HIGHLAND HARDWOODS
HIGHLAND HARDWOODS Continued from page 21 storage warehouses, and an office; total square footage of the operation is estimated at 55,000. “The new facilities gave us the ability to increase our on-site inventory of Hardwoods,” Lang explained. “We have since paved the entire yard, which ensures that all of our lumber and wood products are handled and stored in a dry, dirt and dust-free environment.” Highland Hardwoods continued to expand and add new specialty Hardwoods to its inventory mix. “In addition to lumber, we carry a modest amount of Hardwood plywood and solid Hardwood decking,” Lang said. “The most noticeable change has taken place in our flooring showroom. We display several flooring sample racks featuring the very best flooring brands available. Our customers really appreciated that addition.” When asked what sets his operation apart from his friendly competitors, Lang said he attributes his success to a combination of consistent high quality Hardwood products and a knowledgeable, experienced staff. “Consistent quality brings consistent business,” he explained. “We’re selling the very highest-end Hardwood lumber to the very highest-end manufacturers in business today. These customers need uniform, consistent quality every single time. When they order from us, they know that they will get the lumber on time and it’s going to be exactly what they want, the way they want it. That is our trademark!” He continued, “Consistent high quality is the key to everything that we do here. Our goal is to always come through for our customers by knowing and understanding their needs. We ask a lot of questions to make sure that every detail is covered, whether it’s a color spec or a length spec, we find that information out and make 100 percent sure that we meet those specifications. It’s all part of our customized approach that has served us well.” Lang said many of Highland Hardwoods’ employees are well-seasoned in the Hardwood lumber industry. “We have members on our team that have been in this business for 30 to 40 years or more. In some cases, they’ve spent most or all of those years with us here at Highland. When you work in the industry for that amount of time, Highland products are handled and stored in a dry, dirt and dust-free environment. Highland Hardwoods employee Jon Rankin grades lumber. Hardwood species available include White Ash, Yellow and Red Birch, Cherry, Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Basswood, Yellow Poplar, Black Walnut, Curly and Birdseye Maple, Hickory, Mahogany and Exotics. 34 JUNE 2020 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE
Highland Hardwoods outgrew its original location and moved to this nine-acre site in Brentwood, NH in 1997. you gain knowledge and experience that is invaluable. I honestly believe that is our greatest strength, and why our customers come to us for their lumber needs,” he commented. Key employees include General Manager Joe MacAdams, 28 years; Sales Manager Bruce Stevens, 33 years; Bookkeeper Brad Stevens, 31 years; Traffic Manager Lee Potvin, 27 years; and Inventory Control and Human Resources Manager Katherine Bohan, 21 years of service. “Many of our employees have chosen Highland Hardwoods as a long-term career,” Lang said. “That is something we take great pride in. Our staff is like family to my wife Wendy and me.” In this age of Google, Twitter, Facebook and online sales, companies are stringently placed under the microscope and rated as good as their last review. Highland Hardwoods has an outstanding review rate and a 4.9 star average. “All of the staff is easy to find and talk to, as well as the fact that they are very nice and willing to help you with anything they can! Always a great experience here,” said one customer. “I have been shopping here for decades. Simply the best place I've ever found for Hardwoods. They seem to have almost everything. Prices are also excellent,” another customer noted. Customers agree that Highland Hardwoods is the place to go for knowledgeable advice and a consistent quality product. One Google reviewer wrote, “Love this place! Best selection of wood around. The staff are always great and very knowledgeable.” Another commented, “Excellent selection of Hardwood and a very helpful staff! It's a wood heaven for any woodworker.” A native of New Hampshire, Lang is also an award-winning songwriter. Lang offers, “The lumber business is my career, songwriting is my passion.” Lang has become well-known in the bluegrass music community and beyond. With more than 90 song cuts to his credit, the number keeps growing each year. To date, he has had six studio albums released, which have all featured original Rick Lang compositions. Lang’s 2016 release, “That’s What I Love About Christmas,” won an award for Christmas Song Of The Year by the International Music and Entertainment Association. In March 2018, Lang’s concept album, “The Undertow,” was launched. Since he has lived near the New Hampshire coastline all of his life, it is not surprising that several of his original songs have ocean themes and settings. In November of that same year, Lang released his second all-gospel album, “Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout” on the Billy Blue Records label. In September 2019 the title cut received an International Bluegrass Music Association Award for Gospel Song Of The Year. Two months later, the full album “Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout” was nominated for a Grammy Award. Lang also established a songwriting scholarship in the spring of 2018 at East Tennessee State University for students attending the Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music program. 2020 marks Lang’s 50th year in the Hardwood lumber industry. He graduated from the Thompson School of Applied Science (University of New Hampshire) in 1969 receiving a degree in Forestry. He attended the NHLA Grading Course in Memphis that same year and graduated second in his class. Lang served for many years as secretary-treasurer and president of the New England Lumbermen’s Association. In 2012 he and his wife Wendy established an annual scholarship at UNH for students in the TSAS Forestry program. Since founding Highland, the couple has been very involved in outreach in the area. They received a high honor when Business NH Magazine named Highland Hardwoods “Retail/Wholesale Business of the Year” in 2016. Lang and his wife have two daughters, three granddaughters and reside in Kingston, NH. n For more information about Highland Hardwoods visit www.highlandhardwoods.com and for more information about Rick Lang’s music visit www.ricklangmusic.com. JUNE 2020 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 35
