Jim Eidson faced a crisis.

His small Saluda sporting goods store had been doing well.

It was 1984, and Eidson’s Sports sold athletic gear and sporting goods to the public and local schools’ sports teams.

Then in 1986, big box discounters moved into his market.

Unable to compete on price, he faced closing his store.

Then he saw opportunity in the new, rising demand for embroidered attire.

With his first 2-head embroidery machine, he set to work for the next 20 years growing a business.

By 1997 Eidson’s Custom Embroidery and Screen-printing had outgrown their store on Main Street in Saluda.

He decided to expand into property just outside town and included mini storage units.

Amazingly 23 years later Eidson’s is still family owned, serving the entire Southeastern seaboard.

Recently relocated to Main Street in Leesville, Jim’s daughter Whitney Go now manages the business.

What started as a smalltown sporting goods store has turned into a top supplier of embroidered uniforms and apparel in the Southeast. William Harmon is a 17-year-old early admission college sophomore, freelance writer and photographer.