84 Lumber

84 Lumber Company
Private
Industry Building materials and retail
Founded January 31, 1958 (1958-01-31)[1]
Headquarters Eighty Four, Pennsylvania
Key people
 Joe Hardy, founder and CEO;
Maggie Hardy Magerko, president and owner
Products Building materials and supplies
Revenue Increase$2.1 billion (2008)
Number of employees

approx. 5,000+/-

homepage = www.84Lumber.com
Typical 84 Lumber sign

84 Lumber is an American building materials supply company. 84 Lumber Company is the largest privately held building materials supplier to professional contractors and build-it-yourselfers in the United States. It was founded on January 31, 1958[2] by Joseph Hardy after he started a store in 1956. Headquarters are 20 miles (32 km) south of Pittsburgh, in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania.

84 Lumber owns and operates over 250 stores,[3] and the company has grown to operate components plants, door shops, installation centers and wood products shops in 30 states. As of 2009, they reportedly employ 4,900 employees.[4]

History

Located 20 mi (32 km) south of Pittsburgh, 84 Lumber established its roots in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, a rural community that has endured as a farmland community. 84 Lumber flourished with the funds and determination of Ed Ryan and Jack Kunkle, Joe Hardy and his two brothers Norman and Bob Hardy. Together, these men collected 84,000 dollars for land and buildings to grow their business.[5] As the business expanded, Hardy and his brothers became sole owners of the company.

84 Lumber established a cash and carry system; customers paid by cash or check, if merchandise was unable to be “carried” out, an additional charge was implemented to have the item personally delivered.

In 1984, the company undertook an expansion plan to open at least 30 new stores. Along with grand openings, stores were remodeled and renovated from no-frills lumber yards to new and improved building materials stores. As the improvement plan generated success the business opened their strict policy of cash-and-carry to options of using credit.[2][5]

Joe Hardy handed the daily responsibility of managing 84 Lumber to his daughter Maggie Hardy Magerko in 1992.[6]

Although Maggie has expanded on her father's “no-frills” business, she has retained his business basics he instilled in her from a young age. 84 Lumber serves the communities in which they are located by participating in local events and fundraisers. Dedicated to helping those in need, the company has created a campaign, Building Hope, which fulfills this commitment. The Boy Scouts, Justin Jennings Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Musicians Village, Red Cross, and United Way are among the organizations and individuals 84 Lumber has supported over the years.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.corporations.state.pa.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?100900
  2. 1 2 Mendelson, Robert. "Building a Business". Pitt Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  3. ↑ "84 Lumber". Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "84 Lumber sales drop by $1 billion". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 15, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Rodengen, J.L. (2005). Nothing is impossible. Write Stuff Enterprises Inc.
  6. ↑ "Recovering From the Housing Slump". Leaders Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Two EMU students receive scholarships from 84 Lumber". Eastern Michigan University. April 11, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  8. ↑ "84 Lumber becomes latest partner to support One Heart-Many Hands". NCN News. March 5, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2012.

External links

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