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Progress 2013
The Daily Dispatch
Sunday, August 25, 2013
M.R. Williams
Deborah Williams packs up an order for a customer at the M.R. Williams warehouse on Raleigh Road. MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Tremendous success by many, and any, measure  BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
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ew people live or filter through Henderson on Raleigh Road and fail to see M.R. Williams. But knowing what happens behind the front door? “A lot of people drive by it, but it doesn’t do us justice just to see the front of our building,� said Bobby Eatmon, warehouse manager of M.R. Williams. The structure is a wholesale food distributor that primarily supplies convenient stores, colleges and prisons. “We deliver anything a you might see in a convenient store, from one bottle of Aspirin to crates of candy,� said Carl Fisher, director of operations. M.R. Williams’ office and 110,000-square foot warehouse are the only operating structures of the company. From their location in Henderson, they serve 1,000 retailers throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. “I’d go up against any of our larger competitors because per square foot we do more than anybody,� Eatmon said. When the warehouse receives an order, the company retrieves the materials that evening and has it delivered by the end of the following day. “A lot of our competitors use two- to three-day shipping,� Eatmon said. “All of our customers receive their order the next day.� The warehouse is open 24 hours a day, six days a week. Using their fleet of 20 trucks, M.R. Williams makes 245 shipments on an average day and up to 270 shipments on a busy day. Eatmon explained that M.R. Williams is able to do this because they use the latest technology available. Every product gets a bar code. The company uses technology to identify, pick, pack, store and transport the products by their
M.R. Williams employee Author Hill pulls stock from a shelf putting together a customer’s order. bar codes. “The technology helps control inventory, reduce errors and increase productivity,� Fisher said. Eatmon said M.R. Williams recently installed a new wireless system allowing the employees to use wrist-mounted terminals to identify the products at all the various checkpoints, ensuring the accuracy of the order as well as enhancing their speed of service. “We’ve had automation for a few years, but we’re always updating to make sure we’ve got the best out there,� Fisher said.
Eatmon said the company is on pace to generate about $300 million in revenue this year. It is one of the top 100 privately owned companies generating revenue in North Carolina. He added, “We give a lot of charity.� Fisher explained that M.R. Williams began a WeCare Team last spring that has already served 12 to 15 people in the community and company. In addition to supporting Relay for Life events and donating food to homeless shelters, M.R. Williams has helped their employees face challenging life
situations such as cancer or death in their families. Fisher and Eatmon explained that a WeCare Team of associates select opportunities employees and the company can work on together to assist each other and the community. The company provides 100 jobs locally at the warehouse, with an additional 130 sales and office associates who work through the five states they serve. Every decision the company makes is for the benefit of their customers and employees, according to Eatmon, Fisher and
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the M.R. Williams’ website. “We wouldn’t be here without good associates,â€? said Fisher. “Our people are very loyal,â€? Eatmon said. “In a lot of ways out-performing our competitors is due to their loyalty and dedication. We are still small enough that we’re still like family.â€? In the true spirit of M.R. Williams, Fisher said, “The Williams family has made everyone feel like a part of their family.â€? Â
Contact the writer at aouthouse@ hendersondispatch.com.
