GMX Group forms in Miami
A new player on the LBM block has been in front of our eyes all along.
But now its business pieces have been collected under one roof.
Earlier this year, GMX Group was formed. The Miami, Florida-based holding company consists of several brands and lines of business —including Lumber Plus, Thermowood, Maximo, and Norx, among other brands — under two platforms.
The two sides of the business consist of a wholesale, distribution arm along with a retail side.
The distribution portion of the business is focused on importing hardwoods from Europe, New Zealand, and South America and then selling them in the North American market, according to Guto Fugiwara, managing partner at GMX Group.
Distributing fasteners and hand tools is also part of the wholesale division’s package.
GMX Group’s retail half includes the Lumber Plus business. There are currently two company-owned Lumber Plus locations in Miami and Houston in addition to three franchised locations in Long Island, the greater Boston market, and Tampa.
Fugiwara says the franchising of Lumber Plus locations is “getting a lot of interest” and noted that multiple locations will open in 2024.
Featured in HBSDealer’s Top Showrooms series, Lumber Plus showcases an array of decking, cladding, walls, and ceilings. Lumber Plus stores feature an interactive approach that empowers customers to engage directly with materials. This allows for a deeper understanding in making well-informed choices during their selection process, according to Lumber Plus.
Regarding the formation of the GMX Group, Fugiwara told HBSDealer that the move provides “greater efficiency” for its brands. Rather than having multiple marketing or finance departments for each brand, they have been collectively brought together under the GMX banner while eliminating operational redundancies.
Sustainability continues to be a hot industry topic as companies look to be good corporate citizens. GMX Group has sustainability covered, according to Fugiwara.
Most of the lumber imported by GMX Group is FSC Certified. The company also tracks chain of custody, life cycle and due care as GMX’s imports meet strict standards. Whether sourced from South American rainforests or European plantations, all GMX Group wood products boast third-party legality certification.
According to GMX Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Kilpatrick, the company is bringing new concepts to the table through a unique business model.
“We want to honor the tradition of how an LBM business is run and we also want to challenge it at the same time,” Kilpatrick said.
