Retail Review
Hometown Expansion for Bliffert Lumber
Bliffert Lumber, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, and East Side Lumber recently completed a merger bringing together two well-respected, independent Wisconsin lumber companies.
East Side Lumber has been employee-owned for more than 18 years and has built a strong reputation for its expertise, customer service and commitment to the building industry. That employee-first culture aligns with Bliffert, which has expanded employee ownership through its partial ESOP.
Founded in 1904, Bliffert Lumber has built its reputation on integrity, long-term partnerships, and a commitment to the communities it serves. East Side Lumber has earned a similar reputation throughout the Hartford area, making the two companies a natural fit.
Bliffert Lumber says East Side’s customers will gain access to an expanded inventory, enhanced product offerings, additional specialty building materials, and the resources of one of Wisconsin’s largest independent building materials suppliers. They offer Pine, Douglas-Fir, birch, Cedar, cherry, maple, white oak, poplar and walnut. The merger, per Bliffert, represents the company’s continued strategic growth across Wisconsin while reinforcing its commitment to remaining a sixth-generation, family-owned, relationship-driven company.
Visit doitbest.com/bliffert-lumber-and-hardware.
Ogden & Adams To Acquire Maquoketa, Bellevue Lumber
Ogden & Adams Building Solutions, located in Hiawatha, IA, acquired two Jackson County lumber companies. This will bring Ogden & Adams to five locations allowing them to serve a broad swath of eastern Iowa.
Ogden & Adams plans to retain all staff and to continue operations under its current flagship name Ogden & Adams Building Solutions at the current Maquoketa and Bellevue Lumber facilities.
The lumber companies specialize in lumber packages, millwork, siding, roofing, windows and doors.
For more information, visit ogdenadams.com.
Big C Acquires Custom Woodworker In Michigan
Big C Lumber, located in Granger, IN, has acquired Priebe’s Creative Woodworking, a Benton Harbor, MI-based custom cabinetry company renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and longstanding reputation throughout southwest Michigan.
Founded in 1995 by Jeff Priebe, Priebe’s Creative Woodworking has spent more than three decades creating custom cabinetry, architectural woodworking and refined home interiors. Their commitment to quality, attention to detail and personalized client experience has made them a trusted partner for homeowners, builders, architects, designers and trade professionals alike.
The addition further strengthens Big C Lumber’s ability to serve customers at every level of cabinetry—from functional everyday spaces to luxury custom designs.
According to Big C Lumber, “We’re thrilled to welcome the talented Priebe’s Creative Woodworking team to the Big C family and look forward to continuing their legacy of excellence while expanding the possibilities we can offer our customers.”
Big C Lumber operates 14 lumberyards with showrooms (eight in Indiana and six in Michigan), eight of which also feature design centers. They offer Western Spruce-Pine-Fir, Douglas Fir, Pine, Cedar, oak and poplar. Manufacturing divisions include a custom millwork and cabinet shop in Fort Wayne, IN; window & door shop in Mishawaka, IN; and a structural building components facility in Dowagiac, MI.
For more information, visit bigclumber.com.
Kingsley Lumber Relocates To A Larger New Facility
Kingsley Lumber & Hardware held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new home in Traverse City, MI.
Established in 1937, the company had operated in Kingsley, MI, for nearly 90 years, but outgrew its location and recently moved to the new larger facility.
The new location features a series of elaborate displays, including doors, windows, cabinetry, countertops, trim and an expansive outdoor living showroom with Trex decking. They offer Pine and Cedar lumber, dimensional and framing lumber, decking, plywood, OSB and panel products, Cedar siding and pressure treated lumber.
Learn more at kingsleylumber.com.
The Lowe’s Foundation Commits $8 Million In New Grants
To continue to address the nation’s growing workforce challenge, the Lowe’s Foundation has announced nearly $8 million in additional Gable Grants to 10 community and technical colleges across the country, pushing the Lowe’s Foundation’s total investment in skilled trades training beyond $60 million since 2023. The grants bring the foundation’s network of funded partners to 73 organizations working as a collective to help strengthen America’s talent pipeline, infrastructure, housing and economic growth.
These grants are part of the Lowe’s Foundation’s expanded $250 million commitment to help train and develop 250,000 skilled tradespeople by 2035, scaling its workforce investment five-fold after surpassing its original funding goal ahead of schedule.
The new Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants support the following community and technical colleges:
Miami Dade College, Miami, FL, will use its second Gable Grant to expand its successful Construction Trades Institute (CTI) model to the Homestead Campus, bringing skilled trades training to more learners in South Miami-Dade.
Houston City College, Houston, TX, will expand construction, electrical, carpentry, HVAC and plumbing training opportunities across Houston through a model that combines neighborhood outreach, wraparound student supports and employer partnerships.
Elaine P. Nunez Community College, in Chalmette, LA, where the grant will support new training spaces, equipment and instruction for construction as well as electrical, HVAC and related pathways aligned with workforce demand in the housing, port, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and defense sectors, helping prepare more students for high-demand skilled trades careers.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), Wichita, KS, where the grant will provide construction, electrical, HVAC and plumbing students with multi-trade learning experiences while supporting industry-recognized credentials and preparing graduates for the collaborative environments they’ll encounter on the job.
The following schools also received the Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants: Chattahoochee Technical College, Marietta, GA; Dixie Technical College, St. George, UT; Durham Technical Community College, Durham, NC; Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, WV; Northeast Iowa Community College, Peosta, IA; Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), Wichita, KS and York Technical College, Rock Hill, SC.
For more information, visit lowesfoundation.org.
