Wednesday, October 6, 2021
published on Bew White Interrviewed by Audrey Adams on her Talk with Audrey Radio Show About His Book, 'A Summer Classic: The Bew White Story': What does it mean to live a truly substantial life? Can you look at the sum of your successes and failures and say that they were a job well done? A Summer Classic: The Bew White Story explores these questions and more through a biographical examination of the life of William Bew White III, the founder of Summer Classics, a premier manufacturer of “modern outdoor furniture crafted for a lifetime of livable luxury.”The biography, written by Christopher Taunton, delivers a detailed examination of Bew’s childhood, college years, early professional life, and the successes and failures that got him to where he is today.At just 28 years old, Bew left his job at his family-owned business, Avondale Mills, and started a sales representative company in 1978 called Vista Corporation, specializing in selling outdoor furniture. In 1987, Bew started multiple companies in an effort to expand from selling on the road to building a national brand. One of those companies was Summer Classics, which was created around Bew’s thought of designing and manufacturing products that he would want for his own backyard. With a business model based on creating products that were consumer driven, would stand the test of time, and would not go out of style, Summer Classics officially took off in 1987.“Starting a business can be very challenging,” says Bew, “but perseverance and support from others can help you succeed.”Integral to his life is his enduring relationship with his wife Wendy. She has truly been his rock, encouraging him in his endeavors and keeping his spiritual life alive. Taunton does an excellent job of illustrating this romance for the ages.In October of 2013, Bew, at the pinnacle of his career and success, found himself in the emergency room, fighting for his life. It was that moment when he thought his life would end that led him to want to share his story with the world. “It was like a signal went off in my head that my story needed to be told,” says Bew. “I want to help others understand that what they do now matters and that though it takes hard work and perseverance to achieve the goals you set out to achieve, it’s not impossible.”
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- Learning