HISTORY OF PIEDMONT |
| Piedmont Office Suppliers has been a fixture in Greensboro since 1944. It started with Harold Sharpe who first began working in the office supply industry in 1937. The first thing Harold Sharpe did when he came to Greensboro, in 1937 was see a cowboy movie. The second thing the wide-eyed 15 year old did was apply for a job at an office supply store. The son of a coal miner and farmer, Harold had come to Greensboro from West Virginia to visit his aunt and uncle. As he walked around downtown, he decided on an impulse to apply for a job at W.H. Fisher Co., an office supply and printing Company. “I walked in there one morning, two or three days after I was here, just to see what would happen to a hillbilly from West Virginia – how easy it was to get a job – and the manager at that time said ‘hang your coat right there.’ And that’s when I started.” After WWII and a four year stint in the Air Force he returned to join Piedmont Office Suppliers. The company carried office supplies and – when they could get them – early copiers, duplicating machines and office furniture. The shortages subsided and in 1969, Harold purchased Piedmont Office Suppliers. Soon thereafter Harold’s son, Steve, graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and joined the family business. Since 1976 Steve has been in sales, customer service, furniture design, purchasing and modernizing the company by installing a computerized ordering and inventory system(against the advice of Harold). The late 80’s introduced “big box stores” and altered the way the office supply industry conducted business. Around this time, Piedmont banded together with other independent suppliers forming a large buying group. The negotiating by the group drove costs down and provided a competitive edge for the group members. Since then Piedmont has proven: service, friendship, and competitive pricing still hold value in today’s market. In 1998, Steve’s son, Christopher graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and became the third generation to work at Piedmont Office Suppliers. Steve and Christopher are still active with the company today. |
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