H&I Country Supply has been supplying the surrounding area for three decades and have built a reputation of trust, hard work, honesty, and being a good neighbour. Tinkess Photo
BRINSTON – For someone unfamiliar with the area, Brinston might be seen as not much more than a four-way stop on the way between County Road 2 and wherever you’re headed. What they would be missing however, with that train of thought, is that while small, Brinston is an active community that is well supported by a surprising number of small businesses that have made the area their home. Some, like H&I Country Supply have been there quite a while, to the point where the store has become a way of life for more than one generation
H&I Country Supply is owned by Harry Van’t Foort and his son Greg and for about 30 years they have been meeting the needs of the agriculture and country community in the area.
The store isn’t huge by modern, big box standards, but they have managed to fit so many different things into the space they have, that the old phrase “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it,” is pretty close to the truth. They specialize in feed and seed, and take pride in their expertise as an agricultural business and strive to always offer high-quality, yet cost-effective products that fit their clients’ specific needs. If you need it on your farm, you can probably find it at H&I Country Supply.
They carry a wide variety of animal feeds, supplements, bedding and supplies for cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, and pets and specialize in lawn and garden seeds, bagged and bulk fertilizer, as well as high-quality, popular brands of seeds.
That isn’t all though: they carry footwear, high-quality outerwear and other assorted clothing items, and for the young country dweller, there is always a selection of toys and games.
Need something for your garden? You’ll find it at H&I Country Supply.
Need to increase the size of your flock? It’s also a great place to order chicks and it is a sure sign of the season when you see Facebook posts urging customers to reserve their selection early.
That’s a lot to choose from, but we’re not done yet. H&I Country Supply also offers a selection of locally sourced meats, St. Albert Cheese and Egg Nogg during the holiday season.
In the big city, questionable businesses can often survive due to volume, but in the country, to not only survive but prosper you must understand that your clients are looking for more than just the products you sell. The relationship you forge with them matters at least as much as the products you stock, and H&I Country Supply understands that and has a reputation built on trust, hard work, honesty, and being a good neighbour. It is a recipe for success that never goes out of style.
H&I Country Supply is located at 4129 Brinston Road, in Brinston. You can reach them by phone at 613-652-4828, by email at countrysupply@xplornet.com, or their website hicountrysupply.ca.
The store is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and is closed on Sunday.
If you would like to have a light shined on your business, please contact us at: editor@etceterapublications.ca or call us at 613-448-2321.
Terry Tinkess is a professional photographer, educator and journalist. He has been making a living with a camera and keyboard since 1999 and has been featured in such publications as The Ottawa Citizen, Cornwall Standard Freeholder, The Globe and Mail, The Miami Herald, Ottawa Construction News, The Ontario Construction Report, Ontario Home Builder Magazine, Reed Construction Data, Canadian Potato Business and most recently, The Record and Eastern Ontario AgriNews. Terry lives in Ingleside, Ontario with his wife Brenda, Mia the anxious Pittie and cats Wally and Chubbers.