Strategies Spring 2026_No Crops

CUSTOMER PROFILE

“We wanted a place where contractors could bring homeowners to see doors, windows, siding and roofing, not just pictures, but actual products.”

“We had orders lined up,” he says. “We just needed a place to put material and load trucks. Kirbyville gave us that.” Even in the early days, Blish-Mize was more than a distributor. Phelps leaned on Elias for product guidance, ordering strategy and advice on how to succeed. The new Branson West location opened at the end of September 2025, shifting the business goal from a warehouse-first model to a showroom-focused operation. “We wanted a place where contractors could bring homeowners to see doors, windows, siding and roofing,” Phelps says. “Not just pictures, but actual products.” The new store offers deeper selections Milwaukee and DeWalt tools, collated nails and Simpson structural products. It’s still a focused assortment shaped by what Phelps knows sells. “We know what we’re good at,” he says. “We’re a hardline contractor store and have brought in the products our customers use every day.” Traffic picked up quickly. The new location attracts custom home clients and contractors who couldn’t easily reach the Kirbyville store. Phelps says the change was obvious within weeks. Blish-Mize Shaped the Expansion The expansion process circled back to Blish-Mize. Before placing a single order, Phelps sat down with Elias, his longtime sales rep. He marked the catalog with the lines he wanted, and she reviewed it with him. “I went through the entire catalog and marked what I wanted,” he says. “She looked at it and said, ‘Tommy, here’s what you’re missing.’ She’s done this a long time. When she tells you something, you listen.” The team at Blish-Mize helped refine the layout, build the assortments and set the store. Uhrmacher spent time on-site talking through product performance and future needs. Phelps says that type of engagement is a major reason he never looked for another distributor. “Clay cares about what happens in your store,” Phelps says. “You don’t get that everywhere.” across daily contractor categories, including fasteners, Diablo blades,

—Tom Phelps, 417 Lumber

The expanded showroom gives contractors and homeowners hands-on access to the products 417 Lumber recommends.

Hardlines Strategies • Spring 2026 21