Title

Heart of Glass - Blenko Glass

Blenko Glass is a West Virginia treasure that spans generations. Nothing symbolizes the state of West Virginia better or more beautifully than Blenko Glass. We will discuss current and former craftsmen and designers and how important it is that Blenko and West Virginia glass be appreciated and valued by the younger generation.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Save Supply To Close September 1

Save Supply Company on Park Ave. in Charleston, WVa  has for decades been the place to go for kitchens and baths. 
Monty ( the owner of Save) is a Blenko Collector and a fan of all things West Virginia.   My parents shopped Save Supply and also EVANS LUMBER   ( closed in 2011)  both  stores were family owned businesses  in operation for 50+ years.
I don't know if its a 'sign of the times'  or we are just a society that no longer values old fashioned customer service -  Evans Lumber and Save Supply  both had salespeople with experience.  My local big box stores hires men and women with less 'home repair'  experience than I have .   No one in the store has worked there more than 10 years - and no one in the same department for more than 5 years.
I'd rather pay a bit more and have a salesperson who knows his merchandise.   I must be in the minority - else Evans and Save wouldn't be closing.
    Off subject again - but I recently needed a gas pipe - I purchase one at Lowe's needed to have it shortened - took it to the Gresham Plumbing Supply store where I was told it was pipe made in MEXICO and he couldn't shorten as it would destroy his machine - the metal isn't properly tempered!   I was furious to know I purchased a pipe made in Mexico and also to be sold inferior pipe  by a store I trusted. 
     Please  the remainder of this year - purchase items from your local vendor - the mom and pop stores.  They can't survive without us.
     Below is a brief history of Save Supply

Monty’s father, Clarence Coles started Save supply with David R Marcus in 1929. After a couple of decades, Marcus retired and Clarence bought him out. But Clarence, who continued working in the business until his death in 1981, didn’t force Save Supply on his sons. Monty, now 66, was only 14 when he started helping out after school, on weekends and during the summer. When his two sons, David & Travis became teenagers, they too, helped out at the store, but they also tried different jobs. Now David 35, and Travis 33, have adopted the same work ethics as their father and fully participated in the day-to-day operations of the business.




In 2010, they  celebrate their  81 year solid foundation of service to southern West Virginia, and looked forward to continuing throughout the 21st century with the same old-fashioned spirit of customer service and great savings we’ve cultivated from the very beginning.  
One year after this celebration they are closing!

Suppose your local merchants.
BUY LOCAL!   Buy Made in USA  and Made IN West Virginia when possible. 
Note:  Anything left in the Save Supply warehouse is marked 50% off. 







3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your 1st mistake was trusting Lowe's or big box store.
2nd mistake was in assuming any metal is now made in USA
Canada is the source of most metal pipes for plumbing - check this.
USA makes very little. . .soon we'll make on pizza and sell it ourselves.
Sad Sad USA.
Understand your goal was to have readers buy made in USA
you need to understand nothing is made in USA.
Get a life Hilary. Find your self a nice Italian boyfriend and start to enjoy the money you make.
Mistake #3 assuming other think as ou do - you think like a grandmother, not a 25 year old. 25year olds don't give a damn about the economy or local business or anything besides clothes, jewelry and next good time.
Mistake #4 belief that we as a country care about community stores.
So very sorry to burst your bubble so early in the am.

Alex

Anonymous said...

Your 1st mistake was trusting Lowe's or big box store.
2nd mistake was in assuming any metal is now made in USA
Canada is the source of most metal pipes for plumbing - check this.
USA makes very little. . .soon we'll make on pizza and sell it ourselves.
Sad Sad USA.
Understand your goal was to have readers buy made in USA
you need to understand nothing is made in USA.
Get a life Hilary. Find your self a nice Italian boyfriend and start to enjoy the money you make.
Mistake #3 assuming other think as ou do - you think like a grandmother, not a 25 year old. 25year olds don't give a damn about the economy or local business or anything besides clothes, jewelry and next good time.
Mistake #4 belief that we as a country care about community stores.
So very sorry to burst your bubble so early in the am.

Alex

Anonymous said...

I too live in Charleston in the last 5 years we've lost.
Dutchess Bakery - 50+ years
Charleston Pain Store - 50 +
Evans Lumber
Save Supply
and so very many good mom and pop places to eat.
Face it the economy sucks.
Alex - your rant and rage is misplaced.