There is something to be said about a company that thrives under the leadership of multiple generations, particularly one that seeks to be a long-standing service provider for the communities it serves. That is especially true of Michigan Lumber Company, a full-service lumber yard and building materials expert with over 100 years in business.
This longevity is possible because Michigan Lumber Company has long prioritized the relationships it builds, just as it does the quality and craftsmanship of the products its carries. Family-owned and operated, it is a relatively small operator competing in a market of big box stores and still having a positive impact.
Through the provision of quality materials and unmatched know-how, Michigan Lumber Company remains recognized and respected by the countless contractors and homeowners who have come to rely on it for projects in Eastern Michigan and beyond.
Building products, building community
With a robust lumber yard and a mill on site, Michigan Lumber Yard offers the highest quality building materials including doors, siding, molding, barn doors, saunas, mantels, staircases, cabinets, countertops, decking, and more. The company’s lumber and custom millwork services have played a key role in literally building Michigan since its founding in 1916. Since then, it has remained a stalwart presence in the community supporting countless residential, commercial, and industrial projects across the state, including automotive manufacturers like GM who have been a pillar of the state’s economy.
As General Manager Matthew Paruch notes, “The ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s were really the boom time for Michigan Lumber. Flint is known as Vehicle City. It is the birthplace of General Motors, and Michigan Lumber continues to have a healthy relationship with them. As times changed, the automotive market started to outsource.”
Changes in the market had implications for Michigan Lumber Company, and to manage the market ebbs and flows, leadership started rethinking the direction of the company. While it would still maintain a focus on quality and service, it expanded its repertoire in the ’80s and ’90s to include decks and other services required for the everyday customer who came in needing support in their home renovation efforts.
And now, explains Paruch, “We’ve taken that direction to the next level, hiring outside sales staff to service those customers that, due to their geographic regions, wouldn’t come up here to Flint to buy their material. So, we’ve been more steadfast in our goal to increase business but also to go after that business in some of the stronger markets here in Southeast Michigan.”
With the philosophy that “you don’t have to come to us, we’re going to come to you,” Michigan Lumber has further elevated the value it offers and doubled down on the reliability its customers have come to depend on. “We’ve stood for the last 108 years on being a quality distributor and we continue to do that today,” says Paruch.
Doing things right the first time, every time
Being small and nimble but equipped with unmatched expertise and resources, Michigan Lumber Company can astutely anticipate, identify, and understand the needs of its customers while offering an attention to detail that truly sets it apart. From Paruch’s perspective, “We’re a little bit different than a traditional lumber yard and definitely different than a big box store, and the fact that we produce a lot of our own material here means we can really focus on the quality of the product going out the gate.”
This means sourcing the very best in materials, which is possible thanks to the distributors the company has built relationships with over time. “Most of that material is sourced from a distributor on the west side of state, and he procures his material mostly from Wisconsin and Michigan as far as the hardwood side, so it’s always northern-grown hardwoods,” explains Paruch.
“That’s what we prefer here. There is a difference between northern hardwood and an Appalachian southern hardwood, and our customers pretty much demand that we have the best. And again, we’re not going to be the cheapest, but if the customer is discerning enough to want that extra level, then he’s going to get it here at Michigan Lumber.”
Not only does Michigan Lumber Company do right by its customers, but it has also created an environment and culture where its own people can thrive. This has supported longevity within its ranks, which is maintained through promoting from within and creating opportunities for people to build lifelong careers with the company.
A union employer, Michigan Lumber has numerous employees with over 30 years’ experience with the company. Paruch himself has 35 years in the industry, and this level of experience and expertise simply cannot be matched.
With highly specialized millwork estimators, pole barn experts, deck specialists, and more, everyone at Michigan Lumber has their niche, and as such, the team delivers an unmatched level of service beyond the quality materials themselves. “We stay in our lane,” says Paruch. “We stay where our strength is; if we fail, the customer fails.”
Gearing up for the next century
As interest rates continue to come down and the economy returns to strength, Michigan Lumber Company is poised to take advantage of the market growth and has the capacity to service customers to the standard it has come to be known for.
The company is also seeing the impacts of the skilled trades shortage, as the sector needs more people in these fields to realize its full potential. While Michigan Lumber Company can’t create new skilled workers out of thin air, it can supply quality products and a level of service that goes above and beyond to make contractors’ projects a breeze.
If you are a contractor in the state of Michigan, Michigan Lumber Company is ready to support you on your next project. You’ll receive quality materials, craftsmanship, expertise, service, and the peace of mind that your supply chain is secure so you can focus on the finer details of your project. Together, you can build success.
“We want to spoil people. I mean, we want people to be so used to the level of service that we provide that they don’t want to even take a chance on someone else,” says Paruch, who is committed to upholding the company’s legacy which helping others build their own.
