The nation's largest privately-owned building products distributor has bought Junior's Building Materials in Ringgold and Rossville, Georgia, as one of four acquisitions the growing company has made in the Southeast in the past month.
Otto "Junior" Boehm Jr., who founded the family-owned building materials business in 1991 and build the business into the largest independent distributor of building supplies in the Chattanooga area, said at age 75 it was time to find a new owner "that will take our business to the next level." For now, however, Junior and his 58-person staff will continue working and the Junior's name will continue for the business.
US LBM, a suburban Chicago-based building materials distributor with operations across the country, announced Wednesday that it has bought Juniors Building Materials along with North Georgia Building Supply in Buford, Georgia and Massey Builders Supply in Richmond, Virginia.
"All three of our new acquisitions have strong customer relationships and are market-leading, full-line suppliers offering a robust mix of specialty building products," said L.T. Gibson, the president and CEO of US LBM. "Their addition to our portfolio expands and strengthens our reach in multiple rapidly growing housing markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast."
US LBM spokesman Timothy Wirth said the new owner "implements the philosophy of local management and leadership" and will retain the Junior's name for the local building supply operation.
Boehm, a former Brainerd Lumber employee, started his company in 1991 with a cell phone and a pickup truck under the name of Otto's Lumber and Building Supply. But Boehm changed the name after only two weeks to Junior's Building Supplies since everyone has always known the veteran lumber dealer by his Junior moniker.
"When people tried to lookup Otto's Lumber, most people thought it started with "a" for Auto and they never found us," Boehm recalled. "I've always been known as Junior and the name has worked for us in this business."
Boehm said his two sons, Jason and Bo, helped him get started in the business and grow the company in its early years to build the relationships and service reputation, which Junior's has tried to implant in people's minds with its jingle, "We always come through for you."
Boehm has built upon his knowledge and relationships in the business to maintain supplies even while others have run short of materials during the pandemic-spurred growth in remodeling and home construction in the past year.
Last year, the company generated more than $40 million in revenues and sales are doing even better this year.
Junior's operates a 44,000 square foot warehouse and office on Battlefield Parkway in Ringgold, Georgia near Interstate 75 and a 62,700-square-foot warehouse and distribution center on Maple Street in Rossville. The company maintains a fleet of 18 delivery trucks and has delivered building supplies to Atlanta, Nashville and Knoxville, although most of the business is to building contractors in the Chattanooga area.
"We carry a big inventory and we don't run out and we've helped a lot of contractors through the years with our staff members who have really given 110 percent in the past year when we have been so busy," Boehm said. "Junior's is a family company in the truest sense: in addition to being family-owned, we've built a great team that feels like family."
Boehm said the past year has been the busiest in the more than a half century he has worked in the building supply business for others and at his own company.
"It sort of wore us out and it's time to stop and smell the roses," he said. "US LBM, I think, can take this business to the next level."
To sell his business, Boehm employed FourBridges Capital Advisors, an investment banking firm in Chattanooga that helps business owners sell their companies, refinance debt or access growth capital.
"Junior has built an impressive business known for its great customer service," said Chris Rowe, managing director at FourBridges Capital. "When he first approached the FourBridges team, Junior knew he wanted a partner that would protect his customers, his employees and his legacy. Together, we positioned the company in a way that attracted several great offers and ultimately led us to US LBM.
A portfolio company of Bain Capital, US LBM is a leading distributor of specialty building materials in the U.S. and operates more than 400 locations nationwide. Since its founding, the company has made more than 70 acquisitions and opened more than 20 new greenfield locations.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.