Ben and Fred Suffian founded Atlas Plumbing Supply in 1937 in St. Louis, Missouri with $5,000 of borrowed money. A testament to their smart investment, the company is celebrating 85 years of business this year.
Atlas Supply moved into its present 95,000-square-foot facility in St. Louis, Missouri in 1979. Today, Joel Suffian (l-r), Leigh Suffian and Brent Suffian lead the company.
Fred’s son Mike joined the company in 1959 and Atlas Supply procured the Ruud Water Heater line in 1960. In 1962, Fred’s son Bob joined his father and brother. The company became an American Standard wholesaler in 1965.
Atlas Supply moved one block east into its present 95,000-square-foot facility in 1979. Today, Mike’s son Joel, Mike’s daughter Leigh and Bob’s son Brent lead the company, which includes a 4,500-square-foot award-winning showroom/design studio in Brentwood.
“Originally called Atlas Plumbing Supply, we changed our name to Atlas Supply Company to reflect our deep and diverse inventory,” Brent Suffian said. “We stock and deliver not only commercial plumbing products, but also piping and industrial products, offering a wide range of commercial and industrial supplies. We support new construction, remodeling and government projects. Plus, our designer showroom, Immerse, offers residential plumbing fixtures and hardware.”
Immerse is a creative sanctuary and the only kitchen and bathroom plumbing gallery for design-centric clients and home professionals in the St. Louis area. Immerse showcases best in-class global offerings in an interactive and highly visual, serene environment.
Atlas Supply has always stood for truth, honesty and respect. “We embrace our roots, honor our past and work hard to ensure future success for our customers, our employees and our company,” Leigh Suffian said.
At Atlas Supply, customers have access to more than 200 years of combined knowledge of plumbing and piping solutions. The third-generation owners grew up in the industry. The business’ 40 staff members have worked as commercial and residential plumbers, manufacturer representatives or in positions to serve customers’ needs at the counter and over the phone.
“We have predominantly been in commercial plumbing but always tried to stay nimble and recognize opportunities advantageous to us as a company,” Brent Suffian said. “Over the years, we found niches in industrial plastics, in fiberglass pipe and fittings and in pop-up warehouses to get closer to customers whether through consigned inventory or just stocking warehouses more accessible to customers. The government segment is another opportunity, a newer addition in last five years, which has been beneficial to us as a company.”
At Atlas Supply, customers have access to more than 200 years of combined knowledge of plumbing and piping solutions. The third-generation owners grew up in the industry. The business’ 40 staff members have worked as commercial and residential plumbers, manufacturer representatives or in positions to serve customers’ needs at the counter and over the phone.
Like Atlas Supply’s owners, many of the company’s customers represent their company’s second or third generation. “We feel so fortunate to have such a strong and loyal customer base, and we regard it with great respect,” Leigh Suffian said. “We also place our employees in a very special category. Many have been with us for decades. We have also made a concerted effort to add young fresh faces from outside the industry to lend a new perspective and challenge us to remain relevant. This combination of knowledge and dedication exemplifies how Atlas has prospered through the test of time.”
The company’s 95,000-square-foot facility stocks a deep and broad level of local inventory to meet customers’ needs. Atlas Supply’s fleet of delivery trucks and vans enables the business to ship material to customers when they need it.
The company recently hired a chief technology officer to optimize inventory management, shipments, accounts receivable and accounts payable and strategize other efficiencies. “We are an old company that finds a way to make ourselves new every year,” Brent Suffian said. “We continuously reinvent ourselves to benefit our customers, our employees and our company.”
Atlas Supply offers a family-first culture to its employees. “Our ability to keep quality people comes from refining the way we do things to make the job easier and more enjoyable,” Brent Suffian said. “If something is too tedious or labor intensive, we think through the processes and create a better way to do things.”
Atlas Supply has always tried to stay nimble and recognize opportunities advantageous to it as a company. Over the years, the business found niches in industrial plastics, in fiberglass pipe and fittings and in pop-up warehouses to get closer to customers whether through consigned inventory or just stocking warehouses more accessible to customers.
Brent Suffian attributes the company’s success over the years to “a hands-on ownership group that is accommodating, nimble and collaborative in every way we can be.”
“It really is all about the people—finding the right people and giving them the tools and resources and supporting them every step of the way,” Leigh added.
Atlas Supply Company also believes in the power of communication. “Communication with customers and employees and rep partners and vendor partners—the power of that is really unbelievable,” Brent Suffian said.
IMARK Plumbing membership has also been essential for Atlas Supply Company.
“In addition to being essential as a rebate organization, IMARK has transformed for us into a consulting and education network,” Brent Suffian said. “There are so many smart and talented people in this industry and IMARK gives us avenues to connect and share best practices with those people in a non-competitive way. The networking opportunities through IMARK have been invaluable.”
For more information, visit atlassupplyco.com and immersestl.com.