“There seems to be a return to people wanting the quality they can only get when they purchase solid wood, especially when it comes to furniture and home décor. Natural wood provides a timelessness and durability you just don’t get from other products.” ~ Robert Simon, finance manager, Olympic Forest Products Inc.
Olympic Forest Products Inc. located 45 minutes outside Toronto, ON, in the picturesque town of Erin, started as a private family business in 1987.
Olympic Forest Products Inc. located 45 minutes outside Toronto, ON, in the picturesque town of Erin, started as a private family business in 1987, founded by Paul Simon, general manager, who along with his brother Robert Simon, finance manager, run the operation.
Paul started Olympic after learning the business from his father John, who immigrated to Canada from Europe in 1950. The Simon family now has a fourth generation of the family becoming entrenched in the knowledge that has been passed down since their grandfather started out in the forest products industry in Europe during the 1930’s.
Pictured is premium lumber going through the grading line for sorting at Olympic.
Since the company’s inception, the Simon brothers have strived to be recognized as established leaders in the lumber industry, with a simple philosophy: provide customers with quality products while maintaining fair and competitive pricing.
After starting out as a small family business, the company grew over the years to 15 employees, and relocated to Erin, ON, in 2000. “We have continued to grow and to expand our markets,” said Robert. “We are doing more business throughout Ontario, the U.S. and the overseas markets, especially Asia.”
Species carried by Olympic include Sapele, Mahogony, Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, American Poplar, White Ash, Walnut, Cherry, Beech, Basswood, Yellow Birch, Eastern White and Red Pine and Douglas Fir.
Recently Olympic Forest Products was acquired by Richelieu Hardware Canada Ltd. and now operates as a subsidiary of Richelieu. Richelieu is a leader in the North American hardware industry, with locations throughout Canada and the United States. Robert notes: “Joining the Richelieu group was a logical fit for us because our products complement each other.
“Most of our rough lumber is purchased from mills in Eastern Canada and the U.S., usually from states that border and are within a day of Ontario, so we purchase a lot from New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia and West Virginia,” Robert said.
Species carried by Olympic include Sapele, Mahogony, Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, American Poplar, White Ash, Walnut, Cherry, Beech, Basswood, Yellow Birch, Eastern White and Red Pine and Douglas Fir.
Olympic purchases 6 million board feet annually of hardwood, 300,000 board feet of softwood and some imported lumber. Species carried by Olympic include Sapele, Mahogany, Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, American Poplar, White Ash, Walnut, Cherry, Beech, Basswood, Yellow Birch, Eastern White and Red Pine and Douglas Fir. “We offer most species in all thicknesses ranging from 4/4 to 16/4 and in grades from Face and Better to No. 2 Common,” Robert added.
Olympic’s warehouse facility operates on 8.8 acres of land and is comprised of a 30,000 square foot main warehouse, which houses a Cantek surface planer, a Mereen-Johnson rip saw and a grading line, 2,000 square feet of office space and 8,000 square feet of additional storage facility. “Our on-site equipment allows us to offer our customers the value added option of having their lumber dressed and ripped to custom size, as well as width and length sorted,” Paul said.
Olympic’s Cantek planer surfacing some Red Oak lumber for a customer.
Over the years Olympic has introduced new products, and while they aren’t an end-use manufacturer, they are able to offer certain finished products for sale, including hardwood flooring, stair treads and door jambs.
Paul Simon, general manager with a bundle of 4/4 Red Oak, FAS, kiln-dried rough.
Paul Simon notes: “We have a lot of long-standing relationships with customers that have been with us since the company started in 1987 and I think that is due to the fact that we generally have a quick turnaround on any order for items that we have in stock and that we are able to offer quality products at fair prices.”
He went on to add that it wouldn’t be possible without the long-lasting relationships they have formed with their suppliers.
The Olympic sales team (left to right) Paul Simon, Kevin D’Sylva, Danny Lim and Dan Simon.
By using our own fleet of trucks for local deliveries, we are able to provide next day delivery for most in stock items. For shipments going out of Ontario (including to the United States or overseas,) we will use a third-party carrier including shipping by rail,” Robert said.
Many of Olympic’s customers are end-use manufacturers, such as those that manufacturer stairs and railings, hardwood flooring, furniture, moulding and millwork, including architectural millwork.
“I think that over the years people have come to appreciate the longevity and the beauty of natural wood, as well as the fact that it is a renewable resource,” Robert said. “There seems to be a return to people wanting the quality they can only get when they purchase solid wood, especially when it comes to furniture and home décor. Natural wood provides a timelessness and durability you just don’t get from other products,” said Robert.
Olympic purchases approximately 6 million board feet of hardwood lumber and 300,000 board feet of softwood lumber.
Olympic Forest Products is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association and the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council. Locally, Olympic is a member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Dufferin Board of Trade.
For more information, visit www.olympicfp.com.
