S.W. Collins Co. earns Independent honors

S.W. Collins Co. has seen many transformations since its creation in 1844.  And the Aroostook County, Maine, pro dealer continues to adapt to current conditions.

With that corporate mindset, the four-unit lumberyard company has been named the HCN Independent Pro Dealer of the Year. 

S.W. Collins, “The Pioneer Lumberyard,” serves Maine through four locations in Presque Island, Houlton, Lincoln and its headquarters in Caribou.

The annual award, selected by editors of Home Channel News with the input of key suppliers and industry stakeholders, is designed to recognize a high-performance company with a commitment to best practices and the best values of the lumber and building material industry.

“The Independent Pro Dealer of the Year Award has a long tradition of recognizing a forward-thinking family business,” said Ken Clark, editor in chief of Home Channel News. “SW Collins has earned that reputation over five generations.”

The company manages a new design center, a custom-millwork operation and a healthy windows and doors business. The family business' growth-oriented mindset is revealed in its 2013 acquisition of Haskell Lumber, and its current plans to relocate the lumberyard in a brand new Lincoln facility. With the relocation will come a 25,000 sq. ft. drive-thru lumberyard and an 18,000 sq. ft. store and millwork warehouse.

“Our success for five generations is directly attributed to our engaged and dedicated employees that take pride in their job and understand that we need to be always customer centric and be smarter each day in how we conduct business,” said Sam Collins. “As a company we are committed to investing in our infrastructure and more importantly in our people.”

Collins will accept the Independent Pro Dealer of the Year Award on behalf of the company during the 2014 ProDealer Industry Summit Oct. 28-30 in San Diego, California. The Summit is sponsored jointly by the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) and HCN.