ARA

Ozark’s Beasley Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki Wins Silver “Retailer of the Year” Award

Thursday, September 27, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The  Alabama Retail Association (ARA) in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Thursday, Sept. 27, recognized nine outstanding Alabama retailers as “Retailers of the Year.” The association and UAB also recognized the Belk and Hess families as “Retail Giants.” The presentations were made at The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel during UAB’s 2007 Retail Day Luncheon. This marked the eighth presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999. The awards returned this year after taking a hiatus in 2006.

07BeasleySilverMT$5M Jerry G. Beasley , president and chief executive officer of Beasley Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki in Ozark, received the Silver Award in the “Annual Sales More Than $5 Million” category. Beasley is the immediate past chairman of the Alabama Retail Association and is an Alabama Retail Comp trustee. Jeanette Reeves, executive director of the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce, nominated Beasley for this prestigious award.

The independent panel of judges who chose the Retailer of the Year finalists cited this family business for its long-term growth, recent renovation and great community service.

“What began as a start-up business with one employee in a 900-square-foot facility now consists of 15 employees in a 20,200-square-foot facility with sales in excess of $6 million,” Reeves said in her nomination of Beasley. In June, the company completed a half million dollar renovation of its facility on U.S. 231.

Beasley opened Beasley Equipment Co. in 1957, selling lawn, garden and forestry equipment. In 1962, the company began servicing boats and motors. It obtained a Honda motorcycle franchise in 1964 and added Yamaha and Kawasaki franchises in 1995.

Beasley is the company’s president, while sons John and Bob serve as vice presidents. John also serves as general manager.

“Jerry has always felt you should support the community where your business is located,” Reeves stated in the nomination. To that end, he has served as president of the Ozark Area Chamber, on the City Planning Commission, 15 years on the Ozark City School Board, 12 years on the Ozark Utilities Board and as chairman of the Dale County United Way along with serving on many other boards and in many capacities for community organizations.

“Jerry Beasley is a retailer of the year EVERY year to his employees and the Ozark community,” said Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association.

The other winners in the “Annual Sales More Than $5 Million” category were:
• Gold Award : Steven M. Sandlin, Pay-Less Pharmacy Group, Decatur; nominated by John Seymour, president and chief executive officer, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.
• Bronze Award : Bryan K. Owens and John B. Marshall, Unclaimed Baggage Center, Scottsboro; nominated by Rick Roden, president and chief executive officer, Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

John R. Belk, president and chief operating officer of Belk Inc. and the keynote speaker for the Retail Day luncheon, accepted Belk Inc.’s “Retail Giant” award on behalf of himself, his brothers and the company. Donald Hess, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Parisians, accepted the Hess family’s “Retail Giant” award. The Retailer of the Year judges voted to present these special one-time awards to recognize the significant contributions to retailing made by Parisian and the Hess family as well as Belk Inc. and the Belk family.

Bronze, silver and gold awards were presented in two other categories by Alabama annual sales volume:

Annual Sales $1 Million To $5 Million 
•  Gold Award : Jo Ellen Jordan, Cook & Sons Ace Hardware Inc., Albertville; nominated by Jennifer Palmer, president, Albertville Chamber of Commerce.
•  Silver Award: Mickey, Michael and John Gee, Pants Store Inc./Taylor Company Inc., Leeds; nominated by Tricia Ford, executive director, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Gee, vice president, Taylor Co. Inc.
•  Bronze Award : Michael Ray Jones, Mike’s Merchandise, Guntersville; nominated by Virginia Bagwell, Guntersville.

Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million  
•  Gold Award : Shawn Beitelspacher, Southern Sole, Tuscaloosa; nominated by Lauren Skinner, Ph.D., assistant professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
•  Silver Award : Anne A. Appleby, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Auxiliary Gift Shop, Foley; nominated by Fran Barr, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Auxiliary.
•  Bronze Award : Montez Oudenaarden, My Favorite Things, Monroeville; nominated by Sandy Smith, executive director, Monroe County Chamber of Commerce.

“This was an exciting day for us,” ARA President Brown said.  “It is an honor to be able to recognize such an outstanding group of retailers. Each retailer honored is a credit to the profession and a community asset.”

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Media Contact: Nancy King Dennis | 334.263.5757 Ext. 101 | 800.239.5423