Port Angeles, WA – Lumber Traders Inc., based here, an Employee Stock Ownership Trust (ESOP), has new store managers for its two subsidiary corporations: Angeles Millwork & Lumber Co. and Hartnagel Building Supply. The company has also expanded with the development of a cabinetry department as well as a remodel for both stores, with $200,000 worth of new inventory at each.
Danny Steiger, President and CEO, accepted his position after transitioning from retail sales manager to full CEO in just under three years, after 17 years in the building industry. Other key personnel of Lumber Traders, Inc. include Corporate Secretary and CFO Lynn Ostrowski.
According to Steiger, Lumber Traders Inc. keeps a large inventory on hand at all times. “We have about $3 million in inventory at our stores at any given moment with fluctuations based on sales or projects,” he explained. “We also have another $200,000 in consignment inventory on the ground from our treated wood supplier to meet and exceed our customers’ needs. This keeps inventory available without having to tie up the cash flow.” According to him, the company aims for seven to eight inventory turns annually in the Softwood lumber lines.
Lumber Traders Inc.’s primary line is in kiln-dried Douglas Fir No. 2 and Better premium framing lumber in 2×4 through 2×12. “We move more than $1.1 million in annual sales of this product line,’’ Steiger said. “We also offer a full line of kiln-dried Cedar, clear and tight knot, products from dimensional lumber to pattern stock sidings. In 2020, we sold nearly $470,000 in Cedar stock with an additional $175,000 in Cedar fencing.” The company offers green Douglas Fir No.1 and premium treated Hemlock No. 2 and Better, from All Weather Wood in 2×4 through 6×8. In panels, the company sells Fir faced CDX at a rate of $1 million in volume.
Steiger said that the operation serves many markets, but home builders are the company’s bread and butter. “Our customer base is about 40 percent professional contractor and custom home builder,” he elaborated. “The other part of our business is retail trade or DIY market. We service several tribal enterprises as well in our business mix that are mostly contained to the North Olympic Peninsula making up Clallam and Jefferson counties in Washington State.”
The company’s two facilities are heavily stocked, according to him. “We try to utilize as much of the vertical space as we can with our smaller yard in town. Our other facility in the county is much larger, but also houses nearly all of our roofing business and the space required for the business.” Each store front is approximately 10,000 square feet with one two-acre yard and another just shy of seven.
When asked what sets Lumber Traders Inc. apart from their friendly competitors, Steiger said, “We invest our time supplying materials that will literally shape the surrounding community while being committed to providing the homeowner and the contractor with the best quality materials with unparalleled customer service. From the modest home to the local commercial project, and everything in between, our ability to provide what is needed, supported by knowledgeable customer service professionals, is our mission.”
When it comes to transportation, Steiger indicated that no job is too big or too small. “We ship everything from full truckload to some commercial sites and then we pull to the piece for small jobs and retail deliveries. We operate everything from flatbed dump trucks to boom trucks with a few piggyback trucks in the mix. Some of the equipment is geared at delivering lumber while others support the rooftop delivery business. Everything we do is typically built to order and shipped directly to a jobsite.”
Parent company Lumber Traders Inc. has been in continuous operation since 1906 with its first location, Angeles Millwork & Lumber Co. and its second location, Hartnagel Building Supply Inc., in 1960. The company combined both stores ownership in 1984. In 2004, the owners sold everything to the employees, creating the only 100 percent ESOP in Clallam county.
Future plans for the company involve growing beyond the existing two stores to become “a much larger regional player,” Our stores do everything from bend and cut rebar to lumber and roof top loading of composite shingles and metal roofing. Small towns typically have less in the way of one step suppliers, meaning that we can compete with our broad service offering.”
The previous owners of the two stores Arnold and Debbie Schouten – and active board members – are integral partners of the Olympic Peninsula community. Both support various non-profits and charities through direct donations, fundraising efforts and support through discounted building materials.
Lumber Traders Inc. is a member of the local Home Builders Association, North Peninsula Building Association, Western Building Materials Association, Building Industry Association of Washington, National Association of Home Builders, The Clallam County Economic Development Council, Olympic Workforce Development Council and other small local business groups.
For more information, visit www.angelesmillwork.com.
