Oregon dealer saved by computer backups

II/HEN a fire destroyed Bronson Y Y Lumber's flagship store in LaGrande, Or., last September, properly stored computer tapes helped save the entire business.

"Our four stores are electronically linked through our computer systems, which are based in our main office at the LaGrande store," said owner Mace Cadwell. He said that files are backed up electronically each night, then one backup is taken offsite and the other backups are stored inside an electronic media cooler that is placed in a fire-rated safe.

"I cannot stress enough how important this is," he said. "Without good retrievable backup files after our fire, we would have been out of business. You really need this backup for your inventory files, accounts receivable, and the other things you will need to comply with your insurance company on."

Two days after the fire, the store

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opened in a temporary building with employees using cellphones and hand-writing tickets. Less than two weeks later, operations moved to a remodeled insulation shed, and a new computer system was operational.

"Before the fire was completely extinguished, I had decided to rebuild," said Cadwell. "Many of these employees are my personal friends and have been with the company for l0 to 20 years, some as many as 28 years. After experiencing such a life-changing event as a fire of this magnitude, I could not see our company rolling over and giving up."

The store moved into a new allsteel store and attached warehouse in mid-January. "Many of our customers from over the years helped on the project," said Cadwell. "We literally worked seven long days per week, through freezing weather and blizzard conditions."

He said that the new building has the same square footage, but the layout was improved. A new builders exchange center lets contractors store project plans online for easy access, while a centrally located sales area makes transactions quicker and easier. Once orders are complete, pickup is speeded by the new drive-through warehouse.

In early May, Bronson Lumber staged a two-day celebration of the store's re-opening. "We bucked many odds, but we have a beautiful new building that we are very proud of," he said. "This business is full of people who don't want to quit or give up, and Bronson Lumber is made up of those kinds of people."