Strategies_Spring2023

HEART OF HARDWARE

Owner of River Valley Supply LLC, Spencer Linville, and his wife, Kara, pose for a family photo with their four children, Nola, Samuel, Emily and Audrey.

Dedicated to Family River Valley Supply Owner Receives a Surprise With Fourth Child

T en years ago, River Valley Supply LLC, a closed hardware store in Douglass, Kansas, at the age of 23. Spencer Linville purchased

He opened the store and contacted Blish-Mize, who had supplied the store before the previous owners closed the business. “I relied heavily on Blish-Mize in the early days,” Spencer says. “I honestly had no idea what I was doing, but knew I could do it with their help.” As the business grew, so did Spencer’s confidence. The community of Douglass, a town of less than 2,000 people, also rallied behind their local

hardware store. Sporting 3,000 square feet of retail space and several warehouses for larger tstock items, River Valley Supply not only serves the town of Douglass, but also the surrounding rural areas that have no dedicated hardware store. “We offer deliveries within 75 miles of our store. It’s one way we’ve used customer service to grow,” Spencer says. “We can deliver to those looking

22 Spring 2023 • Hardlines Strategies