From the desk of Mr. Irving Levy, founder of Arley Wholesale
Mr. Levy was associated with "Pearl Paint Company" on Chamber Street in New York City. Today, the company is known as "Pearl Artist Supply" and has over 30 stores.
Another paint company in New York City by the name of "Arnesto Paint Company" along with "Kyanize Paint Company," from Boston, Massachusetts, told Mr. Levy about "Maloney Oil Company" in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Maloney was about to get out of the paint business. So with financing from Kyanize, Mr. Levy created "Scranton Paint Company" which was formerly known as the paint division of "Maloney Oil Company." He opened his store on Adams Avenue in Scranton, across from Sears Roebuck and another paint store. Mr. Levy decided to expand his business by traveling on the road to sell his paint, creating the wholesale division. Located down the street from "Scranton Paint Company" was a linoleum store in which Mr. Levy became friendly. As time went on, paint manufacturers started to open company stores in which they could sell their paint directly to the public. Mr. Levy then said to his friend, "Your linoleum business is a much better business than the paint business."
After hearing this statement, that linoleum store went to the flooring market in New York City and got Mr. Levy the "Carthage" line; a felt based product line. Mr. Levy now changed his name to "Scranton Paint & Linoleum" and rented a garage in a residential area to house this new inventory. As Mr. Levy is a friendly man, he found a friend in a sales representative named Franklin Arndt from "Bird & Company"; another felt-based product line.
Cerdomus Kyrah
Mr. Arndt borrowed $10,000 from his father to go into partnership with Mr. Levy. It was decided early on that Mr. Arndt would be the man on the road selling and Mr. Levy would manage all of the inside operations. Due to the change in ownership, a new corporation had to be formed. They decided to combine both of their names to create "Arley Wholesale, Incorporated." These men now known as Arley decided to take on a new linoleum supplier by the name of "Papco Linoleum Company." In doing this, Arley gave up the "Carthage" line. With all of these changes, one more occurred. Arley got out of the paint business and moved to 604 West Linden Street in Scranton. They were focused selling their goods only to furniture and department stores.
Mr. Levy was drafted into the army. While he was not present in the business, Mrs. Levy took care of the books. During his visit with the army, he still continued to draw his $60 weekly salary. Mr. Levy was later discharged in 1944 due to "trench feet."
After returning from his military duty, Mr. Levy discovered that Mr. Arndt at the age of 65 was ready to retire. Armed with this knowledge, Mr. Levy bought out his partner for $120,000 in notes. This action forced Mr. Levy to take Mr. Arndt's place on the road. He covered from Scranton to Lancaster while still continuing to call on furniture and department stores.
A company by the name of "Formica" came to Mr. Levy to distribute their product line. He took on this line to give his business more diversification. He was now able to call on kitchen manufacturers. This enhanced his business, which still included the "Papco Linoleum" line.
The advent of the family's second generation of leadership, Mr. Levy's son Saul Levy, and his son-in-law, Norman Gevanthor, joined the business.
Arlene Gevanthor
with an Arley Master
Merchandiser
Saul and Norman decided that the future of the business was to cater to the high-end builder/ designer market. The first tile showroom was built and dedicated to this purpose. Marcella Ravel, an outstanding builder and designer, worked with Saul and Norman to achieve this end. Arlene Gevanthor, daughter of Irving Levy, was then called upon to make the showroom a success.

Marcella is called upon once again, to design an addition of 4200 square feet to the building.

Marcella worked in conjunction with Arlene Gevanthor and Jean Haas to create the present tile showroom. Multiple vignettes are designed with ceramic tile, marble and granite to display kitchens, elaborate bathrooms, children's bathrooms, foyers, fireplaces and other areas of distinction. Foot after foot of wall channel displays every tile separately and the showroom floor was divided into sixty floor display areas. The opportunity to set Arley Wholesale apart from any other importer-distributor on the East Coast is seized.

The Arley Warehouse today.

The recent influx of home stores in the area does not affect Arley due to the length, breadth and quality of Arley's lines. Arley is renowned for the help provided in our showrooms by our professional staff.

Arley boasts of ceramic tile lines from all over the world with many exclusives from manufacturers in Italy, Spain, Turkey and Thailand. Cerdomus, Magica, Arpa, Gaya, Alfa Spain, Alfa Italy, Reisoglu and Kings are just a few of the highly recognized factories with which we deal.

With all of the turmoil in the carpet business, Arley decided to get out of the cut order carpet business by the middle of this year. Ceramic tile leads the sales of the company. As Arley's business grows in this segment, so do the product offerings from around the world. In addition, Arley enters the natural stone business.
With the turn of the new millennium, the third generation embraces the family's business tradition. Bruce Gevanthor joins Arley first, followed by Scott Levy and most recently, Robert Gevanthor.

Having recognized the need for appropriate, effective and efficient marketing to the rapidly expanding ceramic tile market, Arley culminates a three year research and development project with the unveiling of the "Arley Master Merchandiser". This launched a major marketing promotion of innovative display modules that are of the most dynamic shown by any company in the United States.

The three coordinated units that comprise the merchandiser use a page format to present 78 panels in a 22 foot long, 4 foot wide, 8 foot tall space. Cherry wood laminate cabinetry, steel supports, fluorescent lighting, and fluorescent header add an air of richness, sophistication and professionalism.

The crowning glory of the merchandiser is the paneling, which includes a planogram and product information such as available sizes, usage charts and at-a-glance icons that let shoppers and sales staff know the special characteristics of the product. The unit acts as a silent salesperson.

Master Merchandiser

The merchandiser had its premiere at the Tile Market Of Delaware. John Watson, owner, noted that in the short time the display has been a part of his 8,000 square foot showroom it has drawn people in. "It works by itself", Watson said. "We get tremendous showroom traffic on weekends and evenings, so you need displays that help customers help themselves."

The panels feature a full color picture of the product in a room setting at the top of each board. Each panel shows a separate vignette, allowing shoppers to see what they can do with listellos, borders and decorative pieces. Actual tiles are installed on the bottom portion of the panel to show the specialty tile parts that are readily available in inventory.

It is very user-friendly. The Number One obstacle in selling tile is that customers have trouble visualizing what the tile will look like in their home. The merchandiser shows tile installed in different styles and patterns, in multiple sizes and color illustrations. It is well labeled. It shows floor tile, wall tile, and backsplash, and it helps to answer customers' questions.
An installed
Master Merchandiser.

A major expansion of showroom vignettes showcasing the use of natural stone in various settings is launched. Calling again upon the design talent of Marcella Ravel and the craftsmanship of master tile setter Michael Santicchi, Arley's new stone showroom emerges as a gallery of stone application rivaling anything found in Italy or New York City. Arley is a company that does not stand still!

Mr. Levy has cause to be proud of Saul, Arlene and Norman in the second generation, followed by three of his grandsons in the third generation. He can also be proud that his business has grown and expanded year after year, but has never lost track of the ideals he stands for: Integrity and Honesty combined with the highest quality of service to customers.
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