community. The kind that reminds you, as Bruce says with a shrug and a smile, “Every day is different. And that’s what makes it worth it.”