LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
B3 ServMart opened as an experiment in 2003, and due to its success was approved and has since become an integrated part of how 1st Civil Engineer Squadron craftsmen get the supplies to do their job.
Unknown to many at Langley is B3 ServMart, a hardware store tucked within the 1st CES building. The store opened its doors November 2005, and provides Langley customers with construction, plumbing and electrical equipment. They also sell power and hand tools, lighting, and heating ventilation air conditioning supplies. It has 2,130 items in stock and is comparable to a commercial retail store.
"We wanted a better, cheaper and faster way to get supplies to the 1st CES craftsman," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Ullman, 1st CES commander. "We also wanted a way to spend work order supply funding in the most economical way possible."
B3 ServMart is highly competitive with stores off base, said Bobby Coleman, B3 ServMart manager. According to Mr. Coleman, the store sells many of items as much as 45-50 perfect less than its competition.
"We are smaller and may not have as much overhead as off-base hardware stores, but we have good prices and a nice selection of goods," Mr. Coleman said. "We stock high-use items for 1st CES and take requests for any items they need."
For 1st CES craftsman, B3 ServMart is beneficial because it helps them get supplies quickly, said Colonel Ullman. This prevents delays in work schedules and saves time and energy.
"Before B3 ServMart came into existence, Airmen would have to go downtown to buy supplies," Colonel Ullman said, "but with our high deployment tempo, we don't have the manning or time to send people off base. It's much better to have the parts brought to us."
Although providing 1st CES with supplies is the primary goal, another benefit is that the store is open to unit facility managers and base personnel. Facility managers may use their government impac cards to make purchases for their squadron, and personal purchases may be made by anyone on base. Mr. Coleman also mentioned that base contractors have accounts with B3 ServMart.
B3 ServMart is open Mondays through Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, in times of need, it will open its doors and extend its services on a case-by-case basis for 1st CES. For more information call, Mr. Coleman at 865-1702.