聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 A decade ago, Harry and Deb Laurent decided to purchase Arcola Building Supply from John McDonald and on Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Laurent鈥檚 celebrated with a community BBQ hosted at their store.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The business first began on Main Street. With determination and a want to successfully grow the company, the couple began working towards a the goal of expanding. Expand they did as they went from a 26 by 65 square foot office and store with a 50 by 100 square foot cold storage space. This was all set up on three lots.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淣ow we鈥檙e on two lots, 2.5 acres each,鈥� Harry explained. 鈥淭he store is 80 by 160 square feet and we have 5,000 square feet of cold storage attached, as well as another 50 by 120 square feet of cold storage and 76 by 64 square feet of heated storage.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Being able to expand to this point is a great accomplishment, while the Laurents added that they鈥檝e seen a financial increase of 300 percent since their start.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This success comes from Laurent having been a contractor for a number of years. He knew what he liked at a lumber yard, which included spaciousness, being able to find items easily, and having knowledgeable staff.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淔rom the start to now, there鈥檚 quite a bit of a difference,鈥� Deb said. 鈥淲e had two staff when we started and now we鈥檙e up to about 10, so we鈥檝e added employment to the area, and we always employ a summer student and we often have an after school student during the school year as well.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way for students to be introduced to the trades as a career future because they get experience working retail, but they get to meet and interact with electricians, plumbers, builders, and other trades people in the area, which creates opportunities for them.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The pair are thankful for their amazing staff: 鈥淭he staff is a big part of why we were able to grow the business,鈥� Deb explained. 鈥淗arry and I don鈥檛 spend a lot of time working in the store, so our staff is key.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A great staff and making sure customers are well taken care of are very important to the Laurents.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e offer delivery because a lot of people don鈥檛 have vehicles that can take home 2 by 4s or shingles,鈥� Deb said. 鈥淪o, they can buy local and have it delivered.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪ome of our staff is also into DIY [Do It Yourself] projects, so people who like to do this can come into the store and find what they鈥檙e looking for, for their project. We try to know what people need and have it here for them or bring it in for them.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the bottom line really, phone or face-to-face we have people in place who are knowledgeable and if you come in with a question, they can help,鈥� Harry said. 鈥淐ustomer service is number one.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Their valued employees decided to make the10 year accomplishment a special one as they surprised Harry and Deb with a congratulatory plaque.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 One of the employees who started working for Arcola Building Supply in 1997, who transitioned with the business when it was sold from McDonald to the Laurents, is Cara McNair.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 McNair said, 鈥淭hey are generous to their employees. They have staff lunches every Friday for us to show their appreciation and they鈥檙e very understanding of employees鈥� personal situations and are very accommodating.鈥�
