As a traveling rep for Tinnerman Products in the 1960s, Doug Berry learned that his customers had an unmet need: a “middleman,” with a warehouse stocked and ready to ship the smaller quantities of fasteners that distributors wanted.

Seeing an opportunity, Berry used his Rolodex of customers and contacts to start Advance Components in Dallas in 1972. And he was on to something.

Berry pleased his suppliers by getting their products to the market quickly and efficiently. Distributors were happy buying fasteners with no minimums and little-to-no lead times.

It was a winning combination. And this year, a half-century later, Advance is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a family company.

There have been some twists and turns along the way. In 2006, Berry sat his two daughters down and told them his health was failing and he wanted them to take over Advance Components.

At that time, his older daughter, Suzy Cravens, had an established career in the corporate office at Michaels Stores. His younger daughter, Pam Berry, had been a photographer with the Boston Globe.

Cravens now says that, at the time, she didn’t know anything about fasteners or the industry. The sisters were kids when their dad started Advance. The business was “his thing,” and the daughters followed their own paths.

Cravens, now the company’s co-owner and CEO, said part of her father’s success stemmed from the fact that “he was a very frugal man.” She added: “Advance Components was so healthy when our father passed away, that we had the money to bring the company into the 21st century.”

However, the master-stocking distributor’s technology was outdated, and its warehouse overcrowded.

The next generation dropped what they were doing and took on the challenge of learning a new industry in changing times. They bought a new building in 2007 and expanded the company’s warehouse space from 15,000 square feet to 65,000 square feet. Other updates included new offices, computers, phone systems, websites and warehouse equipment.

Some of Doug Berry’s employees helped in the transition. Cravens recalled how then-vice president of sales Terri House took on a mentoring role for the new fastener CEO.

In 2008, as Cravens and her sister, Pam, now co-owner and senior vice president for marketing, were working hard to update Advance’s operations, a major economic recession hit home.

“The recession was a training ground,” said Pam Berry.

“It was a trial by fire,” added Gary Cravens, Suzy’s husband, and today president of Advance.

Advance not only survived the economic downturn, but ultimately thrived. The company diversified with many new products and services. Gary Cravens cited the addition of packaging, which has grown to eight production lines for picking, kitting, barcoding, labeling and shipping. Today, he said, packaging comprises 35 percent of the company’s business.

The changes during the early years under the new leadership helped create a new company culture. “We found out who we are: a master stocking distributor,” Suzy Cravens said.

Pam Berry cited the company’s “huge knowledge base” as an asset.

For example, there are some employees who began working at Advance for Doug Berry and still work for the company today. Among those is Michael Baughman, vice president of operations, who began in the warehouse back in the early 1980s.

During college, Suzy Cravens worked part-time at Advance alongside Baughman – who had long hair and played in a rock band. Today, Baughman still plays music with his brother – Advance salesperson Mark Baughman – every Friday night in the Advance warehouse.

Gary Cravens said that the key to Advance’s continued success is the company’s emphasis on training. “We have a mentorship culture.  We coach, we don’t dictate,” he said.

“We are a small giant,” Suzy Cravens added. With just under 30 employees, Advance Components supplies customers worldwide.

Advance has taken on new products and adapted to changing times. During the pandemic summer of 2020, the company marketed and sold face mask comfort straps manufactured by ARaymond Industrial.

Today, Advance Components is one of the few industry businesses to be certified as owned and operated by women. That is a fact not lost on the sisters in charge.

During her first fastener trade show in Las Vegas more than 10 years ago, Pam Berry looked around and noticed a small percentage of women. It was a situation she had also experienced as a newspaper photographer.  So, with Mary Lou Aderman, then of The Aderman Group, Berry helped start Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI). Today, the nonprofit, national organization promotes education and mentorship for women in the industry.

Now, the third generation has arrived at Advance Components: Suzy and Gary’s daughter, Mallory Cravens Nichols started in sales and now is Advance’s vice president of business development while working on her MBA. The family tradition continues.

Advance Components is located at 2920 Commodore Drive, Suite 100, Carrollton, TX 75007-4614. Tel: 972 645-4728 Web: AdvanceComponents.com