SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY
WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity
Do South® Magazine is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of these invaluable professionals in our community. They strive for excellence and are committed to providing their clientele the very best.
SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY
WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity
Do South® Magazine is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of these invaluable professionals in our community. They strive for excellence and are committed to providing their clientele the very best.
For decades, Acme has been beautifying homes and businesses throughout the region and staffed by the most knowledgeable and service-oriented employees anywhere. But those who haven’t visited the longtime building supply company lately will be surprised at how much the product line has diversified.
“We’re much more than just brick and stone these days,” says Kelly Haley, manager. “We still offer the very best selection in brick, tile, stone, and everything you need to complete your project. But we also have a number of other products that can beautify your interior and meet any project budget. Our staff is really what makes the difference. They are an award-winning team that provides the ultimate in product knowledge and customer service.”
A visit to Acme Brick's Fort Smith showroom demonstrates the many varieties of building materials it carries including tile, wood, natural stone, outdoor fireplaces and brick. Among the most popular of these new products is luxury vinyl flooring, which marries the
ease of tongue-and-groove assembly with advanced durability and good looks for any room in the house. “Luxury vinyl plank flooring is a floating floor, so it can be installed anywhere in the home,” Kelly says. “The floor is waterproof and comes in thicknesses that can stand up to family traffic and pets. And the feel underfoot is very close to wood without the high price tag or upkeep.”
Acme also offers a vast selection of tile mosaic, such as for use in kitchen backsplashes. From traditional to modern and everything in between, the sky’s the limit. Other items that consumers are surprised to find include a range of products for outdoor living including fire pits and outdoor fireplaces and even grills. Every name brand the company carries has been vetted for the highest quality products and is backed by the friendly and experienced local staff who can guide even the rank beginner to the perfect building solution.
“We aren’t satisfied unless the customer is satisfied and that’s what has kept us in business this long,” Kelly says. “For everything that might be new around here, customer service is something that will never change.”
Allison Sales Co. is a family owned and operated business that is a multifaceted destination for your home needs. Dedicated to providing the best flooring, glass and framing products while backing it up with helpful, friendly staff, the company provides the expertise to match its quality materials.
“We are passionate about what we do,” says Chase Allison, store manager. “From the high-end homeowner to the budget-conscious buyer and everything in between, we have the products to meet any flooring needs.” Among the company’s flooring options is luxury vinyl, which looks and feels like wood, is durable, waterproof, and easy to clean. For something different, opt for natural stone flooring or mosaics to bring visual interest to a room or go with luxurious carpet to take the chill out of bedrooms. Whatever your individual taste or price range, Allison Sales Co. has the flooring to turn any house into a home, assisted by in-house design expertise. In addition, Allison Sales Co. also offers shower enclosures to fit every space and suit every décor. “We are a leader in shower enclosures,
offering tear out and installation,” Chase says. “We make it easy to remove the old shower enclosure and replace it with a new one; we welcome customers into our showroom to pick out the style, hardware and finish and let our experienced installers do the rest.”
The company also deals in custom framing, providing an elegant way to display artwork to suit any interior, as well as custom mirrors for bathroom, bedroom, or entryway. They do in-home consultations, will pick up and deliver your artwork, offering this personalized service to give you a high-end touch. In addition, the company provides a range of services including carpet re-stretch and flooring repairs to kitchen remodeling, underlayment, and outdoor installation.
Chase says the company’s longevity and reputation for service after the sale has helped it establish itself as the preferred choice in flooring, shower enclosures and custom framing. “As a fourthgeneration family-owned business, we pride ourselves on taking good care of our customers and treating them like one of the family,” he says. “It’s a wonderful feeling when you can help someone improve their living space and achieve the home of their dreams.”
Fort Smith native Bethany Meadows knows her hometown like the back of her hand. That’s because her family literally helped build it, with experience in real estate, development and construction stretching back three generations. Now an agent with O’Neal Real Estate, Bethany leans into helping clients buy a dream property or successfully sell their home.
“In real estate today, traditional is in,” she says. “People are looking for that classic construction and quality of materials. They’re looking for the things that are timeless in design with quality craftsmanship that lasts. Those are the things that never go out of style or fashion.” Bethany takes her responsibility to her clients seriously, be they buyers or sellers. For those in the market for a home, she helps buyers assess one property over another, a process that gets down to the details.
“There are small, subtle things that can tell you a lot about the house,” she says. “Quality countertops or cabinet hardware can
really stand out if you know how to look for them. I help my clients spot quality because quality is going to last. Even something as simple as a solid door versus a hollow door can tell you something about what went into a property.”
