A century of partnerships

fN 1899. at the age of 25. Wooster IBaird McEwen and a partner founded McEwen Lumber Co. in Asheville, N.C. With the princely sum of $2,000, the pair began buying and shipping lumber. Since then. the wholesale distributor has grown into an over 200employee firm with two distribution centers and 15 branches that service nearly 1 1,000 customers worldwide.

'1899-1999: A Century of Partnership. That's as good a key as any to why we're where we are."

be successful, the company would have to establish "lasting, meaningful relationships and partnerships with every customer." He added that while quality materials, competitive pricing, timely deliveries and excellent customer service are expected by customers, it's "ongoing partnerships that make the difference."

rIThe company has seen its share of change over the past 100 years. In 1903, after building an assembly yard and shed in Azalea, N.C., the firm was incorporated as McEwen-Gibson Lumber Co. Two years later, McBwen bought out Gibson, and changed the name to McEwen Lumber. During the years that followed, the firm established and closed facilities in Portsmouth, Va., not far from Norfolk, where the McEwens lived for five years. In 1923, Wooster and his growing brood settled in High Point, N.C.,

He insisted that good customer relations are critical to a firm's success. "It's pretty universal, regardless of the industry," he says. "You need quality products and strong customer service to succeed. The lumber industry isn't any different. For us, solid customer service is demanded, not optional."

Schram noted that McEwen's success stems from a guiding principle established by Wooster McEwen a century ago. McEwen felt that, in order to where he would remain until his death in 1962, at the age of 88.

Between 1923 and his death, the firm opened and closed operations in several Southern states. After Wooster retired in 1961, Herman H. Smith ran the firm, overseeing the growth and modernization of the business and its equipment. In 1968, soon after construction began on Walt Disney World, the firm built a facility in Orlando, Fl. Today, the branch is one of Disney's primary suppliers.

Leased fmlity q€ns in Greenville, S.C. New buiHirq replaces Richmond.

Chadotte, N.C., tuanch opens.

Raleigh, N.C., brarrch opens.

Orlando, Ft., branch opns.

Riviera Beach, Fl., opens (movng to Boca Raton in 1974 and Delray Beach in 1977).

Ozark, Al., branch opens (moving to Pensacola in 1982).

Jacksonville, Fl., branch opens.

High Point corprate ofiice ard warelurse relocate to new facility, Hammermill Paper Co. purchases l'{cEwen Lumber.

Nashville, Tn., branch opens.

Why has the firm endured and continued to prosper? Dick Schram, director of human resources, pointed to the company's new slogan as being indicative of its success: "Our slosan is 1g ,|,w 1S6 1W rs1 1sl 1W tg71 1970 r9r 1080 1S81 1986 1986 lnternational Paper buys McEwen, which takes over lP's commodity operations in Mobile, Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville.

1989 Pensacola operations merged into Mobile facility.

1990 McEwen's Nashville branch merged into lP's Nashville facilily.

19$ Orlando DC opens.

1995 Hood lndustries buys McEwen Lumber.

1996 Louisville, Ky., branch opens.

1997 Conway, Ar., and Hammond, La., branches open.

1998 McEwen purchases branch in Tucson, Az., and branch and millwork facility in Phoenix, Az., its first production business. Columbus, Oh., brancn opens.

1999 Conway and Hammond operations merged into Memphis and Mobile operalions,

In 1981, Hammermill Paper bought the firm and sold it to International Paper five years later. In 1995, McEwen Lumber was purchased by Hood Industries. The firm is run by L.M. Bradley, a 38-year veteran of the company, who proudly notes, "It's the best it has ever been at McEwen. With all the opportunities we have to continue to increase sales and maintain ongoing partnerships with existing customers, and to establish new ones, our potential for growth is unlimited."

Schram agrees: "What has remained constant is our continued growth. We're in eight states now and hope to grow further." He added that the firm's Web site (www.mcewenlumber.com) has opened up a whole new frontier. "Now. we can service the world. Anything's possible."