1. Concept:The Town & Country Stores each were built to reflect the needs of our customers. A great deal of research was invested into each store before the first block was laid or property was purchased. We built and stocked as the needs of the customer became clear in the case of each store.
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2. Viability
We studied traffic flow, fuel pricing along this route, and what towns and counties made up the bulk of traffic, what offerings were available there, & did competitive pricing exist for these travellers. We began to see patterns of lack, and then search for way to provide quality, better pricing, & more needful inventory than the quick-stops along these routes.
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3 Next: How to become useful to surrounding communities:
Being farmers, we knew that this area would benefit a good deal if we could do the same for farmers, and builders. Farmers, Home Owners & Builders were having to submit to the selection choices of Big Box Chains stores who's people rarely understood these needs. Using the same methods of shopping out suppliers who produced quality tools and provisions, and could supply at very competitive pricing. We investing in expansion & knowledgeable people to serve, advise, & often to get outside the box for unique solutions. Eventually, we found that many needed help with building plans, and in finding efficient ways to tackle their projects, so we moved into custom building design with an eye toward both quality & price.
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4. Each need revealed another:
Once we became so deeply involved in the Building Business, we began to realize the areas where some obvious gouging was becoming common, eventually leaving Home Owners, Business Owners & Builders with little choice. Even as we became volume buyers for our customers and contractors, it was still proving a challenge to provide both top quality and better prices. At that point, we set out to solve another obvious lack in the supply chain. Seeing that the patient and time-consuming process had succeeded twice before, we again set our resources toward research. We eventually found the Producers and Suppliers looking for a chance to make a difference as well. From all over the US and overseas, we discovered that many niche-market producers had found practical ways to each change their particular markets. We began to bring these people together and help create a network of like-minded supply chain entities. I will admit that in those cases where we've been able to make even a little difference in service, quality, and price over the "Big Guys", I find it to be gratifying. This has been our motivation from the first step in 2000, and it always will be. We find ways to buy superior materials in bulk, and coupled with very experienced people, it has been a winning combination.
