The assets of the struggling business that had been owned by local businessman Duncan Shaw have been purchased from a trustee.
Shaw’s company, Sherwood Building Supplies Ltd., has filed for bankruptcy.
Jillian Sexton is optimistic she can make the store flourish under her new watch.
“I think that there’s a huge potential here,’’ she says.
“I’m a big believer in small business…I think small businesses have a lot of strengths that big box stores don’t have.’’
While she is only 30, Sexton has spent half her life in the building supply business.
She started working in her father’s store in Stellarton, N.S., at age 15 sweeping floors and cleaning racks.
For the past seven years, Sexton has been the chief operating officer of two Nova Scotia stores: Hector Building Supplies in Stellarton and Pictou.
Now she will be focusing on breathing new life into what was Sherwood BMR for about the past eight years.
“I’m thrilled,’’ she says.
“I wanted a third store for a long time and I think this is a great fit.’’
Sexton has a staff of 18 – all employees that worked for Sherwood BMR – but she hopes to hire more if the store does well.
“I think the biggest challenge is bringing people back in the door,’’ she says.
George Young has worked in this location on Mount Edward Road under a string of businesses: Pre-Built Homes; Sherwood Do It Centre; Sherwood Tim-BR Mart and Sherwood BMR.
“The last year was pretty nasty – it was just difficult getting supplies,’’ he says.
“That’s not an issue anymore.’’
Sherwood Timber Mart has the buying power of Timber Mart, which is the largest national member-owned building supply-buying group in Canada.
“Everybody is happy – happy to have a job and happy to be working with a company we have a future with,’’ says Young.
“We’re looking forward to our old customers and some new customers to buy our products.’’
Sexton is determined to make Sherwood Timber Mart succeed.
She has rented a house in Charlottetown and plans to be here for at least the summer to get the business turned around.
“It’s my utmost focus right now,’’ she says.
“I think it’s going to be an exciting few months.’’
