It’s all in the family for Mann Tool and Supply

Mann Tool and Supply has survived relocations, recessions and competition along the way to its 70th anniversary.

But one thing has remained consistent for the West Columbia business: family.

“One of the biggest things to keep a successful family business is the next generation,” said Suzanne Brunnemer, 44, who took over as president of Mann Tool last year and is a granddaughter of founder Jimmy Mann. “We’ve all immediately gone to work for the older generation.”

Brunnemer took over after her father, Ronnie Mann, stepped down from leading the business. “It doesn’t feel like a big change. I was already wearing a lot of different hats while floating wherever I’m needed. He still comes in every day, but he’s started scaling back.”

Mann Tool’s 70th-anniversary celebration will coincide with its annual two-day “Mann Event” Oct. 7-8 at its 10,000-square-foot showroom at 802 Chris Drive in West Columbia.

The business was founded in 1944 in Florence by Jimmy Mann and was primarily run as a small electric repair shop until four years later when he was able to move his business to Main Street in Columbia to be closer to his family and shifted the focus to tools.

Mann Tool suffered a setback in 1951 when a fire forced a move to another location on Main Street and the store moved a third time in 1971 on the same street before making a jump to West Columbia in 2001.

Much like their changes in location, Mann Tool’s owners also have tweaked their business strategy along the way, specializing in recent years in woodworking, to compete with national chain stores and online sales.

“We’ve taken a big turn towards woodworking in the past 10 years,” Brunnemer said. “We’ve started to hire people with that focus and focus on what our customers are here for and focused on the do-it-yourselfers and hobbyists.”

Ronnie Mann, 71, has experienced many of the changes first-hand. He started working for his dad’s company in 1961 and took over as president of Mann Tool in 1974.

“The Internet has changed how we do business, but people still want to come and feel the tools and supplies,” he said. “We do about two or three classes a week focused on woodworking and have teamed up with two local woodworking clubs.”

Focusing on customers’ needs and treating them like family have helped the small business survive, especially when competing against “big box” construction stores like Home Depot, they said.

“It’s very difficult as a one-store business to stay alive, and it makes you proud to compete with them,” Ronnie Mann said.

Although Mann Tool and Supply has an annual sales event, this year’s event will be special.

“We have a fall sale every year and not only is it our 70th, it is our 25th annual ‘Mann Event’ as well,” Brunnemer said.

This yearʼs event will feature free barbecue sandwiches at lunchtime, which started with the first Mann Event back in 1989. There also will be in-store specials featuring themed sales events, such 70 percent off or $70 off select items to celebrate the business anniversary, as well as a live radio remote, a visit from the Dewalt tractor trailer, giveaways from different manufacturers and free wood turning demonstrations.

According those who work there, the future is bright for Mann Tool and Supply.

“We’re dedicated,” said technician Jimmy Mann, 53, who is unrelated to the family who runs the business. Jimmy Mann said that even though he’s an “outsider,” he still feels like a part of the family. “As long as we keep growing, we can keep up.”

And what about keeping it in the family?

“We have two sons (still in school), but we encourage them to do what interests them,” Brunnemer said. “While we would love to have them continue it, we don’t want to pressure them.”

This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 9:35 PM with the headline "It’s all in the family for Mann Tool and Supply."