Mr. Lumber
2340 Grimmett Dr.
Shreveport, LA 71107 (318) 222-4058 www.mrlumber.com
WHERE GREAT
CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUR MOTTO!
A high level of personal service is the No. 1 asset that sets Mr. Lumber apart from the competition. The sprawling complex of buildings and sheds that make up Mr. Lumber offers a wide array of building materials, hardware supplies and a shop that does high-end mill-working.
Mr. Lumber owner, Mike McGee, who has many years of prior experience in construction and mill working, has owned the company for 10 years. His experience designing, building and installing cabinetry and other types of trim has made him a top woodworker and gives him a keen insight into what homebuilders need in today’s market. McGee recently built 2John’s Restaurant on Airline Drive in Bossier City.
Mr. Lumber has always been focused on being a top-notch facility for the production and sale of wood products, be it for furniture or general building materials, including dimensional lumber, plywood, hardware and other residential and commercial building products used in construction and remodeling.
Mr. Lumber’s newest service is the ability to cut logs, theirs or the customers, into dimensional lumber, timbers and beams. They cut all hardwoods and softwoods but specialize in cypress, cedar and rough cut oak. Among the many unique items they offer are rough or finished slabs of wood used in mantels, tabletops, countertops, rustic beams, posts and decorative supports.
They are equipped to provide custom mill working and will build, finish and install cabinetry, furniture, molding, doors and shutters.
“Nobody I know of offers the depth of milling services that we do,” McGee said. “I have been noticing a trend in the home construction industry toward wood beams and more rustic materials, so I think we are strategically placed to serve that niche of the business.”
Plans are currently being made to expand by building a new facility on property recently acquired that is adjacent to the existing facility on its north side. This will give the business a new look and a new image that should take the company to the next level of success. It will allow Mr. Lumber the opportunity to offer a broader inventory of products and services and identify it as a full line building materials and hardware outlet and in addition provide service in a home design and improvement center.
Ruth Burdges, who is accredited in home staging and design, will be on staff to offer customers her expertise in their design and building projects.
“Mr. Lumber offers personal attention to each customer that comes through our doors. We value their loyalty and strive to meet their needs as best we can. We are excited to expand our services and products. As an accredited home stager and designer, I love to be around all the materials used in building and
remodeling, and especially those milled from our sawmill. I am always ready to advise and share my input on design when needed.” Burdges said.
“I really enjoy the process of helping the customers with their needs,” McGee said. He stresses to each of his employees that the customers do come first and are treated with the utmost respect and appreciation. That attention to detail and friendly service is what has given Mr. Lumber its exceptional reputation. “We want to appeal to home builders as well as remodelers and believe we can offer rental owners an affordable option in the maintenance and upgrading of their properties. Even now, when a customer comes in, there are very few times we don’t have what they are looking for.”
When it comes to service, McGee can offer his know how in the construction industry and his commitment to treating everyone as he would like to be treated.
“One thing I do is ‘listen,’ so that I can better solve the customer’s particular challenge in completing their project. I don’t oversell anyone to the point that often I will be able to offer a customer a less expensive option than what they were originally thinking they needed. Although that may decrease the money generated in a single sale, I feel it will pay off in the long run by creating good relationships and good word of mouth,” McGee said.
McGee almost didn’t purchase Mr. Lumber, but two things happened that persuaded him to acquire the business from Bobby Jenkins, who had been operating it for several years as a building material outlet and hardware store. First, a pastor prayed with him about the decision he was about to make, and then a good friend mentioned the business to McGee and said he was interested and felt it would be a good business move. That pushed McGee over the line to make the decision to buy, and that decision has not been regretted for a second.
“This is rewarding work, and I really believe we offer superb products and exemplary personal service to the area market. I sometimes feel we are one of the best-kept secrets in the Shreveport- Bossier market, the customers we have are loyal and return time and again, as well as refer others to us. Mr. Lumber is deeply indebted to its long list of old and new customers, many of whom are just like family,” McGee said.
McGee and his wife, Joyce, have worked tirelessly at building the business and with God’s blessing they will look forward to the further growth and success of Mr. Lumber. Mr. Lumber is located at 2340 Grimmett Drive in north Shreveport and can be reached at 222-4058. Check out their website at mrlumber.com.
Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
– Karl Hasten
