National Hardwood Magazine - August 2023

DAKOTA PREMIUM HARDWOODS

DAKOTA PREMIUM HARDWOODS Continued proven to be durable and replicable. We know how to open and effectively serve new markets. Dakota will also look for acquisition opportunities: but our proven record of Green Fielding effectively will continue to be a focus because if you can do it, and we know we can, it is a more profitable way to grow. It is a lot more work, but it pays off.” With trucks leaving daily to serve Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Bryan/College Station, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley along with Lafayette, LA and Tulsa, OK, Mazzarella said the experience level and expertise are also key. “We provide unsurpassed customer service and with over a century of combined experience in the Hardwood lumber industry, we offer educated purchasing experiences.” Dakota Premium Hardwoods is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). n When Dakota Hardwoods first operation began, it had one location in Waco, and grew quickly to five other cities in Texas. This Hardwood distribution company continues to ride the fast track and now serves multiple markets. For more information visit www.Dakotahardwoods.com. Dakota Hardwoods’ team at their Austin branch stands in front of their sales goal of 5 million by 2025, that they surpassed in 2022. leaves, bringing sunlight into the forest and allowing new, stronger trees to grow. A hundred percent of our products are certified by either the Forestry Stewardship Council or Unifloresta. In addition we have our own Due Care Compliance program, which requires a third-party chain of custody audit from the forest floor to your door.” Sustainability is important to the people at Dakota Premium Hardwoods. All of the products they market are responsibly harvested and manufactured. In an effort to minimize their carbon footprint the operation is outfitted with fuel-efficient vehicles and receives much of its material by rail. “We are continually looking for ways to minimize wood waste, also rendering the freight cost and increasing woods natural resource yields,” White said. Entering the market with an innovative customer experience platform, the operation saw a 30 percent growth rate year-over-year. The Wurth Group of Companies purchased Dakota in November of 2018. The partnership with Wurth has greatly enhanced Dakota’s ability to grow through Green Fielding with the support provided by their organization. With the backing of the Wurth Group, Dakota has seen tremendous sales growth; 2020 – 21.8 percent, 2021 – 38.9 percent, and 2022 – 57.0 percent. Since becoming part of the Wurth Group, Dakota has added 5 locations through Green Fielding (Lafayette, Tulsa, Albuquerque, Ruston and Punta Gorda.) Company CEO Ron Mazzarella said Dakota Hardwoods’ growth can be partially attributed to Green Fielding. “Distributors like Dakota around the country are growing primarily through acquisition and consolidation,” Mazzarella said. “Dakota might be the only distributor growing meaningfully through Green Fielding.” Opening its Dallas branch in November 2014, this location is growing to be its largest operation to date, exceeding million in sales in 2022. In June of 2018, Dakota opened another location in Lafayette, LA. Reaching million in sales, their Tulsa, OK location opened in March 2020. The Albuquerque, NM location opened in 2022. Dakota as a company reached sales of 1.5M in 2022. “Two more branches in 2023 have put us at 11 branches in five states,” Mazzarella explained. When asked what the keys are to Dakota’s continued expansion, Mazzarella said, “The Dakota model has Joel Evans, branch manager of Dakota Hardwoods’ Dallas branch. 22 AUGUST 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry AUGUST 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 23