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Progress 2013
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Sunday, August 25, 2013
Salare
No big spotlight, just satisfied customers BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
Earlier this year, Salare helped the Northern Vance High School engineering team convert the concept hey don’t advertise. Their entire of Sirocco into a computer cleaning customer base has grown by prototype. Salare’s aid, freely given, word of mouth. enabled the students to win the N.C. They buy locally. They weld a high State University Emerging Issues Prize tech plastic called polypropylene. Low-profile as they may seem to be, for Innovation. “I was more than happy to help Salare, Inc. has a solid 20-year history them,� Esquivel said. “It was right down manufacturing protective laboratory equipment crafted from polypropylene. my alley, so I decided this is a simple thing, I’ll do it real quick for them. This Salare’s lab equipment stores or removes hazardous acidic agents within is what I do for a living.� In addition to supporting the team, a workspace, protecting a process, an Esquivel is very supportive of the local operator or the environment. community. He buys as many products The most commonly sold items are as possible locally. fume hoods, process workstations and “My little quirk,� he described it. filtration units called scrubbers. Tommy Bryant, Home Town Consumers often request a price Hardware store manager, said Esquivel quote for a standard product with frequents his local business. customizations. “He has done a lot of good deeds,� Salare then incorporates those Bryant said, explaining how he has changes into the products, basing the price on the cost of plastic — which can observed Esquivel as he helped the hardware’s store clientele by making range from $200 to $1,000 per sheet. fish tanks and other customized items. After obtaining the sheets, Esquivel also enjoys giving student Salare cuts and labels the plastic for tours of Salare. manufacturing. Salare’s 20 full-time “It’s a good feeling to open kids employees and two part-time employees then weld the labeled, plastic eyes,� Esquivel said. “People just don’t puzzle pieces together according to the realize how much is real.�  specific diagram owner Bob Esquivel has designed. Contact the writer at aouthouse@ Upon completion, the product is hendersondispatch.com. shipped to its final destination, which could be anywhere in the world. According to Esquivel, it is this sort of customizing innovation that sets Salare apart from its competitors. The quality of Esquivel’s work produces loyal customers who seek him out again and again. Salare’s reputation is so well known within its circles of operation internationally that it does not need to advertise. “We used to pay out the money but then we realized people are seeking us out by word of mouth,� said Esquivel. When Esquivel first began Salare, a company now-called Zoetis followed him specifically. To this day, nearly 20 years later, Equivel continues to supply Zoetis with an exclusive line of patented products. DISPATCH STAFF
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MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Jonathan Morton drills holes in a counterweight that will be part of one of the fume hoods Salare produces.
Above: Jeff Faulkner welds a piece of plastic in a non-corrosive fume hood at Salare. Left: Donnie Weaver cleans out freshly drilled holes as he works on a part for one of the fume hoods produced by Salare. MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
2013 - 2014
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North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran's status. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
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Progress 2013
The Daily Dispatch
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Home Town Hardware
Service, selection making the difference Local hardware store offers variety of products, advice BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
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s its name implies, Home Town Hardware is all about helping the homes in Henderson. The Andrews Avenue location has been home to parts for finishing do-it-yourself projects since 1986. The business is customer based, products and productivity driven by the flow of clients and their needs. Nuts and bolts are sold individually as well as by boxes of 100. Nails are available by the pound. Pipes are cut to order. Home Town Hardware’s 37,000 SKU system presents a competitive advantage of providing a wide selection of products. According to store manager Tommy Bryant, Home Town stocks 450 different kinds of facet stems for sinks and all 25 sizes of metric bolts. He said other big box chains don’t go beyond the last five to seven years. Meanwhile, Home Town stocks older parts as well as new ones. They carry vacuum cleaner bags and belts for models dating back to 1970. Bryant said plumbing and paint are two big keys lately. Plumbing is 30 percent of business, bringing in $500 to $800 a day. Cutting keys is also a popular commodity. Bryant estimated 75 to 100 keys are cut a day. “Some people will come in with 30 keys to cut,” Bryant said. “The only charge for this service is the key itself. “Our biggest goal is customer service,” Bryant said. “We don’t want anyone to walk through those doors without a ‘Hello, how are you?’ or ‘Can I help you?’” But Home Town’s customer service goes beyond that. “We not only help find the product, we can give them advice for how to use it,” Bryant said. Home Town recommends contacts from among their clientele to customers seeking
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Steve Toone holds hardware cloth as Tom Bryant cuts it to size at Home Town Hardware.
