Go meet Jeff Ripley at Knuckleheads in Franklin
Jeff Ripley and his wife, Tina, have been residents of Franklin since 2014, along with their four children, the youngest of whomhas graduated from Franklin High School. With their kids now out of the house, Jeff can finally pursue his dream of owning a hometown hardware store to better serve his community. While speaking with the newspaper amidst the sounds of the cash register and customers checking out at the counter, Jeff expressed his enthusiasm. To an untrained eye, it seems like business as usual at Knuckleheads Hardware in Franklin, Texas, but things are changing for the better. Before moving to Franklin, the Ripleys lived in the Taylor area for several years. “We really like this community, and when we found out that this business was for sale, we couldn’t think of a better fit for us,” Jeff said. He recently retired from the Texas A&M system, where he worked for 34 years with the extension service and taught in the Agricultural Education department. The Ripleys officially took over in mid-January 2025 and have already affiliated with “Do-It Best Hardware,” while retaining their connection with True Value Hardware. “Having both affiliations allows us to offer a better source and selection of inventory for our customers,” Jeff stated. “We plan to add livestock show supplies in the near future. We’ll listen to our customers and assess what we need to expand or change moving forward.” He assured the newspaper that customers can still expect the same quality service they enjoyed at Knuckleheads in the past. “If there’s a product we don’t have but can obtain, we want our customers to be able to find what they need,” Jeff added. “We aim to serve homeowners as well as our commercial contractors who rely on us to help their businesses thrive.” Tina Ripley is the part-time bookkeeper and continues her regular job, according to Jeff, but is always available to support her husband in their new venture. The newspaper wishes the Ripleys much success with Knuckleheads Hardware in Franklin and encourages readers to stop by and introduce themselves, as they welcome visitors and customers alike.
Dennis Phillips | Robertson County News
Customers at Knukleheads in Franklin check out with purchases. The counter looks the same, the smiling faces look the same, but a few things have changed.
The value of promotional business products
Promotional products come in various forms, from pens featuring your business name and address to tote bags, all of which can significantly boost your business. While popular items include koozies and t-shirts, it’s often the unique and unusual products that truly catch customers’ eyes. While working in Austin, I had a client who wanted a very specific custom promotional product. I typically say “yes” if someone asks if I can print on something, but this request nearly challenged me almost beyond my limits. The client was in the business of shelling pecans, walnuts, and other nuts—and you guessed it, selling nuts. Their request was to print their slogan on a walnut. Yes, you read that correctly—on a walnut. I responded that I would take a day or two to figure out how to print on a walnut. There are many obstacles involved in this process: the ridges on the surface of the walnut, securing the walnut in place for printing, and several other challenges requiring solutions. After a few days of consideration, I had an idea involving a golf ball printing machine. I went to a friend’s print shop, ready to make a significant mess. Initially, the machine crushed the walnuts. However, after many hours of adjustments, we finally produced the first printed walnut of my career. A few hours later, we managed to print a thousand walnuts, although we also ended up with 4,000 broken nuts scattered across the floor. The highlight of this story is that yes, a unique printed promotional product stands out the most. And what was the slogan, you ask? “We’ll Crack Your Nuts,” along with the company name. The client loved the outcome and asked for another thousand just a week later. Pens and Koozies are fine, but if you really want to stand out in a crowd, think outside the bow for your promotional products.
