When Lowe’s opens its new store in Manning later this month, Store Manager Rick Tagliarino said customers won’t just recognize a familiar blue-and-red sign — they’ll recognize the people inside.
With no nearby Lowe’s store close enough to supply a large wave of employee transfers, Tagliarino said the company built the new team largely from within the community, hiring neighbors to serve neighbors as the retailer prepares to open its newest South Carolina location at 481 W. Boyce St.
“Super important,” Tagliarino said of hiring locally. “When the customer comes in here, they’re going to see that we have drawn from the community to serve the community. They’re going to come and see their neighbors.”
Tagliarino estimated about 75% of the store’s associates were hired from the Manning area, with the remaining positions filled by transfers from other Lowe’s locations. Lowe’s said the store will employ more than 100 part-time and full-time associates, with hiring continuing through talent.lowes.com.
“It’s definitely a challenge because you have so many new people,” Tagliarino said. “But the positive side is that when customers come in, they’re being helped by people who live here and understand this community.”
One of those hires is Carol Ann Briggs, a Manning resident who joined Lowe’s as an associate during the store’s setup phase. Tagliarino said Briggs stood out during the buildout process and was promoted to millwork specialist, a role that helps customers plan and purchase doors and windows.
“She was doing such a great job for us that we promoted her even before opening day,” Tagliarino said.
As the team came together, Tagliarino said Lowe’s has hosted daily product training sessions with vendor partners across departments, helping prepare a largely first-time Lowe’s workforce for opening day.
With staffing in place, Lowe’s is also introducing something new to the region’s retail landscape — a “rural showroom” concept built into the store from the ground up.
The Manning store will be the first new Lowe’s store to open with a rural showroom, according to a company press release. The layout is designed specifically to serve rural customers and reflects the company’s broader effort to tailor stores to the communities they serve.
Positioned prominently at the front of the store, the rural showroom expands year-round rural and outdoor offerings, including workwear and apparel, livestock feed, pet supplies, trailer accessories, outdoor power equipment and enhanced automotive products such as car batteries.
“The expanded layout allows customers to come to one place to get everything,” Tagliarino said. “We’re trying to create a one-stop shop so they don’t have to go to multiple different places.”
For Tagliarino, the rural focus is personal.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Tagliarino said he has worked in retail for more than 20 years and has been with Lowe’s for about six years. He relocated to South Carolina last year with his wife, Beth, and spent time in Sumter before learning about the opportunity to open the Manning store.
“Shortly after coming to South Carolina, I learned about this opening, which I was really excited about,” he said. “I got the opportunity to apply and was selected to open up the new store.”
Retail has been Tagliarino’s career since high school, though his early interests were rooted in horticulture. He said he once planned to pursue that path, winning an award for flower arranging in New York and working at a tree nursery, but ultimately chose retail while keeping farming and gardening as lifelong interests.
“I still love flowers,” he said. “I love everything about gardening and farming.”
That background, he said, made the opportunity to lead the first new rural-showroom Lowe’s especially meaningful.
“I grew up in the country,” Tagliarino said. “This store being built from day one with a rural focus — I wanted to be part of that.”
Tagliarino also brings store-opening experience to the project, having worked earlier in his career on teams responsible for opening and remodeling stores, followed by leadership roles across multiple retailers.
Lowe’s will begin a soft opening on Thursday, Jan. 22, when customers can shop during normal business hours ahead of the official grand opening celebration.
The grand opening is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30, beginning with a 9 a.m. board-cutting ceremony with Lowe’s leadership. During the ceremony, Lowe’s will also make check presentations to the Manning Police Department, Manning Fire Department and Manning High School, according to the company.
Grand opening celebration activities are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. Doors will open at 6 a.m. Friday.
During the opening weekend, Lowe’s said shoppers can expect special in-store deals, product demonstrations and giveaways from more than 50 vendors, Kids Club workshop kits while supplies last, and free food Friday and Saturday while supplies last. On Friday, the first 200 MyLowe’s Rewards members will receive a free Lowe’s bucket and a coupon for 15% off an eligible in-store purchase, up to $200 in maximum savings.
Tagliarino encouraged customers to download the Lowe’s app and sign up for MyLowe’s Rewards ahead of time, noting that many advertised deals are tied to membership.
“It costs you nothing to be a MyLowe’s member,” he said. “That’s how customers will save the most money when they shop here.”
