Meet Jennifer Hughes of Boyne Co-op Hardware & Rentals

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hughes.

Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today. 
Boyne Co-op Hardware was previously owned and operated by my parents, Tim & Debra McAndrew, from 2006-2014. I took over as operating owner of the business in 2014 and will be celebrating my 10-year anniversary in June this year! Before stepping into my dad’s (rather large) shoes, so to speak, taking over the family business, I was a full-time music teacher with Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, MI. I taught orchestra classes in 14 schools throughout northern Michigan and performed on my violin with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra and Gaylord Community Orchestra. I studied music education in college, receiving my bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and my master’s degree from Central Michigan University. 

I remember my dad asking me if I was interested in taking over as owner of Boyne Co-op Hardware; I was really excited (& terrified) by the idea of running my own business. I think it was the fear I felt ultimately made me say “Yes,” and I got out of my comfort zone to try something that would really challenge me to grow professionally. 

About a year after I began running the hardware store, I met my husband, Rusty Hughes. He was a chef with Stafford’s Bay View and taught cooking classes in Bay View during the summer months. After we got married in June of 2017, he left his profession, also to join me in the hardware business. 

In 2019, we welcomed our son, Isaac Hughes, and it is so much fun to have him in the store for short visits. Isaac likes to sit behind the register to help scan items and ring the call bell. My Dad still helps us out every week with putting an order away, rearranging an aisle, or managing the books. It truly is a “Family Business” that is locally run and owned. I’m not ready to call it a “Mom & Pop” store because that just makes me feel old. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would have never imagined the challenges that we have faced as small business owners, especially the obstacles we have faced in the last few years. In 2018, Rusty & I decided to add a new department to our hardware business: Equipment and Party Rentals. This was another moment of fear for me that can hold you back or push you out of your comfort zone, so we decided to get out of our comfort zone and go to work. 

We started by researching the equipment, speaking with other hardware store owners for their advice, and had many, many phone calls with insurance companies before felt ready to pull the trigger and dive into, at the time felt like starting another new business within a business. We invested our money into the rental equipment, crossed our fingers, and held our breath, praying it would work. The Equipment & Party Rental department continues to grow every year, and we are having fun exploring where this part of our business can go next. 

Other challenges we have faced are basically the same as most other small business owners have faced over the past few years with the Covid shutdowns, staffing challenges, inflation, and new competition entering the area competing for the same business & customers. We constantly look at our obstacles as a way to find out what our new thing will be or how can we improve on what we are already doing well. To be a small business owner, you definitely have to stay on your toes and pay attention to what is happening around you. 

Boyne Co-op Hardware was established in 1918 by a group of farmers and primarily dealt with Livestock Feed, Fertilizer, and Coal that they would unload from the train that use to run alongside the building. It’s amazing how much has changed over the century for this business, we no longer unload our orders off a train (the train was retired in the 1980s), we don’t sell Livestock Feed or Coal anymore, but we still continue to be here and offer our goods & services to the community. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Boyne Co-op Hardware & Rentals?
Boyne Co-op Hardware & Rentals currently offers a variety of services and products in one convenient location! Besides selling hardware and renting equipment, we are also Benjamin Moore Paint Retailer and offer a large selection of Benjamin Moore paint products and color-matching services to help customers find the perfect color for their project. 

Our lawn & garden department has a lot to offer to help the local residents keep their lawns & gardens healthy and growing during our summer season. If you are visiting the area and hoping to enjoy fishing in the local lakes, we sell minnows, bait & fishing equipment in a part of the store we refer to as the “Tackle Box.” 

We are also Husqvarna Outdoor Power Equipment Dealer, and we service/repair small engine equipment with two mechanics on staff in our service department. 

There is always lots to do, and we are always happy to help every customer that walks through our door! 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.boynecoop.com
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BoyneCoOpTrueValue