Mid-State Lumber Corp.

Mid-State Lumber Corp. (MSL) is a family company through and through. Bernie Bernstein founded the company in 1976 and brothers David, Gary and Kenneth took over during the 1980s. The brothers helped grow the company into one of the Northeast’s most reliable building material suppliers. The company supports its customers by strategically placing distribution centers across the Mid-Atlantic states to keep prices competitive and ensure deliveries arrive on time.

Throughout the company’s 37 years in the industry, the MSL team has built longstanding relationships by simply providing the kind of customer service that customers can’t help but tell others about. “I didn’t officially join the company until 1984, but we have all been working here since we were kids,” admits Kenneth Bernstein, principal of MSL. Having literally grown up in the business, Kenneth witnessed the company’s expansion from just one location in Branchburg, N.J., to its current standing as a full-service wholesale building product distributor with additional locations in Kingston, Pa., and Warwick, N.Y.

The company now maintains a number of additional reload centers across the Eastern Seaboard to keep inventories up-to-date for dealers ready to buy. All three MSL locations are rail accessible and the company also operates a fleet of flatbed trucks to zip deliveries over to customers. MSL most recently expanded its delivery service to Massachusetts; with the opening of a new distribution center in New England right over the horizon MSL can now fully service dealers across the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

Nimble Lumber Specialists

The company has always insisted stocking up on quality products from the industry’s most respected and recognizable manufacturers. The company’s lumber selections spans traditional items like pine, Douglas fir, eastern cedar, western red cedar, ipe and dark red meranti, many of which are sourced from custody-certified suppliers. MSL selection runs the gamut of flooring, decking, siding, shingles, lumber, stair parts, subflooring and framing timber. The company has also expanded its focus to include newer products designed and manufactured with state-of-the-art technologies and materials that push the boundaries of durability and ease of upkeep. The company sells Royal PVC products, decking and railing from Trex and Tamko building products, which are manufactured using a high-definition natural wood pattern for a low sheen and ultimate scratch resistance. The products come standard with a 20-year warranty and need little more attention than a quick rinse every now and again.

New products are always coming to market and the company recently launched a video on its website to keep customers informed, hosted by Sandy the Tool Girl. The video also highlights the high-performance capabilities of products like Windstorm Wall sheathing and James Hardie Color Plus Siding products that keep homes wind- and watertight for decades to come. “We have really expanded our focus to include a variety of alternative products over the years as consumer tastes change,” says Kenneth.

Recent inclusions have focused on ease of installation and cost effectiveness as MSL’s contracting partners strive to stay ahead of tight turnaround schedules without cutting corners on quality.

Plank by Plank, Step by Step

A continual influx of new products also result in leftover lots, and MSL has opted to reduce waste and save clients even more money by selling discontinued and overstocked products at a clearance price online. MSL launched OverstockLumber.com recently to give customers a chance to pick up products at up to 50-percent savings that are in perfect conditions, merely the result in manufacturing changes, surpluses or discontinuations.

The Bernstein family guarantees all of its products meet the MSL standard by never selling seconds or irregular products, so clients rest easy that savings don’t come with a hidden cost. MSL also launched an online inventory service on its website to give customers around the clock access to all of MSL’s products. The company is always on hand to field questions by phone during normal business hours as well, but the extra ability to place orders at any hour ensures clients can prepare for unforeseen circumstances and last-minute requests.

The Bernsteins purchased a stair manufacturer, Valley Stair and Rail (VSR), in October 2005, which has been open since Nov. 1, 2006. VSR is a manufacturer and wholesale distributor of distinctive wood stairs, stair components and specialty railings located in Mertztown, Pa., where it rests in the center of the state’s Lehigh Valley, where VSR shares the same rich history of manufacturing and craftsmanship as the industrious region. MSL shares the same customer base and same dedication to service and quality as VSR, making a logical union. VSR has built an immediate reputation for the finest quality stairs and components available to the market. By combining the rich history of quality manufacturing with constant innovations VSR is a top choice for wood stair, railing and stair component programs, make it a perfect fit for MSL.

The future looks bright for MSL. “We’re definitely seeing things getting better and we’re looking forward to our new opportunities in New England,” says Kenneth. Construction activity closer to home hasn’t been bad for the team, either; the team recently supplied materials via a MSL dealer to a major boardwalk construction project in New Jersey. MSL’s new distribution center will open doors for MSL’s complete entrance into the New England market, and the company’s thorough knowledge and longevity will ensure that dealers confidently return for more. The addition of new digital platforms for clients to engage with the innovative and helpful team also ensures Mid-State Lumber Corp. continues to deliver the quality of reliable service that the Bernstein family can be proud of for generations to come.