In 1947 Bert Smith and Lawrence Edwards began selling U.S. military surplus out of Bert's backyard in West Ogden. As shipmates serving together in the Marines during the Second World War, Bert Smith and Lawrence Edwards became good friends. Toward the end of the war, Bert and Lawrence were instructed to toss millions of dollars worth of "surplus equipment" overboard into the ocean. Witnessing this event helped set the stage for their soon to be business partnership. Upon returning home to Ogden, Bert and Lawrence formed Smith and Edwards and began buying and selling the same surplus inventory they had just a few months earlier been commanded to dispose of. Their Initial West Ogden offerings were a very diverse and humble assortment of goods. Nevertheless, hard work, long hours, honest salesmanship, and a touch of luck began paying off. It was during these years Bert developed his unique talent for discovering and inventing practical uses for otherwise useless scrap.
A Time for Change
As business increased, so did the need for space and product. In the mid '50s Bert purchased a 60 acre piece of land North of Ogden where he moved the company to its current location. Bert rapidly filled this new site with spectacular surplus buys. One purchase, in particular, had a tremendous effect on the future of Smith and Edwards. In 1962 Bert purchased a large lot of Navy mooring buoys. Each buoy measured 58 inches in diameter, weighed 680 pounds, and held 442 gallons of liquid. Combined and stacked the 13,418 buoys covered over 40 acres of land. Bert saw tremendous opportunity in these rugged steel spheres; Lawrence on the other hand believed Bert's eyes were in need of immediate medical attention. The two divided assets and parted, as friends, leaving Bert to tackle the task solo.
July 1, 1969
Note the large stack of buoys (far right) and the old John Deere tractor dealership, once owned and operated by Jim Smith, immediately left of the buoys.
Moving Forward
Bert and Jim featured in the ASD Profit News, February 1976.
The evolution of Smith and Edwards was dramatically altered in the late sixties with the full time employment of Jim Smith. Both Bert and Jim shared a passion for hard work and integrity, but it was the difference between the father and son that helped shape the future of the Business. Jim's logical "by the numbers" approach was in direct contrast to Bert's intuition based methods. It was the balancing, and occasional conflict, of the two philosophies that drove Smith and Edwards forward.
Jim Smith Early 90's
Jim, company president, sitting on the old WWII retriever tank that has distinctly occupied the store entrance.
Mike Casey 1970
In January of 1970 Mike Casey came aboard to head the Sporting Good Department. Mike's passion and experience as an angler, hunter, and all round sportsman combined well with his leadership and sales ability.
Steve Smith OX Ranch Ruby Valley, Nevada
Steve Smith, the youngest in the Smith family, spent most of his young adult years working on the family ranch forgoing the retail experience. In the early Eighties Steve was asked to give up ranching and help build Smith and Edwards' Footwear Department. Preferring athletic shoes to cowboy boots, Steve quickly added an appealing variety of desirable merchandise.
Three Generations Strong
While retail trends have seen the abundance of market dominating big box chain stores, Smith and Edwards continues to grow and evolve. The combination of originality, sincerity, independence, and local ownership has certainly added to the companies continued success.
Today, Smith and Edwards is three generations strong. Several of Bert Smiths sons and grand-children are working for the business and making their contributions to its continued growth. Smith and Edwards employs over 100 associates and has matured into one of the Utah’s unique destination retail experiences. Departments within the 171,000 square foot store include western tack sales and manufacturing, western jewelry, clothing, coats, footwear, hunting, fishing, marine, water sports, toys, housewares, hardware, automotive, paint, U.S. and international military surplus, camping, backpacking, climbing, caving, search and rescue, emergency preparedness, and an extraordinary selection of dutch oven cookware. This is all in addition to the sixty acre yard which is filled with a huge assortment of military surplus, the “scrap” that started it all.
Committed to Service
Smith and Edwards is an ongoing supporter of local, and not so local, community events. With special involvement in various rodeos, fairs, 4-H programs, FFA, schools, scouting, Primary Children's Hospital and other such area programs.