Brauer Supply

Brauer pioneered in the distribution of air filters and heating systems. During the 1930's, the Company was forced out of its headquarters on Third Street by the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Project, and it was in 1940 that it moved to a five-story building at 2100 Washington. There it occupied 65000sq ft of floor space crammed with an inventory of heating, air-conditioning, and hot-water equipment plus replacement parts for at least sixty different manufacturers' heating stoves. Water heaters and the fittings, pipes, and parts to make them work. William H. Brauer, grandson of the founder, joined the firm in 1953 after five years in the sales department of Monsanto Chemical. A chemical engineering graduate of M.I.T., Bill Brauer developed the Company's insulation division which today features a complete line of industrial insulation materials covering a wide range of uses and conditions. 2100 Washington was home to Brauer Supply in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Industrial insulation became an important product in the 1950's. The early 1970's brought expansion to the Company fastener division. The insulation division was housed then in a separate facility located at 330 South Newstead with facilities for office space as well as customer pick-up and rail siding. As the Company became identified as a long-established family-business, the Board of Directors decided in June of 1957 to drop the "A.G." from the name and it became simply, the "Brauer Supply Company." In 1965 the firm opened its first branch office outside of the City of St. Louis in Sikeston, Missouri. Shortly thereafter it was moved to Cape Girardeau. Now located in Jackson, Missouri, this location provides coverage for the Southeast Missouri market area. In 1968 Oscar Brauer passed the reins as president to William H. Brauer, assisted ably by long-tenured Vice-President Leonard H. Troeller. Oscar Brauer remained an active advisor to the business until his death in 1977. A fourth division - fasteners - was expanded in 1970 to complement the already strong heating, filters, and insulation departments. Brauer soon became a major supplier of rivets, twist drills, self-drilling screws and other specialty fasteners. Maintaining a staff with a high level of technical expertise, Brauer Supply is a source of information and advice to the customer with fastening needs. In 1972 continued growth forced the Company to expand its headquarters once again, moving to 4260 Forest Park. There, a large, modern warehouse with fully-mechanized materials handling equipment helped to ensure speedy order filling and prompt shipment to customers. A fleet of delivery trucks is available for daily runs in the St. Louis, Columbia, Jackson, Joplin, and Springfield, Missouri and Illinois areas. In 1978, James Truesdell, representing the fourth generation of Brauer family, joined the company. Brauer's centennial year, 1981, saw the installation of a modern, computer-based accounting system which provided greater ability to stock those items customers need most and to provide clear and concise orders, invoices, and other information to increase service levels. Growth accelerated in 1984 with the opening of a new branch office in Columbia, Missouri. That same year saw the acquisition of a large warehouse adjacent to the Brauer St. Louis headquarters to insure room for future expansion. William D. Brauer, great-grandson of the founder, joined the firm in 1985 after serving as a pilot in the United States Navy. In the Fall of 1989, the company added 23,000 square feet of warehouse space and multiple docks for shipping and receiving at its main location. At the same time, James Truesdell was named the company's fourth President, and William D. Brauer assumed the duties of Vice President. Shortly after this, an enhanced computer system was installed, and branches were added in Swansea, Illinois, and St. Peters, Washington, and Festus, Missouri. In 1996, Robert G. Brauer, second son of William H. Brauer, joined the Company after serving in marketing positions with the Sherwin-Williams Company. Continued growth followed with the opening of a branch office in Joplin, Missouri. Two years later a store was opened in Springfield, Missouri. In 2002, Brauer Supply took a leading role as James Truesdell chaired the industry group founding the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) which is today the HVAC distribution industry's leading voice. In 2005, the St. Louis headquarters was expanded, and the Company's eleventh location, in Springfield, Illinois, opened its doors. Finally , in early 2010, the headquarters was moved to a modern, single story distribution center at 1218 South Vandeventer. Here all products are distributed throughtout the company's network of service centers, including a large facility opened at the same time to serve the Kansas City metro area. In its third century, Brauer Supply is no longer a company geared to one segment of industry. Brauer is a broad-based industrial supplier with products needed by almost all areas of the business community. The family tradition of service and customer satisfaction remains the prime focus. The Company motto, "In Business to Serve You!", is a constant reminder that the customer is the reason for our success and even our very existence.