April 2002
Carter Lumber Embraces The Future Without Losing Site Of Its History
A trusted name in the lumber and building materials market, Carter Lumber continues to operate on its founding principles and to maintain its small, hometown feel. Even with the company's tremendous growth, Carter Lumber hasn’t lost site of its history or commitment to the communities in which stores are located. Carter Lumber is well positioned for another 70 years of providing everything contractors and DIYers need to get the job done.
In 1932, Warren E. Carter had a dream – to provide quality lumber and building materials along with great service to contractors and do-it-yourselfers. That year, Carter Lumber first opened its doors on Case Avenue in Akron, Ohio. 70 years and 240 stores later, Carter Lumber has quietly grown into the 19th largest building materials retailer in North America.
Before coming to Akron in 1927, W.E. Carter honed his skills by working at a lumberyard in southeast Arkansas, doing everything from sawing logs to leading mule-driven logging teams through the woods. While visiting his brother, W.E. Carter decided to seek employment with a local lumber company – The Gough Lumber Co. Eventually W.E. Carter and a partner bought the interests in Gough Lumber, forming their own company, the Carter-Jones Lumber Company.
Through the years, Carter-Jones continued to build its presence in the Akron market and began operating a series of cash & carry stores named Cashway Lumber in 1955. Ultimately, the Cashway name was dropped and the new stores were all named Carter Lumber. By 1965 Carter Lumber had grown to 12 lumberyards and opened its first Plumbing, Electric, and Heating store in Columbus Grove, OH. That same year, Carter Lumber moved its headquarters to Kent, OH. The original Case Avenue store still remains in operation.
“My grandfather, W.E. Carter, believed there was nothing more important than hard work, dedication and customer service,†comments Neil Sackett, president and CEO of Carter Lumber. “He wanted his customers to be treated like family. Seven decades and three Carter family generations later, we remain committed to those same philosophies.â€
One of Carter Lumber’s founding principles has always been helping families build their dream homes. Today, that focus remains intact as their biggest business areas continue to be building packages. From pole building to deck packages and from garage to home design packages, Carter Lumber provides their customers with the information and materials they need to get the job done.
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Carter Lumber is one of the nation’s top building materials retailers with over 240 stores in ten states and employs more than 3,500 people. Carter Lumber stores offer customers top quality grade-stamped lumber and carry brand names in roofing, siding, windows & doors, insulation, plumbing, heating, and electric products from leading manufacturers. Additionally, each location provides design capabilities in new home, pole barn, backyard barn, garage, deck and kitchen projects. Established in 1932, Carter Lumber maintains its headquarters in Kent, Ohio.