Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994 TAG: 9404070226
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But he did know something about horticulture.
"I studied horticulture in high school and one time came in third in a statewide competition," he said.
Boggs went to Walton High School in his native Roane County, W. Va., north of Charleston.
At that time, however, he never thought horticulture and hardware would come together.
But they have and now horticulture plays a big part in giving Delta Supply an advantage over its competitors.
Delta - a hardware, lawn, garden and rent center - has its own greenhouse 32 by 100 feet and the growing of bedding plants has become one of the store's biggest items.
Boggs estimates that somewhere in the neighborhood of a half million vegetable and flower plants come from the greenhouse each year. They go to individuals who buy half a dozen for the home garden and to other stores that buy them wholesale in large quantities.
The sale of plants is one of the store's biggest commodities in the spring.
Boggs is the chief plant grower but he gets help from brother, David, and sister Eileen. Eileen only helps in the greenhouse but David works fulltime with the company and is now the store's manager.
Along with the greenhouse the store has a complete lawn and garden department.
Another big item in the spring, David Boggs said, is cement. This goes primarily to contractors and individuals who start up construction projects with the coming of warm weather.
But these are only some of the features the store uses to keep ahead of the competition - the biggest of which, Boggs said is the Salem outlet of Northwest Hardware.
Otherwise, Delta, being in the Glenvar section of western Roanoke County, is in an area with few other major competitors.
But that doesn't stop Boggs from continuing to make improvements to satisfy his customers and win new ones.
Manager David Boggs said Delta will match Northwest on the price of everything.
"And we try to offer better service," David said.
The store also offers a repair department for small engines and kerosene heaters and cement and other items for building contractors.
And being close to a rural area where many people use propane and get water from wells, Delta does a brisk business in propane gas tank refilling and water softener salts.
Additionally, the store offers charge accounts and a rental department with the slogan "We rent most anything."
Delta Supply, which has two fulltime and two parttime employees, is affiliated with ServiStar,(cq) a cooperative marketing group for independently-owned hardware stores.
Boggs worked in the store for about 10 years before he bought it in January 1992. Brother David began working there in 1990.
Delta Supply is at 3954 W. Main St., Salem, in the Glenvar area of western Roanoke County. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Telephone 380-2060.
by CNB