History of Barnes Supply Company

Barnes Supply sells garden and pet supplies, lawn-care products, rent gardening equipment, distribute Purina Pro Plan & Diamond pet food to stores and kennels across the state and supply local laboratories with pet food. Barnes Supply also supplies state and local labs with feed and bedding.

Barnes Supply stands out among the delicatessens, arty specialty shops and clothiers that make up the eclectic retail corridor (Ninth Street). Decades ago, the store was the place of commerce for tobacco, dairy and poultry farmers who buy the season's fertilizer and seed.

But to keep up with consumers' tastes, the store's offerings have changed.

Barnes Supply's second owner; Gary George, has replaced hardware supplies such as nails, nuts and bolts with contemporary garden sculptures, birdhouses and pet supplies-items typically found in specialty boutiques and gift catalogues.

What might seem a strange mix-pet and garden supplies-has turned out to be the right recipe for ensuring longevity of the business.

Karine Michael, The Herald Sun, Apriil 20, 1999