How to Grow Without Losing Your Roots
By Sharona Eiserer
In a small town, when a family-run lumberyard closes, it’s more than the end of a business—it’s the loss of a gathering place, a legacy, a cornerstone. For our family, it was also the beginning of something new. Nine years ago, when the owner of a beloved third-generation business decided to retire, my husband, Cecil, and I felt called to continue the story. With his decades of experience building custom homes and commercial projects, Cecil brought not only skills but also trust and relationships that became the foundation of Wood Shed Lumber & Hardware Supply.
From the start, our mission has been simple but steady: Preserve the values of small-town service while providing modern, reliable solutions for contractors, homeowners and DIYers. That mission has guided every decision, every expansion and every challenge we’ve faced.
Growth Rooted in Small-Town Values
In 2021, the owner of Derstler Lumber, another family-owned lumberyard in our region, announced his retirement. We saw the chance not only to keep the Derstler legacy alive but to broaden our reach and strengthen our role as a dependable local resource. With that acquisition, Wood Shed expanded from a single store to three, adding locations in Richmond and Concordia, Missouri. Our vision of a network of small-town lumberyards was beginning to materialize.
In 2024, our story came full circle. An opportunity arose in the very town in which I had graduated college: Warrensburg, Missouri, a place that helped shape who I am today. Bringing Wood Shed there felt deeply personal, almost like giving back to a community that had once given so much to me. Around the same time, we took on something entirely new: opening a store with no legacy to inherit. In Cameron, Missouri, we built a new location from the ground up, relying on our team, our experience and our commitment to community.
Then came 2025. Another door opened, and suddenly we were operating six locations. Growth on this scale was never something we anticipated when we got our start. But each store has represented the same thread: preserving the heart of small-town hardware, where people matter most.
The Heart of the Work: People
Running a hardware store isn’t just a matter of keeping inventory stocked or sales numbers climbing—it’s about people. Some of our greatest joys come from seeing a contractor who has been with us since the beginning stop in just for conversation, or a homeowner who proudly returns with photos of a finished project. Over time, customers become more than just transactions—they become regulars, friends, even part of our extended family.
One story that stands out is our relationship with Greg Lock of Lock Custom Homes. Greg grew up in Carrollton, Missouri, where his roots remain strong, as he now lives in the city with his family. For years, he has built beautiful custom homes in our community. When Greg first gave Wood Shed a chance to bid on one of his projects, we knew we had to deliver. Our crew stepped up—listening carefully, being attentive and providing what he needed to succeed. That first opportunity grew into an ongoing partnership, one we’re deeply thankful for. To help Greg build forever homes right here in our hometown feels like a full-circle gift.
