Anchorage, AK — Knowledge is power. That's true, and Spenard Builders Supply (SBS) has proven that sharing knowledge can also equal productivity, performance and, ultimately, profit.
Alaska's largest building supply provider, Spenard has taken a commitment to training and education well beyond the norm, and become one of the primary resources for contractors state-wide. Its continuing education programs for contractors are accepted by the state as part of its regular licensing update requirements. And internally, the company has recognized that knowledgeable employees are more productive, more professional and as a group raise the concept of customer service to a higher standard.
An appropriate location
Anchorage has a direct link to construction and the distribution of key building supplies since it was born in the early 1900s as a tent city to supply workers on the Alaska Railroad. And, like so many businesses in the state, Spenard was a pioneering effort with three employees setting up shop at the intersection of two dirt roads near the railroad tracks.
Riding the boom and bust tides that are the underpinning of Alaskan history, Spenard became a major player in supplying construction projects from remote cabins to city high-rise offices. During the boom years and the lean years the staff took the concept of customer service to heart. Their dedication has been tested more than once.
Like everything in Anchorage, Spenard was nearly swept from the scene in 1964 when the largest earthquake ever recorded anywhere rocked the city. But, even though suffering serious damage, the store was open the next day to aid with rebuilding efforts.
Three years later disaster struck again when the entire company facility — warehouses, offices and most of the inventory — went up in flames. Even then, the company was back in business within 24 hours, working out of two salvaged cabins.
"We started out with one yard and have steadily grown over the years," says vice president of purchasing Rick Thornton. "The residential and commercial construction markets are our main areas of focus and we work with contractors on everything from millwork to paint, flooring, power tools and fasteners.