True Value Co. recently honored hardware industry veteran Richard Steffen of Billy Goat Industries at the cooperative’s annual Rental Market last month. This designation recognized Steffen’s more than 50 years of distinguished service to the retail hardware community and the rental specialty offering.

Steffen has attended every one of the cooperative’s Rental Markets since their inception in 1989 For the past three years, Steffen has worked at Lee’s Summit, Mo.-based Billy Goat Industries, known for its line of outdoor power products. Steffen retired in January.

“We are proud to honor Richard for his commitment to the industry over the last five decades,” said Steve Poplawski, senior vice president of logistics and supply chain at True Value Co. “Like Richard, True Value’s annual vendors of the year are also dedicated to improving the rental category and providing consistently superior service.”

Since the mid-1980s, True Value’s Rental Market “Vendors of the Year” has acknowledged retail partners that have experienced outstanding business success during the past 12 months. This year, three vendors were awarded this honor:
· Vermeer Manufacturing Co., Pella, Iowa, in the Construction category
· Billy Goat Industries, Lee’s Summit, Mo., in the Tool & Equipment category
· Gold Medal Products, Cincinnati, in the Party category.

True Value Co., headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world’s largest retailer-owned wholesale hardware cooperatives with sales of $2.0 billion in 2006. The True Value cooperative includes approximately 5,600 independent retailer locations worldwide operating under the store identities of True Value, Grand Rental Station, Taylor Rental, Party Central, Home & Garden Showplace and Induserve Supply.