New owner takes over

PLAINS – Under new ownership, Brinson’s True Value is no more. The business has been renamed after Joel Collett, and wife Wendy, purchased it from Michael Brinson.

Although changes will be minor, the business has been renamed to Studs Building and Home.

According to Collett, finding the name was the hardest part of the transition.

“It was like naming a kid, but only worse,” Collett said with a laugh.

Other than reorganizing the store, a new paint job and a new computer system, changes will be minimal.

“I feel like to run a business, it has to match your personality and so that’s the kind of changes we’ll make,” Collett said. “Things will adjust in time to the atmosphere.”

Collett and Brinson had been working on the transfer of ownership since last fall. They kept the news quiet until they were sure that everything was going to work out – a task that is not easy in a small town.

“I think it was a good thing. It just allowed us to really make a decision without feeling like we can’t get out,” Collett said.

Collett has worked as a contractor in Plains for approximately seven years. Originally raised on the Oregon Coast, he moved to the area in 2000 while he was working for Camp Bighorn.

Collett graduated from a Canadian college with a degree in wilderness leadership for outdoor education. After spending some time at the camp, he moved back into contracting – something he had done on and off since high school.

He has a vast experience in many aspects of contracting and builds homes, does concrete and dirt work.

Now with the store in his possession, Collett will focus more on his business, while putting contracting to the side for now.

“I can tell already I don’t have time to do other stuff. I’ll be phasing out more of (the contracting) than I even planned on,” Collett explained.

He has big visions for the store and his ultimate goal is to ensure everyone is comfortable at Studs.

“I want to make it a place where people are comfortable being. I think that’s really important,” Collett said.

In order to help the contractors in the area feel more comfortable, Collett is thinking about setting up a small workstation where contractors can come and work on bids. He said that was a problem he experienced when contracting and he wants to make Studs a place were everyone feels welcome.

He also hopes that his knowledge of contractors in the area will help pair community members with help from the right person.

“It’s not so much about passing on jobs to people, but I think connecting the right customer with the right person is really important,” Collett said.

His knowledge and experience in building homes is something Collett thinks will be a benefit to others less experienced. He is more than willing to provide advice or suggestions to those who need it.

Another focus for Collett is going local.

The store no longer has Folgers coffee and has made the switch to Dog Hill Bistro coffee, which is only the beginning.

Although the store has always utilized some local resources, Collett said he is going to focus a lot of his attention on localization.

“I really want to keep things as close as possible,” Collett said. “What we can I’m going to try to do within Sanders County.”

The goal is to purchase lumber from Thompson River or Tricon Timber in St. Regis.

Along with a local shift, the store is changing to an entirely new computer system with expanded capabilities. The program will come online the week of April 21. The computer system will allow Studs employees to email statements or receipts to the purchaser. It will also make updated quotes easier as a whole. The store plans to switch to signature pads for accounts as opposed to signing a paper document.

The ultimate goal for Collett is to create an atmosphere where people will thrive – a place where people can come to for building advice.

Studs plans to schedule a grand opening either the last weekend of May or the first weekend of June. Until then, Collett encourages the public to come by and say hi.

“I hope to help this business continue to be or become something that people look at and say that’s a real help,” Collett explained. “I really think our greatest responsibility is to our employees and to our community to be a service here. And that’s what I want.”