It’s not often that a backyard greenhouse blossoms into one of Berks County’s biggest names in landscaping.
But that’s exactly the story of The Spayd’s Company, Alsace Township.
The company has its roots in the mid-1970s, when Mary and Edwin Spayd rebuilt an old greenhouse using salvaged glass panels.
They meant to grow vegetables for their family, but the Spayd’s penchant for organic gardening soon saw neighbors swinging by to pick up plants.
In 1976, the first version of the business was born.
“As children, we sold vegetables door-to-door in baskets to help the family,” Missy Spayd Kauffman, partner at The Spayd’s Company, said in a press release. “Every quarter mattered. We never imagined it would become a full-time business.”
For decades, the Spayd children nurtured that dream, growing the business from a seasonal venture into a year-round operation.
Greenhouses were added, new product lines were introduced, and the family’s collective work ethic became the backbone of the business, Spayd’s said in the release.
Today, the company has expanded into multiple divisions, offering landscaping, outdoor environments, pool, and construction services.
A patio at Spayd’s Outdoor Environments, 3225 Pricetown Road, Alsace Township. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The company’s commitment to “exceptional quality, craftsmanship, innovative solutions, and customer-focused service,” culminated in April, when Spayd’s celebrated its 50th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, Spayd’s held an open house at its store at 3225 Pricetown Road.
The showroom at Spayd’s Outdoor Environments, 3225 Pricetown Road, Alsace Township. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The celebration honored the customers, employees and community members whose efforts made Spayd’s a reality.
“We’ve grown not just through family leadership but through employees who have become like family, many with 20–35 years of dedication and have grown alongside us,” Betsy Spayd-Rothenberger, partner at The Spayd’s Company, said in the release.
Spayd’s encourages a collaborative, hands-on environment that drives quality and satisfaction, representatives said.
“We care about the client’s needs and the quality of the process and the work performed,” noted Jim Joyce, design/sales at The Spayd’s Company.
The Spayd’s Company has weathered economic challenges, industry shifts, and global events like COVID-19.
Through each phase, adaptability and the family’s belief in hard work guided the way, the company said.
“There are no shortcuts to success,” said Mike Spayd, partner at The Spayd’s Company. “To not grow is the beginning of decline. We’ve always believed in adapting and evolving.”
That adaption was evident in the company’s expansion into in-house pool and construction divisions, as well as its transition from one generation of leadership to the next.
Another hallmark of Spayd’s is its repeat customers, representatives said.
“We stand behind our work with quality and honest workmanship,” said Max Spayd, partner at The Spayd’s Company. “By consistently delivering excellent products, services, and customer experiences, we have built lasting client loyalty.”
As for the future, the Spayd’s Company is focused on continued innovation and future expansion, including potential growth beyond Pennsylvania, representatives said.
“Our goal is to equip the next generation with the tools and knowledge to carry this business forward for the next 50 years,” said Mike Spayd.
An outdoor fireplace at Spayd’s Outdoor Environments, 3225 Pricetown Road, Alsace Township. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)