Brushware: A must-have inventory for profitable hardware retail
The brushware segment represents one of the most consistent revenue generators for hardware retailers. In South Africa, the segment has shown remarkable resilience even during economic downturns, like during the pandemic, as brushes remain essential tools for both professional contractors and DIY enthusiasts.
Recent supply chain adjustments have created opportunities for retailers who maintain comprehensive brushware inventories. With manufacturers increasing local production to mitigate import challenges, hardware stores now have access to more consistent supplies and improved margins on these essential items.
Essential brushware categories for retail success
Paint application brushes
The foundation of any brushware section is quality paint brushes, as they drive both standalone sales and complementary purchases. A well-structured paint brush display should include:
• Synthetic bristle brushes: Ideal for water-based paints, and offering excellent finish quality
• Natural bristle brushes: Perfect for oil-based paints and varnishes with superior paint holding capacity
• Speciality applicators: Including foam brushes, trim brushes, and radiator brushes for specific applications
• Roller systems: Various nap lengths for different surface textures
Paint brushes offer excellent margins while driving additional paint and accessory sales.
Cleaning and maintenance brushes
Household and commercial cleaning brushes represent year-round stable sales:
• Scrub brushes: For floors, decks, and general hard-surface cleaning
• Utility brushes: Multipurpose cleaning tools for various household applications
These evergreen products maintain steady turnover throughout the year and benefit from prominent display positions near related cleaning products.
Wire brushes and industrial tools
Critical for construction and metalworking applications:
• Hand-held wire brushes: For rust removal, surface preparation, and weld cleaning
• Cup brushes: For use with power drills and grinders
• Stripping brushes: For paint and coating removal
These higher-margin speciality items appeal to professionals and serious DIY customers, creating opportunities for add-on tool and accessory sales.
Outdoor and broom category
Essential for property maintenance and seasonal cleaning:
• Push brooms: Heavy-duty options for workshops, driveways, and commercial applications
• Garden brushes: For specialised outdoor cleaning tasks
• Speciality outdoor brushes: Including gutter cleaning brushes and extension handle systems
Strategic seasonal displays can drive significant volume during spring cleaning and autumn preparation periods.
Retail merchandising strategies for maximum profit
Effective merchandising approaches include:
• Grouping brushes by application rather than brand
• Creating good-better-best pricing tiers within each category
• Using cross-merchandising near complementary products (paints, cleaning supplies)
Why prioritise your brushware inventory
For hardware retailers seeking consistent profit generators, brushware offers compelling advantages:
• Extended shelf life without deterioration or obsolescence concerns
• Year-round sales with predictable seasonal spikes
Retailers who establish reputations for quality brush selection create long-term customer loyalty.
Hamilton’s Brushware: Products for forward-thinking retailers
Looking at emerging trends in both professional and DIY markets, the following Hamilton’s Brushware innovative and speciality brushware products are recommended for retailers to add to their inventory to meet evolving customer needs:
SilkPro Brush
• A mid-range synthetic brush designed for use with water- and solvent-based coatings
• SilkPro offers exceptional quality at an affordable price for a silky-smooth finish
• Available in various sizes and three-piece sets
Microfibre mini-roller
• Combines the size and agility of a mini-roller with the versatility of a medium-pile microfibre roller
• For water-based paints and wood coatings on smooth to medium-textured surfaces
• Available in various pack sizes
Velour (flocked) mini-roller
• Foam roller wrapped in velour to minimise bubbling with varnishes
• Ultra-fine finish when used with enamel paints on smooth surfaces
• Available in multiple configurations
Supa-Soaka
• Reusable fabric drop sheet made from super absorbent recycled material with a non-slip plastic underlay
• Versatile uses, from painting to pet and car maintenance
• Available in a variety of sizes
Display strategies for retailers
Hamilton’s uses a ‘category merchandising’ concept, grouping brushware by application (like ‘Rough & Textured Surfaces’ or ‘Varnish and Wood Treatments’) to help consumers make informed purchase decisions. Cross-merchandising brushware with coatings and using mobile stands near paint promos can boost sales by reminding customers of essential accessories.
For more details, visit: www.hamiltonsbrush.co.za
Retail opportunity: Why stock Harris Brushes and Rollers
Harris offers three quality tiers:
• Essentials: Entry-level synthetic filaments
• Taskmaster: Mid-tier with tapered filaments, stainless steel ferrules, and ergonomic grips
• Premier: Premium option with precise edges, optimal paint pick-up, and controlled application
Blade range provides painting solutions with a variety of brush sizes and replacement sleeves, designed for efficiency and clean results.
Harris rollers
• Taskmaster and Premier rollers offer closely woven fibres, balanced weight, and zero fibre loss, ensuring superior user experience and professional results.
Key benefits for retailers
- Serve every customer segment from DIY beginners to professionals
- Reduce returns and complaints owing to durable, high-quality tools
- Increase average transaction value through clear upsell opportunities
- Build loyalty with reliable performance and time savings
For more details, visit: www.harrisbrush.com
