| About Us |
| Smilin' Sam's, Inc. New Haven, MO 573-459-6483 |
| History This Businessman Doesn't Run in the Pack: Sam Adams Runs His Business Country Style as published in the Washington Missourian, Wed. November 21,1984 Smilin' Sam Adams believed in being an individual. He believed in doing things differently from other people. He avoided running in a pack. He was very much his own man. In October, 1979, he took on a venture that other persons may have laughed at, or perhaps, wrinkled their brows in disbelief. He opened a furniture business on his 22 acres near Campbellton. As a construction worker for 12 years, he grew tired of driving back and forth to St. Louis, he explained. He wanted to do something he could "operate at home." The 22 acres had once been a retail fruit orchard. People had come out to buy his products then. The orchard had convinced him that "people will drive the extra mile to get a good product and good service." "Just because a business hasn't been built on a farm, doesn't mean it can't," he said. He had the opportunity to buy some quality furniture at a good price. He became interested in what prices furniture was selling for in the areas and what could be done in volume selling. Because of his construction experience, he was interested in good quality. He chose furniture and carpet brands for their quality, not just their names. Adams said he started the business with his sons, Bruce and Bryan. His first full-time employees were Dave & Betty Allemann. "They helped out a lot. I owe a lot to them," he added. Today he has eight full-time employees. His oldest daughter, Sandy has also joined the business. Smilin' Sam's has expanded every year it has been in business. "It's kind of mind boggling," he said. Sales this year will touch $1 million. In 1979 he started selling in a barn. Soon thereafter, he started adding buildings "by leaps and bounds". In the beginning, he did a lot of his own building. Today he has about 25,000 square feet of floor space in ten buildings. Furniture buyers would have to travel to St. Louis or Jefferson City to find as much furniture in one store, he said. Adams recalled a time when he was 11 years old, living on the same farm. Daydreaming, he thought he could see a small town built on a hill on the farm. He never remembered that childhood daydream until after he opened the business and it began expanding into something much like a small town. He gets a lot of strange reactions from people who come out to the business. One woman who had obviously heard he had a furniture in a barn came dressed for the occasion. She wore bib overalls, flannel shirt, and boots. Many people, obviously skeptical, can't believe there's a business out in the country. They usually ask, "Does anyone come out here?" Adams replies, "Well you're here, and other folks have found it, too." People as far away as South Carolina have heard of Smilin' Sam's. Since many furniture manufacturers are located in that state, many truckers come from there. A tale was told in a South Carolina coffee shop about the gravel roads to the store. Another trucker said he had been there, too. Many are in horror the first time they see the gravel roads. Adams enjoys his unique setting. He enjoys having a lot of flowers and keeping the place neat and homey. It provides a relaxed atmosphere for the customers. The location hurts, however, until people come out to see what he has, he explained. He feels he has been successful, especially since he started his business when the furniture was depressed. He has sold to people as far away as Columbia, Jefferson City, and Illinois. His secret, he said is "learning how to deal with people. I really like people and I mean it." The furniture business is a "people business." He is willing to sit down and discuss problems with people. Adams gives credit where credit is due. Adams feels God has given him talents to do well. He has used these talents in a way to make his business successful. He also has a policy of high quality and lower prices. He sells "medium to high end furniture." This means although he sells the highest quality furniture, he also has something for everyone's pocketbooks. "Everyone can't drive a Cadillac," he stressed. He has never sold low end furniture, although he said the name Smilin' Sam's made some people think he was selling poor quality furniture. He feels a large selection is also a key. People like to look at more than one thing before deciding, he explained. He is able to have a large selection because his farm has room to expand. Adams is not interested in being the richest man in the world. He is concerned that he can take proper care of his employees so they in turn, can care for their families. For example, instead of bringing their own lunches, Adam's wife, Marie, cooks for them. He feels he has very dedicated employees. "They have gone the extra mile for us. I'm just the figurehead calling the shots. "They're the ones doing the work." Adams' wife has been supportive of the operation. If he says they need something, she trusts him, and so agrees with him. She now does the bookkeeping and has prepared thousands of meals for the employees. Smilin' Sam's keeps Adams busy, "so busy you don't realize how big you've gotten - how much you've grown." Today Many things have changed since that ad came out in the paper so many years ago. Sam passed away in the spring of 2003, leaving his sons, Bruce & Bryan, along with their wives, Sharon and Mary, to run the business. Gravel roads may be a thing of the past, but the lovely setting remains the same, as does the quality, selection, and customer service. View our That was then, this is now... page to see the Smilin' Sam's scrapbook. |
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