Today we’d like to introduce you to Raymond Skelton.
Raymond, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 1969, Jerry Ainsworth opened the first Ainsworth Quality Meat Market in Humble, Texas. I started working for him then at the age of 14. I learned to cut meat from Jerry and continued working for Ainsworth Meats in some capacity until 1985. In 1997, I returned to the meat business working for big box grocery stores. Corporate companies weren’t for me, so in 2003 when I had the opportunity to buy the Ainsworth Meat Market now in Magnolia, I didn’t pass it up. Since then we have moved locations down the road and have grown as the area has grown. I continue the philosophies that Jerry Ainsworth taught me all those years ago, quality product and excellent customer service.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It is never a smooth road owning your own business. One struggle has been finding a piece of property and building a new location while still operating in the old location. Another is consistently hiring quality employees and being able to train them to provide the level of customer service that we expect. The economy is always a struggle. When you are located in an area that is driven by the oil and gas industry, your business ebb and flows when they do also.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ainsworth Meats – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Ainsworth Meats is primarily a retail meat market. We cut fresh beef, pork, chicken and ready to cook products. We offer a variety of specialty items such as game meats, raw dog food, etc. We also process wild game. We are known for our fresh cut quality meats and custom cuts. If a customer needs something cut a certain way, we try to accommodate that. I am most proud that we are a family run business that can serve our customers in a way that they aren’t just a number. I am also proud that we can survive in a big box society. We are able to not just provide a quality product but also able to have one on one with our customers to a point where a lot are friends. We are able to maintain a small town atmosphere in today’s times.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As always continue the growth of our business while maintaining the level of customer service. We always try to listen to our customer’s needs and wants so that we can add new products to accommodate them. In the future years, I will be preparing my daughter and son-in-law to take more responsibilities in running the business.
Contact Info:
- Address: 32599 FM 2978
Magnolia, TX 77354 - Website: www.ainsworthmeats.com
- Phone: 281-252-0002
- Email: ainsworthmeats@yahoo.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ainsworthmeats
- Facebook: facebook.com/ainsworthmeats
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