For sellers, Bethany is a valued resource in helping homeowners stage their property for maximum resale value. This often means advising which improvements will deliver the most to the bottom line and how to tone things down from a décor perspective.
“The biggest thing for sellers to remember is that they are staging a home for someone else’s tastes,” she says. “Often, I make recommendations that may not agree with their personal style, but that is more appealing to the wider market.”
Bethany’s biggest recommendation for those looking to maximize resale value is to learn how to spot fads and avoid them in home design and décor. “I always remind my clients not to let their feelings be hurt, it’s nothing personal,” she says. “I’m not disparaging their personal sense of style. It’s all about making the house as appealing as possible to the people you’re trying to sell to.”
For nearly fifty years, people looking to take a dip in their own backyard have trusted Burton Pools & Spas to do the job right. Today, the Fort Smith-based company, which also operates in Springdale, continues to be the first choice for homeowners.
“Over the years we have forged a reputation for quality that is unmatched in the markets we serve,” says Caleb Burton, secondgeneration owner. “We’re proud of our reputation as a builder of choice which we have earned through thousands of satisfied customers.”
Caleb’s father David and his late uncle Dan founded the company out of David’s garage with a few hand tools, one pickup truck and a $7,000 loan from First National Bank. The brothers quickly became known for quality workmanship and products that stand the test of time. That tradition continues today with Burton’s line of in-ground, semi-in-ground and above-ground pool construction, spas, a full line of pool supplies, service options and outdoor amenities such as water features and outdoor living spaces.
“We’re proud to be certified builders for some of the top recreational companies in the nation, manufacturers like Latham Pools, Thursday Pools, Hot Spring Spas, Doughboy Above-Ground Pools and Endless Pools,” Caleb says. “These companies choose only the best to represent and build their signature products which allows us to provide our customers the best pools and spas on the market.”
Caleb says the company applies the same measure of pride in its work today as it has for nearly fifty years. Their craftsmanship has earned Burton Pools & Spas the National Spa and Pool Association’s Gold Medal for pool design in construction, multiple Pool & Spa News Top 50 builder awards and named one of the top 100 pool companies in the United States by AQUA Magazine.
“The industry has evolved to where pool companies are more specialized,” Caleb says. “Some companies just install, others just do service work and others just do retail pool products. We have always done all three and we still do, which really sets us apart in the marketplace. We are the consumer’s true one-stop for pools and spas.”
If you’re looking for a locally owned company to help you with your building project, you need to visit Lumber One in Van Buren, Arkansas. They have a knowledgeable staff that can help you with any size building project from start to finish. Numerous staff members have been with Lumber One for fifteen years or more. “Four members of our team have been here since day one, over twenty years ago,” says Brett Green, general manager.
Lumber One just moved into their new location at 3335 Industrial Park Road. With the expansion of approximately 6,000 square feet of showroom space, they’re able to provide their customers with a much better product selection to choose from. This includes an area that displays more than fifty interior and exterior doors, multiple windows, and several fireplaces. Sidings, decking, and fencing are also on display for customers to view. They also have tool and accessory lines from Dewalt, Milwaukee, Metabo, Diablo and many more to help with your projects.
Lumber One offers services that truly set it apart, starting with its own door shop. Being able to custom build doors is one of the strong selling points in its operation and one that not many lumber yards have. “We’ll take raw materials and build a door to the customer’s specifications. Which can include different interior and exterior door styles, sizes, and a wide array of window choices.”
Another service is project estimating to help give builders and homeowners a projected material cost for their job. The sales staff can take a blueprint and calculate an estimated material list and give potential customers a quote for the project.
Lumber One’s delivery service is another strong feature that helps keep customers’ jobs or projects on schedule. They have a fleet of trucks that allow them to handle just about any size or type of job. Brett says, “You’re not going to have to wait a week to get your materials. In some cases, we can even get an order delivered the same day or next day, depending on the size of the order and if it’s in stock. This delivery service allows them to get materials to the job sites in a much timelier manner than most other competitors.”
Excellent craftsmanship using the best materials is the formula Elite Roofing follows and it shows. The company, which services both residential and commercial projects, is one of the most respected in the River Valley for new builds, replacement and roof repair. “The consumer is really taking a risk when they shop on price alone,” says Kendall Hogan, co-owner.
“Quality of materials and workmanship can vary from company to company and most customers don’t know if the company they have hired is buying seconds or first-off-the-line quality product. They don’t know their experience or work history. They don’t know if that individual has insurance. We provide that information before a customer can even ask for it, that’s how proud we are of our reputation and how willing we are to stand behind our work.”
