A knob walks into a showroom ready to lock in a new look, knowing the key to pull off a successful home design hinges on how the twists and turns are handled. Instead of bolting to a faceless corporation where quality is a gamble, this door opened to a neighborly “hello” of trusted guarantee. For a well-rounded process that is anything but square, Sampler Square is the destination for finishing hardware.
Stan Kuehn understood the importance of cohesive craftsmanship when he founded his home improvement business in 1958. Now, nearly 70 years later, Paul Follett continues his legacy of providing a hands-on experience. Paul finds great joy in the traditional way of doing business, where a phone call reaches a real person and a problem is solved with a conversation rather than an automated ticket. By maintaining the sense of service Stan championed, Paul ensures the business remains a human-centric resource. He remains dedicated to the belief that being a good neighbor is the best way to do business, providing a source of knowledge for the community he has called home for years.
"I attribute our success to our willingness to evolve," Paul shares. Adapting throughout the years, they prioritized the ability to "find our niche, focus on what we're good at, and be the best at it." While the store originally had a broader focus as Stan’s Floor Coverings, it has narrowed its specialty to what many call the jewelry of the home: hardware. Knobs, handles, pulls, locks, you name it. These small changes, like a switch-up of hardware on existing cabinetry, can have a surprising impact on a room’s aesthetic.
It is a place where contractors find reliability and homeowners find guidance. Success is not measured by grand expansion, but by the trust of a returning customer. By choosing local, neighbors receive a guarantee of quality and a personal advocate that online retailers simply cannot replicate.
"We know we are all in this together. Your success is my success, and we work together to support this community in a way big corporations simply cannot."
Paul’s path to ownership at Sampler Square began in 2008 when he took a job working alongside Stan. As his interest grew into a larger passion, he embraced the mentorship opportunity to absorb the years of wisdom Stan had to offer. Under his guidance, Paul learned the tricks of the trade and saw firsthand how a small-town store developed a community of its own. In an industry that was quickly shifting to an overabundance of mass-produced items, Paul understood his role in helping maintain this little slice of quality and connection in our town.
After Stan passed away in 2012, Paul stepped up to fill his shoes. In 2019, Stan’s family presented him with the opportunity to take over the company. Knowing he always wanted to be a business owner, the decision felt like a natural chance to open the next door. Paul guided the business through a major transition from the original building on Parmenter Street to the current location on University Avenue. His first priority was to lock down the home field, ensuring that local contractors and neighbors knew they had a reliable partner right down the street.