HEREABOUTS DIANA BLOWERS
Most 24 year olds are just launching their careers, but Jim Barney has already been working in his for 10 years.
He was 14 when he started working at Barney’s Hardware, the Beavercreek business this parents, Dave and Rita Barney, opened in 1987.
The 2004 Carroll High School graduate took business classes at Sinclair Community College and decided in 2005 to “make this my career when I realized that I loved what I was doing.”
The 3375 Dayton-Xenia Road location is the former home of Dunnigan’s Hardware, run by the late Paul Dunnigan.
“My father came to the Beavercreek hardware location when the Dunnigans retired in 1987. He and his uncle co-owned three Ballweg Hardware stores until 1996 when they separated and Barney’s Hardware was established,” Jim Barney said.
“My dad is still active in the store, helping me learn everything I need to know about owning my own business,” he said, noting that his mother is the store’s bookkeeper and that his own title is that of store manager.
“I take care of all the day-to-day business of serving our customers, ordering, employee relations, coordinating store layout and displays, store planning, advertising, etc. I will be the next generation to own this store,” he said.
“I enjoy being my own boss, knowing that every decision I make affects how our business thrives. Every day brings a new challenge to solve — some home repair issue for my customers. I get great satisfaction when customers return to the store to thank us for helping them complete their project.”
As a first-time homeowner, he’s learning personally what his customers need and want.
“The customers have always been the best part and I feel a sense of satisfaction when I leave for the day knowing I helped them in some way.”
There is a misconception that a small, privately-owned business can’t compete with the large box stores, he said.
“We have a complete selection and our pricing is comparable with our competition ... I strive for a ‘get in and get out’ with what you need in a timely fashion so that customers can finish their projects and jobs with the expert advice they need.”
Between work and home repairs, he doesn’t have much free time but when he does, Barney likes to fish, golf, bike and “pretty much anything to do with my hands and the outdoors.”
Contact this columnist at dsb@donet.com.