Third generation of family now in charge

TERRY SCHUSTER and James Doyle, the outgoing mayor of Pawtucket, on Nov. 28. /Source: Nancy KirschPAWTUCKET – Terry Schuster is the owner and president of the Providence Yarn Company, founded 80 years ago by her grandfather, Isadore Samdperil. She has clear childhood memories of her grandfather and a great uncle, as well as her aunts, uncles and father, all working in the business. In 1986, Albie (Schuster’s uncle) retired from the business and her father, Charlie, became president. She joined the company in 2002 as a vice president and, when her dad retired in 2005, she became company president. He consulted in the business until shortly before his death in December 2006.

Schuster is confident that Providence Yarn Company has a strong future, as her stepson, Andrew Schuster, joined the company several years ago, and has made so many contributions in his short tenure. He currently serves as the company’s director of new business development. The three Schusters – Andrew, Terry and Terry’s husband Michael – collectively bought the building at 50 Division St., Pawtucket, the company’s new home.

Today, the company supplies industrial yarns to rope and narrow fabric (webbing) manufacturers, wire and cable companies, water filtration companies, companies using industrial yarns for medical applications and the automotive industry. Providence Yarn, said Schuster, does no manufacturing, but works closely with its customers to find appropriately sourced products.

In the earlier days, she said, the company was more focused on off-quality industrial yarns. “They’d sell to people who made rope or cordage for belts or straps,” she said. “My dad and my uncles would buy close-outs from manufacturing companies or their off-goods, and they’d sell them as seconds.”

When Schuster came into the business in 2002, that market was shrinking, so she and her father discussed how they could build and grow this business. “Before I came to the company,” said Schuster, “my dad always thought he’d retire and then the business would shut down, as no other family member was involved at that time.”

Today, she said, we sell to many of the same customers we’ve been selling forever, but we only sell first-quality yarns sourced from all over the world to manufacturers throughout the U.S. and Canada and to others internationally. “We partner with manufacturers to be their supply chain partner, and we pride ourselves on good customer service. The retail yarn store, The Yarn Outlet, operates separately, which was established 40 or 50 years ago.” Fittingly named, The Yarn Outlet sells, at discount, yarns for knitting and crocheting.

For more information about the Providence Yarn Company, visit.www.providenceyarn.com or read the story on page 1.

For more information about The Yarn Outlet, visit theyarnoutlet.com or call 722-5600.

Editor’s Note: This is the first in an occasional series of stories about Jewish-owned multi-generational family businesses in greater Rhode Island. If you want your family’s company (of three or more generations of ownership) to be profiled, contact us. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with subject line: Family Business, or call Nancy Kirsch, executive editor, at 421-4111 ext. 168.