School Resources, Inc. has been in business in Belmont, NC since 1948. We have gone through several generations of educators and product lines, but our commitment to customer service has remained at the forefront of what we do. Richard S Cromlish, Sr. founded this company on the belief that the customer comes first and that we should give them the utmost respect and assistance when it comes to meeting their needs. Whether it was for a 2 cent pencil or $20 adding machine, he believed that making sure they were satisfied was more important than their purchase. He instilled this into his sons Richard S Cromlish, Jr and John S Cromlish and they carried on the business after his untimely death in 1969. School Resources grew to be a large catalog retailer during the 70’s and 80’s, but we never lost the idea that we need to serve the customer first. This included giving discounts to local churches and church related day-cares as a way to give back to the local community. Richard, Sr served on the Belmont City Council and various other charitable organizations during his lifetime and was a well-liked pillar of the Belmont Community.
Richard, Jr, better known as Dick, has maintained the business since 1969 and has seen it through one name change and several economic downturns and up-ticks. He was taught by his father that the education business can be recession proof, but the problem now is that it’s not internet and big-box store proof. School Resources is facing the same problem that a lot of other small businesses are facing, the onslaught of the internet for purchasing various products and services as well as the big-box buying power factor. Two things exist with this paradigm, one is the buying power of big-box stores, which gives them the ability to price products at such an attractive savings that small businesses can’t compete. The other is the fact that the internet has given rise to the price conscious shopper who can find the best price for a good or service and then order it without having to deal with anyone. But, what happens when the product breaks after the warranty is over or if there is a problem with the product? If you purchase from a big-box or an internet retailer you may very well be on your own, but if you purchase from a small business in your local community, you probably will get the service and commitment to customer satisfaction not required by the other two types of businesses.
What’s all this have to do with educational and classroom equipment? It has plenty to do with buying your classroom equipment and educational equipment locally, you know that you will get the service and support that you expect and deserve.
