Carlie C’s, Warren Oil, Godwin Manufacturing are Impressive Locally Owned Businesses
business, carlie c's, carlie c. mclamb, entrepreneurship, godwin manufacturing, iga grocery stores, warren oil,
In three Harnett County home grown businesses‚ gold comes in more than the usual color.
At any one of the 12 Carlie C’s IGA grocery stores located in the region‚ shoppers will find “green gold” in the form of Uncle Bob’s Collards.
Packaged and distributed year-round from Carlie C’s Harnett County head quarters‚ the “green gold”-dubbed collards are a big hit. “They are so good‚ and they’re not available just everywhere‚” says Carla Lubbers‚ the company’s chief financial officer and daughter of company founder Carlie C. McLamb.
Known for excellent customer service‚ Carlie C’s has had success since 1961 in the competitive grocery store business‚ doing well against the big guys (including national discounters) and becoming the state’s largest IGA retailer. Carlie C’s is a family-owned-and-operated business‚ with the senior McLamb still involved in the daily operations of the 600+ employee business‚ along with his wife of 52 years‚ Joyce. Son Mack (Carlie C. Jr.) is the CEO‚ daughter Toni operates a market‚ and some of the grandchildren are in the family act.
Store-made sausage and barbecue sauce (it’s vinegar-based in true Carolina style) keep bringing customers back‚ but it’s that extra mile that has made Carlie C’s a favorite.
“You like people being able to call you by your first name‚” Lubbers says. “We want everybody smiling when they walk out the door.”
Black gold can be found at another Harnett County-based business‚ Warren Oil Co. Founded by Irvin Warren in the 1970s with less than $20‚000 and a 5‚000-square-foot warehouse‚ the business had sales exceeding $350 million in 2006 and more than a half-million square feet. In 2003‚ he bought out his largest competitor. Not bad for a man who grew up on a Sampson County tobacco farm.
One of the most satisfying aspects of his career deals with his employees. “The first employee I ever hired is still with me‚” says Warren.
With headquarters in Dunn and facilities in five other states‚ Warren Oil sells its automotive lubricants and household chemical products in all 50 states and exports to 48 countries. It is a company of notable firsts: first company to delve into the independent oil pro duction field; first to make the transition from metal to plastic packaging; first to offer generic brands; and first to move from a customer base in auto-specialty stores to national discount and convenience store chains.
Another first recently launched: an oil cleaner – a live microbe that eats the oil. “My job is to sell oil products‚ but creative thinking tells you that if you spill the stuff‚ somebody has to clean it up. Why not us?” Warren says.
The gold at Godwin Manufacturing is actually blue‚ and it comes in the form of a welding torch flame.
In 1966‚ Pat Godwin quit his job as a soft-drink route salesman and picked up a welding torch for the first time‚ taking the first step toward establishing one of Harnett County’s most successful businesses. Godwin Manufacturing employs 175 locally and has four other locations in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The largest privately held U.S. manufacturer of flatbeds‚ contractor beds‚ several models of hoists‚ rollback car riers and roll-off units‚ Godwin is a family-owned business spanning three generations of management. Committed to families‚ the company provides free child care for employees at its own modern daycare facility.
“I was raised poor and didn’t know it at the time‚” Godwin says. “I’m a country boy and always will be.”
Story by Betsy Williams
Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto
