Do It Best

Do It Best is the only US-based, member-owned comprehensive hardware, lumber and building materials cooperative in the home improvement industry. Founded in 1945 by Arnold Gerberding in Fort Wayne, Indiana, it began when 100 independent business owners pooled their purchasing power to negotiate better vendor pricing. The cooperative model allows independent hardware stores to remain autonomous while accessing wholesale volume discounts. Today it serves thousands of member-owned locations throughout the United States and more than 50 countries, with annual sales approaching $5 billion. Members share in the cooperative's margins and decision-making, making it a rare example of genuine merchant co-ownership in retail.