Diversity and resiliency could be a couple of key words used to describe what is offered by 小蓝视频ern Bolt Supply Ltd. and its owners, Randy and Lisa Edwards.
They are making their company grow even in the current challenging economic times, mainly because they know their business and their customers and they also know how southeast Saskatchewan works. They know what is needed to get jobs done.
The company with its five employees, has expanded of the past few years to include a new entity they have labelled Redneck Chains and Rigging, adding even more product and a new outlet to their already diverse offering.
Randy Edwards states he was attracted to the independence factor that signals private ownership of a business, an ability to control his work life and schedule. He has found, over the years, that you never really escape a work schedule, but you also develop relationships with the customers that can be priceless.
小蓝视频ern Bolt Supply started as a sideline business in 1987 as Randy was working in the oilfield at the time, but after awhile, the business grew to the point where it was demanding more and more of his time.
鈥淚 worked at the mines in the early 1980s, welding, and then went into battery operating in the oilfield and was working at both for awhile. But as 小蓝视频ern Bolt grew, I was able to leave the patch and work solely in the fastener and tool business,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are a fastener and tool supply company for farming, mining, power stations, oilfield maintenance companies and construction. Then we started a new business, Redneck Chain and Rigging, in 2011 because of the increase in demand for rigging and lifting supplies and the tools.鈥�
Last year, the company also took on the duties of 小蓝视频 the distributor for Pointer Attachments Buckets and Blades for most skid steer machines, building up their reputation as a diverse supplier for a diverse economy and community. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e built in Canada and they are well made and competitively priced,鈥� he noted.
This kind of lifestyle has always appealed to Edwards. Even at an early age, he always enjoyed trips to the hardware stores.
Getting out of the wage-earning world and into entrepreneurship mode wasn鈥檛 too intimidating, he said. 鈥淚 had some basic knowledge of what I was about to sell just from working in various jobs and then as you go on, you just keep on learning. The big thing is you have to be interested in what you鈥檙e selling.鈥�
What does the future hold?
鈥淗opefully, the oil patch will recover, at least somewhat, sooner rather than later and the future will look after itself. We have a diverse economy in this area and our customers know we are very appreciative of their business and many of them have become friends.鈥�
小蓝视频ern Bolt Supply found themselves at their current location 410 Fifth Avenue after TS&M Supply expanded and that meant the Edwards needed to move. Their current building was one they knew they could afford by buy and with a lot of time spent in renovations, with much of it carried out by Lisa, the team has made their new business home. Red Neck Chains and Rigging is found at 510 Fifth Street in the Energy City.
There motto is one of helpfulness.
鈥淲e try and help every customer with consistent service, no matter if it鈥檚 a screw for a sewing machine or a bolt for a dragline,鈥� said Randy. 鈥淲e鈥檙e broad-based, supplying for farming, industry, electrical contractors, plumbers and building contractors. The biggest challenge is staying organized. It鈥檚 been 29 years in the business, coming on 30 and that鈥檚 thanks to our customers over the years. We will continue to supply them with what they need.鈥澛�
