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Business of the Month for August 2010
Paragon Factory Store

Paragon Factory Store is the retail division of Paragon – one of the largest wholesale manufacturers of wall décor in the country. Paragon has corporate showrooms in High Point, NC and Las Vegas and a sales rep network that extends from coast to coast. In 1970, Wendell and Bonnie Glassco saw an opportunity in something very simple: making inexpensively priced homes beautiful. The Glassco’s began Carousel Decors , a company that provided decorative accessory packages to the manufactured housing industry. They soon purchased a local competitor - Paragon – and the name stuck. Eventually, Paragon’s need for affordable framed art in their accessory packages lead them to begin manufacturing framed prints in 1979. Paragon discovered an untapped market in the home furnishings industry: a need for well designed pictures at affordable prices. In 1981, Paragon Picture Gallery, a new division dedicated to the production of framed art, was born. Around this time, the second generation joined the family business. Lendell Glassco today is President. Malanta Glassco Knowles is currently Vice President of Marketing and Design. Vince Glassco is Propac President. By 1989, the company’s growth in the wall décor area made it time to close the decor kit business, which paved the way for the Paragon line to grow and evolve into the diverse wall décor offering it is today. Paragon is a five time ARTS Award winner, including the 21st ARTS Award for excellence in wall décor and the first wall décor inductee into the ARTS Hall of Fame.

Paragon Factory Store began in 1980 in downtown Boaz as a retail outlet for the overstocks from Paragon’s decorative accessory packages. As Paragon’s business model has changed, so has the store’s merchandise mix as well. In 1991, the store moved to their present location in the Boaz Outlet Center. With two expansions, they now have 9,500 square-feet of selling space. Paragon Factory Store is unique in that it is both a true outlet offering terrific deals on wall décor products, as well as a distinctive gift and fine home accessory shop. Paragon is a treasure trove of items for the home presented in a skillfully merchandised shopping environment. Store merchandise stays fresh and on-trend with trips to the Atlanta Gift Market. Manager Kathy Greene just returned from shopping the venue. “Market is great for sourcing new products and trends,” said Greene. “We will have brand new merchandise arriving weekly preparing for the fall and Christmas seasons.” According to Greene, turquoise and orange are two big colors for fall, along with bird themed accessories. The store is also the place to find unbeatable deals in wall décor. All of Paragon’s samples, returns and overstocks find their way to the store. They also sell all the components of a framed picture – the print, frame, mat and glass – so you can mix and match to find the look you want. Paragon Factory store has a big event coming soon. The annual Christmas Open House will be held Sunday November 7th as the official start of the Christmas selling season. Special sales, local artisans and refreshments make it a truly wonderful occasion.