Specialists in materials, tools and advice for the home-owner interested in small do-ityourself projects. Everything from nails to hand tools can be purchased, as well as lumber, paint and many other items. An outgrowth of the small-town general store of the nineteenth century hardware stores have been an integral part of rural areas, providing mail-order services for seed, fertilizer and livestock. Recently hardware stores have taken on an almost boutique status among young professionals. Individually owned hardware stores have decreased in the last twenty years due to the growth of retail chain megastores offering highvolume sales of numerous items.