Headquartered in Huntington, W. Va., JABO Supply Corp., a wholesale distributor of pipe, valves and fittings, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. It’s customer base includes the mining and chemical industries, power generation facilities, utilities, and mechanical and plumbing contractors. As a family-owned and -operated company, we wanted to find out, from its lens, about the JABO’s milestones, its culture, and if the next generation — that being the third — also has PVF in their DNA. 

We sat down with Jay Bazemore, president and second-generation family member in the business, to celebrate all that is JABO and hear how it is preparing for the next 60 years. 

The Wholesaler: Reflecting on the past 60 years, can you share with us the founding vision of JABO Supply? What prompted the start of the company, and how have the values and aspirations of the founders shaped the company’s trajectory? 

Jay Bazemore: It all started in the early 1960s when my Uncle Bob Bazemore, and his brother, my father, Jack Bazemore, were working for a PVF distributor in Huntington, W. Va., specializing in the water and wastewater sectors. Uncle Bob was the vice president of sales, and my father was working as an inside salesman. As the company grew, Uncle Bob recognized that while three-quarters of the year showed robust sales, the winter months presented challenges. 

During that period, Huntington and its neighboring cities were in the midst of an industrial renaissance. Bob Bazemore saw an opportunity to propose diversification to mitigate the slow seasons and tap into this burgeoning market. Unfortunately, the owners were not receptive to the idea.

Undeterred, he discussed the situation with my father, and together they devised a plan to establish their own enterprise. With Uncle Bob’s savings and my father’s modest means, alongside the responsibility of raising my two young sisters at home, they were determined to make it work. In 1964, they presented their business plan to a bank that was so impressed, it immediately said, “When do you want your money”? 

They formed JABO Supply (taken from Jack and Bob) in a repurposed Amoco gas station, which served as the company’s initial warehouse, complete with a modest pipe yard for its inventory. Right from the start, JABO’s guiding principle was “service is more than a promise,” a credo that continues to resonate in every facet of our business to this day.

Today, the company remains family-owned and operated. We have five locations in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky, and are nearly 90 employees strong. My wife, Kesha, works in accounts receivable, and my oldest son, Jaxon, works here in the summer (like I did!) while attending college at Marshall University.

TW: Could you recount some of the defining or memorable milestones in JABO Supply’s history and explain their importance to both the family and the company?

JB: Even though we have been primarily industrial for most of our years in business, we  realized that we needed to diversify. For a long time, a big part of our business was PVF sold into the coal mining sector. With ever-changing markets, we saw the need to expand our horizons again. 

We added a bulk hose and assembly program in two locations. We made more significant gains with our in-house actuation and controls offerings. We expanded our high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fabrication shop to a new building with substantial space to grow. We added a second HDPE fabrication shop at another location. Then, during COVID-19, when we were grounded, we huddled up in the conference room or on Zoom for the better half a year. 

When we emerged, we planned to expand into the water/wastewater markets that Jack and Bob Bazemore behind initially. Since 2021, it has been the fastest-growing segment of our business and went from zero to our second-largest market. It has been so exciting to see the growth and more of our good people come along and take on more significant leadership roles. We also hired some key team members who have helped cement our long-term growth.

TW: How has JABO Supply maintained its family-owned and -operated ethos throughout its growth and advancements? How do these values influence your relationships with customers and suppliers? 

JB: I know this sounds cliché, but it has always been about treating everyone fairly and like family. We want all our people to succeed. My father, Jack Bazemore, always instilled in me and our other leaders that we never do anything anyone would consider below board or unfair. If you are honest and treat people respectfully, you will be rewarded in the long run. 

This has always been true with our customers and supply chain partners. We have so many vendors we have done business with for decades, and the same goes for our customers. Give them the best service at a good price, and be honest and transparent. It is still a people-to-people business.

TW: The PVF industry has seen considerable changes over the years. How has JABO Supply adapted to them?

JB: The industry is in a constant state of evolution, and it seems as though every decade brings a significant disruption. Take, for example, the discovery of new oil and gas reserves in the U.S. years ago, which led to the fracking boom. Then there were the lead-free policies for drinking water, followed by the crisis in Flint, Mich. It’s crucial to remain committed to your core business and leverage your strengths, but you must also be flexible enough to implement changes. The ability to adapt in a constantly shifting landscape is essential for prosperity.

TW: Family businesses often have a strong sense of community and lasting relationships with employees, customers and suppliers. How has JABO Supply fostered these relationships over the decades, and what impact have they had on the company’s success? 

JB: Being a small family-owned business has its challenges but is also so incredibly rewarding. Being able to know all your employees personally and knowing many times what is happening with them in their personal lives. It fosters trust. We have had so many milestones together, whether it’s the birth a new child or a marriage. Or we lean on each other and cry together with the loss of a loved one. 

The same goes with many of our long-term supply chain partners. Some of these relationships go back decades. We have won battles together and we’ve lost some, too, but we need each other to be successful. It is imperative, maybe more than ever, to lean into those relationships and for the next generation of leaders to foster their own. 

TW: Looking forward, what are the plans for ensuring the continuity of JABO Supply’s family legacy? Are other family members being prepared to take on leadership roles? 

JB: As I noted before, my oldest son, Jaxon, has been working summers with us since he was 15. He’s currently enrolled in college and plans to come aboard full-time after he finishes. My youngest son, Brooks, is only 11, so he still has time to figure out what he wants to do. The business isn’t for everyone, but most people who join rarely leave — it’s contagious. 

We have a great leadership team as well. Some team members, such as my CFO Joe Holley, have been with us for 50 years, and my Operations Manager Kevin Roach for 40. It’s also exciting to watch some of our younger employees grow and take on more responsibility. These are truly exciting times!

TW: How is the company celebrating its anniversary?

JB: Probably keeping it in typical JABO fashion, which is low key. We’ll invite customers and vendors to come and celebrate with us at our Huntington location — enjoy each other’s company to celebrate where we’ve been and toast each other to what comes next.