Sparr Building & Farm Supply expanding in Florida
Sparr Building & Farm Supply is branching out to its fourth location.
In March, the company completed the purchase of the former Nichols Lumber Company in Dunellon, Fla.
Sparr is renovating the site and plans to open a 5,000 square-foot retail space by August. The new location will include a 6-acre lumberyard including a drive-thru lumber barn and feed warehouse. The company also operates locations in Sparr, Williston, and Wildwood, Fla.
The dealer serves contractors, residential builders and DIYers with about 50% of its business catering to agricultural needs, including feed and fencing.
“We are not your typical lumber yard and we are not your typical farm store, either,” Sparr President Sam Howard told HBSDealer.
The latest expansion marks the fourth Florida county that Sparr will operate within. Sparr’s last expansion move was the opening of its Wildwood location in 2008 as the Great Recession hit. “
“That’s when we got our doctorate in retailing,” Howard says.
The Wildwood store remains the company’s largest and features 30,000 square feet of retail space in addition to a yard on 14.5 acres. Sparr’s locations surround Ocala, Fla., which has more horses per square mile than anywhere else in the world, according to Howard.
“That same piece of lumber can be used on a ranch or residential construction,” Howard explains. “The one side leads to sales on the other side because we have the products in stock.”
Sales have been more than solid for Sparr in 2020, despite the COVID-19 crisis. “Things are booming, we are off to our best year ever,” Howard said.
Part of that success has been driven by DIYers who decided to invest in projects while spending more time at home during the crisis. “That’s where it came in handy that we cater to homeowners too,” Howard notes.
During the pandemic, Sparr has taken every step it could to ensure the safety of its 130 employees, including protective equipment, social distancing, cleaning precautions, and plexiglass barriers.
Looking ahead, Howard said that Sparr will focus on creating an online sales presence in 2021.