Party time for contractors

A crowd of about 250 contractors turned up to Gorham’s on a Friday to find out more what the hardware store has to offer.

Rod Farrington, Gorham’s director, told the Bermuda Sun “It was the biggest crowd we’ve ever had.”

Part of the festivities included a wheel of fortune, food and drinks, demonstrations of power tools, and new products.

Mr Farrington said nothing was for sale but it was to help show the contractors what was available in a fun setting. 

Each contractor received $20 worth of ‘Gus Bucks’ (Gus the Gorilla is one of the store’s two mascots, along with Oscar the Ostrich). With the Gus Bucks they could play at the Crown & Anchor table to earn more. At the end of the evening any play money accumulated could be used to bid in an auction that had 30 items. 

Mr Farrington said: “They really had a ball in the auction.

“We also had a surprise Harlem Shake dance where the crowd got to get into that. Our two company mascots came out and danced with them.”

He added for the past four years the economy has been tough and this was a way for Gorham’s to give back to the contractors.

“People have been taking away from them. Prices have been going so it’s not been a great environment for them so this was our way of thanking them and show them how much we do appreciate their business.

“We wanted to let them know we care and that we’re here for them going forward.”

Gorham’s has always been contractor-focused but five years ago they became even more so. Last fall Gorham’s opened a Kongtractor Depot.

“One of the big complaints that we’ve had over the years is that when they came to get their lumber, they didn’t want to come into the busy store and get in long lines for a few things. We have moved all the things that they told us they wanted into the Kongtractor Depot.”

He said it made it convenient for the contractors to quickly get the items they needed so they can be back out on the job.

“The idea is the less time they spend here, the more time they spend out on the job making money.”