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R.P. Lumber Co. Inc. plans to acquire Guyot Lumber & Hardware, an independently owned retailer of hardware, lumber and building materials in Perryville, Missouri. The transaction, scheduled to close on Nov.1 marks R.P. Lumber’s eighth acquisition this year and its first location in Perry County, Missouri.
“Our family takes a lot of pride in this business, in our people and in Perryville,” says Rick Guyot, co-owner of Guyot Lumber along with his brother Jim Guyot. “When we decided we wanted to transition out of ownership, we knew we wanted our legacy to be inherited by an honest, well-respected peer familiar with the southeast region of Missouri, and I think we’ve found the perfect fit with R.P. Lumber.”
With this acquisition, R.P. Lumber will have 88 total locations with 21 stores in Missouri.
“The Guyot family has built Guyot Lumber into an impeccable hardware and LBM dealer,” says Robert Plummer, president & CEO of R.P. Lumber. “The Guyot family story is similar to our family story and is similar to family stories across our tight-knit industry of independent dealers. They work hard, they take care of their community and they make sure their pro and DIY customers are treated right. We know we can continue to service those customers seamlessly during and after this transition.”
Started by Merlin “Mertz” Guyot as an offshoot of the family construction business several years after returning to Perryville from WWII, the company has continued to grow under the dedicated leadership of Rick and Jim, Merlin’s sons, both of whom joined the business in the 1970s. R.P. Lumber plans to work with the existing team in Perryville, eventually expanding the location’s job-site delivery radius and inventory selection in certain categories.
“I am excited for our employees, and I am excited to get out in the community and introduce our customers to R.P. Lumber,” says Jim Guyot. “We met with several interested parties, but after numerous meetings with the R.P. Lumber team, it became clear this route would be a win-win for everyone.”
