As seen in the Tried & True Spring 2025 issue
Williamson Pipe Supply sits just south of Nashville’s concerts and nightlife in Franklin, Tennessee—a place as famous for its country music stars as its rolling hills. Led by Barry Saucier and his tight-knit team of five, this humble pipe supply company focuses on one thing: doing right by their employees and customers.
“We’re looking to make enough to put food on the table, and that’s what keeps us happy. I’m not looking to get wealthy,” Barry says—a grounded philosophy that many of us can respect.
A Roundabout Retirement
Barry’s journey to owning Williamson Pipe Supply wasn’t exactly a straight line. But is it ever? After retiring from a career in road construction, he lasted about two weeks before realizing he wasn’t quite ready to sit still.
“I gotta find something else to do,” Barry recalls thinking. That “something else” turned into buying Williamson Pipe Supply in 2017, a move that drew on his years of experience working in subdivisions, utility projects and a wide variety of other construction work.
Though he’s quick to point out, “I’m not a salesman—I’ve installed this stuff before.” Barry’s hands-on knowledge has made him a trusted partner for contractors and customers alike. He’s even been known to roll up his sleeves and help with installations.
“If somebody needs a hand, I’ll run out there—whatever it takes,” Barry says, “I’ve been guilty of making a delivery, where the person does not know how to put the pipe in, so I’ll get out of the truck and help them put the pipe in the ditch. And they’re [the office staff] sitting there calling me from the office, asking, ‘Where are you at? We need you to do this.’” But Barry’s priority is ensuring each customer can get their job done. “‘I’m helping them put pipe in the ditch. I’ll be back when I get back.’”
And so that’s what I love to do. If somebody needs a hand, I’ll go up there, whether it’s putting pipe in the ditch, running a piece of equipment, whatever it takes. Because we’re all here on Earth to help each other.
Partnering with Fratco
When Barry first took over Williamson Pipe Supply, he wasn’t impressed with the relationship he had with their previous pipe supplier. Determined to find a better partner, he started asking around. Word of mouth led him to Fratco, and a simple phone call kicked off what has become a strong partnership.
After connecting with Craig and meeting Brendan, Barry knew he’d found the right fit. “It just started from there,” he says. Today, Fratco trucks keep them stocked with near-daily shipments of pipe and accessories. “Austin [Simanson] does a great job of lining trucks up and keeping pipe coming to us,” Barry notes, expressing his gratitude for consistent and reliable supply.
Pipe for Every Project—Even Celebrity Ones
Most of Williamson Pipe Supply’s sales consist of 20-foot sticks of HDPE (SingleCorr and SmoothCorr) and accessories, often for smaller residential projects like custom homebuilding with contractors. However, he also notes that HDPP (ProCorr) is becoming increasingly more common, especially in their southern footprint.
While the company’s bread and butter might be modest-scale jobs, its reach has extended to some star-studded clients. Located in one of Tennessee’s wealthiest areas, Williamson Pipe Supply has delivered pipe for the likes of Trace Adkins, Kid Rock, Shania Twain and other high-profile names.
“We are the pipe place for the stars,” Barry jokes. But he’s quick to add, “We laugh about it and have fun.” Despite the glitz of their clientele, Barry and his team stay humble, “We’re just a simple little pipe company,” he adds with a light chuckle.
Looking South
As Williamson Pipe Supply continues to grow, Barry is already planning the company’s next step: opening a new location in the Florida panhandle, specifically in Navarre. Encouraged by Fratco’s own expansion into Alabama, Barry is eager to take the business further south and bring the corrugated plastic pipe water management industry with him.
With its strong partnerships, practical approach and willingness to lend a helping hand, Williamson Pipe Supply isn’t just selling pipe—it’s building relationships, one stick at a time.
