Business Profile
A Father -Son Business in Newtown Square by Craig Whitney Photos courtesy of Shannon Lynn Photography
Scott and Ray Magness are the father-and-son team behind Scott’s Fireplace Products
Scott’s Fireplace Products is a father-son business that has been part of Delaware County for over 30 years. Scott Magness became the Owner in 2009, and his son Ray became a Manager and Salesman for the company in 2011. With Scott’s years of experience in the field, Ray’s youthful enthusiasm in the store, and a skilled team firmly in place, the company has thrived for a decade in this community.
“I enjoy working with people and solving problems,” Scott said. “If people don’t know how gas lines are run, they say things like ‘Are you sure you can do that?’ I explain to them how it can be done, and they often seem amazed not only that I actually did it but did it efficiently.”
Scott’s Fireplace Products specializes in gas fireplaces, from vent free to vented to direct vent. They also offer products such as custom glass door enclosures that could be made for any type of fireplace. For outdoor products, Scott’s carries a gas grill line and can also install a wide variety of gas fire pits and all related accessories. Scott Magness is also an expert plumber. While in high school, he learned that trade from his uncle. The value of working with his hands was instilled in Scott early, and in 1987, he started his own plumbing business to serve the Delaware County region. Scott soon began adding gas fireplace installation and service to his offerings, something not offered by most other plumbers because installation can be advanced depending on the setup of the house, and the skills involved can be unique to gas fireplaces. Scott saw a strong growing demand for gas fireplaces and customers looking for a knowledgeable and reliable local gas fireplace sales and service. That combination prompted him to specialize in gas fireplaces.
Robert DeYoung was the original owner of the fireplace company, formerly DeYoung’s Fireside Shoppe, which started in 1985. The whole Magness family has been close with Mr. DeYoung and his family for many years. Scott worked as an installer, and in 2009, he got the opportunity to take over the business. The transition to ownership was made easier thanks to Mr. DeYoung, who worked under Scott in the beginning stages after Scott took ownership. Mr. DeYoung even helped mentor Scott’s son Ray when he wanted to join the business. Ray attended Haverford High. He then took several business courses that were very formative for his professional trajectory. Ray had an understanding of marketing and advertising and an appreciation for the value of labor, passed down through generations. This made him a perfect fit for the role of in-store management and sales. Scott offered Ray the position, and while Scott worked as Owner and Installer, Robert DeYoung helped train Ray. “Mr. DeYoung helped me get my feet wet in this industry,” Ray explained. “His wisdom helped me latch onto it, and his enthusiasm gave me enthusiasm.” Ray spends much of his time in the office, talking with prospective customers about their needs. That’s the part of the job that he enjoys the most, building a relationship with each customer, getting a sense of who they are, and finding the fireplace that would best suit them. “I like talking to people, learning their style, understanding their vision, and hopefully exceeding their expectations with our products,” Ray stated.
Some of the many items Scott's Fireplace Products offers
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Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
July 2019
The relationship does not end at the store, and that’s something both Ray and Scott take very seriously. Scott’s Fireplace Products is a full-service company, and after a customer purchases a product, Scott and his team will install it. Customers can then choose to receive regular product maintenance.
