On the last leg of my recent sales trip, I made a stop at Holmes Stair Parts in Holmesville, OH. Holmes is hidden gem. They manufacture wood spindles, balusters, handrails, and treads for the stair market. Holmes has enormous stock and ships product in three days. Besides stocking almost every species of wood needed for most stair parts, they also have a full custom line of carving for any unique application.

As the importers of stair parts cut back on stock and wood species offerings, Holmes increased its program. Holmes also sells directly to the end user, eliminating the extra cost of 2-step distribution.

Just like a previous company I had visited, Century Components in SugarCreek, OH, Holmes has back-up local suppliers of turnings and wood that can react quickly on any business spike. By selling directly to the fabricator, Holmes stays in control of the sale and keeps the pricing competitive.

OnPoint’s goal is first to rep quality manufacturers, then to look for American made products, We realize that not everything our shops need can be made here, but when the opportunity exists, we want to bring as many jobs home as possible. By representing both Century Components and Holmes Stair parts, we felt we hit a couple of home runs and we also learned that when local communities band together to help each other, the business is unstoppable.