It wasn’t until 1976 when CBC was able to regroup all their divisions under one roof after purchasing a former shopping plaza in South Corning. With 40,000 square feet to fill, the company eventually expanded to include a deep selection of lumber, hardware, paint, appliances, furniture, housewares, bicycles, gift and gourmet, electrical, lighting, electronics and tools to also include high-end appliances and furniture. CBC became the “complete home and idea center,” a phrase that’s found on their marketing materials to this day.
Remodel for the Future
Now nearly 40 years later, CBC has undergone a major store overhaul in partnership with Do it Best Corp. As part of the store improvement project, the Smiths have selected pictures and graphics depicting local history—and their family’s role in it—honoring their
customers and the area.
With sales picking up after the economic downturn, the remodeling bug in the Corning area is spreading beyond their own store project. “As we evolve, we’re starting to see those people who had their houses flooded and remodeled in the 1970s are now remodeling again,” Matt Smith said. The same homes that were rebuilt with products his father sold are now being remodeled with the same trust and loyalty in CBC.
Smith said the CBC remodel was initiated primarily to better serve the store’s contractor customers, who make up 60% of the Corning location’s business. Contractor and retail customers were invited to take part in a survey that helped guide CBC staff through the redesign.
“The store turned out really nice. It flows so much better,” Smith said. In addition to helping with the planning of the remodel and helping the store staff bring on around 2,300 new SKUs through the improved store layout, Do it Best Corp. also offered incentives such as low-interest loans to complete the project. “It was an in-depth renovation,” Smith said. “It took 14-15 months to totally complete the inside of the store.”