The Expert Podcast

A major influence in the building and construction industry died this week. Joe Hardy, who was 100 years old, founded 84 Lumber. 84 Lumber is ubiquitous and has been around since before Home Depot, Lowe's, or any of the big box stores. It was one of the first large lumber yards that, even though it dealt a lot with contractors and trade organizations, you could still purchase things there as a consumer. Joe Hardy expanded the building supply industry, and in many ways, Home Depot and Lowe's piggybacked off of that success. They saw that there was a market for this. Before the 1980s, there was really no need to have large home building supply centers. You had your local hardware store and maybe a lumber yard, but the success of 84 Lumber really caught the eye of executives who created the other stores.

The consumer lumber and building supply industry has a lot to thank Joe Hardy for. He lived a charmed life and made it to a ripe old age. At some point in the past, I think it was in the '90s or 2000s, he opened up a luxury resort in his home state, offering high-end dining and luxury accommodations. That was another business venture of Joe Hardy. He is survived by sons and even grandchildren who are now running the business. It’s a milestone for the founder of such a large company like 84 Lumber. If you're part of the country, you have these stores and still do business there.

Let us know what you think about how that lumber yard helped you in your early career in getting materials and supplies, especially when there weren't as many options for availability from other sources.