BUSINESS NEWS
Coast River Business Journal
Meet the Merchant
June 2020 • 3
Interview by Luke Whittaker lwhittaker@crbizjournal.com
Goldsmith Company
Peter Goldsmith
Phone: 503-319-4457
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Matt Winters
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John D. Bruijn
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Website: Goldsmithcompany.com
When and how did the business begin?
“The business started in 1930 with my
grandfather Archie Goldsmith.”
How long have you been involved?
“We had a warehouse in old Chinatown in
downtown Portland. I basically grew up there,
going to work there during the summer and
running around on the weekends. I just fell in
love with the business. After school I joined the
company, in 1979-1980.”
Since starting in the 30s, how has the business
changed or evolved?
“It started as a wholesale fabric supplier and
slowly morphed into men’s and women’s apparel,
notions, sewing gear and domestics — an old-
fashioned term for linen and bedding. Back in
the day, the company sold to retailers. This was
before big box stores. In a town like Portland, you
would have two or three dozen merchants selling
soup to nuts and they bought from the Goldsmith
Company.”
“As a part of the mix of merchandise, the
domestics (linens), the hotels would come to use
and buy white towels, sheets, blankets, mattress
pads. They (hotels) started asking where they
can get a lamp, mattresses and drapes, so my dad
progressed into furnishings for hospitality in the
early 70s. Today we sell both the linen and the
furniture.”
What accounts for the majority of your
business today?
“It’s about 60% lodging and hospitality, including
cruise ships, hotels, motels, resorts and bed and
breakfasts. We’re very fortunate being in business
so long to have a lot of repeat customers big and
small.”
What’s the biggest difference with the business
today from when you first started?
“Definitely the internet. It’s given our customers
an excellent tool to shop. The savvy customers
will often come back to us because they know
we’re very reliable and only sell products that
hold up over time. In my mind, it doesn’t make
sense to buy cheap because there’s no low in the
towel business. You can buy really cheap towels
and sheets but you end up replacing them sooner
than later.”
Continued on page 4
Website:
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Coast River Business Journal
205 Bolstad S. Suite 2, P.O. Box 427
Long Beach, WA 98631
Phone 800-643-3703
Coast River Business Journal is published the
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by contributing writers and guest columnists
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the
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and will be printed at the discretion of the Editor.
Reproduction in whole or in part without written
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