How would you advise young people?
Kids today are so tied to the cell phones and
computers, it’s scary. In order to be selfemployed,
you have to be willing to put in the
hours to make it happen, and I’m afraid that the
younger generation is not willing to do that.
In looking back, would you change
anything? I probably would have taken it a
little slower along the way and not tried to grow
so quickly. Other than that, there isn’t anything
I would change, honestly. I’m happily married,
and I love my children and grandchildren. I’ve
had a very good life—no regrets.
If you had a free day to spend in Moore
County, what would you do? I love to go
shopping. Judi laughs, “He can out-shop any
woman!”
Favorite store? I love the Belk’s men’s store
in Crabtree Valley Mall! We also love to shop
local; Gigi loves the Fresh Market.
Favorite restaurant? We love the Susa’s
Hibachi Grill in Carthage and Bonefish Grill.
Favorite activity? Watching sports is our
main thing. Clemson is our favorite team, and
we’re huge Carolina fans. We also love to drive all
over our land in the Gator with our dog Rocky .
How would you describe Moore County?
It’s the greatest place in the world!
Do you have an inspirational quotation
to share? Never give up! Never give up! I could
have folded up the tent and gone home after
the D.A.Kelly’s days, but I was more determined
than ever to make a comeback and I did! Have
the perseverance to never give up. ☐
55 YEARS con't from p. 32. 55 YEARS continued
Free Consultations
Call 910-684-1588
Surrounded by generations of family, an entire
hometown of friends, and a determination to
make every day count, Archie and Judi define
the American dream and remain an inspiration
to all! ☐ For more info. see ad. p. 33.
Advice from Archie
Covering a lifetime of business.
What business advice do you wish you
would have known before starting off? I
learned one big lesson—being big is not always
best. Yes, we grew to 36 stores, but if we’d have
kept it at a smaller number, we could have done
better. That’s an absolute fact.
Greatest lesson learned? You have to
chase your dreams and find something that you
love to do. In starting off, you must to secure
the resources and the drive to be able to stay
the course. As a general rule, it takes around
five years to get established, to let people know
what you’re doing. However if you can’t make it
in the first five years, then you had better find
something else to do.
You must have the perseverance to want to
succeed. Being self employed is not a 9 to 5 job.
Business demands hard work, and not many
people are willing to put in the hours to make
it work.
55 YEARS continued
55 YEARS con't. next column
55 YEARS con't. next column
chairs for their tree stands because they are so
comfortable and very reasonable.”
Archie continues, “People come to us to save
money; we have the best prices anywhere. We
take great pride and satisfaction in being able
to buy used furniture, refurbish it, and sell it to
happy customers. Our great value remains the
driving force.
With the largest selection of new and used
office furniture in North Carolina, covering
24,000 square feet of space, D.A.K.’s stands ready
to serve. Unbeatable in price and selection,
Archie smiles, “We also take great pride in our
service as we deliver and set up the furniture. We
offer a complete service!”
Working together for over 50 years, Archie
and Judi remain a local inspiration! Judi laughs,
“Many of our friends ask how I can work with
him all the time... there’s a lot of give and take.
We were married at a young age and kind of grew
up together; we had three children whom we
adore. Although we worked all the time, Archie
always made time for our children. There was
never a time when they couldn’t talk to us about
anything. When you work with your spouse, it’s
not always about what I want or what he wants—
it’s about working together. It also helped to
have his wonderful family around.”
Remembering back to an unforgettable
moment, family memories always tops the list.
Judi remembers one time when her son Duncan,
three years old at the time, crawled in a whole
row of cabinets. Judi was waiting on a customer
when all of a sudden Duncan bursts out of
the cabinet and scared the woman to death.
Judi adds, “When our son Andy was about six
years old, he was playing around the register
at the Carthage store where I was helping
two ladies. Andy reached into his pocket and
pulled out Stanley, a green garter snake. Those
women started screaming as he simply put the
snake right back in his pocket. Andy carried
that snake around with him all the time!” The
beloved memories cover an entire lifetime of
serving locals surrounded by love, family, and
hometown goodness.
Best story of all? Archie laughs, “My story is
a funny one! Growing up, I always wanted to be
a coach as I was an athlete in school—it’s ironic
that I would get into the lady’s clothing business
for all those years. I had no earthly idea that
D.A.Kelly’s would be my future, but I am truly
thankful for what we have accomplished over
the years! The clothing stores gave us a good life;
and we still stay in contact with our employees
who worked alongside of us for over 20 years.
We don’t plan to retire. We love what we do, and
we’re going to keep right on working.”
As the new year 2019 rolls around, Archie
tells, “I really don’t make New Year’s resolutions,
but I’m looking forward to continuing strong
into 2019!” Soon to be celebrating 58 years of
marriage, over 55 years in business, and over
20 years with D.A.K.’s office furniture, there
is no doubt that success will continue strong.
Mr. Archie Kelly, owner D.A.K.'s.
Mr. Archie Kelly,
owner D.A.K.'s.
By L.S. Crain, S.Pines resident 1989-2017,
now lives in Taylors, SC, his birthplace.
p.34 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 133