WHERE:
CALL: 205-978-8900
WEBSITE: brandinobrass.com
HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Brandino Brass in Homewood is known throughout the Southeast as a top destination for homeowners, designers, contractors and architects in search of a huge selection of high-quality decorative and architectural hardware.
The store also stocks a growing array of interior and exterior lighting, including lamps, sconces, pendants and chandeliers.
There’s a long tradition of family ownership at Brandino Brass, founded in 1948 by the late Tony Brandino.
His son, Buster Brandino — along with Buster’s son, Eric — reestablished the business in Homewood in 2009.
Buster retired at the end of 2022, but the family tradition continues, because Eric remains a co-owner.
In addition, the ownership team now includes two loyal, long-time employees who have worked hard to maintain the excellent reputation of Brandino Brass.
They are Jessie Isom, an industry veteran who’s worked at Brandino Brass since 2012, and Renee Genereux, a skilled, industry-savvy woman in business who's worked for the company since 2010.
Genereux is involved in numerous day-to-day operations at Brandino Brass. For example, she oversees accounting with the help of bookkeeper Randi Carter.
Eric expresses great faith in his new co-owners.
“Renee and Jessie are true examples of hard work, loyalty and trust,” he said.
Genereux said she is “very honored” that Eric offered her a role in ownership.
“It feels good to be acknowledged for my hard work and dedication over the past 13 years with the company,” she said.
Another veteran woman in business who plays a key role at Brandino Brass is Megan Brasher, who earned her interior design degree from Auburn University and has both commercial and residential design experience.
Brasher said that she loves her work at Brandino Brass.
“What I enjoy the most is the variety of clients we get to work with and the variety of products,” she said. “There are no two projects alike.”
Genereux also enjoys these interactions.
“Assisting homeowners, designers, architects and contractors with their individual projects is rewarding, since every project comes with different wants and needs,” she said.
There are also new products coming out each year, and “it’s so fun for us to get to see where the styles and trends are going and offer that to our clients,” Brasher said.
The top-quality products at Brandino Brass include everything from cabinet hardware and elegant door knobs to fireballs and bathroom accessories.
The company is a dealer for many unique, high-end hardware makers and vendors, with some products that are only available at Brandino Brass.
Genereux appreciates the value of the quality products the store provides to its customers.
“Hardware for some is purely functional while for others it is the jewelry of the home,” Genereux said.
Brasher said the team at Brandino Brass is like a family and they want their business to be an “easy, happy experience” for their clients.
And, most of all, the friendly, knowledgeable sales team strives to help their customers get the right products — just the right look — for them.
Brandino Brass customers can view the store’s beautiful showroom in person or through a virtual walk-through on the company’s website.
In fact, the Brandino staff uses modern technology — email, Facetime and social media — to help clients not only in Alabama but in other states.
They recently assisted a homeowner near Baltimore, Maryland who is renovating a historic, 1830s-vintage stone manor house.
Repetition of service and gaining the trust of our clientele is a key component to the current success of Brandino Brass and the reason we have been able to gain referrals through word of mouth.
Renee Genereux
“They carried all the brands that we needed — and the brands we needed are from off the beaten path,” the homeowner said.
Brandino Brass also helped the homeowner navigate the rules and requirements of the local historical board, the state of Maryland and others.
The Brandino team was “super-knowledgeable with the whole historic portion,” the homeowner said.
Unlike the big-box hardware stores, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s, Brandino Brass offers thorough product knowledge and a personal touch.
Brandino Brass also offers a variety of prices and quality unmatched by the chain stores.
The Brandino team can take care of everything from a starter home to a large project with an architect, a designer, a builder and more.
Brandino Brass is known for its efficiency and attention to detail and is driven by a strong commitment to its customers.
“I love our community, and I love building relationships where they can trust us,” Brasher said. “I have a designer who will call me up and say, ‘I need something, here’s my budget and color. You know what I like; just pick something out for me.’ That’s the kind of trust we want to build with our clients.”
“Repetition of service and gaining the trust of our clientele is a key component to the current success of Brandino Brass and the reason we have been able to gain referrals through word of mouth,” Genereux said.
“Customer service is what Brandino Brass’ reputation and success has been built on,” Isom said.
The new owners also have a great working relationship.
“On almost every subject we each bring a different, unique perspective and we work together to make the best decisions for the company,” Isom said.
“At Brandino Brass there is certainly no ‘I’ in team,” Genereux said. “We work together to problem solve, grow our brand and continue as a successful business.”
