Way back in 1890, W.M. Karesh, a Polish immigrant just six years in America, saw the opportunity to open a wholesale distribution company in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston was then a bustling city with easy access to goods shipped by boat with its active seaport. He opened what eventually became Hymans Wholesale Company in a 60,000 sq. ft. building on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston. Hymans, as we go by today, became known for having “What you need, when you need it.” Family-owned department stores throughout South Carolina, eastern Georgia and southern North Carolina would travel, first by horse and wagon, and then later by automobile or truck, to Charleston to shop for goods to sell in their smaller communities. Hymans carried a wide array of products from white goods’ sheets and towels to shower curtains, blue jeans and underwear. In fact, in the 1930’s, Hymans was awarded the exclusive rights to distribute HanesTM underwear in South Carolina.
As the HanesTM distributor for South Carolina, Hymans was afforded an entrée to these resellers that it had not previously enjoyed. Slowly, the underwear business took center stage and became the catalyst for the growing concern. In 1941, Karesh’s son-in-law Herman Hyman took over the business, eventually turning the reigns over to grandson W. Maier Hyman, who is still with the company today. During the 1970’s, the screen print industry began to sprout its wings. The demand for white tees, and then colored tees, forced to carry huge inventories to accommodate the screen printers’ needs, thus relegating some of their other products to its history.
In 1984, due to Charleston’s emergence as a tourist destination, Hymans was forced to leave its home of nearly 100 years, and moved its operations first to North Charleston, and then to its current home in a nearby suburb of Charleston. At about this time, due to the changing economic environment, the small, local and rural department store began to fade from America’s landscape. Replaced, with the aid of superhighways and integrated shipping, by mass merchandisers able to meet the demands of most family’s shopping needs. Hymans’ customer base had become mostly screen printers, embroiderers and apparel resellers.
Though still entrenched in the tee shirt business, Hymans again answered their customers’ calls for additional products. By the early 1990’s, Hymans had added oxford shirts, pants and coveralls to their product line. In 1995, Pittsburgh native David Odle joined the company as President and CEO, a position he holds today. About that time, Hymans became an innovator by promoting and selling work uniforms, including medical scrubs, lab coats, culinary apparel and corporate apparel for resale to local businesses throughout the United States.
Today, with distribution points in seven geographically strategic locations, Hymans enjoys the reputation of being the premiere uniform and work wear distributor to screen print, embroidery, ASI and promotional products industries. Current management includes new partner and Chief Operating Officer Dave Holtz and Customer Service Manager Lynn Bernstein. Their commitment to their customers is proven daily by exemplary customer service and accommodating their customers’ every need. Together, with Maier Hyman and David Odle, they guarantee satisfaction to providing quality products at value pricing, to having “What you need, when you need it,” and not only responding to their customer’s needs, but anticipating (and sometimes even creating) the market for future growth. Hymans, for over 115 years - The Name That Works for You – now, and for the next 115 years!