Tool organizers - What's Hot - Long-handled tool organizers are popular in hardware and lawn and garden departments - Brief Article

DSN Retailing Today, Jan 27, 2003

Holders for unwieldy long-handled tools such as rakes, shovels, brooms and hedge clippers are in high demand by organization-conscious consumers.

Long-handled tool organizers, many composed of two pieces of plastic with slots, remain a hot little item in hardware and lawn and garden departments. A spokeswoman for Ace Hardware said Rubbermaid's Tool Tower is one of its best sellers in storage.

"We can't make enough of them," said Rubbermaid's Ken Butler, who described sales of the product since its launch two years ago as phenomenal.

Other vendors with long-handled tool holders report similar sales success, including Plano Molding, Contico, Crawford and Closetmaid. The latter company was among the first to note this trend, launching its long-handle hang up five years ago. Newer plastic tool holders have been launched in the past two years.