Gilbert, Ariz.-based manufacturers rep firm Southwestern Mechanical Sales was started thanks to some good, old-fashioned elbow grease.
Founder Jim Farney got things rolling in 1988 simply by selling Delany flush valves out of the back of his car. “Jim went out peddling and started to grow the line,” Southwestern President Jeff McBride notes. “Manufacturers started to notice how hard he was working from the time he got up until the time he went to bed. Jim would sell anything. He was a go-getter.”