Fontanelle's lumber yard welcomes new general manager

For the first time in a long time, Farmers Lumber Company has a new face in the general manager’s seat.

Rick Mericle of rural Wiota began as leader of the farmer-owned lumber yard cooperative Monday, Feb. 26.

While Mericle admits he has a lot to learn, he has over 25 years of experience working at stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, and he thinks he has the tools to help Farmers Lumber continue to be successful.

“This challenge was something that, quite honestly, I was ready to undertake,” Mericle said.

While he answers to the board and shareholders of the farmer-owned cooperative lumber yard that is led by President Jordan Groves, there’s no one “looking over my shoulder,” Mericle said. The board trusts he will make right decisions to make more money for the business, and do so efficiently.

Inventory and cost control are two ways this can be accomplished.

“There are vendors this company does not use, but if we started using them we would make more money,” Mericle said. “So, it is all about finding the best prices and passing the best prices onto the customer. If we’re lower in practice, we’re going to sell more stuff.”

While selling more things and remaining competitive in a world where consumers are more willing to drive to the city or buy online is the goal, one way to accomplish this is to keep track of inventory in the most efficient way possible.

That is why Mericle has a goal of pushing Farmers Lumber even more into the 21st century by automating a lot of the inventory processes they have through the use of computers. Soon, he hopes all inventory and work orders will be accounted for and tracked through a computer so items can be found and merchandise re-stocked faster.

Mericle has hopes of working with local contractors more and increasing foot traffic.

Farmers Lumber now carries house packages, which means a home builder can call on Farmers Lumber to get nearly all of the necessary materials required to build a home with one stop.

At a turning point many years ago, Mericle was working in the insurance world and began in a part-time role at Home Depot, which eventually led him to managerial work with the company.

About 10 years ago, Mericle moved back to Iowa, where he met his wife, after he had lived all over the country. Mericle spent time working at Akin Building Center in Atlantic before coming to Farmers Lumber.

“I’m excited to meet those in this area, work for them, make them money and make them happy, and to get prices competitive with the big boxes in the big cities so they don’t have to drive,” Mericle said.