The company has been building their reputation since its founding in 2004, accelerated since 2012 under current ownership. Workers are certified in the installation of every product they carry for both
shingled and metal roofs. Elite Roofing is certified by building products manufacturers GAF, Tamko and CertainTeed as masters of their craft. “As new products come out, new techniques come out, we take the time to educate our workforce. We don’t have a problem picking up new information,” says Gavin Collins, co-owner. “We welcome the opportunity to refine our skills, that keeps us a top-of-the-line company”
Elite serves an area encompassing the River Valley, Northwest Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma. Free no-obligation inspections are part of the award-winning Elite Roofing difference.
“Our goal is to provide exceptional service, which helps us build lifetime relationships with our clients,” Gavin says. “We have a lot of repeat customers as a result of that. When you care about what you do, it shows, and we try to go the extra mile to make the customer happy."
Kendall adds, “As we like to say, Elite Roofing isn’t here just to protect your home or business, but to protect your loved ones inside.”
They say the difference between a house and a home is in the details. For more than five decades, GreatHouse Fixtures by J&B Supply has been helping homeowners bring style and personality to their living space by offering products that reflect the most current trends for the kitchen or bath.
“We are a family-owned and operated company, and one of the few remaining,” says Cindy Jones-Ridley, whose family is in its third generation of ownership. “We love serving our friends and neighbors, offering the best products and best service anywhere in the area. We love supporting local charities and simply being part of the community for so many years.”
J&B Supply was established in the 1960s serving the contractor and wholesale market. Over time the company began to sell directly to consumers and eight years ago leaned into that market by branding the retail portion GreatHouse Fixtures. A visit to the company’s 9,000-square-foot retail showroom yields a wide inventory of items just waiting to be discovered. The relaxed atmosphere and friendly,
knowledgeable staff make every visit an enjoyable experience as store personnel help customers choose just the right item to complete a home design or remodel. “We’re constantly doing continuing staff education, taking factory tours and going to market to make sure we’re not only carrying the latest styles, but that we know how things work. That really sets us apart,” Cindy says
“Our showroom personnel have a combined 60 years' worth of experience with the products we sell, so rest assured they can answer any questions you might have. Our team is not out there just to sell stuff, they’re there to make sure the customer gets exactly what they need and that fits their budget.”
Cindy says being in business for so long has helped solidify customer loyalty. She said many clients have been shopping here for years and newcomers are quickly hooked on the wide selection and friendly service.
“Whatever you’re in the market for in lighting, kitchen sinks and faucets or bathroom fixtures, we have what you’re looking for,” she says. “We invite everyone to come experience our difference.”
For more than thirty years in the retail coatings business Sue Moore, owner of The Paint Store in Van Buren, has seen a little bit of everything, including the rise of big box and online competition.
Under her direction, The Paint Store has not only survived, but it has also become a fixture for top-quality paint, brushes, accessories, and friendly expert advice.
“I’ve sold paint to generations of families,” Sue says. “Our thirty-five years of experience has given us the ability to discuss whatever the customer is trying to accomplish. We help them work through obstacles they may have and give them insider information that we’ve learned over the years. We like to have conversations with people.
“When we started The Paint Store, I felt it was important to keep records of the colors customers purchased,” she says. “You always hear, ‘I can’t ever go back and get the same thing twice. This gallon doesn’t match the first one.’
“I developed a system where we keep those records on a paint recipe card complete with product details, which surfaces in your home the paint was used on, the weather conditions and of course the most important, a real sample out of every gallon we mix. This way, we can maintain the consistency of the color and sheen of the paint. Other stores keep files on the computer but without that sample, they really don’t know if the paint will match.”
Other unique services include on-site color consultations in homes or businesses. They also do in-store consultations with homeowners, builders and designers who bring in fabric, tile, flooring, and countertop samples to enable choosing the right paint color. “The paint is the glue that brings everything together.
“To help our customers choose the perfect color, we actually mix the paint and roll out a textured sample to help see the undertones of the color. Lighting in your space is so very influential on the color, we urge you to take the large sample home and see how it looks. If it doesn’t look right, pick another color, we’ll make another sample.”
A visit to The Paint Store in Van Buren is more than just a great shopping experience, it’s also an abbreviated tour of Sue’s life. That explains why it’s most likely the only paint store on the planet that also sells unique plants and produce as well as AGW Certified Grass-fed beef cuts and free-range chicken eggs from M&M Farms, which Sue owns with her husband Tom.
“We’re so grateful for the folks who have supported us all these years,” she says. “We love being part of the community, we give back, and we like to think we’ve made it a little more beautiful, one gallon or bite of nutrition & flavor, at a time.”