elsewhere” is false at Home Town Hardware. Bryant said a number of big box sellers use loss leader pricing, but not Home Town. This means Home Town does not lose money by marking their prices below their purchasing price, hoping to make up the difference with nearby products that are marked higher than normal. “We’re tit for tat pricing but we’re still a business just like anybody else,” Bryant said. He went on to say, “If you take 100 items from our store and match their prices with the exact same products from Walmart or Lowe’s, you’ll find 50 percent of our items are priced lower. We actually did that when we redid our pricing structures a few years ago.” One more way Home Town serves the community is by supporting 15 to 20 local organizations a year by donating hardware products to various needs. “We’re not choosy. If they’re local and they ask, we try to help,” Bryant said. “Its easier to donate product because we know that products can help directly.” Depending on the amount of resources available after aiding the local community Home Town will occasionally donate to organizations outside of Vance County. “We try to do our community first because that’s who supports us. All of our business comes from within the community,” Bryant said. How much of what is donated is determined by the project. In a way, making donations helps the community directly and indirectly by letting people know about Hometown Hardware. “It keeps the big circle effect going,” Bryant said.
assistance. Some people are willing to purchase the product but are uncertain how to use it. For instance a customer can inform Home Town of desire to paint a room while expressing a lack of time or talent, the employees may be able recommend a client who frequents the painting department. People can even bring in a damaged item and Home Town will fix it with no service charge, provided the required products are available. “We don’t charge a service fee as long as they’re purchasing a product,” Bryant said. MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff On any given day Home Town sees an average of 100 customers Anthony Swarington picks out parts at Home Town Hardware for a repair job on his lawnmower. a day. “The first 10 days of the newspapers and sends fliers to month you might see as many as explained exceptional customer service is what sets them apart. the surrounding neighborhood 150 people. On the last 10 days “Its hard to compete with the through the mail because new you’re lucky if you see 75. Its bigger stores. Besides its the customers are not drawn from very income based,” Bryant said. Contact the writer at customers that got us where we outside traffic. According to Bryant, aouthouse@hendersondispatch. Bryant said the general customer loyalty has kept Home are,” Bryant said. Home Town advertises in perception of “I can get it cheaper com. Town Hardware in business. He
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The Daily Dispatch
Progress 2013
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Sunday, August 25, 2013
Pacific Coast Feather
Leading manufacturer setting lofty standard BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
Dunigan said. The facility American hen it comes raw materials and also to production imports some raw of pillows and materials — such as comforters, Henderson’s down, feathers and shells Pacific Coast Feather (the fabric casings of Company stands out as a comforters and pillows) national leader. — from China. It also stands out in “They eat ducks the local manufacturing and geese like we eat industry, with its more chicken,” said Dunigan than 400 employees as he explained that the higher than any other birds are not raised solely company in Vance for their feathers. County. He said the company Known as the number ships the raw materials one brand of down and rather than finished feather bedding in the products because it United States, Pacific is financially efficient. Coast Feather Company Shipping compressed prides itself on using the materials on differing finest raw materials and vehicles saves the manufacturing practices weighty cost of a finished to provide maximum product. quality in its pillows and “We learned early comforters. on to only to import if it Kevin Dunigan, financially makes sense,” manager of the Dunigan said. Henderson plant, Upon arrival, great said the Henderson lengths are taken to manufacturing plant is ensure the raw materials the largest facility of its are not contaminated. kind within the company This means the company and within its industry. keeps goose feathers Pacific separate from Known as the Coast duck feathers Feather has and white down number one a more than gray brand of down from 500,000-square down. and feather foot facility “You don’t on 11 acres bedding in the want your down of land near United States, pillow to poke Interstate 85, you in the head Pacific Coast with three with a feather Feather structures quill.” Dunigan dedicated to Company prides said. production The various itself on using shells and six are filled the finest raw in departments warehouses. materials and defined by their And there’s room for manufacturing stuffing and expansion. product type. practices to When the If the provide plant was departments purchased must be moved, maximum in 2009, it the stationary quality in its consolidated machinery three separate pillows and used for comforters. locations stuffing must into one in be thoroughly response to the economy. cleaned of the previous Dunigan explained material. that the company’s goal The extra measures is for the Henderson allow Pacific Coast facility to be its flagship Feather to include a of manufacturing. guarantee of quality “Fill it, sew it, pack it in the prices of their and ship it is basically products. what we do here. It’s After the shells are about as easy as it gets,” filled with a natural DISPATCH INTERN
