Sudbury Living - Spring 2008 - 21

A look at what makes this business vans Home Building Centre is a business rich in history, knowledge and expertise. Throughout Evans’ 100 plus years of operation, during Sudbury’s years of growth and economic downturns, the key to the company’s success has always been its staff, says Evans co-owner John Carrey. “We have faced challenges at times especially when faced with new competitive pressures, but it has always been our staff who have kept our customers coming back.” From its inception in 1896, Thomas and W. Arthur Evans held a strong belief that Sudbury would become a prosperous town and his family intended to help Sudbury grow. There were other building suppliers in Sudbury when Evans Lumber ﬁrst entered the market, but no others stood the test of time in a mining town that has gone through many economic boom-and-bust cycles. A few years before celebrating its 100th year in business, the Evans family decided to sell its operation to a group of long-time employees, with Judi Fex becoming president. Both she and John Carrey have worked hard to make the business progressive for and relevant to customers. In 1999, they pursued a merger with the Sudbury franchise of the Beaver Lumber chain. The two stores were consolidated at 172 Pine St., a location that boasts a 24,000 sq. foot store, complete with everything from electrical supplies and lumber, to kitchen cabinets and paint. It’s an exciting period to be in the building supply business, thanks to Greater Sudbury’s booming economy. Lumber prices are dropping, making materials less expensive for contractors and homeowners alike, says Carrey. “It is a good time for home owners or contractors to build a E house or undertake renovations.” And while there are plenty of options on the market in terms of materials, there isn’t always a wealth of information and know-how that accompanies those building supplies. That’s where Evans’ long-standing expertise really shines: customers can be assured that when they buy a product from Evans, they will know exactly how best to use it or install it. “Consumer demand is more sophisticated,” Carrey notes. Evans Lumber has evolved to accommodate the customer who has done his or her research and is looking for speciﬁc products. “We are getting requests for bamboo ﬂooring,” Carrey says.“Even though we still stock maple, oak, ash and birch, people are looking at other options.” “Hardwood ﬂooring is now competitively priced,” he says.“And that’s good because we are seeing a comeback in demand for hardwood ﬂooring. People are now more concerned about health issues concerning dust allergies.” In addition to ﬂooring, several other product lines are in demand at Evans Lumber. “Our paint and stain line has seen an increase in sales. It is a very important part of our operation,” Carrey says. He also noted that energy-saving items like insulation are ﬂying off the shelves. “We bring it in by the transport load due to demand,” he says. “New homes are required to be more energy efﬁcient, so we make sure we can supply that market need.” With Greater Sudbury’s current boom in new home building, the staff at Evans Lumber works hard to ensure that local builders have the supplies they need, when they need it. The company’s large ﬂeet of trucks helps customers to get their material to the job site in a quick and safe manner. Evans has a boom truck that can load shingles right onto a roof, and their cube van keeps fragile deliveries safe from the elements. The shipping department will even help customers load their own vehicles safely. Delivery is just one several services Evans Lumber offers its customers. The business also offers the following assistance: * Estimating: Evans’ estimating staff can help customers calculate the cost of building anything from a dream home to a backyard deck. * Millwork: The Evans mill can make custom trusses, cabinets and anything else that a customer may need made from wood. Custom hardwoods of various sizes are available in both rough and ﬁnished forms. * Glass work: The Evans glass shop can help with any glass or window needs, from installing new windows and doors to cutting custom-sized mirrors. * Kitchen designs: Evans’ newly renovated kitchen department will inspire customers to create the kitchen of their dreams. Carrey agrees that a knowledgeable staff, both inside the store and out in the yard, is key to the success of the Evans operation. “We make sure our staff are well trained and as helpful as possible,”he says. “Our customers know that familiar faces, whether at the check-out or outside, mean our staff can give them the service they have come to expect. That’s our formula for success.” For more information, phone 674-1921, or visit them online at www.evanshomebuildingcentre.com Top L to R: Bill McParland, Moe Poitras, Dan St. Jaques, Gerry Lalonde, Ron McBain, Brad Chiasson, Corey McNeil, J.P. Seoisky, Mitchel Rienguette, Dave D’Aoust, Guy Hamilton, Andre Marcotte, Donna Johnston, Fern Minor, Gerry Pellerin, John Knight, Dan Bellemare, Jeff Keyes, Corey Chiasson, Erik Proulx Bottom L to R: Judy Fex (Co-Owner), Erik Lind, Mike Martel, Mike D’Antonio, Gerry Guimond, Trevor Sykes, Kyra Lynn, Bobby Chiasson, Pat Lind, Amanda Lowery, Lori Morin, Flora Basso, Deena Depatie, Dave Luoma, Darryl Carrey, Marcel Giroux, Joe Gluszek, Bill Mcleod, Lisa Fera, Scott Fex, Glen Spring 2008 Sudbury Living 21 Jones, Roger Gauthier, John Carrey (Co-Owner)

Sudbury Living - Spring 2008

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