D&D Lumbermart Ltd. - A family business since 1978.
January 20, 2020
D & D Lumbermart Ltd. opened its doors 42 years ago and was built on a strong foundation of family values. Like many businesses, they have seen several highs and lows over the past four decades.
At only 23 years old, Don Horvath and Dwayne Porter took on the daunting task of operating a small-town building supplies store in Wawota, Saskatchewan, in 1978. In 1995, Dwayne decided to move on, and the Horvath family, along with wife, Brenda, and children Dean and Delaine, stepped up with a dream and a focus. Along with many sacrifices from this family, and a dedicated, hard-working staff, steady progress was made.
Don Horvath, President and Owner, explains the secret to their success, “ We realized that we were a small fish in a large pond, so we concentrated on customer service as our main initiative. We believed that a loyal customer base was the cornerstone that we needed to build on. We think we were right, and we still focus on this perspective, realizing that all our competitors supply the same product selection, basically at the same price as we do. What separates us from our competitors is basic customer service! Don’t give your customers a reason to go to someone else’s store.”
In 2018, D&D Lumbermart celebrated its 40th anniversary in business. In the same year, Don took the bold step of purchasing the former North American Lumber location in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. The focus was on re-establishing inventory levels, with the main goal of improving customer service to their high expectations.
Don says, “In the spring of 2019, we welcomed Dave Balfour and his family to our ownership group. Dave is new to the building materials industry, with a strong background in purchasing and inventory management, and is proving to be a valuable addition to our team.”
D & D Lumbermart Ltd. joined the Sexton Group in 1989 and has enjoyed the many benefits of belonging to a group that is focused on growth and the forward progress of its members. “Many, many long-term relationships have been established with our friends and competitors alike. We have enormous respect for and are very loyal to the Sexton Group and its vast membership!” says Don. “2019 has been a real challenge, but with perseverance and our ‘Nose Down, Butt Up’ attitude, we will prevail with the help of the Sexton Group!”