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or synthetic stuffing, they are sewn closed according to the product order. While a line of 12 employees can sew 10 to 12 pillows closed per minute, a single comforter takes a few minutes to be manufactured by itself. Each comforter’s stuffing must be evenly distributed before it is scrolled. Scrolling is the process of sewing one of the hundreds of preprogrammed quilting patterns onto the comforter from a large, computer-based sewing machine. Having worked at three other facilities, Dunigan said Henderson’s plant is the only one he has seen with a scrolling department. After the product is sewn shut, it is packaged and ready to ship. The manufacturing and packaging of any single product could take less than 10 minutes. The company primarily delivers truckloads of shipments to distribution centers. From there, Pacific Coast Feather is known as the leading supplier of premium down pillows to leading hotels and retailers in the United States. Dunigan has expressed an interest in serving in the local community. He said Pacific Coast Feather is an employee-focused and employee-driven company that is family owned and operated. “We want to implement things that improve the culture by having people who are glad to come to work each day,” Dunigan said. “How it benefits Henderson, the future will tell, but I think it looks good.”
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Leola Perry (left) and Erika Gonzalas roll out synthetic filling to insert into a comforter at Pacific Coast Feather Company.
Ann Williams uses a sewing machine to close up feather pillows at Pacific Coast Feather Company. MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Contact the writer at aouthouse@ hendersondisatch.com.
Educating our Future • The 2012-2013 Engineering Team from Northern Vance High School won $5,000 and the Prize for Innovation Award from the Institute of Emerging Issues at N.C. State University in a statewide competition among N.C. high schools with their invention of the Sirocco computer cleaner, which is now in development for manufacturing. • Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools continue to be ranked among the top 100 high schools in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report magazine. • The 1:1 Initiative Program continues to provide laptop computers for all high school students and offers technology to enhance their classroom instruction. • The Vance County Early College High School is entering its sixth year of operation and for the 2012-2013 school year had a four-year cohort graduation rate of 93.5 percent. • Western Vance High School is an alternative high school setting for students who are behind academically. The school has graduated approximately 450 students who may otherwise not have completed their high school education. • Western Vance High School had a four-year cohort graduation rate in 20122013 of over 95 percent. • Southern Vance High School for the 2013-2014 school year will be the site of the new Vance Medical Academy and the new Fire & Public Safety Academy to offer instruction and certification in selected medical field careers and in firefighting. • The Early High School Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program will operate for its second school year in 2013-2014 and will offer students in the sixth and seventh grades project based learning and instruction in their core subject areas and for their elective courses. • High school students in Career and Technical Education courses can continue to earn certifications in Microsoft applications in business courses, Serv-Safe food safety standards in culinary arts courses and child care certifications in early childhood development courses. Website: www.vcs.k12.nc.us. Courtesy Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission
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The Daily Dispatch
Progress 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Vescom
World leader strategically located in Henderson BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
minute, a very fast rate. It is especially fast n the last 40 years, when one considers that Vescom America, Inc., the smallest wallcovering has become the largest Vescom produces is 30 producer of commercial yards. wallcovering in the world. After printing, the Joe Berasi, president pattern is preserved on the of the company, said the vinyl by lamination. company has two locations Next a glue is – one in Henderson, and adhered to the vinyl another in New York. film as a backing, so In Vance County, the that the covering can be company ranks as one of permanently attached to a the top 10 manufacturing wall. employers. The product will then For a typical be tested for quality on order in Henderson’s inspection tables. manufacturing plant, the If it passes, the wallcovering wallcovering will He pointed out be packaged in design is selected or Vescom has the bolts, or rolls, customized by and shipped ability to the client, with to one of more include up to the help of one than 70 different five colors in a countries. of Vescom’s two designers. Vescom ships single Once the design wallcovering an estimated concept has 2,000 bolts