Plumbers Supply Company is currently owned and run by John and Jim Balmer of Iowa City, but they aren't the first in their family to lead this business.

Jim Nesmith, Jim and John Balmer’s grandfather, was a State Senator for Jasper County living in Kellogg, Iowa.  His father, Tom Nesmith was a plumber in the area and where Jim Nesmith got his interest in the industry.  In the middle of his State Senate term, Jim took a job as a sales person with Iowa’s oldest wholesale distributor based out of Des Moines. Iowa City was one of the locations on Jim’s sales route.  Jim liked Iowa City and with a growing university and hospital, Jim seized the opportunity to establish a wholesale plumbing distributorship within the Iowa City community.  Plumbers Supply Company opened its doors for business in 1951.

Jim's daughter and son-in-law, Nora Lee and Wayne Balmer, took over the reins in 1969 and as the business continued to expand their two oldest sons, John and Jim Balmer came on board.  With the giant expansion, including a new 12,000 square foot wholesale building and over 5,000 square foot h2o Showroom to be complete in July of 2008, it was the perfect time for more family to join. 

John Balmer's son Tom, a CPA with years of experience at Sprint in Kansas City, joined the team in 2007, adding corporate knowledge and financial expertise as the company enlarges their product line.

Jim Balmer's daughter and son-in-law, Jennie and Ben Wunderlich, just recently came on board after serving as active duty Army Officers overseas.  They bring their leadership and logistics experience to the Plumbers Supply Team.

The Balmer Family is blessed and excited to have been in business for 57 years, and look forward to many more years of family tradition.