Jason A. Smith | The Valdosta Daily TimesStewart Young, owner of Winsupply, and April Baskin, showroom consultant, work together to provide plumbing and plumbing equipment to residents and businesses of Valdosta. 

VALDOSTA — Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy and everyone does it a little differently. Some open online stores, while others open brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Some go all in and invest their lives into a new venture, while others start a new business as something to do on the side. Regardless of the type, entrepreneurs help drive the local economy.

Stewart Young, owner of Winsupply, found his career while attending what was then Valdosta State College more than 30 years ago.

At the time, he was double majoring in history and political science and had his sights set on becoming a lawyer.

Young comes from a family with several lawyers and he felt it was a natural for him to become a lawyer as well; however, he quickly discovered he didn’t enjoy the course work needed to become a lawyer.

“I didn’t like it,” he said. “I decided even when I was in school that I didn’t like it. I’ve always preached to my kids to do something they enjoy doing.”

Young eventually needed a part-time job while finishing his degrees. Fortunately, one of his classmates knew of a job delivering plumbing equipment for a business.

So, while attending school, Young delivered product in the morning and took classes in the afternoon.

The part-time job became a full-time job, he said. Young did not finish his degrees, but said he has no regrets about his time in school.

For the next 15 years, Young worked his way through different positions in the plumbing industry from delivery to outside sales to purchasing.

When he first started in the industry, he hated the work.

“I almost quit the first day because I didn’t want to put pipes in racks and that sort of things, but I was also 20 years old,” he said.

It was when Young moved to outside sales that he found joy in his work.

After having worked most positions in the retail plumbing industry, Young decided to make the move to open his store in Valdosta in 1998.

“When I first opened — it was the very first day of December  in 1998 — I showed up and nobody else did,” he said. “It was very scary. I was wondering what in the world had I done. We’ve come a long way through the years, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Since opening almost 20 years ago, Young has expanded his business a few times, but has never moved from his original location off of Bemiss Road.

While Winsupply often works with plumbers and contractors, the business has grown to include a showroom for residential customer projects including new homes, remodels and home expansions.

“Homeowners are much more involved in building their houses now,” he said.

The showroom includes a myriad of plumbing supplies including toilets, faucets, shower heads bathtubs, showers and more. The showroom also has running water for clients to test the faucets.

With almost 20 years experience, Young said he plans to continue to grow.

In the coming years, he plans to expand his showroom and the back end of the business. He also plans to go into heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well.

When Young was looking to open his own business, he waited a few years before taking the dive into entrepreneurship. His advice for potential business owners is if it is truly what they want to do then be willing to take a chance on themselves and make the move.

“It was in my heart to really want to do something and be my own boss and run my own company,” he said.

Winsupply, 2517, Suite H, Bemiss Road, is open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (229) 333-9700.

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.