a design. been approved week. by the client it is Vescom’s put into a digital largest market format and sent to the is the hospitality business, printing machines. hotels like the Marriott and “Everything is done Hampton Inn. by computers from ink They also sell to retail, dispensing to coloring, such as Starbucks, and printing, lamination and health care locations as inspection,” Berasi said. well as corporate and The vinyl wallcovering, individual offices. known as film, goes “In any mall, you’ll find through the printer to have us in several locations,” the design transcribed Berasi added. onto it. When Vescom moved “We have a significant to Henderson seven years advantage in print ago, they were looking to fidelity due to computer expand in New York but processes,” Berasi said. found that North Carolina He pointed out Vescom is more lenient in its has the ability to include permitting process. up to five colors in a single They purchased 15 wallcovering design. acres of land and began Vescom can run 60 manufacturing vinyl yards of wallcovering per wallcoverings within a year.
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Berasi concurred with Stuart Litvin, director of the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission, that Henderson’s advantageous geographical location was one of the many reasons it was chosen for Vescom America’s second location. Halfway between Washington D.C. and Charlotte, Henderson MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff enables Vescom to reach Armando Zamudio checks a product in an inspection station before it moves to the 50 percent of the eastern next stage in packaging at Vescom. population within a day, according to Litvin. Although all of the manufacturing is done by computers, Vescom has 42 employees who operate the machinery. Berasi and Litvin also agreed that Henderson has a rich history in manufacturing and a community college willing to train potential employees in the required skills. Berasi said Vescom is very employee-oriented and tries to hire from local companies and universities. He also tries to purchase raw materials locally. “It doesn’t always save money but its important to support the locals and get to know them face to face,” Berasi said. Above: Jerzy Bera In the end, Berasi said, changes out an “Henderson and Vance embossing roll on County have been very one of the presses good to us. It’s a great at Vescom. example of a county, a city Left: Marvin Fonseand a company helping sa does a visual each other.” inspection of a Vescom product. Contact the writer at aouthouse@ hendersondispatch.com.
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Fishing • Camping • Boating/Sailing Biking • Bird Watching Historic Downtown Henderson 50,000 Acre Playground Leisure Time Activities Special Events Dining & Shopping
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The Daily Dispatch
Progress 2013
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Sunday, August 25, 2013
Jerry’s Artarama
More than a seller: Always growing art BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
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lthough Jerry’s Artarama has 16 retail stores and headquarters in Raleigh, it only has one warehouse. And Henderson is its home. The warehouse is a distribution facility that primarily ships individual mail-order art supplies. It also supplies the retail stores. “We carry everything an artist might need at the lowest prices,” said Ed Lingg, warehouse operations manager for Jerry’s. When the Henderson warehouse opened in 2000, it was an empty 40,000-square foot complex. In 2004, the complex doubled in size. When the structure doubled a second time in 2008, the Raleigh warehouse was closed in favor of having all Jerry’s warehouse operations under one roof. The size, structure and location of the building, in addition to its ability to expand, were all positive factors in Henderson’s favor. “From what I gathered, it was just a good fit,” said Lingg. “The bigger we become, the more nationally we are known, in the long run the more jobs and businesses we bring to the community.” Jerry’s Artarama currently employs 45 to 50 in the seven different departments of the warehouse: picking, packing, shipping, receiving and stocking, inventory returns and the custom frame shop. The warehouse has high accuracy rates, low shipping times and an efficient process, according to Lingg. “I think today in the e-commerce world we’re in, customers have gotten very used to speed and efficiency,” Lingg said. “When they order online, they expect their order right away and in good condition. There’s a lot of competition that they might decide to go to instead.” For most days, after receiving an order from Jerry’s website or the 500-page catalog, the warehouse will then retrieve the item from the available 40,000 stock keeping units. After individually packaging the order according to its fragility, the warehouse will ship the order to the buyer the same day. The order should be received within one to two business days. “It’s a constantly rotating door of merchandise,” Lingg said. “An average day here is making sure that we fulfill our obligation to the customer so that no one customer is any less taken care of than the next.” The warehouse ships an average of 1,000 orders a day all across the world. Jerry’s warehouse also makes two to three donations per year in Vance and the surrounding
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Ed Lingg is the director of warehouse operations at Jerry’s Artarama.
