Stillwater, MN–Arrow Building Center (ABC), headquartered here, specializes in Southern Yellow Pine, Cedar, Douglas Fir, Englemann Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, Hem Fir, Idaho White Pine, Ponderosa Pine, White Fir and Spruce Pine Fir. The firm purchases over 22 million board feet of Softwoods annually.
With 16 locations throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, ABC began in Stillwater, MN. Established in 1903 as Consolidated Lumber Company, the operation doubled in size within the first 10 years. Marketing Coordinator Hollie Hogue explained, “The company survived the Great Depression, the World War II era and continued to grow. In the 1960s, we underwent some rebranding and changed the name of the yards to Arrow Building Center, Division of Consolidated Lumber Co. A new trademark was established and the company colors were changed.”
By the 1970s and early 80s the owners continued to reinvest in the business and upgraded several of the smaller stores. “This move enabled ABC to maintain a larger inventory of materials at more centralized locations, which allowed us to better satisfy our customers’ needs,” Hogue offered. A staff of outside sales people was initiated, offering professional advice and assistance for building projects.
For the last two decades ABC’s growth has been steady. A showroom called Arrow Cabinet Gallery was opened in 2010 along with the company’s post frame division. By 2013, they added a commercial division. “Early 2018 brought us Arrow Wall Panels and our new wall panel plant,” said Hogue. “ABC was also acquired by American Construction Source in the same year, which enabled us to continue growth on a national scale.”
American Construction Source acquired Freeborn Lumber Company, Albert Lea, MN in mid 2019. Hogue said this location will operate as an ABC brand.
Marketing to builders, contractors, remodelers and industry and consumer homeowners, the company employs roughly 300 people. Key personnel include CEO Jim Drexinger, COO Tom Tolleson, CSCO Pat Managan, and Regional Vice Presidents Seth Donnohue and Mark Hennessey.
Offering product lines from decking, doors, fencing, cabinetry and barns to faucets, countertops and components, each location has its own unique specialty, Hogue said. “Each showroom has its own show floor with different displays,” she explained. “Our focus is very customer-oriented. We are committed to providing what we call the Arrow Experience as we look to drive operational excellence and identify new ways to be the most trusted building products supplier in the local markets we serve. Not only do we provide top-quality building products, we offer additional services to help take our customers’ business even further and drive their profit.”
ABC’s specialty divisions include a general office in Stillwater, MN; commercial division and cabinet gallery in Woodbury, MN; and a post frame division, window services and wall panel plant in Hudson, WI. Special features and offerings include drafting and design; cabinet design; window and commercial services; post-frame buildings and prefabricated wall panels.
“Arrow Wall Panels are of exceptional quality and are highly accurate,” Hogue noted. “We deliver directly to the job site and design according to the build plans, they are the solution for fast, cost-effective installation,” Hogue said. “All the components of the build are pre-assembled in Arrow Wall Panels’ climate-controlled manufacturing facility. They are delivered to the job site in optimized sequential order and go together quickly.” Traditional framing methods mostly rely on the builder to assemble all the pieces on the job site. Bad weather, scheduling conflicts, construction errors, and maintaining a qualified labor force can all lead to work delays or expensive rebuilds. “With Arrow Wall Panels the customer receives faster build cycles and project cost savings,” Hogue said.
Custom Arrow Wall Panels aren’t limited to single-unit homes. For multi-family and commercial projects, the commercial services department can assist in estimating, designing, and fabricating.
Hogue explained how the process works. “When we receive a customer’s plans, our estimating team reviews every detail of the drawings and utilizes advanced software applications to quickly and accurately determine the project cost.”
She continued, “Our designers utilize advanced software systems to incorporate all framing requirements into production drawings and provide detailed field drawings for onsite installation. As panels arrive on site, designers are available to answer any questions the customer has. Panels are produced in our Wall Panel Plant. Our employees use computer-controlled and laser-guided machinery to ensure high quality and reduce production time.”
According to Hogue, each wall is bundled to the order the framers will be setting the walls on site. Bundles are labeled, then delivered to the job site by one of the company’s fleet vehicles. Installation is quick and easy. Before each project begins, they arrange pre-construction meetings to sit down with the framer and review the placement plans.
ABC also offers a program called The Builders Club. Similar to a frequent-flyer program for home builders and remodelers, the program rewards customers with club points for doing business with an exclusive group of suppliers. The club points can be redeemed for name-brand merchandise, builders club local events, or annual grand destinations.
Every year, ABC also provides customers with the opportunity to earn their required seven hours of continuing education credits at their own signature continuing education seminars. Hogue explained, “We provide free courses approved for seven credit hours of Minnesota residential building contractor, remodeler and roofer continuing education (including energy) by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and Wisconsin dwelling contractor qualifier continuing education by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
“It’s simply a valuable way for Arrow Building Center to say ‘thank you’ to builders and remodelers for business loyalty and prompt payments,” said Hogue. “It’s a win-win bargain for both the customer and Arrow Building Center.”
For more information visit www.abc-clc.com.
