Our Story
The Beginning
The year was 1973. Richard Nixon was president. The Miami Dolphins won the NFL Super bowl. Martin Cooper, the inventor of the mobile phone made the first mobile call. That was the year Charley Yaw, not long after graduating from Oregon State University, decided to start his own business adventure - designing and building portable buildings. With no money in his pockets, but an entrepreneur's dream in his heart, he found a vacant chicken barn near Pine Lake, Washington and started building.
Soon afterwards, a customer asked Charley if he would turn one of his portable buildings into a backyard greenhouse. Charley went about building it, putting it on his trusty, old Ford pickup, and delivering it to his first elated greenhouse customer! He quickly saw a niche market that wasn't being met and launched into building hobby greenhouses. Business soon expanded by word of mouth from satisfied customers.
Our Catalog was Born
Local, commercial suppliers were not interested in selling hobby gardeners small quantities of pots, propagation mats, lights and other growing accessories for their greenhouses. Increasingly, customers were asking Charley to help them source equipment and supplies for their new greenhouses.
In 1975 Charley and his wife, Carol, put together the first 16-page, black-and-white supply catalog for their greenhouse customers. Money was scarce and they only had enough to print 400 catalogs. The initial reception, however, was overwhelming. They soon began mailing catalogs out to all parts of the country. As greenhouse demand increased, Charley added new greenhouse lines from England, Canada, Germany, China and Denmark to the supply catalog. Specialized hobby greenhouse equipment and supply offerings expanded as Charley's became the USA's #1 supplier.
We went Digital
In 1997, the company went online. Today you'll find hundreds of quality products online, plus helpful greenhouse and gardening tips. The internet has dramatically reshaped Charley's but what still remains is amazing customer service and unique, quality products.
Due to the catalog growth and our online store Charley's has outgrown its facilities several times over the years as we've continued to add products, offices and staff.
Currently we occupy a 14,000 sq. ft. facility that includes our brick & mortar retail store, offices and shop in the beautiful Skagit Valley of Washington State - also home to the internationally acclaimed Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and some of the best farmland in the world.
Our Products
We offer different styles of the best hobby greenhouses available worldwide. We also have an extensive selection of greenhouse accessories and garden supplies.
Our Promise
Here at Charley's we work hard to maintain, our long-standing reputation as innovative leaders in the USA for hobby greenhousing. You'll find our excellent customer service and knowledge second to none!
A message from Charley about our Retail Store
Dear Gardening Friends,
For 48 years, Charley's has been the go-to source for quality greenhouse and gardening supplies in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. As part of our transition to a more global, online presence, our Mount Vernon retail store has downsized. Still in the same location in west Mount Vernon, 17979 State Route 536, Crawford Garage Doors has purchased the property. They have the main retail store and warehouse 2 and 3.
Charley’s has greenhouses on display, a retail area left of the main store, the lower floor of offices, and warehouse 1 for shipping orders, and pick up of polycarbonate panels and greenhouses.
We continue to sell our full line of greenhouses, polycarbonates, and hard-to-find supplies online at charleysgh.com If you’re in our area this month, now is the time to shop great deals on select greenhouses and polycarbonate panels!
Monday-Saturday 9am - 4pm