Burton Companies grow by changing with the times

In 1968 Vaughan bought a controlling interest in Burtons, becoming president just as the company faced major financial difficulties. He had a good reputation with vendors and leveraged it to turn it around in a year, said the younger Vaughan, a public accountant who joined his father and brother in the family business in 1972, after military service. Burtons at that time had 90 employees and five stores. From the time I came here, every month was better than the one before, Richard Vaughan recalled. Better that is, until peso devaluations took their toll along with competition from chain auto parts stores.

The early 1980's were tough. We had to change our ways, said Vaughan, who has been Burtons president since 1983, the year his father died.. The company expanded its stock of industrial, heavy-duty truck, and air compressor parts. A gradual migration away from auto and agricultural parts led to a dramatic change of the customer base. Our leading customers are mostly construction companies and large fleets. One of the things they like is that they can get industrial products, hydraulics, and automotive parts here, all in one place. Hydraulics are now the largest single division of sales aided by the expertise of the sales staff and the ease of placing special orders.

Weslaco, with Burton Companies administrative offices, warehouse and a store, remains the headquarters for the 82-year-old businesss 10 stores. We have an intricate delivery system: each store gets a delivery three times a day. No store is more than 45 miles from Weslaco, Vaughan said. Those deliveries make sense because of the revolution in logistics. No longer does a company like Burtons have to carry a huge and expensive inventory of everything customers need. Parts like filters and belts for old equipment and tractors can be ordered from manufacturers and delivered rapidly to Weslaco and the customer.

Of Burtons 120 employees, a half dozen have been with the business for more than 36 years, and many others are long time staff. This kind of thing is great because you have a lot of wonderful experience involved. The younger ones coming up are able to learn from the ones with lots of knowledge, Vaughan explained. The sales people are trained to understand and sell all of the products, a point of pride for the companys president . Everyone in the company started out very similar to my father, working their way up, including the store managers, Vaughan said. Brother-in-law Brian Humphries and nephew Scott Vaughan, actively involved in daily operations, are among the several family members who have worked their way up, too.

With the Valleys growth. Vaughan predicted Burtons will be opening new locations, following last years opening of a La Feria store. Theres no sitting back and saying were doing good, Vaughan said. You have to keep trying to improve. In our case, thats looking at our product mix and determining where we can be most successful. We are constantly challenging our mangers and personnel to really look at what theyre doing and how it can be improved.

Burtons computer system lets Vaughan keep on top of every store. I can see when a person writes a ticket. It surprises the salesmen when the boss calls and says, That was great sale you just made. The computer is watching. Richard Vaughan has found time to serve as a Weslaco City commissioner, on the school board, and on the boards of Knapp Medical Center, banks, the Weslaco Chamber and many other civic and charitable organizations.