Hammond Lumber plans to retain New England Building Materials employees and add more, increase inventory and return its recently acquired Lincoln County stores to the boom times of the Poole Brothers era.
The Belgrade company announced its acquisition of New England Building Materials locations in Boothbay Harbor, Damariscotta and Pemaquid Oct. 11 (see “Hammond Lumber acquires three New England Building Materials locations” in the Oct. 13 edition).
Hammond Lumber Vice President Michael Hammond said the family company holds values “very similar to the values of Poole Brothers.”
Hammond’s grandparents, Skip and Verna Hammond, founded Hammond Lumber Company in 1953. His father, Donald Hammond, is the company’s president.
To date, Hammond Lumber has hired “the majority” of the approximately 40 employees of the Boothbay Harbor, Damariscotta and Pemaquid locations and has rehired others who left as a result of slow sales and resulting staffing cuts, Michael Hammond said.
Hammond Lumber plans to supplement this work force with 10-15 additional employees. “They were short-staffed,” Hammond explained.
Other employees of the three stores chose to follow New England Building Materials to southern Maine, Hammond said.
The company will increase inventory and expects to boost sales and profit. “We’re really optimistic,” Hammond said.
The company, known for folksy radio and television commercials touting the experience of its work force to a theme recognizable to any Red Sox fan, wants to integrate itself into the community.
“We like using local vendors for whatever we do,” Hammond said, including planned repairs and renovations to the stores.
The company is also sensitive to details, like the unique features of the Pemaquid Falls property, with its historic sawmill, and will not alter or destroy such features, Hammond said.
The community has responded in kind, Hammond said. “Our reception so far has been excellent.”
The three stores increase the company’s presence by one-third, from nine to 12 locations, all in Maine.
According to the initial Hammond Lumber press release, “The closing is expected to take place on or about” Fri., Oct. 21.
The sale is the second transition for the businesses in six years. Lavalley Lumber bought Poole Brothers in 2005, later changing the names of both entities to New England Building Materials.
