FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 15, 2021
 Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Glauber’s Sports of Carrollton, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Glauber’s Sports, a family-owned small business in Carrollton, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

In 1863, a young shoemaker, John Glauber, established Glauber’s Shoes in Carrollton, Kentucky. Opening up shop on Main Street, the business provided quality footwear to residents of Carroll County and the surrounding area. Over the next 140 years, Glauber’s Shoes became the oldest shoe store in Kentucky and over time expanded its offerings to include hunting supplies. Passing through multiple generations, by the early 2000s, John Glauber, a fourth-generation descendant of the original owner, ran the business alongside his son, Randy, who started helping out around the shop when he was in the sixth grade. After graduating from high school, Randy worked in the store full-time and learned how to run the family business that he later took over when his father retired in 2005. Since taking over, Randy further expanded the store’s hunting inventory, and renamed the store to Glauber’s Sports to more accurately reflect its inventory.

Today, Glauber’s Sports is lauded as a one-stop-shop for hunting and shooting sports enthusiasts in Northern Kentucky. Praised for great customer service, Randy has demonstrated a dynamic approach to managing the store, actively responding to local market demands by expanding its stock and ensuring the needs of the community are met. To accommodate its growing inventory, Glauber’s Sports moved locations from Main Street to Fourth Street in 2007. With over 1000 firearms in stock, the store carries a wide range of rifles and shotguns. Additionally, Glauber’s Sports sells other supplies like muzzle loaders, crossbows, outdoor wear, hunting blinds, and scopes. Looking to the future, Randy is committed to continuing the family tradition of serving Carrollton, and is training his son, John, to take over the 158-year-old business for decades to come.

A pillar of the community, Glauber’s Sports is actively involved with various local organizations. Over the decades, Glauber’s has supported area schools’ sports teams and events like the Carroll County Fair. Furthermore, Randy regularly volunteers with local shooting sports organizations by coaching the Carroll County High School Trap club and 4-H shooting sports clubs, and by doing so passes on a lifelong passion for shooting sports, gun safety, and his support for the Second Amendment. Additionally, like many other small businesses, Glauber’s Sports is a member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the Chamber of Commerce.

Glauber’s Sports is a remarkable example of the resilience and adaptability of family-owned small businesses. Small businesses, like Glauber’s Sports, form the heart of towns across Kentucky by regularly stepping up to support the needs of their communities. Congratulations to Randy, the Glauber family, and the entire team at Glauber’s Sports. I wish Glauber’s Sports the best of luck, and look forward to watching this family-business’ continued growth and success in Kentucky.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.

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