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RETAILER CUSTOMERS returned to in-person showgoing in droves for Orgill’s recent spring buying marke/175th anniversary celebration in Orlando, Fl.
Orgill: focusing on making its customers successful for 175 years
This year, Orgill, Inc.—the world’s largest independent hardlines distributor—is celebrating its 175th anniversary, a milestone few companies reach and one typically associated with a smaller business that peaked decades earlier.
Orgill, however, is growing faster than ever. Its sales have doubled over the past 10 years to $3.6 billion annually, and are 15 times what they were in 1990.
Headquartered in Collierville, Tn., Orgill serves more than 12,000 retail hardware stores, home centers, pro lumber dealers, and farm stores in the U.S., Canada and over 50 countries around the world.
What’s Orgill’s key to not just surviving but thriving after 175 years? Its unveering focus on the retailers it serves. “The company has continuously adapted over the years to serve our mission ‘to help our customers be successful,’” shared Boyden Moore, president and CEO. “The simplicity of our mission, complemented by our core values of Customer Centered, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence, provide a clear framework for how the business has been managed throughout our history. It has been the key to our growth and success navigating through wars, pandemics, depressions, recessions, technological and competitive changes.” Retailers have immediate access to more than 75,000 SKUs in each of its eight distribution centers. Drop Ship programs are available from the industry’s leading manufacturers. Its distribution facilities are among the newest and most efficient in the industry, with order accuracy rates of 99.6% and industry-leading fill rates.
Randy Williams, executive VP of distribution, said, “In our distribution centers, we know we represent the ‘last mile’ as we work to get our products into our dealers’ stores. With that always in focus, we always keep our customers in the forefront as we continue to improve.”
The distributor operates one of the industry’s largest truck fleets. Roughly 98% of customers receive their shipment on a scheduled Orgill truck within 48 hours of placing an order.
The company also boasts one of the largest field sales teams in the industry with more than 350 reps strategically located throughout North America. They work side by side
with customers to help identify and address opportunities in the dealer’s local market.
The field staff is supported by a highly skilled team of customer service specialists located in each distribution center, as well as the Collierville home office, who all share the same commitment to the customer’s prosperity.
“Regardless of what role you have within the company, the mission is clear and everyone understands that when our customers succeed, Orgill succeeds,” noted David Mobley, executive VP of sales. “We’ve always worked hard to get to know the customers we serve and to do all we can to understand their business and the challenges they face. Simply put, our customers drive Orgill’s success.”
Orgill does not charge dealers a membership fee to be a customer. Its focus is strengthening the dealers’ local brand. Services include market analysis, store design and layout, assortment planning and review, pricing strategies, integrated marketing services, promotional buying, educational seminars—both monthly and at our dealer markets—and shared best practices from their most successful case studies.
And the innovations continue. “Orgill is celebrating its 175th anniversary because of our ability to adapt quickly to any business climate,” concluded Eric Divelbiss, executive VP and CFO. “Our conservative approach to financial and risk management has allowed us to thrive through the ups and downs in the economy, and our simple mission statement keeps our focus in the right place—year in and year out. These business attitudes ensure that our best days are yet to come.”
ORGILL’S current state-of-the-art warehousing and shipping operations have come a long way since (upper right) its firsttruck in the 1920s and (lower right) its early warehouse in the 1940s.
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Providing Customer Satisfaction in All We Do
P.O. Box 75 • McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-5450 • FAX: 888-TSO-WOOD (888-876-9663) 28770 Dike Road • Rainier OR 97048 503-556-1297 • Fax: 503-556-1709
New owners are remodeling and remerchandising the longtime hardware store in Evergreen, Mt.
Late last year, Matthew Dowdell and Tom Shellenberg purchased The Hardware Store (previously known as Cardinal True Value Hardware). They have already reconfigured the 16,000-sq. ft. store’s receiving area to increase the volume of freight it can handle, and replaced all concrete at the front of the store to increase safety.
