Samantha Post’s journey took her from Ellwood City to Washington D.C. and back to Pittsburgh. After working for several years in the public health sector, she realized that she wasn’t experiencing the sense of purpose or meaning that she wanted in a career. She grew tired of working for employers that didn’t seem to value her extra effort and dedication. As she reflected on her circumstances, Samantha realized that she was appreciated and her voice mattered when she worked in the family business. In 2013, she returned home with renewed energy and optimism and rejoined her family at T&M Hardware & Rental.
Samantha Post is a second-generation co-owner of T&M Hardware & Rental, which was started by her parents in 1991. The “T&M” stands for Tim and Mary, and they raised their four kids in the family business. After a career of moving around the U.S. with his employer, Tim decided that it was time to move back to the Pittsburgh area and put his skills to work in his own business. They evaluated several opportunities, but ultimately, Tim and Mary decided to turn around a struggling hardware store in Ellwood City. This formula proved to be the right approach, and Tim and his family have successfully opened five more locations using a similar strategy over the past 30 years.
After starting her career in public health in the Washington D.C. area, Samantha decided that she wanted more autonomy and fulfillment with her work. In 2013, she decided to move home and rejoin the family business. One of her first major projects was to manage the company’s latest acquisition in the Bellevue community. In this episode, Samantha talks about what it was like to grow up in a family business, how she has dealt with the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, and why their business continues to grow and thrive in spite of operating in the hypercompetitive world of retail.
If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!
YOU CAN REACH ME AT:
Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano
Phone: 412-336-8247
YOU CAN REACH SAMANTHA POST AT:
Website: https://www.tandmhardware.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tandmhardware
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TandMHardware