The Southeast's Source
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Divisions 8 & 10
About
Manufacturers’ Representatives– We promote and sell the products we represent through a network of qualified distributors. These distributors specialize in the sale, and sometimes installation, of these products. Our distributors promote and sell our products to general contractors and end users in their respective areas.
The SBS Warehouse– We have a large warehouse where we inventory a wide variety of products for quick ship delivery to our network of distributors.
Specification Services– We have a staff of Architectural Hardware Consultants (AHCs) that write Division 8 and Division 10 specifications for architects.
Company History
Since 1949, S.B.S. Associates, Inc. has represented hardware manufacturers in the Southeast. For four generations, our work ethic and loyalty to our customers has delivered high sales volume and quality service. S.B.S. provides its customers over 230 years of combined hardware experience.
Our company was founded by “Mr. Jim” (James M.) Southard at the age of 64, after a distinguished career in the hardware business. Mr. Jim started with Everett Hardware Company in Sparta , Tennessee. After serving his country in World War I, he moved to Nashville , Tennessee, working for Keith Simmons and later for Clark Hardware Company in outside sales. Relocating to Atlanta, Mr. Jim joined Corbin Cabinet Lock. Years later at the age of 64, he started our company when many people might have retired.
In 1952, Mr. Jim was joined by his son J.W., a former standout quarterback at Georgia Tech (1946-1949), veteran of the U.S. Army, and head coach of Hogansville High School. J.W. was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 1994.
Roy Brown, Mr. Jim’s son in law, joined Mr. Jim and J.W. in 1972. Roy, a tennis standout and graduate of Presbyterian College, left a promising career at Johnson & Johnson in San Antonio , Texas to bring his sales experience, and the “B” in our name, to Atlanta.
Mr. Jim’s grandson Tom joined the company in 1978, adding the final “S” to our name. Since then our offices have grown from the 15’ x 14’ single office in the basement of J.W.’s Decatur home, to our current 10,000 square foot office and warehouse in Norcross , GA.
The product lines S.B.S. has sold started with Bommer Spring Hinges in 1949 and then Eagle Lock Company. In 1953 we began selling Grant drawer slides to the furniture manufacturers and then Grant cubicle track and hardware. We also began with WJ Dennis in the 50’s selling residential weatherstripping. Our product mix evolved over the next couple of decades to the more common door and hardware products in 1980 with the Monarch Exit Device line. Since then we have expanded to the breadth of products we represent today.
S.B.S. continues to represent the ideals Mr. Jim laid down in 1949 – to provide an experienced hardware team to represent our products throughout the Southeast.