Anita Smith pulls stock to fill a customer order at Jerry’s Artarama.
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
counties. Donations can include anything from a small handful of supplies to pallets of merchandise. Most of those materials go to schools but the warehouse has also contributed to a half dozen local organizations over the last 12 years. Rebuilding Hope has been a recipient of Jerry’s art donations on two separate occasions. Randolph Wilson, founder of Rebuilding Hope, described the donations as tractor-trailer loads of materials. “It overwhelmed people when they came to pick it up,” Wilson said. Lingg explained that Jerry’s often donates “any merchandise that is in less than newly sellable condition.” Wilson explained that Rebuilding Hope stored and distributed the supplies as needed to various schools. “They want to have art programs but they don’t have the budgets,” he said. Henderson Home School Support volunteers Christine Norton and her sister, Carey Ray, used the donated supplies to teach an art class for 20 to 30 students. “It was a huge blessing,” Norton said. “It allowed the children to explore their creativity.” She added, “Being a small group, we would not have been able to afford that without the donations.” “One of the things we try to stand for here at Jerry’s is that we don’t just try to sell art, we want to grow it,” Lingg said. “We want to work with artists as well as being there to supply them with materials.” Contact the writer at aouthouse@ hendersondispatch.com.
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
After Evianey Carrillo pulls items for a customer order, the art supplies are put in a box ready for shipping which is moving on a conveyer system at Jerry’s Artarama.
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Progress 2013
The Daily Dispatch
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Teacher Store
Toy store for teachers, in the heart of downtown BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
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any a child has preferred toys to school. In downtown Henderson, The Teacher Store And More … is a teachers’ toy store capable of swinging those children back to the books. “Its a good resource,” said owner Angie Hopfer. And it attracts more than just teachers. With puzzles from five pieces to 500, games and learning materials for all ages, classroom supplies and decorations have been supplied to Henderson and the surrounding areas since 2005. Since 2009, Hopfer has dealt directly with wholesalers to provide fun materials designed for teaching. “I’ve been in retail all my life,” Hopfer said. “I originally wanted a toy store, but a toy store alone can’t make it these days. Besides, I like the educational product.” The only change Hopfer made after purchasing the store was to add “and more...” to the business’ name. “I added the ‘and more...’ because we cater to everybody, not just teachers,” Hopfer said. Her teller and friend of the family, Fonda Seay, explained that some parents and grandparents will purchase the materials to provide educational gifts for their children. Occasionally marketing directors for local churches and companies are attracted to the store for its extensive selection on bulletin board decorations. Hopfer fills her inventory with standard school supplies, such as all of the books on the Henderson Collegiate reading list, and popular requests, like various ways to learn multiplication tables. “I usually pick what’s new to inspire bright ideas for the new year,” she said. Teachers, parents and tutors would have to spend the time, money and miles to find similar products if the store wasn’t located on Garnett Street. Hopfer provides access to her products via a free catalog and active website that ships products all over the U.S. For many products, if the order comes through the store, the shipping is free. Aside from its varied and unique inventory, the staff takes the time to assist anyone who walks through the doors. “I’ve always been one to meet and greet people,” Hopfer said. “I try to treat people the way I want to be treated.” “We do a lot of individual ordering, a lot of one-on-one conversing,” Seay said. Talking with the customers has proven to be beneficial practice for both parties. The consumers are generally presented with
Progress 2013
Editor: Alan Wooten Design: Laura Purcell Ad Director: Deborah Tuck Circulation: A.J. Woodell Publisher: James Edwards Cover photography: Author Hill of M.R. Williams pulls stock from a shelf as he puts together a customer order. Photo by Mark Dolejs of The Dispatch staff.
