Surrounded by sectionals, couches and other furniture, it doesn’t take long to see why Barry’s Furniture continues to grow far beyond its base off Highway 31 in Jemison, Alabama.
Another couple has read about its selection and pricing online, figured it was worth the drive to take a look, and has walked inside the showroom and left with another order added to the business’ books.
“I enjoy seeing people come in and helping them find the furniture they needed for their homes,” said manager, president and part owner Chuck Odom. “That’s what I like most about the business.”
Originally founded by the late Betty Adams in 1963 and now owned by her daughters and Odom, the Barry’s Furniture store in Jemison is less than two miles from the Regions Bank it has done business with for more than 32 years.
Located about 46 miles south of Birmingham, Jemison owes its roots to a location along a stagecoach and, later, train route.
Transportation – and personal relationships – continue to play an important role in the town of about 3,000 residents, which has become a growing bedroom community for Birmingham. The city’s population has nearly doubled in since the turn of the millennium and celebration of the Jemison centennial in 2007.
Odom points to the impact of the company’s new delivery truck as the latest example of its easy access to roads and the small-business success support from Regions Branch Manager Rex Bittle and the Jemison branch team.
“Recently, we had a buy a new commercial delivery truck and were able to get that from Regions since they provide equipment finance,” Odom said. “That’s a service a lot of banks in small towns either don’t offer or have expertise in at that level.
“I was able to go into the office, see Rex and get the money for the truck approved that same day.”
Bittle said small businesses are important to Regions because they’re the lifeblood of the economy. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are 33.2 million small businesses the U.S. They employ nearly half of all workers and account for 43.5 percent of all production.
About 12 million of those businesses are located where Regions has bank branches – why Regions has created a new Senior Small Business Relationship Banker position and is increasing specialized training to further increase service to small businesses while giving bankers another way to build their knowledge and careers.
“A small town like Jemison is very reliant on small businesses being successful, and they need banking like big businesses do — not to mention the personal relationships that are so important,” Bittle said.
“Small business is important to the growth of Regions as a bank and ensuring my relationships with small businesses like Barry’s Furniture are strong is fundamental to help them grow and attain the success they’re looking for.”
Small business is important to the growth of Regions as a bank and ensuring my relationships with small businesses like Barry’s Furniture are strong is fundamental to help them grow and attain the success they’re looking for.
Rex Bittle, Regions Branch Manager
Odom said Barry’s needed a second delivery truck since the business had become larger than the first could serve.
“Now we can have two trucks out at all times and cover the whole state,” he said. “It’s going to really help our customers and our business. Everyone loves the new truck.”
Bittle said he loves being part of a bank that’s small enough to care and big enough to serve.
“I love being part of a big bank with a hometown feel like Regions,” said Bittle, coming up soon on his 13th-year anniversary with the bank.
“Because of our size and scale, we can not only offer everything from basic banking to more sophisticated treasury management and equipment finance services for businesses like Barry’s but match that with personalized solutions delivered with care,” he said.
“It all starts with listening to and knowing customers like Chuck as people and business owners and their needs. It’s exciting to see that new truck on the road and think of all the new spaces enhanced as a result.”
Watch the video to hear Odom and Bittle talk about Barry’s Furniture and its latest addition.
See the Small Business section of Regions.com to learn more about the bank’s free, personalized Regions Greenprint® plan and other services, insights and tools to help businesses grow and achieve their goals.
Note: Experiences and opinions stated by customers are their own. References to companies in this article not owned by Regions do not imply endorsement.