“What the [McIlvain] family does not know about lumber is certainly not worth studying. Some lumbermen come and others go, but the McIlvains go on forever.” These words penned in the June 15, 1898 edition of The New York Lumber Trade Journal described what was then a 100-year legacy of the J. Gibson McIlvain Company. Now, after more than 200 years in business, you might just say lumber is our lifeblood.
With each flipped page of a calendar, the lumber industry has changed, as have the needs of our customers. Some of our methods have changed with new technology and advancements in engineering, and our inventory has expanded to include more than just domestic hardwoods and millwork: today we also offer exotic hardwoods , premium softwoods, plywood, and even some exceptional composite materials.
But our commitment to quality hasn’t changed. And neither has our dedication to both our valued customers and the future of the lumber industry—without either of which, we would have no future as a company. We make it our business to remain in constant contact with the mills from which we purchase lumber and to keep our eye on lumber industry trends and regulations — as well as the needs of our customers in various industries.
Three key components of our commitment to the future of the lumber industry and our customers are these:
1. Buying Only Sustainably Sourced Lumber
We’re extremely diligent about making sure lumber we purchase is both legally and responsibly harvested. In this era of Lacey Act regulation, we fully realize the importance of making sure every board is fully accounted for along the entire supply chain.
2. Avoiding Unnecessary Waste
We encourage buying B grade or short lumber whenever possible as well as reconsidering size altogether, in order to help our customers avoid wasting money and to encourage healthy forests — and lumber availability — for years to come.
3. Educating Our Many Valued Customers
We’re passionate about communicating with our customers! We talk candidly about issues such as pricing, grading, value engineering, and color matching, helping to empower our customers to become well-informed patrons who feel confident about their lumber purchases.
Along with those key commitments, our expansive inventory and nationwide shipping are other reasons our customers cite that make us their go-to lumber supplier. They can count on us as their single-source supplier for all their lumber needs. As we continue to strive toward excellence in our field, we believe our customers will keep coming back — not just because some of them have done so for a century or more, but because we’re continuing to prove ourselves worthy of their business.
J. Gibson McIlvain Company
Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.
As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.
Contact a sales representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling toll free (800) 638-9100.
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