ABC bought another regional chain

Siding World had 17 locations, mostly in southern Michigan, but also in Northern Ohio and Indiana. They are now ABC branches. It will be interesting to see if the service and prices remain the same. I think they will.

6 independents and 7 chains in a 20 mile radius. 3 of the independents have 2 locations. There use to be more independents as they retired, they closed.

I have 8 different chains and 2 independent in a 30 mile radius, 8 of those are minutes from my house. Same pie but the slices get smaller.

The major roofing suppliers here are ABC, Heely Brown, Roofers Mart, Gulfside Supply, SRS, and RSG.

Then there are a few local lumber yards that stock a good deal of roofing. Shaw's, Cash and Carry and 84 lumber.

Add to that 6 Home Depot's and 9 Lowe's.

I just cut with the hatchets too, but I know the one you are talking about. It is red and has the "handle" that will protect your knuckles as you cut. pretty neat!

I know, I told you about the magnetic hatchet a while back and you said you'd have to check in to what your cousins were up to! :laugh:

That's very cool by the way. My Dad still swears by the AJC hatchet and thinks it's pretty damn neat that I talk to you online. I, however, use the AJC hook blade holder(name??), but can't convince him to switch.

Clover, My grandfather Anthony Joseph Crookston (AJC) invented the AJC hatchet and my Uncle bought the company about 45 years ago. my cousins still make the hatchets and other stuff and run the business. I guess they are sold at most of the roofing supply places.

A roofersmart moved in 25 minutes from me about 2 years ago. I get all my low slope stuff there and have found several other products I'd never seen before. When they first moved in I went in there and nerded out for about an hour. That's when I discovered the AJC magnetic hatchet.

I buy the majority of my stuff at a locally owned lumberyard. I could pay $8/sq less down the road but I don't. These guys throw my name around quite a bit. If I voice my opinion about not liking a product, it's normally off the shelves or something else is available for me. This includes entire supply lines(sorry Tamko)

Big box stores in the next town over as well. I love living in the country, but I also like the growing towns near me.

4 plus ABC here. Plus the big boxes plus the lumber yard.

There were 4 different suppliers here in Kalamazoo about a month ago. 1 shut down about then, ABC bought out Siding world and that makes two left. I have never really done anything with the fourth one ( the one that makes it two). How many of you guys have a lot of choices as far as where you get your materials? How many have only 1? Just curious.