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Samantha and Doug Stadtlander started visiting Duck Creek more than
seven years ago. They eventually moved to the area and opened Cedar
Mountain True Value Hardware in Duck Creek Village. |
DUCK CREEK, Utah -- There comes a time in one’s life when changes
might be necessary to maintain sanity and lead a more productive life.
And when Doug and Samantha Stadtlander began frequenting Duck Creek
more than seven years ago, the trips marked the beginning of a big
change.
While reviewing older cabins in the area, the Stadtlanders noticed in
no time that Duck Creek lacked a hardware store. That said, they left
behind the fast pace of Southern Nevada, relocated in Duck Creek and
opened Cedar Mountain True Value Hardware in Duck Creek Village in 2005.
Mrs. Stadtlander had lived in Las Vegas for more than 20 years, while
her husband was a native of the city. Avid snow enthusiasts, the
couple decided to turn their Southern Utah getaway into their
livelihood by opening the business in this quaint community about 30
miles east of Cedar City along Highway 14.
The change in the Stadtlander lifestyle led to a better quality of
life in more ways than one. The 6,000 square-foot Cedar Mountain True
Value Hardware has become a bustling profit center in an area that had
been screaming for such a service while the atmosphere of the area
probably added years to the couple’s lives.
“I love it here,” said Mrs. Stadtlander, who goes by the nickname
“Sam.” “There is a spirit of community and support that is missing in a
city or even a big box type store. We feel like we are making a
difference for the folks that come up to their cabins and they
certainly have made a difference for us; a very positive difference.”
The permanent move in 2001 made all the sense in the world, especially
when True Value Hardware executives agreed that the need was there for
an additional store. The Stadtlander business has become a
seven-day-a-week labor of love.
“I couldn’t get anyone else to call me back,” said Mr. Stadtlander, a
former desert motorcycle racer who owned Motorcycle Central in Las
Vegas before loading up his belongings and heading to Utah. “The thing
about True Value that sets it apart is the fact that they stand behind
what we sell, and that’s important for us to be successful.”
The move to Duck Creek might have seemed like a no-brainer, but the
decision to build Cedar Mountain True Value Hardware was a gamble.
However, 2 ½ years later, it is evident by the store’s activity that the Stadtlanders filled a need in a scenic setting where the
construction of getaway homes hit a fever pitch three years ago.
Perhaps more importantly, though, may be that the Stadtlander business
has also become a popular gathering spot. Especially on the weekends,
customers and/or friends stop by to get everything from a cup of coffee
to an assortment of handyman-related tools.
“The Number One thing is to be able to help customers enjoy their
weekends,” explained the 48-year-old Mr. Stadtlander. “People are up
here to relax. For instance, if you’re going to buy a barbeque grill or
patio furniture, we don’t want our customers stressing putting it
together. We like to give them as much general knowledge as to how
things work in the mountains. It’s definitely different than the city.”
The Stadtlanders work well together. They remember their first Duck
Creek cabin purchased in 2001 when there was no immediately help in the
area for hardware-related items.
“Our first cabin was about 1,400 square-feet,” remembers Mr.
Stadtlander. “It was 30-years-old with a crooked floor.”
Builders capitalize on the couple’s store and so do the collection of
handymen and cabin owners. Knowing what customers want requires a
science. Ironically, the Stadtlanders see many old friends from Vegas
in Duck Creek, where about 90 percent of the part-time residents are
from Las Vegas.
Learning the business wasn’t easy, although Mr. Stadtlander has
considerable retail experience as a commercial superintendent for seven
years in Las Vegas.
“It was tough the first year,” Mr. Stadtlander said following a
Memorial Day weekend that saw the store loaded up with new inventory.
“We are a long way from immediate help, so it was literally a
learn-by-the-seat-of-our-pants for awhile. However, it was all worth
the effort.”
The parking lot is full most of the time, especially on the weekends,
as customers mix the county fair-like atmosphere with filling their
needs. A Bass Pro Shoppe addition upstairs complements the environment.
Teamwork is important for the Stadtlanders, whose family
also includes son, Mitchell, 14.
“Sam has a lot of management ability,” Mr. Stadtlander says of his
wife of 15 years. “She gets along well with everyone, and is simply a
very friendly person. Our employees and our clients appreciate her
caring nature.”
In addition, Mrs. Stadtlander is the head of Duck Creek Days, a
popular celebration that will be presented in Duck Creek Village July
18-19.
Like everyone else, the Stadtlanders need to recharge their batteries
on occasion. They can’t get away during the Summer, and vacation by
visiting trade shows in various locations or traveling to the wine
country of Napa, Calif.
“We usually get away for a week at a time,” he said. “We have good
people here that we can trust.”
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