The Graham family: Renee, her husband Skip and their son, Matt.
The sign in front of the store says it all: 3G Windows and Doors . . . and a Whole Lot More.
It’s Blythewood’s new in-town home improvement store, opened recently by Blythewood residents Skip and Renee Graham and their son Matt.
Whether you’re looking for new kitchen cabinets or a whole-house makeover, forget the ‘Big Boxes’ in Columbia; 3G Windows and Doors is your one-stop shop for great products and over-the-top customer satisfaction – right here in Blythewood.
Really!
Located at 10711A Wilson Boulevard (at Rimer Pond Road), the newly renovated building is, literally, a traffic stopper. It features a bungalow-inspired exterior with white clapboard siding and hunter green cedar shake shingles on the walls, charming cottage-style windows and porch post planters ablaze with bright red petunias. It leaves passers-by wondering why they aren’t living in a home that looks like that.
Inside, a bright, open showroom displays cabinets, flooring, trims, mouldings, lighting, plumbing fixtures and much more for home or business.
Outside, a pergola/kitchen/deck display featuring various styles and materials allows customers the opportunity to visualize the possibilities for outdoor living areas as well.
The showroom is a natural progression of the family’s business which began in 2004 out of their home office in the Blythewood backwoods on family land along Claude Bundrick Road. Skip and Renee, both born and bred in Blythewood, descend from longtime local families – Renee from the Lails and Skip from the Bundricks. Claude Bundrick, famously depicted driving his tractor to town in Harold Branham’s painting of De Sto, was Skip Graham’s uncle.
After 20-plus years installing glass windows and doors for a major glass company in Columbia, Skip, who has both commercial and residential contractor’s licenses, decided to parlay his skills into a home improvement business in Blythewood.
The result is 3G. While conventional wisdom would tell you 3G stands for the three Grahams – not so. Renee Graham said the moniker stands for a principle that the family lives by: Give God the Glory.
As the administrator for the new company, Renee also handled customer service while Matt headed up sales. Skip oversaw construction and installation.
But the business needed a showroom for more visibility. After two years of searching, the Grahams found the perfect location, a vacant cinder block building owned by Billie Maples (of Blythewood and Lugoff) on Wilson Boulevard. Off and on over the last 50 years, Maples has run several businesses out of the building, including a popular bakery. In recent years, however, Maples was looking for a long-term tenant. 3G was a match.
“Billie is the perfect landlord,” said Renee. “He has been patient, supportive and encouraging in all our endeavors here. We couldn’t have asked for more. We truly have his cooperation in everything we’ve done here. He’s been wonderful.”
The Grahams’ products and service are increasingly visible in Blythewood’s homes and offices – as well as beyond, including Williams Brice stadium where 3G replaced all the glass in the luxury suites. But the Grahams say their focus is local.
“We’re here to provide not only great design and products for the community, but the best service imaginable,” said Skip.
“We don’t charge for estimates, and our customer service is as immediate as it gets. At the big boxes, you’ll get help from whoever happens to be on the floor at the time, no matter their level of knowledge and experience,” he explained. “With us, you’re going to get an expert with an honest, experienced assessment every time. Our goal is quality products and efficient service at affordable prices. And that’s what we’ll deliver.”
The showroom’s grand opening sale prices have been extended through Aug. 11. But the company’s guarantee is good all the time. “We invite our customers to bring in their big box estimate,” Skip said, “and we’ll beat it or we’ll give them a $25 gift card to the Blythewood store of their choice.”
Showroom hours are 9-6, Monday-
Friday and Saturdays by appointment. For more information, call 803-754-1357 or see the flyer in this issue of The Voice.
