Buying lumber from a retail lumber yard or big box store is something we are all familiar with. You – along with tens or hundreds of fellow shoppers – find the lumber and other supplies you need, put them on your cart or arrange for delivery, and pay for your order with cash, check or card.
Purchasing material from a lumber wholesaler is very different, and they typically limit who can purchase from them to those who can purchase large quantities of wood. This means simply showing up to purchase a few lumber boards for a home project is not typically an option.
Understanding Wholesale Lumber Suppliers
Wholesale lumber suppliers, as the name suggests, primarily (or exclusively) sell their lumber in bulk orders and may restrict who they sell to based upon the type of business and the size of their lumber needs.
Wholesalers differ in the breadth and depth of their inventory and material sources. Some may specialize in particular species of wood and treatments, while others may diversify across more wood species and manufactured wood products. Evaluating wholesalers by their product “specialties”, availability and quality of material, pricing and service ethic will help retail buyers discern their most dependable wholesale suppliers.
Types of Businesses That Can Buy From a Wholesale Lumber Supplier
Retail Lumber Dealers
Most notably, wholesale lumber suppliers sell to retail lumber dealers. Many wholesale lumber suppliers, including Curtis Lumber & Plywood, only sell to retail lumber dealers.
This is not a simple matter of preference, but an extension of the operating practices that are unique to wholesalers. Preparing a small quantity order may not be possible without disrupting the way the wholesale lumber supplier operates. The small margins to be made from selling commodities like lumber and plywood require selling in large volumes.
For wholesalers, this is achieved by relatively fewer orders of higher quantities to a comparatively small customer base. For retailers, the opposite is true; many orders of lower quantities from more customers. As a result, wholesalers and retailers staff differently, have different equipment and facilities needs, and simply operate differently to maximize their capacity to stay in business and effectively serve their primary customers.
General Contractors & Construction Companies
Some wholesale lumber suppliers may sell directly to construction companies and contractors. If they do, they will likely require that purchases meet or exceed a minimum dollar or order quantity threshold.
Woodworkers & Individuals
It is far less common for a wholesale lumber supplier to sell to woodworkers or individuals as their lumber needs are usually much smaller. Still, a wholesaler may be open to selling to any individual willing to meet the minimum purchase requirement.
Curtis Lumber and Plywood Sells to Retail Lumber Suppliers Throughout The Mid-Atlantic Region
Curtis Lumber & Plywood exclusively supplies lumber and plywood retailers. If you are a retail lumber supplier in Virginia or a surrounding state seeking a knowledgeable and reliable wholesale resource, then Curtis Lumber and Plywood is for you. We specialize in pressure treated fire retardant lumber and plywood, while also stocking preservative treated and untreated lumber and plywood. Reach out to the Curtis Lumber & Plywood team today.
