July 16, 2006
Tractor Supply and Green Acres
I have noted with pleasure that several new Tractor Supply stores have opened up locally. While Home Depot and those sorts of stores have useful items for, say, painting, or installing a new sink, there are many things that have been hard to find for folks who live out in the country or have a farm. That there are more Tractor Supply stores indicates that people are 'rediscovering' the fact that there is more to life than life in the city.
An article in the Washington Post talks about this rush to Green Acres:
Tractor Supply's stock is worth 29 times what it was a little more than five years ago, and the chain has grown to about 640 stores. It racked up $2.1 billion in sales last year and $86 million in profits. Around Washington, Tractor Supply runs seven stores on the fringes -- in counties such as Charles and Carroll in Maryland, Loudoun and Fauquier in Virginia. Inside are stacks of a free magazine called Out Here. Recent articles ranged from "Sandblasting Made Easy" to how to start a book club.
I noted that the article mentions Icelandic sheep. When I was in Iceland, I really admired the wool from those sheep - much higher quality than what you can find elsewhere. I'll have to check on acquiring some of those. But in the meantime, I'm off to Tractor Supply for some new overalls...
Posted by keg at 5:34 PM
