Long Wholesale Distribution

     In the late 1980’s, Trey Long’s grandfather, Raiford Newell Long, Sr., was approached by reps from Gatorade asking him to sell their product in this area.   He told them no one down here would buy sugar water!  Turning down Gatorade became a family joke because that drink became their top selling product!  Not too many years ago a man came into Raiford Newell Long, Jr.’s office, Trey’s dad, and wanted him to start selling bottled water in the state of Mississippi and he told him he was crazy.  “Water is free out of the tap; no one will pay for water when they can get it free!” As you can imagine, today bottled water is one of their top sellers.  And they have just started a new business that offers offices and homes five gallon bottled water service.  There’s a lesson here somewhere!

     Trey recalls how his great grandfather, Samuel Erst Long, Sr., started the distribution business that is a household word in the Meridian business community.  In 1922, he would deliver goods to small general stores and grocery stores using a horse and wagon.  He only had an 8^th grade education but taught himself how to sell his products and worked his way up through the company he worked for, Malone & Hyde.    Then he started his own business, selling everything from ammunition to sheet rock!  Four generations later with locations in Meridian and Corinth, Long Wholesale Distribution is still going strong.

In business you learn a lot about people and the Long family discovered Meridian/Lauderdale County is a great area full of people who give and support others.   With their new water business, they truly enjoy getting out, meeting and doing business with people in the local community.  They believe in this slogan:  Treat your customers right and you’ll build longtime, loyal relationships.

     When you live and work in Meridian, it’s important to be a part of the community.  As a Chamber member, you invest in your city personally and through your business, and others invest in you.  There are a lot of people in our town who have needs and you should use your resources to support your community when and where you can.  Meridian is a fantastic town and it is awesome to be a part of it and have your business here.  And sometimes, you just have to take a chance on something new.  Water, anyone?