S.W. Collins puts family into hardware business

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    The S.W. Collins family was welcomed to Houlton with a grand opening celebration on Nov. 13.
    A special guest for the event was Maine’s United States Senator Susan M. Collins, who joined with her brothers, Sam and Gregg for the opening ceremonies.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photograph/Karen Donato
MEET AND GREET — Maine’s United States Senator, Susan M. Collins was in Houlton to visit the newest Collins Company acquisition. To her left are Barrett Potter of Katahdin Trust Company and her brother Gregg.
    It’s all about family, a family of owners and a family of employees.
    The S.W. Collins Company was established in 1844, on the north side of the Caribou Stream. It is now owned by the fifth generation of the Collins family of Caribou.
    The first business began as a sawmill built by Samuel W. Collins. The company specialized in cedar shingles, and a general store was added later. Following his death in 1899, his youngest son Herschel took over. Herschel not only continued in the lumber business, but also developed his potato farm. With the coming of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad in 1895 and the development of commercial fertilizers in the early 1900s, Aroostook County farming was flourishing.
    Since that time each generation of the family has left their mark on the history of the company. The farmland was later sold to private individuals for new home sites.
    Then Donald F. Collins transitioned the business of selling land, building homes and manufacturing lumber into a company that distributes lumber and building supplies. In 1970 he designed and began construction of a store that offered products for the do-it-yourselfers and walk-in trade, in addition to contractors.
     In 1993 the Collins Family expanded to Presque Isle and now Houlton. Donald’s sons lead the company today, Sam in Caribou and Gregg in Presque Isle.
    In 2006 they purchased the Almon H. Fogg Company, a Houlton landmark since 1859. This past year the Collins brothers began a remodeling and restructuring of the company. They utilized the resources of the Do It Best Corporation based in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
    “We selected this company because they represent conservatism, efficiency and had zero debt,” said Gregg Collins.
    “We also liked their product line,” he added.
    The Do It Best Corporation is also based on a true American success story. What began with one businessman’s little idea grew into a multi-billion dollar company. The success of this idea reflects the Aroostook County adage of hard work, innovation and determination — the same values the Collins family has demonstrated.
    The Do It Best WEB site explains how Arnold Gerberding started this company in 1900. Gerberding worked in a hardware store from the time he finished high school. He met challenges right away in competing with the retail chains like Sears, Roebuck Co. and Montgomery Ward, Inc.   
    He was always looking for ways to improve his store’s pricing and was impressed with the local farm co-ops. In the late 1930s he took the research that he found and developed a new co-op that would serve independent retailers in the Midwest. Co-ops were simply; many stores buying in quantity, getting better deals than if they purchased individually. He left the hardware business and went on the road to find candidates willing to invest $1,000 each to join the co-op. In 1945, the first co-op was established called Hardware Wholesalers. The entire board consisted of co-op members and to this day the tradition remains.
    The Do It Best Corporation opened its first distribution center in 1971 in Ft. Wayne. They currently have centers in eight other states.Houlton Pioneer Times Photograph/Karen Donato
FRIENDS FROM FAR AND NEAR — The S.W. Collins store welcomed friends and relatives from Ft. Wayne, Ind. to Caribou, Me. for their Grand Opening at their newest store in Houlton. Attending the celebration were the Collins’ sister, United States Senator Susan M. Collins; Lise Collins, wife of Sam Collins; Maine Representative, Roger Sherman; Do It Best President Bob Taylor; with company representatives, Robert Gumash, George Reppucci, and Larry Borseti; and Store Manager, Scott Dionne. Other town officials and business leaders or customers include: Nancy Ketch, Walter Goodrich, Doug Hazlett, Steve St. Pierre, Rob Faulkner, Dana Delano, Ryan Bushey, John Fitzpatrick, Sue Tortello, Jon McLaughlin, Paul Cleary, Kimberly Seger, Lori Weston, Debbie Henderson, Fred Grant, Tom Goodyear, Ruth Pelletier, Cindy Dufour, Dan McLain, Steve and Andrea Hutchinson, Barrett Potter, and John Tribou. In front are, Sam Collins, owner; Scott Dionne, store manager; and Gregg Collins, owner.
    This company focuses on looking different. They don’t want to look the same in every town. Their concept is to use bright colors and signs to create a warm and exciting environment for the customers and the employees.
    Sam Collins is excited to be here in Houlton. He was more than complimentary of the welcome his family has received.
     Collins said, “It has been a challenging year for us, the employees and the customers. With the Bangor Street construction that made just getting into the yard a test of driving talent, to the updating of the entire store. We started with the ceiling and went to the floor, updating everything.”
    The interior is very bright, clean and organized. Displays are clearly marked and the variety of products is excellent. There is also a new kitchen and bath design area.
    Cindy Dufour, is the certified kitchen and bath designer for the Caribou store. She is excited to welcome Billie Jo Senzek to the Houlton facility. Senzek is completing her degree at Northern Maine Community College in architectural drafting. She helped Dufour design the Houlton kitchen and bath center and is in the store on the days she doesn’t have class.
