Ohio’s Carter Lumber To Close 26 Stores, Focus On Growth In Larger Markets

Kent, Ohio based Carter Lumber announced that it was closing 26 stores as the building materials supplier focuses on growing in its larger markets.

The 26 stores are in 23 markets — including one store in Akron. They are being closed because they were in smaller markets or locations without the support the company wanted, said David McCafferty, Carter Lumber vice president of marketing.

McCafferty said the Akron decision is an example of an area that had too many stores. With the closure, the Akron area will still have seven stores: Manchester Road, the original Carter-Jones store on North Case, and stores in Mogadore, Kent, Ravenna, a clearance center in Canal Fulton and a Holmes Lumber store in Canton.

“The philosophy years ago when we were growing was to put a lot of stores in a market and surround it. As our business has changed toward the pro (professional) side of the business, you can serve that business with fewer locations and put more into them,” he said.

In the last 10 years, Carter Lumber has transitioned from a do-it-yourself/remodeling store to supporting the professional business, he said. Said Carter Lumber President Jeff Donley in a news release: “During the recent economic downturn, while many competitors were trying to survive, Carter Lumber transformed itself from a $500 million traditional lumberyard, into almost a $1 billion professional lumberyard.”

From Akron Beacon Journal: beaconjournal.com.