New business spotlight on Friedman Electric

After serving the area for years from other locations, an electrical supplies company opened a new branch in Williamsport.

Friedman Electric, 325 Penn St., held its grand opening Nov. 16 as the 14th branch of the company.

Courtney Shatrowskas, marketing specialist, said Friedman Electric targeted Williamsport as a new location because it is a large city in the top half of the state between Scranton and the western part of the state.

"It was a good way to peg in that area," Shatrowskas said. "We already had a solid market there."

The business has six divisions: tools and hardware, generator, automation, telecommunications, home audio and energy solutions, which includes solar power accessories. The newest section of the business relates to the natural gas industry. She said they stock items for the companies, which includes a lot of wiring.

Shatrowskas said she predicts the store will do well because of the need for gas industry suppliers in the area. She said the business already has been good.

The Williamsport branch used its grand opening as a way to raise money for the American Red Cross. Friedman Electric sold raffle tickets for a television set and then matched the donations to give to the local chapter of the non-profit organization. During Tropical Storm Lee earlier this year, the Bloomsburg store was affected. Since people needed the supplies to work on rebuilding their houses, that branch worked out of a trailer, until recently when its facility reopened.

The store is managed by Eric Hoover and employs four other workers. The overall company has more than 200 employees.

"It is exciting to be able to expand our business in this economy. It has been a strong year for Friedman and we look forward to the continued growth here in the Williamsport market and for many years to come." said Rich Potero, president of Friedman Electric.

Friedman Electric began in 1935 with the Friedman family, originally selling the items door-to-door. The first store opened in Pittston.

"The different branches came one right after the other," Shatrowskas said. "When they started the first store, they sold anything electric. Anything that had a plug or an outlet, they sold."

She said now the main focus is on lighting and energy solutions, especially Marcellus Shale.

The store is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 326-9412 or visit the website at friedmanelectric.com.

The company also has other stores located in Exeter, which is the corporate office; Wilkes-Barre; Scranton, Selinsgrove; State College; Bloomsburg; Stroudsburg; Brodheadsville; Athens; Hazleton; DuBois; Ithaca, N.Y.; and Johnson City, N.Y.