customer profile | neshoba county co-op | philadelphia, ms ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... By Ashley Gardner
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he Neshoba County Cooperative, located in Philadelphia, Mississippi, has something for almost everyone, whether you hunt, fish, garden, or farm. The Co-op is the largest supplier of hunting and fishing products in its area, carrying a long list of namebrand products and the latest in hunting and fishing equipment. Many of the staff are sportsmen who can answer customer questions and make suggestions on which items may work best. Neshoba is also a gardener’s delight providing a vast selection of shrubs, trees, flowering plants, vegetables, and more. The Co-op boasts three large nurseries allowing customers to purchase homegrown, healthy plants. Nursery attendants can offer their expertise to customers, assist with planting questions, and choose plants that will work for their individual needs. Agriculture has long been the focus for Neshoba which keeps feed, seed, fertilizer, and farm supplies in stock. The Co-op carries many different types of fertilizers for pastures, gardens, lawns, and crops and has spreader services available for those who need them. It also keeps farm supplies in stock, including barbed wire, metal t-posts, wooden posts, stock tanks, gates, feeders, tractor implements, and more. Richard Goldman manages Neshoba and he still relies heavily on his father Ricky Goldman’s past management experience. The Co-op recently promoted Nichole Bankston, a 15-year employee, to assistant manager. Nichole’s help in managing the business has been a significant help to Richard. She oversees 35 employees and does all the hir-
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APRIL 2021 BWI COMPANIES, INC.
ing. The elder Goldman saw Neshoba through some tough times at the beginning of his tenure. When the bottom fell out of the dairy industry, Ricky had to change the Neshoba Co-op’s focus, which was heavily focused on dairy. “Richard has managed the Co-op for the last three years and I managed it for 30 years before that,” said Ricky. “I came in 1987 and it was pretty broke at that point. It was after the dairy buy out and the store was struggling to survive.” Ricky turned the focus away from dairy and started looking at offering a wider variety of products and services. By diversifying and expanding its offerings, the Co-op moved forward, evolving into the bustling business it is today where hunters, farmers, and gardeners alike can all find products to meet their needs. “We’ve been very blessed since then. We’ve gone in a lot of different directions. We have diversified and that’s what kept us alive and made us as successful as we are,” Ricky said. “We have a good board that allowed us to go out on a limb.” Luckily that limb proved sturdy and the store has grown into a hub for shoppers of many different interests.