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Teacher Joyce Burton browses the shelves at The Teacher Store shopping for the upcoming school year. helpful suggestions, ideas and techniques that encourage learning as well as products’ location. The conversation benefits Hopfer by providing her with feedback about the various products and ideas that help her to fill her shelves with the most effective and fun products. “I always try to find ways to improve and make things better,” Hopfer said. “We want to be able to offer the newest, up-to-date learning materials,” Seay said. Seay also pointed out that sincere interest during these discussions builds a relationship with the customers resulting in genuine friendship and good publicity. The Teacher Store’s customer service has created a number of loyal customers. Early August is the busiest time of year. School accountants and parent teacher associations are frequent shoppers. “The schools try to support us and our community by keeping their purchases local,” Seay said. The opening of the school year and holidays usually create sales and email discounts, Hopfer said. “I feel teachers get shacked,” Hopfer said. “They are worked too hard and given too many kids. I feel like I can help them out by making their jobs
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
The Teacher Store offers an abundance of supplies used for decorating classrooms and for use in aiding in the task of teaching. a little easier. I think they need it.” During that time The Teacher Store displays various decoration items, everything from banners to bulletin boards and cutouts for the new year. “Every child has a good teacher they remember,” Hopfer said. “Kids need to see happy things like bright, festive animals.” Meanwhile, outside of The Teacher Store, Hopfer also donates her time, money and materials to
surrounding churches, Boy and Girl Scouts, and youth groups. “I have a soft spot for youth because I think they’re our future,” Hopfer said. “I think teachers think so too.” “Angie is cheerful, friendly and optimistic,” Seay said. “She is a remarkable person and an inspiration to me.”
Contact the writer at aouthouse@ hendersondispatch.com.
MATTHEW L. TODD AGENT
P.O. Box 1500 Henderson, NC 27536 bus | 252-438-4119 cell | 252-432-4912 fax | 252-430-1508 matthew.todd@ncfbins.com
The Granville-Vance District Health Department NEEDS YOUR OPINION! Please give us your opinions on farmers’ markets and smoke-free public places by completing our surveys at the websites listed below.
AUTO • HOME • LIFE • HEALTH • BUSINESS • RETIREMENT
G. PORTER SHAW Broker Lakefront Specialist
Farmers’ Market Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R7FarmersMarketSurvey
(252) (252)432-3942 432-3942 (800) (800)477-7568 477-7568TOLL TOLL FREE FREE (252)431-6251 492-5794FAX FAX (252)
Tobacco Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/tobaccofreecounty ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Transforming Health Together is an 8 county partnership in Central NC working to make healthy living a way of life in our region. For more information contact the Granville-Vance District Health Dept at 252-492-7915 or 919-693-2141
Made possible with funding from the North Carolina Community Transformation Grant Project and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
857 S. Beckford Drive Suite C Henderson, NC 27536 Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
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Real estate pricing is starting to go up. You can take advantage of the local real estate market before the price of homes and land start to increase. Interest rates are at or near historic lows, and offer the opportunity for you to purchase outstanding properties priced reflective of the economic downturn of the past few years for less money than paying rent. These special financial circumstances will not last forever! I look forward to helping you make home ownership affordable and available. Feel free to contact me for any real estate needs!
