Around
the first of March, 1914, L. H. (Jack) Starmer and his father-in-law, F. E.
(Frank) Snyder, recently arrived from Ohio, bought Dixie Sales Company from
businessman Joseph Leahy, and reopened for business and under new ownership on
Monday, March 2, 1914. March 1914
business for Dixie Sales Company totaled $235.70. Services offered included repairing or
patching tires and tubes, installing valves in tubes or a tube in a tire,
selling new tires, repairing baby carriage tires or their tubes, rubber ice
bags and water bottles.
Over
the next 37 years, Dixie Sales Company was located in nine different downtown
Greensboro locations and the company stayed focused on providing outstanding
drive-in automotive service, selling and repairing tires, and selling
automotive parts to car dealers and independent auto repair shops. The company continued to be owned and managed
by the Snyder and Starmer families.
An
August 7, 1924 newspaper ad mentioned customer service attributes that remain
the foundation of the company today: “As we apprehend it, a great lot of
flag-waving is done, in the name of service, about things which are merely the
ordinary routine of business and which any buyer can reasonably expect to
receive. What might properly be
indicated by the word service would consist mostly of a desire and honest
effort to be helpful, and a willingness to use all acquired knowledge, skill,
facilities for the benefit of the customer.
While we do not claim to give a perfect service, we do make an honest
effort in that direction to the best of our ability.”
The
years following the 1929 Great Depression were times of struggle for the
business, but it persevered by continuing to focus on providing exceptional
personal customer service, and by the late 1930’s business once again was
strong and growing.
Ernest
Starmer’s (son of founder Jack Starmer) two sons joined the business, Jim in
1969 and Richard in 1973, and soon a decision was made to shift the focus of
parts sales away from automotive parts to outdoor power equipment and
air-cooled engine repair parts and accessories.
In
the early and mid-1980’s, the lawn and garden equipment parts business grew
rapidly and became the dominant focus of the company. In 1988, the company moved its lawn and
garden parts business to a new 40,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Brown’s
Summit, a few miles northeast of Greensboro.
By continuing to provide industry-leading exceptional customer service,
the company continued its extremely rapid growth, and within a few years the
Brown’s Summit facility more than doubled in size to over 120,000 square feet.
Servantage® Dixie Sales’
Brown’s Summit, NC Headquarters and Distribution Center
In
January of 1993, the automotive parts and service business, still located at
327-29 Battleground Avenue in downtown Greensboro, was sold to allow management
to focus on the continuing rapid growth of its lawn and garden parts and
accessory business.
From
the mid-1980’s to the late 1990’s, Dixie Sales Company was averaging over 20%
growth a year and became one of the largest and best outdoor power equipment
parts and accessories distributors in the United States.
In
August 2001, Jim and Richard Starmer sold the business to Barrett Corporation,
a private family-owned and diversified business headquartered in Woodstock, New
Brunswick, Canada. Barrett Corporation’s
roots were in distribution, auto service centers, heavy equipment rental, and
in satellite TV and satellite Internet solutions for Canadian consumers.
Over
the next eight years, Dixie Sales Company was owned by several different
British public companies, until July 31, 2009, when Dixie Sales Company’s senior
management including Jim Starmer, along with several independent investors,
bought the company back, making it once again privately-held.
The
continued addition of comprehensive and innovative customer-support services as
well as an expanding customer base and growing sales, led to an addition to the
company name in January, 2012; the new name being Servantage® Dixie
Sales. The addition of Servantage®
better reflects the company’s unique position as a trusted partner and reliable
resource for manufacturers and national multiple-store retailers. Each day Servantage® Dixie Sales provides our
customers with responsive and dependable service, in reality, giving them a
service advantage over their competition, thus Servantage® Dixie
Sales. The company then leverages that
service advantage to create a seamless overall brand experience for the broad
range of customers we support across the continent.
In
May 2013, Servantage® Dixie Sales acquired the Outdoor Division of
Henry W. O’Neill & Associates now operating in Victor, NY as Servantage®
O’Neill Outdoor. The new division will
serve 14 northeastern states, allowing us to further develop and expand the offerings
provided by Servantage® Dixie Sales as well as taking advantage of
new opportunities in the northeast.
In
the spring of 2014, Servantage® Dixie Sales will open a new distribution center
in Jacksonville, FL, providing a service advantage for their broad range of
customers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and a seamless overall brand
experience for service centers, retailers, and consumers across the eastern
United States.
In
2014, Servantage® Dixie Sales will celebrate the 100th anniversary
of Dixie Sales Company with activities at all locations being planned for our
manufacturer and retailer customers, fellow industry distributors, our service
center customers, and our current and former employees. Very few companies ever reach 100 years in
business, so 2014 will be an exciting and fun-filled year for all, as we
celebrate an amazing 100 years of greatness with lots of birthday parties.
ABOUT
SERVANTAGE® DIXIE SALES
Servantage®
Dixie Sales is an independent, full-service, value-added distributor that
enhances end-user experiences with consumer products.
The
company’s core competencies are customer service, integrated distribution and
logistics, and product-support service networks.
As
a trusted partner and reliable resource, manufacturers and multiple-store
retailers depend on Servantage® Dixie Sales to create a seamless brand
experience for their customers.
Headquartered
in Greensboro, NC, the Servantage® group now operates distribution centers in
Greensboro, NC; Memphis, TN; Victor, NY, Jacksonville, FL and Toronto, Canada
as well as two contact centers in the US and Canada providing customer support
in English, French and Spanish.
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