Weekly Industry Insights — 5/24/24
Lugbill Supply Center Acquires Affiliated Lumber
Do it Best member Lugbill Supply Center in Archbold, Ohio, has acquired Affiliated Lumber in Swanton, Ohio. This acquisition may be the first of several expansion moves by Lugbill Supply Center. “I have a long-term plan to serve the northern Ohio and northeastern Indiana regions, and Affiliated Lumber was a perfect fit for several reasons,” said Lugbill Supply Center President Isaac Weber. “I’m open to additional acquisitions, but I’m also interested in new ground-up locations.”
Westlake Ace Hardware to Open Store in San Leandro, Calif.
In late May, Westlake Ace Hardware agreed to open a new store in San Leandro, Calif., a community in the San Francisco Bay area. The company plans to open a 15,000-square-foot store in the Greenhouse Marketplace Shopping Center in the fourth quarter 2024. Westlake Ace Hardware has nine other locations in northern California, and a new store in San Jose is opening soon, too. Westlake Ace Hardware owns and operates 160 stores in 12 states.
Pioneer Building Supply to Open in Martin, S.D.
Jay and Janell Yohner announced that they plan to open Pioneer Building Supply in Martin, S.D. The couple began renovations on the former True Value Hardware location in October 2023.
Mains Hardware Supply in Kenner, La., Celebrates Grand Opening
Owner Blake Main celebrated the grand opening of Mains Hardware Supply in Kenner, La., on May 22. As part of the festivities, Main Hardware Supply invited Best Rewards customers to fill up a bucket with products to save 20 percent on what they could fit inside.
Wehrung’s Cares Donates $5,000 to MBIT for Cordless Tools
Wehrung’s Cares, a non-profit charitable organization affiliated with Ottsville, Pa.-based Wehrung’s, a Do it Best member and home improvement center, has donated $5,000 to the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology (MBIT) to purchase cordless power tools. The donation goal is to purchase battery-operated tools for students in construction trades programs to help them prepare for construction industry jobs. For more about Wehrung’s and the donation, see a company press release.
Work IQ Tools Launches Workbench Tools
Minneapolis, Minn.-based IQ Tools debuts a product lineup that includes a workbench vise that articulates and rotates 360 degrees, job-specific vise jaws and hands-free workshop accessories. “The IQ Vise by itself, with its ability to articulate and rotate, offers new ways to accomplish countless jobs,” said Tom Scott, vice president of marketing and product management for Work IQ Tools. “Coupling the vise with task-specific IQ Vise Jaws and IQ Connect accessories creates a highly capable problem-solving workshop helper, offering people unprecedented ways to work smarter.” For more information, see the company’s press release.