Progress 2013
The Daily Dispatch
Sunday, August 25, 2013
9
Buffaloe Milling
Still grinding
30 U.S. presidents and six owners later BY ALLIE OUTHOUSE
V
DISPATCH STAFF
ance County’s oldest company still in operation changed hands six times before Daryl Spencer’s family got it 60 years ago. Considering the beginning date for Buffaloe Milling Company in Kittrell was 1854, nearly a decade before the Civil War and with Franklin Pierce as the nation’s 14th president, six changes doesn’t seem like a lot. The gristmill was originally built by S.R. Hunt to produce a reliable food source for survival. According to Spencer, his grandfather, Johnnie Moss, had no idea how to run a mill when it was first offered to him by Gene Huff. Moss and Huff were college friends, so after a year of working on the job Moss purchased the mill in 1950. Twenty-nine years later the mill was sold to Moss’ daughter and son-in-law. They sold it to their son, Daryl, in 1989. Having worked full-time at the gristmill since 1972, a number of changes were made when he took over the business. “When I came here, there were only four employees,” Spencer said. Today Buffaloe Milling employs 37 people working in manufacturing, sales and delivery. Spencer began by abolishing the once common milling practice of tolling (keeping a portion, up to 25 percent, of the finished product as payment for grinding crops), a tradition that had continued even under his father’s management. After adding four electric grind stones to his machinery, he began expanding the number of products made. Rather than selling three kinds of corn mill and a single hushpuppy mix, Buffaloe Milling branched out to
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Daryl Spencer, owner of Buffaloe Milling Company in Kittrell since 1989, says the company has been in his family since the early 1950s. make four varieties of hushpuppies, corn mill, breaders and mixes, in addition to customized products for various restaurants. The process for making each of these products is very similar. For corn mill products, Buffaloe Milling buys the corn from four local farmers. The corn is inspected upon arrival and stored in silos. The crop will go through two separate cleaning processes to screen out farming materials. Neither process involves water. Spencer explained that the goal is to have nothing left but a whole kernel. The kernels are sent under a magnet to insure no metal has fallen in with the corn. The corn is then ground into mill by one of the six electric grinding stones. The corn mill is then sifted to take out any coarse bran (hard outer shells). Spencer estimated that the gristmill grinds 200 bushels of corn a day. Next the corn mill goes through a mixer to add enriching vitamins to the product. The mill is mixed a second time to add specific measurements of the 15 available ingredients required to meet an order’s recipe. Ingredients can include anything from eggs to
spices to onions. “Most people buy it ‘made’, meaning they just add water,” Spencer said. In the early 1990s, Buffaloe Milling began to deliver, but not manufacture, dog foods and flour on the side. “They came to me for help,” Spencer said. “It MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff helps with fuel bills and Francisco Gonzales (left) and Guillermo Perez bag two-pound bags of corn meal in the pays the drivers.” production area at Buffaloe Milling Company. The various products are distributed to 11 major grocery chains and various independent stores. Typically Buffaloe Don’t miss this Milling has five of its 10 opportuity to be trucks out averaging 20 stops a day, making 100 included in the to 150 deliveries. They premiere edition of primarily distribute to the The Daily Dispatch Carolinas and Virginia. The milling products Business Card 2014 seem to have a shelf life Directory. of one to three months, although they can last for six months to a year. The affordable full Spencer said that color format is ideal when he had purchased the company he dreamed for growing your of expansion but now brand recognition. Buffaloe Milling is selling even farther than he had hoped. Printed in a handy “If you stay real small, 4x11 size, our you’ll get gobbled up readers will keep and bullied by bigger companies,” Spencer this directory said. “I hope that we throughout the year provide a good product. as a convenient way Our goal is to satisfy our customers.” to connect to local
businesses.
Contact the writer at aouthouse@ hendersondispatch.com.
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