For Blake Brenner, the old sawmill blade that hangs on his office wall at newly minted Brenner Lumber harkens both to the past, when tiny Ellsworth , Wis., (pop. 3,284) was home to two lumberyards and a sawmill, as well as to the future: A rendition of the blade forms the logo for the yard he opened in mid-March.
Considering the Possibility
It’s been two years since the last yard here closed. I had a layoff in the winter with my union job [at Chicago Bridge & Iron] and talked with my dad, now semi-retired from building houses, and some local contractors, who were tired of having no local yard. Working long hours in the union, I wasn’t getting much time with my two girls: Kinsley is 3-½ and Adeline 1-½. We have a lot of entrepreneurs in our family, and I’ve seen the good and bad of it. I’d always figured I’d have my own business.
Taking the Plunge
I was fortunate enough to have a facility [the building on the site outside town on Highway 10 was a storage place for dad Barry’s former business, Brenner Builders], and I spent the winter remodeling it. I put in a couple of offices, a showroom, and a facility for holding lumber. I did a lot of interior work. I have about 4,500 square feet, with lumber storage taking about three-quarters of that. We also have a 2-acre lot attached to the yard for future growth if that becomes necessary.
Counting on Experience
My marketing experience [learned at Chippewa Valley Technical College] really helped me. I have a future brother-in-law who is good with social media, and I’m working on a website. He also designed my logo, which I knew I wanted to incorporate a sawmill blade. I established a point-of-sale system, got estimating software, and am partnering with distributors. My building experience has also helped me tremendously, knowing what to stock for contractors.
Looking to the Future
We currently have three employees, including me. I’d anticipate bringing someone in for another estimating position, then possibly adding a boom truck down the road; we now have two flatbeds and three 1-ton delivery trucks. I could someday see putting in a drive-through storage facility.
