Nearly two hours, 90 miles, and nine hairpin turns on U.S. 40 separate Denver from Granby, Colo. Perched 8,000 feet up between Rocky Mountain National Park and the Arapahoe National Forest, Granby is a county seat of just 1,800 souls that sells itself as a getaway for second-home owners. And when those folks build, they want Denver-sized selection without the drive.
That need helps explain why Legacy Building Supply's showroom covers so much territory, both figuratively and literally. Step through the rock-and-timber façade and you'll find 6,500 square feet of displays where you can purchase windows, doors, skylights, cabinets, hardwood flooring, tile, carpets, countertops, fireplaces, stoves, range hoods, cabinetry hardware, composite decking, insulated concrete forms, and custom millwork. The company also sells reclaimed materials out of its warehouse next door. That's quite a range for a one-store operation that's taking in $3 million this year.
"For a company of our size serving the small market that we do, our showroom cohesively shows a diverse mix of products," Legacy wrote in its award entry. "Our functional showroom offers clients the ability to touch, feel, and operate the product before they make the decision to purchase."
The sales approach emphasizes comfort and familiarity. There's a play area where kids can go while their parents stroll through the displays, sipping lattes whipped up on site. Wi-Fi is available for all to use, and local charity groups are as welcome as interior designers and contractors to use the conference room upstairs.
"[Customers] mention that we have what they would expect to see in large metropolitan areas," Legacy's entry said.
Owner and president Tom Pierro says the sales process is intense. "We're working with people for three to six months on every sale," he tells ProSales in an interview. "I'm actually working on four doors now, and it's taking me all day to do it, given all the things going on."
As a specialty dealer, Legacy leaves studs and other framing materials to the two lumberyards in town. And while it strives to meet all budgets, the company definitely focuses on upscale goods.
- Millard Lumber / Curves Ahead
- Boyce Lumber / Open House
- TW Perry / Visionaries
- Ferguson Enterprises / Sales Conductor
- Mathew Hall Lumber / From Dull to Dynamic
- American Lumber / Give 'Em What They Want
- Jackson Kitchen Designs / Simply Complicated
- Legacy Building Specialties / Variety Show
- ProBuild / Going All Out For Going Green
- Concord Lumber / Teach Them and They Will Come
- Hayward Lumber / T to 1,000
To Pierro, the key to success in his community is being diverse and providing worthwhile service. "If a client walks in and needs something, we should be able to help them out," he says. "Being able to support all those products has helped us be successful."
Legacy also fights a problem endemic to small-town businesses in resort communities. "What really does the trick for us is consistency," Pierro says. "Besides being diverse, we're consistent with our hours. A lot of businesses around us take off for lunch, or take off for the week because they're going on vacation. We're here at 7:30 a.m., and you can rest assured you'll see us until 6 p.m."
That's one more reason Legacy's customers don't need to drive to Denver to buy a quality door.
