During the calendar year of 2015, despite a weak housing market and depressed commodity prices, Carter Lumber saw sales reach a record $1.11 billion, a growth of more than 
13% over 2014, the company announced recently. In the last three years, sales have increased by more than $300 million at the nation’s fifth largest lumber and building materials supplier.
Heavy investment in the Cleveland/Akron area over the past few years has made a significant impact on the company’s sales in the market. 2015 sales in the Cleveland/Akron market outpaced the previous year by 13% and solidified the company’s position as the supplier of choice in the Northeast Ohio market. Including its Kent, Ohio headquarters, Carter Lumber now employs over 500 people in the Cleveland/Akron area.
“While our competition was running away from places like Detroit, Cleveland, Akron and Toledo, we began investing in those markets and the investments are paying off. While we will continue to add new markets to our portfolio, the Midwest is where we started. I strongly believe you can’t ever forget where you came from, because it’s what made you who you are today,” said Jeff Donley, president and COO of Carter Lumber.
Carter Lumber also continued to grow in 2015. The company moved into 3 new markets in the Southeast, as well as opening four kitchen design centers and three building component-manufacturing facilities across its footprint.
Kip Gleckler, senior vice president of field operations for Carter Lumber, said, “We’re able to get the best people in our industry to come work with us because we’ve built an environment where they are given the freedom and support they need to do their jobs. It is that simple. Hire the best people and let them do what they are best at doing.”
Source: Carter Lumber
