Lots of dealers have seen hardware become a more important part of their business as the homebuilding slump cut commodity sales. But few have gone as far as Kimal Lumber Co., a dealer based in Nokomis, Fla. Kimal moved so deeply into the hardware business that it has renamed itself Kimal Lumber & Hardware.
The name change follows the addition of more than 2,200 new items at the Nokomis yard, according to Kimal's general manager, George Fishtorn II. The revamped facility has been open since early May and a grand opening is scheduled for June 24. Kimal's Englewood location 13 miles to the south has also taken the new name and will expand its hardware offering this summer.
According to Fishtorn, the company is looking to provide more resources to professional builders and remodelers by going beyond the normal hardware items that most lumberyards carry, such as nails, screws, and nuts and bolts. Fishtorn said the company will now have items such as spray paint, electrical supplies, plumbing supplies, and power tools.
Aside from its Nokomis and Englewood yards, Kimal also operates a truss plant under the Kimal Engineered Wood Products name in Venice, Fla., as well as a door and window plant under the name Kimal Window & Door, also in Venice. The company's truss plant also features a Learning and Event Center, where the company hosts various educational programs and events designed for those in the construction industry.