In the works are adding a new fence around the lawn and garden area for greater curb appeal, replacing all exterior signage, repaving gravel areas, and increasing inventory. The store has been renamed Glacier Ace Hardware and is now managed by longtime employee Johnny Swartz.
The partners have owned stores in Livingston, Anaconda and Butte, Mt., since 2006, and are building another branch in Columbia Falls, Mt.
NEWS Briefs
Redding Hardware & Goods, Tombstone, Az., has been opened by longtime Ace Hardware veterans Jared and Sarah Redding.
Woodgrain, Fruitland, Id., has completed the purchase of Huttig Building Products, St. Louis, Mo., increasing its distribution center network to 32 locations.
Hampton Lumber, Portland, Or., has completed the acquisition of 18,000 acres of timberland in southwest Washington from a fund managed by Campbell Global LLC, Portland.
L&W Supply has acquired the assets of DWS Building Supply, with locations in Las Cruces, N.M., and El Paso, Tx.
Ganahl Lumber, Anaheim, Ca., is now distributing Tropical Forest Products’ full line of Black Label hardwood products from its 10 Southern California branches.
Digger Specialties Inc. has launched a product photo contest that will run until July 31 and is open to lumberyards, distributors, pros and homeowners. Gift cards will be awarded for the best photos in six DSI product categories: Westbury aluminum raiiling, columns, gates, fencing, accessories, and custom products. All entries will receive a DSI grill set.
Weyerhaeuser Co., Seattle, Wa., has formed a new partnership with Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, Fighting Fires Together, that will provide support and resources for wildland firefighter and their families, as well as increase awareness of the importance of mental health assistance for these first responders
Freres Lumber will hold a special centennial celebration July 22 at its Mass Ply Facility in Lyons, Or.
More anniversaries: Dunn Lumber, Seattle, Wa., 115th ... Mead Clark Lumber, Santa Rosa, Ca., 110th ... Barrelhead Building Supply, South Beach, Or., 45th ... Crystal PacificWindow & Door Systems, Riverside,
Kuzman Vet Sets Out on Own
David McNabb, longtime salesman with Kuzman Forest Products, has formed his own wholesale operation, DM Forest Products, Hillsboro, Or.
DM will be specializing in many of the same western red cedar items carried by Kuzman, which will be closing later this year after 66 years. McNabb had been with Kuzman since 1990.
IWPA Returns to In-Person World of Wood Convention
The International Wood Products Association recently concluded its 66th World of Wood Convention in Orlando.
The successful event was attended by 230 professionals, including 52 overseas visitors from 16 countries. It marked a return to being held live and in person for the key industry gathering, which was held virtually in 2021 and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the event, JoAnn Gillebaard Keller, president and CEO of Holland Southwest International, was elected new IWPA president, succeeding Mike Schultz, Floor & Decor.
Gillebaard Keller said, “Over the next year, I look forward to working with the IWPA staff on growing our membership, building out our compliance training programs, and continuing our all-important government and public affairs work.”
New VP is Jordan McIlvain, Alan McIlvain Co., and treasurer is Colin Miller, Clarke Veneers & Plywood. Re-elected to three-year terms on the board of directors are: Elizabeth Baldwin, Metropolitan Hardwood Floors; Chris Connelly, Wood Brokerage International; Dan Lennon, Robinson Lumber Co.; John Herzig, Robert Weed Corp.; and Caroline McIlvain, J. Gibson McIlvain Co. New to the board is Bryan Courtney, Genesis Products, Inc.
TEAM MEMBERS from Capital, Chino, Ca., hosted another Boards, Brews & Screws customer event held at Ballast Point Brewery in San Diego, Ca., on April 28. A total of 213 attendees, consisting of: 91 dealer associates, 116 contractor tradespeople, and six architects, made it out to the event to learn about some of Capital’s key vendors and what they have to offer.
