Yesteryear’s full service makes for long success
February 26, 2014
Nicholls tuition was once $17.50 – believe it or not
February 26, 2014
South Louisiana Seed Co. Inc. has been around since the 1930s. That’s nearly 80 years of providing Tri-parish customers with the latest in animal nutrition, small pet supplies and other animal care needs.
The key to the company’s success? It’s all about the customers.
With the seed business constantly changing, store Vice President and Manager Don Callahan said keeping customers first is the way his store has stayed afloat as they glide toward their ninth decade in business.
“Product knowledge and sound advice, along with great customer service has always been the cornerstone of what has kept South Louisiana Seed current, relevant and fresh over the years,” Callahan said. “We take a lot of pride in what we do.”
The Houma-based business started since “around 1935,” according to Callahan, and has been at its current location on 7591 West Main St., since 1982.
The business was originally located on Barrow Street in its earliest days. It then moved just across the street from its current location before moving into its modern-day home.
The store’s manager said the West Main Street location is unique because of its place in Houma history.
“The building we are currently in is one of the oldest buildings in Houma,” Callahan said. “It was built around 1908.”
Over the years, Callahan said, South Louisiana Seed has undergone some minor ownership changes, but the store is a second-generation family business.
Callahan said his father Roy Callahan ran the business beginning in the early 1950s.
Roy Callahan initially was in business with a partner, but he took sole control in the early 1990s when he bought the partner’s stake in the business.
That’s right around the same time Don Callahan came into the fold. He said he joined the business in 1991 after graduating from college. The son said that he hand-in-hand with his father to manage the company – a relationship that lasted for more than 20 years before Roy Callahan’s passing last year.
“We’re a family business,” Callahan said.
Don Callahan said the business has changed over the years to keep up with shifts in the seed industry.
As technology develops newer, healthier, more cost efficient products, the store changes adjusts and places those items onto its shelves.
“It’s changed dramatically over the last 20 years or so with more emphasis on research and development with Purina being the leader in animal nutrition,” Callahan said. “Things are always evolving within the field.”
But when one walks into the South Louisiana Seed store, Callahan said customers will find a large variety of products and offerings – a one-stop shop for those with animal or plant care needs.
“We are a retail locally owned feed store that specializes in animal health and nutrition,” Callahan said. “We carry a large assortment of insecticides, herbicides and small pet supplies.
“We also carry back chicks, ducks and occasionally rabbits within our store.”
With decades under their belts, South Louisiana Seed doesn’t have plans to go anywhere anytime soon.
Callahan said plans are already in place for the business to continue to push forward in its efforts to house the latest and greatest within the industry.
He said South Louisiana Seed’s goal will always be to give the best quality products to customers in an effort to protect our community’s future.
“We will continue to evolve in the marketplace and continue educating our wonderful customers on the do’s and don’t’s of gardening and animal nutrition,” Callahan said. “We will also keep pursuing environmentally conscious products so that our kids and our kid’s kids can have a safe and sound environment to group up in.”
South Louisiana Seed Co. Inc. Vice President and Manager Don Callahan stands in an aisle of his Houma-based store. Open since the 1930s, the business is located in one of Houma’s oldest buildings.
