History of SPINX

Stewart Spinks is the founder of The SPINX Company, Inc., which operates over 75 convenience stores and supplies another 60+ with gasoline in North and South Carolina. Stewart was born in Charleston, SC in 1946 and grew up in Augusta, Georgia. He married his high school sweetheart, Martha Still, in 1966 and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Marketing in August 1968. Recruited off the UT campus by Shell Oil Company, he began work in Atlanta and was transferred to Greenville in 1969. The beauty of the Piedmont region, the attitude of it's residents and the positive business climate attracted Stewart and Martha and they made it their permanent home. The upstate had a textile base then, and a great potential for diversified economic growth; Greenville seemed poised and on the brink of a boom. The international and local manufacturers were looking at the area for land and labor. After serving with Shell for four (4) years he stepped out on his own and began the development of his vision for CONVENIENCE; Making Life Easier for customers.

Stewart formed SPINX Oil Company, Inc. on December 1, 1972, with a home heating oil delivery company and one gas station in Greenville, SC. The vision was simple and continues - Give customers what they want: FASTER and EASIER! In 1977 the original SPINX trademark was registered, and the company opened its' first independent branded store at the corner of Laurens Road and Washington Street in Greenville. As an independent branded unit, it began marketing petroleum products under the SPINX name.

In the 70's with gas allocations and odd and even license plate days for gas purchases, opening a gas station was not easy. Stewart designed, built and operated the convenience stores that spawned today's company. These early days saw him serving as a general contractor, store manager, recruiter, accountant, and advertising agent. The original store prototype was designed to allow SELF SERVE gas and quick easy payment at the cashier window of the store kiosk. There were eight (8) to twelve (12) fueling points and a walk up cooler so customers felt the SPEED and EASE of the purchase; no long lines and no need to go inside the store.

Today, retail outlets are predominantly located in the upstate region of South Carolina with other outlets located in various North Carolina cities along the I-85 corridor. SPINX keeps raising the bar for exceptional customer service by providing leading edge technology and well-trained friendly associates. We are the innovators in serving our customers, and are able to provide the community with unparalleled service. The latest store design, over 4,500 square feet is a far cry from the original kiosk of about 30 square feet. The new prototype has more parking near the entrance, automatic sliding glass doors, pay at the pump with cash or credit, TV screens at the pump, ATM's, state of the art fountains, coolers, and merchandise gondolas. Recent stores are adding self-ordering devices and all facilities are once again meeting the current consumer demand for fast, convenient services and high quality products at a value price.

The logo has been updated and includes a crossroads mark to reflect the "meeting place" atmosphere of current operations. Stop and dine with us! Stewart's Chicken locations include seating and healthy choices to take care of a wider group of customers. Stewart's keen eye for "good dirt" and a marketing knack have grown SPINX to over 70 units in 2007, plus a current inventory of about 100 acres of highly marketable real estate in the upstate South Carolina region. Today, SPINX employs over 700 associates through its stores, food operations and related businesses, and enjoys $465 million in annual sales, making it the largest gasoline retailer in the Upstate. Besides adding consumer appeal to each location, SPINX adds valuable jobs for students and a career path for those interested in retail.

SPINX family ownership and a close-knit atmosphere continue with Stewart Spinks as the CEO and Steve Spinks as the President. The original vision "Give customers what they want: FASTER and EASIER!" has been expanded to include associates and many employees of the company are long term due to the "family touch." This personal touch that began with Stewart and Martha is the key to the growth of the organization - they began by keeping up with customer desires and today's vision statement says it all: To ALWAYS be the FRIENDLY Company that makes PEOPLE's lives easier.

Company pride can be seen whenever employees gather for training meetings, community events and fundraisers, and celebrations. There is a good-natured rivalry when stores and territories compete to raise money for MDA, Red Ribbon, or the Salvation Armyl - or when the community soccer, football, baseball and basketball seasons bring the athletes in the company together.

It is incredible to hear Stewart tell that when he first resigned his job at Shell to start SPINX, "I'd still get up each morning around 5 a.m. and put on my Shell uniform and bow tie, just like I was going to work for Shell. I didn't tell my wife or my family that I had left the security of the job at Shell. It took me about three weeks to get up the nerve to tell them." From then to now is a world of difference. SPINX is poised to grow again - the plan is to grow in QUALITY as well as QUANTITY by continuing to provide our customers, partners and employees with stimulating and rewarding opportunities. SPINX will be watching and preparing for the next generation of consumers. Plans include internet access and e-commerce for the myriad of products delivered in our convenient outlets. Motor fuels of the future will vary greatly from those we market today, but you can be sure SPINX will be there with the "go juice". SPINX is Making Life Easier for customers!

Stewart currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Association, Palmetto Bank, South Carolina Independent Colleges, Boy Scouts of America (Blue Ridge Council), Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Tech Foundation, Furman University, Furman Foundation, Taste of the Nations and the Urban League. Additionally, Stewart is an airplane pilot and golfer, though he spends more time looking for good "dirt" than in other recreation.