Nation’s Best continued its busy expansion activity in 2021 with the acquisition of Craft Beaver Home Centers, a three-location company in the Chicago metro area.
“We couldn’t be more honored to count Crafty Beaver among the Nation’s Best family of businesses,” Chris Miller, president and CEO of Nation’s Best, said in a prepared statement. “Since 1934, they’ve established themselves as the go-to source for home improvement products and advice in the Midwest. We are proud to work with the Beres family.”
As part of Nation’s Best’s acquisition strategy, Crafty Beaver will maintain operations under its existing name with its key leadership team overseeing company operations. Nation’s Best will provide strategic and financial support to help achieve optimal growth and profitability, according to the company.
“Our family’s stores have been a part of Chicago for as long as I can remember,” Gary Beres said. “By combining our rich history with Nation’s Best, we’re taking the next right step for our businesses’ continued growth while ensuring a bright future for our long-serving team and our many loyal customers.”
Nation’s Best, founded in 2019, is a member-owner of Do it Best Corp., a U.S. based hardware, lumber, and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry.
Nation’s Best now operates 27 locations across eight states. The company completed several acquisitions in 2020, including its acquisition of Groom & Sons’ and Lambert Lumber in February 2020, its acquisition of five-unit, Bridgeport Building Centers in March 2020, its acquisition of Hall’s Hardware July 2020, its acquisition of two-unit Simms Lumber in October 2020, its acquisition of five-unit Connolly’s Do it Best Hardware & Rental in November 2020. In 2021, the company completed the acquisition of BTU Do it Center, the acquisition Hometown Hardware, the acquisition of Caron Building Center, the acquisitions of Hipp Modern Builders Supply and Panhandle Lumber & Supply, and the acquisitions of Ron’s Lumber & Home Center and Gilmer Lumber.
