COMPANY HISTORY & MISSION

Weinstein Supply Company was started in 1922 by brothers Jack and Joe Weinstein. It began as a small hardware store in West Philadelphia. A few years later they moved to Lancaster Avenue, the current location of our Philadelphia branch. Over the next thirty years Jack and Joe ran the business out of that one location and specialized in plumbing and heating.

In 1948, Joe�s son, Nat, joined the Company. Then, in 1954, Jack passed away. His son Howard was serving in Korea at the time and had to come back home to help run the Company. The three partners worked together at the Philadelphia store until 1962, when Nat went out and opened the branch in Lansdowne. Howard also got his chance at starting a branch when Willow Grove was opened in 1967. Tragically, in 1971 Nat died, followed by Joe�s passing a few years later. At that point, Howard became the sole owner.

The next decade saw a rapid expansion of the Company with the addition of Allentown, Lancaster, and Reading in Pennsylvania, and Somers Point and Pleasantville in New Jersey. The Camden branch was added in 1990, followed by Norristown in 1996, which brought the number of branches to 10. Then in 1997, the Company almost doubled in size with the acquisition of the wholesale locations of the Speakman Company. The newer branches are in West Chester and Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; Millville and Rio Grande, New Jersey; Wilmington and Dover, Delaware; and Chestertown and Cambridge, Maryland. In 1998, the company added two more branches: Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Howard�s sons Bruce and Paul joined the Company in the 1980�s and then son Ivan and son-in-law Doug in 1996, insuring continued family involvement.

The plumbing, heating and air conditioning wholesale distribution industry is undergoing a number of significant changes. Competition from national and international consolidators and from the �big box� retailers is significantly increasing. Access to capital is necessary to fund investments in technology and growth. This increase in competition is causing every independent wholesaler to make choices in the best interest of their employees and their customers.

Thus, in August of 1999, Weinstein Supply Corporation chose to join forces with Hajoca Corporation, a national company with �local roots�, founded in Philadelphia over 140 years ago, and currently headquartered in Ardmore, PA. Weinstein Supply Corporation sold certain assets and the rights to our trade name �Weinstein Supply� to Hajoca Corporation. Hajoca has been participating in the national consolidation of our industry, and their alliance with Weinstein Supply strengthens our presence in this market area.

Hajoca is a nationwide wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, and industrial products. With over 200 locations operating under approximately 25 trade names, Hajoca is one of the largest companies in the industry. Under the Hajoca management philosophy, each location is run by it�s manager as a semi-independent business, thus enjoying the advantages of a national distributor while at the same time remaining sensitive to the needs of local customers.

Today, Weinstein Supply continues to be the major plumbing and heating wholesaler in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Our motto, Progress in Action, expresses our commitment to keep abreast of advancing technology and to provide our customers with the products they need, the service they want and the expertise they expect from an industry leader.

COMPANY OBJECTIVES

• To distribute high-quality plumbing, heating and air conditioning products, as well as kitchen cabinets, in the geographic areas we serve.
• To conduct our business in an ethical way in our relationships with customers, vendors, employees and the government.
• To create an environment for our employees in which they feel satisfied, fulfilled, and challenged.
• To provide excellent service to our customers with our high inventory levels, deliveries, and courteous, knowledgeable and professional sales personnel.
• To educate our employees and customers on the latest product advancements and changes.