Dealer Files

Selling Installed: Part II
Every deck you build helps you streamline your pricing.

Engineered Wood Products
As suppliers fight price competition from dimensional lumber, they expand in new markets and look to greenbuilding programs to provide long-term prosperity.

Looking For The Light
Custom Homebuilders Offer a Bright Spot In a Dim Market.

A Tool for Pros
Festool Kapex offers the first dust-free sliding compound miter saw, and its innovations are astounding.

Shelly Enterprises: Perkasie, Pennsylvania
With room to expand, better efficiencies and a strategy for the future, Shelly Enterprises is poised for growth.

Safety Pays Off
New safety initiatives keep MillTech’s edge SHARP.

At Scherer Bros., Business is Relative
This family-owned company has survived—and thrived—through three generations.

Stine Lumber: Sulphur, Louisiana
Battling the Big Boxes: Stine Lumber has met its competition head-on by transforming its locations—and how it does business.

2008 Entrepreneurs Of The Year
Tony Shepley of Shepley Wood Products took top honors in the $50-million-plus category. Meet our other two winners-Lumber One and The Remodeler's Choice.

R&K Building Supplies, Gilbert, Arizona
R&K prides itself on its stability and one-store location. But its systematic addition of services and functionshas created solid and continuing growth through the years.

Demo and Salvage–at a Profit
An exemplary green building recycling program is already 11 years old.  

Entrepreneur of the Year 2007: Wheeler Building Materials
After a year spent nailing down real estate, Wheeler’s Building Materials plans to launch both horizontal and vertical expansions in 2007.

Thomas Building Center: Supplying the Dream in Sequim, Wa
Thomas Building Center, Sequim, Washington

John Greeter: Real Life Survivor
Forget the reality series. This is a true survivor tale. Here are the life lessons of an industry veteran-and a few nuggets of advice to kick around.

Carter Lumber Company
Carter Lumber Co. executives, heir to a 72-year history, are intent on growing their business while maintaining the quality of service associated with its hometown Midwest origins.

The Early Bird
Kimal Lumber's CD Specifier's Guide is a hit with architects and builders.

Mobile E-Mail Gets a Thumbs Up at Robert Bowden
Going wireless at Robert Bowden, Inc.

Big Buck Lumber Cuts the Cord
Racine, Wis.-based Big Buck Lumber, has long been on a leader in its use of technology.

One to One
Marketing at Morse Sash & Door

Takeoff Strategies at Mentor Lumber

Craftwood Invests in Extreme Loyalty from Remodelers
Craftwood’s approach to serving its customers in suburban Chicago is simple; "Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

Kimal Lumber: Entrepreneur of the Year
At Kimal Lumber, entrepreneurship drives growth

A Land Office Business at Home Lumber
Indiana dealer provides lots for smaller builders

Tindell’s Digs Deep
Home-grown data mining software provides pinpoint management controls

Contractor Events Bolster Contractor Loyalty for Mid-Cape Lumber

Customizing Business Information at F.E. Wheaton & Co.

A Bright Idea at Parksite Group
Chicago-based wholesaler opens the door to appliances and lights come on

Business on the Bus with Ellsworth Building Supply
To Norman Schultz there is nothing like five hours on a bus for forging close relationships with builders.

Home Lumber, Houston, Texas
What’s the secret to your company’s success? Most dealers say service sets them apart, but few can quantify that claim. Here’s the story of one who can.

Alpine Lumber
A strategic combination of acquisitions and value-added services.

Shelly Enterprises’
DC Streamlines Operations

Scherer Bros. Extends Marketing Services to Builders
The philosophy at Scherer Brothers Lumber Company begins with the premise that it is a business first and a lumber business second.

Home Lumber, Ashland, Kansas
Relationships and business fundamentals are at home for this rural Kansas company.

Opdyke Lumber's Bonus Baby
ProBonus program builds loyalty, reduces late payments

Shepley Wood Products, Hyannis, Mass.
Reliability and close relationships helped Shepley Wood Products gain a foothold in the industry, but anticipating needs and cross-selling format have maintained the success.

National Lumber, Mansfield, Mass.

Entrepreneur of the Year: Mill Creek Lumber & Supply, Broken Arrow, Ok
Mill Creek Lumber & Supply, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Bennett Lumber, Minneapolis, MN
With new leadership at the helm, a 117-year-old yard takes its growth from the city to the suburbs.

Mortimer Lumber, Port Huron, Michigan
Family businesses come with their own unique set of advantages as well as challenges.

Fasteners
Mother Nature, deck technology and evolving building materials drive manufacturers to create new ways to improve and expand their product lines.

Galehouse Lumber
A personal style in communications and events keeps contractor-oriented yard in touch with customers.

Finding a New Way to Say “Thank You”
An in-store contest not only helps Williams Lumber celebrate 60 years of service to the community, it helps promote the company’s DIY business.

Jackson Lumber, Lawrence MA
Jackson Lumber looks to its New Hampshire neighbors to grow a thriving contractor business.

In Depth: Doors
The drive to personalize the home’s look is driving larger sizes, diverse species, more glass and higher quality for entry, patio and interior doors.

GNH Lumber, Greenville, NY
The appeal of family ownership and face-to-face service keeps bringing customers with home-building dreams into GNH Lumber’s one-stop shop.

In Depth: Make More Money on Moldings
After decades of minimalism in molding design, beautiful moldings are back, and suppliers are learning there’s money to be made in wood moldings with great profiles.

Entrepreneur of the Year 2007: Ward Lumber; Jay, NY
Ward Lumber’s president keeps his eye out for new opportunities—as his pre-fab home, alpaca ranch, and equipment-supply businesses indicate.

Entrepreneur of the Year 2007: The Deck Store; Apple Valley, MN
Bob Heidenreich wanted only the best materials and service for his Deck & Door Company, but when local businesses didn’t meet his standards, he started his own yard.

Friend Lumber Co., Hudson, N.H.
A Friend Indeed:The 60-year-old Friend Lumber Companies intend to keep customers coming back with good old-fashioned service.

Engaged Employees
ABC Supply finds its employee-focus translates into long-term customers and financial success.

Selling the Deck Project
Dealers across the country share what works, what doesn’t, and what the hot products will be.

H.J. Opdyke Lumber: Frenchtown, New Jersey
Swimming Upstream in a Down Market- H.J. Opdyke Lumber has survived a flood—and market ups and downs—with attention to details and its customer.

Stine lumber: Sulphur, Louisiana
Battling the Big Boxes- Stine Lumber has met its competition head-on by transforming its locations—and how it does business.

In Depth: Material Handling
Advanced equipment and racking can help create efficiencies during a down market.