We took a January 2024 shopping trip in Chicagoland and here is what we saw.
Lowe's Stores across Chicagoland
We shopped initially at the Lowe's in Northbrook, IL. This is one of our big box neighborhood stores in an affluent, suburban area. We shopped there twice in January 2024. The first time everything was 100% full price and the shelves were fully stocked across Tools and Accessories (where we find Toughbuilt). The second time about a third of all tools and accessories, including ToughBuilt, were on sale. Tools associate indicated they were making room for new shipments.
We drove to all other Chicagoland stores a few days later. We bought many products. We took pictures of ToughBuilt displays. We spoke to store staff in the Tools & Accessories department when appropriate.
Lowe's stores visited, in order:
Our next stop will be Lowe's in Kenosha, WI, and the Ace Hardware in Zion, IL.
We shopped initially at the Lowe's in Northbrook, IL. This is one of our big box neighborhood stores in an affluent, suburban area. We shopped there twice in January 2024. The first time everything was 100% full price and the shelves were fully stocked across Tools and Accessories (where we find Toughbuilt). The second time about a third of all tools and accessories, including ToughBuilt, were on sale. Tools associate indicated they were making room for new shipments.
We drove to all other Chicagoland stores a few days later. We bought many products. We took pictures of ToughBuilt displays. We spoke to store staff in the Tools & Accessories department when appropriate.
Lowe's stores visited, in order:
- Northbrook
- Lincolnwood
- Chicago-Brickyard (urban)
- Wicker Park
- Arlington Heights
- Vernon Hills
Our next stop will be Lowe's in Kenosha, WI, and the Ace Hardware in Zion, IL.
Here is a map of our trip as captured by Google Maps (this is after the two previous shopping visits to Northbrook Lowe's).
It started at Lowe's in Northbrook, IL
This montage is from two trips, and we have more photos on the drive. The first trip shows lower prices on StackTech, and full retail price on all the shelves. The second trip shows higher StackTech pricing (10% to 20% higher), and discounts across the store. We do notice at least one product, a leveler, is being marked down to a new 'Everyday Low Price.'
Helpful Mutual Ace Hardware staff
My wife and I knew they had this product, and we walked up and down every aisle until we finally asked their staff. The tools clerk and store manager came by, found it for us, and we probably spent 10 minutes looking at it, talking about it, trying out the 'flip' and they said, you know, we probably oughta carry some more of their products. However, the local warehouse did not have much product inventory for them to request.
Morning at Lowe's in Lincolnwood, IL
Lincolnwood had a slightly larger tools area, and we saw more large equipment products for sale, including the Laser Level Kit below. ToughBuilt was well represented, and we saw an end-cap cardboard display of hammers and discounts. We saw the new $14.98 price for the illuminated level. At this price, I expect this will be a very hot seller in 2024.
Lowe's at the Brickyard in Chicago
Here we saw a large range of vendor products, and ToughBuilt was well represented. You can see the breadth of tape measures, as an example, and about half are on discount. We see the new StackTech products, and a Massive Mouth Roller bag on a discount. You can see the ToughBuilt screwdrivers and knives at full price, and a promotional display for knives.
Lowe's Wicker Park, heart of Chicago
This is a smaller, more urban store. It had fewer tools, and fewer higher price-point items. For example, there were very few mobile tool storage options, and we saw only two StackTech products. We see a promotional ClipTech display, and the knives were not discounted.
Lowe's in Arlington Heights
This store carried a significant inventory of StackTech and other ToughBuilt products. The saws stacked on the lower shelf was a new look. We saw levels and bags...all on sale.
Lowe's in Vernon Hills (suburban)
This store saw a significant display of StackTech which was flowing outside the display. We also saw many tool bags and Clip Tech pouches. The hand tools were on sale and on promotion to move. The screwdrivers, ratchet set, knives and levels are all priced to move. The standard level is at the new everyday price of $14.98.
Menards in Long Grove for soft goods
Menards tells a different story. ToughBuilt is stocks with soft goods only, and they are displayed in cardboard carriers that allow the products to stay on the shelves in a more organized way than Lowe's. There is an impressive top-of-rack display. There were no hand tools in stock.
Our KTA: StackTech is a 2024 focus
ToughBuilt entered the mobile tool storage and toolbox market in October 2023. In January 2024, we saw a new set of SKUs that broaden out the line, address a strategic product line gap (3-drawer XL box), and allow ToughBuilt to create a large, elegant, cool, clean, and (hopefully) profitable display area in every Lowe's that can carry these higher-priced items.
This appears to be a big success from a merchandising perspective. It moves the brand into a professional grade, with products that I have seen in large gatherings (large corporate events) that require supplies, tools, electrical equipment kept safe, and to keep a large crew supplied with the tools and consumables they need to create events.
This is a direct competitor against Milwaukee, DeWalt, Flex, Craftsman, Klein, Husky, and other brands.
This appears to be a big success from a merchandising perspective. It moves the brand into a professional grade, with products that I have seen in large gatherings (large corporate events) that require supplies, tools, electrical equipment kept safe, and to keep a large crew supplied with the tools and consumables they need to create events.
This is a direct competitor against Milwaukee, DeWalt, Flex, Craftsman, Klein, Husky, and other brands.
ToughBuilt Saw horses (heavy duty versions) are out of stock
ToughBuilt sells two levels of saw horse capacity, 1,100lbs. (C300 through C550) and 1,300lbs. (C600 through C700). The 1,100 lbs. capacity saw horses are widely available online (have not seen any in stores), and it seems to be impossible for us to buy new 1,300 lbs. capacity sawhorses in any store, or online. They are not available online in any stores, and the C700 says "this item is no longer sold on Lowes.com."
On eBay, we made an offer on the one 'open box' pair we found at a construction site, priced higher than retail, and it sold while we waited for an answer to our email.
We see the ToughBuilt TB-SH30-2, or the Model SH30 Sawhorse two-pack available for sale at $80.00 plus free shipping on eBay, and retails at Lowe's for $49.98 (for a pair). It is an 1,100 lbs capacity unit. Good reviews on Lowe's dot com (272, and 5 stars).
ToughBuilt sells two levels of saw horse capacity, 1,100lbs. (C300 through C550) and 1,300lbs. (C600 through C700). The 1,100 lbs. capacity saw horses are widely available online (have not seen any in stores), and it seems to be impossible for us to buy new 1,300 lbs. capacity sawhorses in any store, or online. They are not available online in any stores, and the C700 says "this item is no longer sold on Lowes.com."
On eBay, we made an offer on the one 'open box' pair we found at a construction site, priced higher than retail, and it sold while we waited for an answer to our email.
We see the ToughBuilt TB-SH30-2, or the Model SH30 Sawhorse two-pack available for sale at $80.00 plus free shipping on eBay, and retails at Lowe's for $49.98 (for a pair). It is an 1,100 lbs capacity unit. Good reviews on Lowe's dot com (272, and 5 stars).