(L-R): Seeley Booth, Peter Booth and
Walter Booth; Back row: John Booth.
I.D. Booth Celebrates 135 Years
I.D. Booth, Elmira, NY, an 11-branch wholesaler of plumbing, heating, industrial and electrical supplies, hosted an event in August to celebrate its 135th anniversary. Irving Denman Booth founded what would become I.D. Booth in 1875 when he started a heavy hardware business, offering iron, nails, horseshoes, horseshoe nails, steel, wire, tin plate and windows. His son, Irving Dennison Booth, took over in 1914, followed by his sons, John S. Booth and Irving D. Booth Jr., the third generation. Peter S. Booth and John Seeley Booth, John Booth’s sons and the fourth generation, remain involved in the business. J. Walter Booth, Peter’s son, and John S. Booth III are the fifth generation that now leads the company. Employee Dan Murphy has been with the company through four generations.
Forte Hosts First Summer Shareholder Meeting
Forte, the decorative plumbing and hardware buying group, discussed a new partnership withayr1, represented by Ron Goswell and Zak O’Connor, which offers a virtual showroom as a marketing tool for brick and mortar businesses, at a meeting in Chicago. The 50-plus shareholders attending also reviewed vendor performance and shared successful practices.Pictured here is Forte’s board of directors (L-R): CJ Schnakenberg, Chicago Brass; Joel Selzer, Morrison Supply Co.; Steve Berger, Modern Plumbing Supply; Vicki Pfeil-Findley, Miller’s Fine Decorative Hardware; Ted Swenson, Dakota Wholesale Plumbing; Sam Marano, Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath; Howard Frankel, Central Plumbing Specialties; and Douglas Hermance, Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware.
