The Wells County Chamber of Commerce and Ambassadors recently surprised the team at Dazey’s Bluffton, located at 1879 N. Main Street in Bluffton, as they were recognized as May Member of the Month. The recognition highlights the business’s strong community involvement, customer-focused service, and continued investment in Wells County.
Located in the former Reed’s Hardware building, Dazey’s Bluffton has quickly become a familiar and trusted part of the community. While the store officially transitioned to Dazey’s in recent years, many of the relationships built within the business extended back decades. Store Manager Sadey Alexander, who has worked in the building for nearly ten years, said the transition brought exciting changes while still preserving the small-town values customers have always appreciated. “I’ve been with Dazey’s since 2022, and we started our remodel in 2023,” Alexander shared. “The support we’ve received from this community has been astounding. We’re extremely thankful, lucky, and grateful to be here.”
The opportunity to bring Dazey’s to Bluffton came at what employees describe as the “right place at the right time.” Representatives connected during the Indiana Do it Best convention while the former owners were preparing to sell, and the partnership naturally developed from there. Dazey’s is part of the larger Do it Best cooperative network, a company with roots dating back to 1945 when Arnold Gerberding founded Hardware Wholesalers, Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Built on the belief that locally owned hardware stores should remain competitive and independent, the cooperative steadily grew from a small regional operation into an international network serving thousands of stores worldwide. That same spirit of independence and local connection continues to shape the Bluffton location today.
One of the qualities that sets Dazey’s apart is its employee-owned structure. Employees are personally invested in the success of the business, creating a culture that prioritizes relationships just as much as sales. “We know our customer base really well,” Alexander shared. “It’s not just about getting someone in and out the door. We want to greet them, get to know them, and genuinely invest in those relationships.”
That customer-first mindset is reflected throughout the store, especially in the garden center and greenhouse operations, which have become a major attraction during the spring season. Dazey’s specializes in professional-grade gardening products, natural and organic fertilizers, and high-quality flowers that are carefully grown and maintained by staff throughout the year. Preparation for the greenhouse season begins long before customers ever see the finished baskets and planters. Flowers arrive as early as January and February, when employees begin handplanting and caring for every basket, pot, and arrangement themselves. “This year we planted somewhere around 10,000 to 12,000 flowers by hand,” Alexander said. “Every basket and every pot have been planted, watered, fertilized, and cared for by our staff.”
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. The store’s 30-by-100-foot greenhouse sold out completely this season, with hundreds of hanging baskets purchased through customer preorders and local partnerships, including fundraising efforts with the Norwell FFA program. With Mother’s Day marking one of the busiest weeks of the year, the greenhouse has become a point of pride for the staff, who enjoy seeing the flowers they’ve spent months cultivating displayed throughout the community. “It’s really rewarding to see customers send us pictures of the flowers once they get them home,” Alexander shared. “After taking care of them for months, it’s exciting to see them become part of someone else’s home.”
Beyond its products, Dazey’s continues to embrace the values of the community it serves. Employees noted that one of the biggest differences between Bluffton and larger areas is the sense of trust and respect people have for one another. “We’re lucky to be in the community that we are,” Alexander said. “People here support local businesses, respect each other, and really care about their community.” With a small but dedicated team of six employees, Dazey’s Bluffton continues to grow while remaining focused on customer relationships, quality products, and community partnerships.
As the business looks toward the future, its team remains grateful for the support they’ve received and excited to continue expanding their presence in Wells County. If you would like to learn more about Dazey's Bluffton, visit their Bluffton location, explore their history and products online at www.doitbest.com/dazeys-supply, or call 260-824-9003. Customers are also encouraged to stop in and browse the garden center, greenhouse, and wide selection of hardware products.
Pictured holding the Member of the Month sign are Sadey Alexander, Store Manager, and Darren Tomasini, CEO, surrounded by members of the Dazey’s Bluffton team and Chamber Ambassadors.
Please view more photos from the event on our Facebook page.