New warehouse to expedite service
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
HOULTON — S.W. Collins is expanding its operation by building a drive-through warehouse behind its Bangor Street location. The new structure will house building materials while enabling sales associates to speed up customer service, according to Scott Dionne, branch manager.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
EXPANSION — Scott Dionne, left, Houlton branch manager of S.W. Collins looks over the area where the company’s new drive-through warehouse will be located behind the store on Bangor Street. Barry Dow, owner of BD Concrete, right, says the work of “pouring footers for the base for concrete walls is going good.”
The half-million dollar-plus project, similar to Collins’ setup in Presque Isle and Caribou, Dionne said, is scheduled to be completely functional by spring and will expedite sales and service. “Essentially we came in and completely remodeled the store. The second step is taking care of outside storage,” said Dionne.
“It will allow us to have everything in one spot. If someone comes to buy something, you want to go in, load it and get them on their way so that they’re not spending a half-hour at the lumberyard. A lot of contractors don’t have that kind of time. They need to get to the job site as quickly as they can,” explained Dionne.
The 105-foot by 210-foot warehouse will have a 10-foot overhang for bulk storage. “Within the warehouse you’ll have your lumber, siding and pine. Some types of insulation will be in there and your decking. Everything will be under cover and completely organized. So you pull in, everything is right where it needs to be. You get loaded, you drive through and you drive out,” Dionne said. 
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
UNDER CONSTRUCTION — Behind the S.W. Collins store in Houlton, construction has begun on a new 105-foot by 210-foot warehouse that will enable customers to drive through and pick up construction supplies. The project is planned to be fully operational by spring.
For customers the planned warehouse means products will more than likely be in stock according to Dionne. In one example, he said: “If you need 100 sheets of a special plywood, we may only have 50 now.” With the new warehouse configuration, Dionne says the inventory will be deeper and customers won’t have to wait for a transfer of products from Presque Isle which sometimes happens now. And, they will be protected from inclement weather.
However, he emphasized one thing that won’t change — customer service from an experienced sales staff. “Without a doubt they’re excellent. [Store Manager] Greg Fitz[patrick] comes with 40-plus years experience. The staff is the greatest asset we have in Houlton. We’re certainly building the store and the warehouse around the employees who understand the importance of good customer service.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
CUSTOMER SERVICE IS KEY — S.W. Collins Store manager Gregory Fitzpatrick, left, with sales associates Chris Putnam and Alan Duff are among the reasons Houlton Branch Manager Scott Dionne says “the staff is the greatest asset we have in Houlton.”
