The Grit Blueprint Podcast
Embracing AI in Small Business: Southern Tool Supply, Sponsored by Do it Best
September 26, 2025 Length: 22 min Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
On The Grit Blueprint Podcast, sponsored by Do it Best, Southern Tool Supply manager Bryan Scott tells Stefanie Couch how embracing AI in small business keeps his independent hardware store competitive. A former web developer, he uses e-commerce data and ChatGPT to guide merchandising and business operations.
About This Episode.
Hardware store manager Bryan Scott shares how embracing AI and e-commerce analytics has transformed his small retail business into a competitive, future-ready operation. Using technical skills from his web development background, he's implementing innovative approaches to customer data analysis, store merchandising, and business operations that keep his independent store relevant in a challenging market.
- • Bryan manages Southern Tool Supply after transitioning from a web development background
- • Analyzes e-commerce data to track customer search patterns, viewing habits, and browsing behavior
- • Uses search trend data to inform strategic merchandising decisions in the physical store
- • Leverages Do it Best's resources and training programs for independent retailers
- • Implements ChatGPT daily for tasks like email writing, data analysis, and sales forecasting
- • Overcame initial resistance by framing AI as "just another tool" like the physical tools they sell
- • Emphasizes that keeping up with technology is easier than catching up later
- • Warns against becoming the "Blockbuster or Kodak" of hardware retail by refusing to evolve
Key Takeaways.
- Bryan tracks customer search patterns, viewing habits and browsing behavior in e-commerce data.
- Search trend data informs merchandising decisions in the physical store.
- He uses ChatGPT daily for email writing, data analysis and sales forecasting.
- Framing AI as just another tool, like the physical tools the store sells, helped overcome early resistance.
- Keeping up with technology is easier than catching up later, and refusing to evolve risks becoming the Blockbuster or Kodak of hardware.
Questions and Answers.
How can a small hardware store use AI?
Bryan Scott, manager of Southern Tool Supply, uses ChatGPT daily for email writing, data analysis and sales forecasting. He also uses e-commerce search trend data to inform merchandising in the physical store.
How do you get a team to accept AI?
Bryan overcame initial resistance by framing AI as just another tool, like the physical tools the store sells.
Why should independent retailers adopt new technology now?
Keeping up with technology is easier than catching up later. Bryan warns that refusing to evolve can make a store the Blockbuster or Kodak of hardware retail.
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