BUCKHANNON — Harper Lumber’s new owners plan to maintain their connection to the community and excellent service standards while also helping people with all of their building and remodeling needs.
Kevin Ware and Scott Spotloe became the new co-owners of Harper Lumber Building Supply Company on Jan. 1, 2024, after previous owner Mark Harper handed over the reins.
“Mark was wanting to retire but wanted to see the business stay open for the employees and for the community,” Ware said. “I didn’t want to see something that Mark’s family built go by the wayside, so we sat down one day, and I asked him what he wanted to do, and he said he was ready to retire.”
All three — Harper, Ware and Spotloe — agreed they wanted to uphold the same outstanding level of quality and service Harper Lumber has delivered for decades.
“We all wanted to keep the service and the quality the same and continue what Mark and his family have done,” Ware added.
While continuing their long-established services of providing building materials, they are also offering design services to renovate kitchens, bathrooms and more.
“We have the capabilities of designing a home from start to finish,” Ware explained. “We can design it, provide the materials or help with the design. We also have a full array of cabinets with different styles and different makes, and we have the ability to design a custom kitchen.”
The Harper Lumber Website lists the various design services offered, all the suppliers for their materials, and information about each of their store locations in Buckhannon (158 Corhart Road) and Rock Cave (153 Queens Alley Road).
“I don’t know if anyone has ever looked at Harper Lumber as a design center, but that is what we want to get the word out about and really push the design center side of that,” Ware said. “We have the ability to start out with a sketch on a napkin and design a home from that, including kitchen space and custom tile showers, and we have all the waterproofing and everything for the tile showers, and of course, we keep high-quality lumber.”
Ware said Harper Lumber’s staff has years and years of experience under their belts in contracting, electrical work and handling the ordering of materials.
“Besides myself, there are quite a few years of experience at Rock Cave; I am a licensed contractor, and I’m always in awe of the personal service and knowledge of the guys that work for us,” Ware said. “One of our guys who works part-time has 40 years of experience doing lumber, and he knows where to buy, how to buy and who to talk to.”
“Basically, if you can’t find it anywhere else, ask Marshall, and he’ll tell you where you can find it, so we’re home to more experience than our customers and the community have ever seen,” he added.
Customers may get in touch with a designer by calling the Buckhannon store at 304-473-0032, and the Rock Cave store at 304-924-6800.
“It’s been a learning curve — the retail learning curve — in keeping materials here but not spending so much and buying way more than you need, so you have to find the right balance,” Ware said. “The balance between supply and demand has been challenging, but I have really, really good people around me who have made it easy.”
Ware is also planning to add a design addition and redo the showroom in the Buckhannon location.
“People are welcome to stop in and see us. There’s a contact form on the website where you can send us a list of materials, and we can quote them for the list or email us at info@harperlumber.com,” Ware said. “Check out the website, check out the Facebook page, and get in contact with us, or just drive out and see us from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.”
