Mrs. Marie Butler and her husband, James Preston, began Butler’s Electric Supply at a time in American history when husbands were returning from war and businesses were planting their roots. Butler’s Electric Supply was founded in Whiteville, North Carolina, in 1948 after Mr. Butler returned home from serving 3 ½ years in the Army.
Marie Butler
Prior to that, Mrs. Butler earned a degree in journalism from Winthrop University in December 1943, and began work as a journalist immediately. As an editor, she accomplished impressive feats, including winning a national award regarding small town newspapers, when women editors were rarely heard of. Mrs. Butler also became the secretary of her local Rotary Club before women were admitted to join. Her journalism career took her to Washington, D.C., where she worked in the media and publication industry. She explained how she would work for the newspaper as an editor during the mornings, and assist her husband with the family business in the afternoons and evenings. Life memories, unlike stories, do not necessarily have a concise beginning, middle, and end. Backing up to 1948, while living in rural Whiteville, NC, the Butlers noticed the potential for an increase in homes and businesses due to the running of the first power lines to the area. The Butlers decided to make an avant-garde move to begin an electrical supply company, although Mrs. Butler admits while chuckling, they “knew nothing about electrical companies,” only that “he knew how to sell, and I knew how to keep the books.” After inheriting some money from a relative, Mr. and Mrs. Butler bought out a contract company, and worked together as co-owners of the business. The Butlers operated a store-front business in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1953. Early struggles included the town condemning the business to close, as it was in the location they wanted for the new town hall.
Butler Lighting Showroom, Since 1948
The Butlers became aware of this situation through newspaper headlines and had to move locations. They moved their business to another Fayetteville location and gradually expanded over several decades to six locations, including Wilmington, Fayetteville, High Point, Greensboro, Lewisville, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Butler had four sons, the late John Butler, Ben Butler, James Butler, and Carlos Butler, who all decided to stay in the family business and become owners of the various store locations. There are currently three Butler Lighting stores, all run by Carlos Butler, and three Butler’s Electric Supply stores run by Ben, James, and granddaughter, Ashley. Adam Blake manages their Lewisville location. He travels with the Butler family to visit the International High Point Furniture Market and Dallas Lighting Market every year to view and purchase new product releases. “It’s also a great opportunity to learn about technological advancements in lighting products and to see the latest trends in design,” Blake added. From these markets, they choose the intricately designed, breathtaking pieces that sit in the Lewisville Butler Lighting store. Butler’s Lighting has received national mention in Architectural Digest, and their lighting pieces have traveled into homes across the world, including Saudi Arabia. Mr. and Mrs. Butler’s original hometown business has now been passed down through three generations and has transcended onto the worldwide web. When I asked Mrs. Butler how she balanced four sons, a husband, a journalism job, and a family business, she laughed and responded, “Good household help” and that it wasn’t unusual to have business “meetings around the kitchen table.” Mrs. Butler and Adam both agreed that Butler Lighting and Butler’s Electric Supply are special businesses because they are family driven, creating a commitment to deliver on promises. Mrs. Butler just recently celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday on her son’s yacht, and currently resides in Bermuda Village. Butler Lighting is located at 6499 Shallowford Rd. Lewisville, NC 27023 and their website can be viewed at LightingSALE.com.