    Dufour has been employed by the Collins family for more than four years and loves her job.
    “What I do is fun!” she added.
    Manager of the Houlton store is Scott Dionne of Mars Hill. He began at the Caribou store when he was 16 years old and in high school. He continued to work there through college.
     Dionne said, “I am very appreciative of the support the Collins family has shown me. Without the job I certainly would have struggled financially through school.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photograph/Karen Donato
HARD AT WORK — Longtime employees, Chris Putnam and Greg Fitzpatrick continue to serve their old and new customers. Fitzpatrick says, “It’s nice to see some of the folks that have retired come into the store and reminisce about the early days of Fogg’s Hardware.
    After college he worked in Brewer for a millwright and taught school for a couple of years. Then he was persuaded to come back and work for Sam and Gregg.
  “The Collins’ are very committed to their business. Although it has taken a year, they have taken it step by step. They have updated everything from top to bottom. In addition to that they have upgraded some major equipment and delivery vehicles,” he said.
    “They also provide a great benefits package for their employees and they care about each person,” he added. “They lead by example. They promote the overall well being of each individual. They encourage you to lead a healthy life and promote programs that will help you.”
    Longtime employee. Greg Fitzpatrick shared in Dionne’s comments.
    “The Collins made the ownership transition easy for the employees. They demonstrated patience and understanding,” he said.
    Fitzpatrick admitted it was a bit unsettling at times, with a new computer system being put in place and having the entire inventory moved to new locations, but it was worth it.
    “The store has a fresh new look and it’s a pleasant place to work,” he added.
    There are 16 full-time employees in the Houlton store. Many of them started with the Almon H, Fogg Co. under the ownership of James and Francis Pierce, then worked for Albert Putnam, Steve and Nathaniel Richardson and now the Collins family. Fitzpatrick has been there 40 years, Joe Duff, 35, Chris Putnam, 19 and Allen Duff, 17. Other seasoned employees are Jack Ketch and Linda Williams.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photograph/Karen Donato
FRIENDLY FACES — Jack Ketch, Mary Corey, Wendy Caron and Linda Williams are ready to serve you with their new S.W. Collins apparel. They invite you in to see their updated store.
    Clint Cushman, a local contractor commented on the new look of the store. He liked the displays and that there was a better selection of tools and products.
     “I like to see what I am buying, not just a picture in a book,” he said.
    Joining in the celebration was the President of Do It Best, Bob Taylor from Ft. Wayne. Accompanying him to the ribbon cutting were, Robert Gumash, project manager from Pittsburg, Larry Borseti, regional manager from Boston and George Reppucci, retail paint development manager from Kennebunk.
    Taylor reinforced his company’s philosophy of helping members of the co-op build together and to operate stores more effectively, employing staff that knows their customers and the importance of employing women.
    A hardware store is not the common store for women, but when they do have needs some may feel more comfortable having a woman help them.
    As Houlton area residents grow accustomed to the name change, many will never forget where the Almon H. Fogg Co. began in 1859.
    For those unfamiliar with the history, it occupied the corner of Main and Mechanic streets where Polaris Cable is today. Fogg and his partner Augustus N. Pierce established the company. It remained there for 100 years and was open except for one year due to the original store being destroyed by a fire.
    In 1866, Pierce died and his brother, Clarence, purchased his interest. Both men were active in the community. Fogg being listed as one of the founders of the Houlton Savings Bank, and Pierce one of the organizers of the Houlton Water Company. He also served as the president of the First National Bank.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photograph/Karen Donato
DO IT BEST WITH COLLINS — S.W. Collins Company celebrated their Grand Opening of their Houlton store on Nov.13 with special guests including their sister, Maine’s United States Senator, Susan M. Collins. Pictured from left are, Sam Collins, owner; George Reppucci, retail paint development manager of the Do It Best Corporation; President of Do It Best, Bob Taylor; Senator Collins, and Gregg Collins, owner. In back: Robert Gumash, project manager for the Collins project; Scott Dionne, general manager; and Larry Borseti, regional manager of Do It Best.
    Prior to 1871 all supplies were received by horse-drawn wagons in the summer and sleds in the winter. With the introduction of the railroad in 1894, Fogg, together with a personal friend Edwin W. Tibbets, a representative who supplied doors, windows and lumber were among the first passengers.
    In 1902, after a devastating fire that took the wooden building, they were back in business the next day in temporary quarters with a plan to build a brick three-story building. The retail store stayed at the Main Street address until 1984 when it moved to the warehouse on Bangor Street. The warehouse was built in 1949 and was redesigned to incorporate the retail part of the business.
    After 149 years, it may take awhile to switch the name in people’s minds from Fogg’s to Collins, but the bottom line is the excellent service and quality will continue and the home town store and familiar faces are a welcome sight.