Baumgartners take over CRC Lumber
Scot Baumgartner is a man with many titles. Father, husband, member of the U.S. military. On April 19, he added a new title — business owner.
Scot and his wife Liz are now the proud owners of CRC Lumber in Colby, and they plan on delivering the same service that Randy Runge had for 26 years.
The Baumgartners, both graduates of Colby High, are proud to keep a local business running, and they feel their connection to Colby will only serve to make them all the more successful.
“I think it’s good that someone who’s in the community, has kids in the community, is here and running a business,” Scot says.
It’s only been a few days since he took over, but friends from high school and long-time customers have been periodically popping in to say their congratulations — and to place an order.
“I get a lot of people just stopping to see who the new owner is,” Scot says. “A lot of people do know me, but a fair amount don’t. It’s been a positive response so far.”
Owning a lumber yard isn’t something that Scot planned on when he graduated from Colby High in 2002.
It certainly wasn’t something he had planned on when he started working for Loos Machine and Automation 13 years ago, or when he was starting his family, which now includes Kya, Brody, fouryear- old Stella and two-year-old Ruby.
Scot is also an enlisted man, joining the military three years ago. It’s a lot to juggle, he concedes, but when Runge was looking to sell the business, the chance to be his own boss was simply something he could not pass up.
“Running a lumber business was not something that was really on my radar,” Baumgartner says with a bit of a wry smile and a chuckle. “I grew up with Randy, he’s been a family friend for years, and I found out it was for sale, so I contacted him.”
Lumber may be something new for Scot, but between his degree from St. Cloud State in technology management and his years of working for Loos Machine and Automation, figuring out problems is something that just comes naturally to him.
And if he does have questions, Runge is still there, along with several dedicated employees, to answer questions and provide that great customer service.
“Randy sold it, he wants it to succeed, and he’s helping, giving me pointers. The crew I got here has been very helpful, and it’s making the transition easier. The plan is to carry on. He contacted us, told us how it runs, the ins and outs of it.”
Scot and Liz both hope to keep the business going for many more years to come, although they readily admit there are some pretty big obstacles to overcome starting out.
COVID-19 certainly throws wrinkles into the job, but Scot says the pandemic has not caused a lull in construction or a dip in demand for wood. However, that demand is the biggest problem.
“Lumber supply is going to be tight, and if I am able to get lumber, the pricing is going to be high,” Scot says. “So that’s a setback, but it’s not just high for me, it’s high for everyone.
“But we’re just going to keep moving forward and keep doing what’s been done for the past 26 years,” he said. “Nothing’s going to change much, just the guy who’s in charge, that’s all.”
Baumgartner plays things down a bit, but the challenges facing a lumber yard in 2021 are steep. The price of wood has sky-rocketed in the wake of wildfires on the West Coast, hurricanes on the East Coast, and recently unprecedented snowstorms, freezing temps and flooding in the south. As a result, construction work has seen a huge jump.
Naturally, building materials, especially wood, has seen a huge demand, with lumber prices at an all time high, soaring by over 200 percent. Last week, the price per thousand board feet of lumber soared to an all-time high of $1,188.
It makes for a nerve-wracking climate in the lumber industry, says Scot, and he admits if he was just starting out he might not have chosen to purchase the business. Thankfully, CRC Lumber has a loyal customer base that Runge spent years cultivating.
“We’ve got established clientele and contractors that enjoy doing business with us, which is good,” he said. “I don’t know if a guy could come in and do this starting from scratch.”
It’s not just lumber and building supplies the Baumgartners will be offering either. Liz creates unique art using different techniques, including compressed air, to carve words, slogans and more onto stone for families to enjoy for years.
“She got into rock blasting last year and that’s been hectic. We took off for the winter just to pick rocks, and that’s going to be picking up again this spring,” Scot says. “Eventually we’d like to get it down here and have its own spot and have that as a service.”
Scot and Liz also have plans to expand the business and offer a few more services to customers. That includes a future delivery service.
“I think I could get a few more bigger contractors if I delivered to them, especially because people want to keep their lumber out of job sites. If we can keep it here for them, and take it to them when they need it, I think that’s beneficial.”
Baumgartner has purchased a nearby vacant lot for such scenarios, though he’s quick to say he’s not looking to be a storage warehouse. Although he is excited about the prospect of expansions down the road, and of maintaining the standard Runge has set for the past 26 years.
“For right now, whatever people need lumber for, we’ll supply it to them,” he said. “We have a couple of guys that build chicken coops, we have people that are building pole sheds or building houses. We’ll supply the lumber for them.”
A NEW FEATURE -The Baumgartners will carry on CRC Lumber’s legacy of quality customer service and dependable building supplies, but are adding their own touches. Liz Baumgartner is providing rock art work that she creates via sand-blasting, such as the example above.SUBMITTED PHOTO
