One of Smithfield’s oldest businesses has closed.

Roberts & Wellons, a hardware store, closed Jan. 30, said store manager Abram Wellons. The store was having a hard time competing with big-box retailers, Wellons said. Manager Carl Whittington, who began working at the store in 1949, was one reason Roberts & Wellons stayed open.

“It was definitely his leadership that allowed it to stay open as long as it did,” Wellons said. “Without Carl, the store would have closed years ago. He did such a great job that we were able to hang on as long as we could.”

Wellons and his wife, Sarah, plan to open another business in the old hardware store. Without being specific, he said it would be retail and would open in May.

“I felt like the era of the small-time independent hardware store had ended,” Wellons said. “It was time to do something different and to do something more in keeping with where the town’s heading. We had a good 60 years running as Roberts & Wellons, and hopefully, we will have another 60-year run. If we can do that, we will be a success.”

Photography in Clayton

Heidi Wood has opened a photography studio in downtown Clayton.

Although Wood has been a professional photographer for six years, her passion for photography began at the age of 14. She enjoyed taking photography classes and developing film in the darkroom at Clayton High School.

Wood received a college degree in business but decided to pursue a career in photography. She is working on a master’s degree in photography from Professional Photographers of America. Wood specializes in portraits and weddings.

“I make every session fun and enjoyable,” she said. “There is no pressure to make people say cheese.”

Heidi Wood Photography is at 408 E. Main St. It is open Monday through Saturday, but hours are by appointment only. For more details, call 291-5817 or visit www.heidiwoodphotography.com.

Dog training

Does your dog need a lesson in manners? Professional dog trainer Bob Reder can help.

Reder has opened Companion Canine Consulting from his home in Clayton. He spent 20 years as a New Jersey police officer, where he was a canine handler and trainer. Also, he worked with the Philadelphia and New York City police departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Reder worked with the The Humane Society of the United States for 17 years before retiring as executive director last year. He specialized in cruelty investigations, adoptions and working with animal shelters.

“I really bring that to light because what I do, training with dogs, has a strong, humane component,” Reder said. “I don’t believe in doing anything to hurt the dog.”

Reder, who has trained dogs for 30 years, wants to offer a free behavior class to people who adopt from their local shelters. “I haven’t lined that up yet, but it will be everything from house breaking to chewing to whatever these young or mature dogs are doing that the owners are being frustrated with,” he said. “I don’t want them to put the dog back in the shelter over some silly little thing like that.”

Unlike some dog trainers, Reder will go to your home. “If people come to the location of the obedience class, I’ll meet the dog and the person, but the dog is not in its own environment,” he said. “It puts me at a disadvantage. When the owner comes back to their home and tries to implement what we worked on, not everybody will be on board with that or they won’t care.”

Companion Canine Consulting will travel to Wake, Wilson, Johnston and northern Harnett counties. For additional information, call 272-6166 or go to www.companioncanineconsulting.com.