Arkadelphia Life 23-1 - 48

WHERE EVERYBODY
KNOWS YOUR NAME
A house isn't a home without family
By: Joel Phelps | Photography: Dero Sanford
F
rom the foundation to the roof and more, one
hardware store in Arkansas offers everything to
build a house, and those who work and shop there
are like family.
Hardman Lumber Company has served Arkadelphia and
the surrounding region for more than 80 years. Jennifer
and Mark Burnham are third-generation owners of this long
standing establishment. Jennifer's grandfather, J.B. Hardman,
founded the company in 1940 in a downtown storefront. The
business was moved to its current Pine Street location in
1973. Ownership of the business was passed down to J.B.'s
children and then grandchildren.
High school sweethearts Mark and Jennifer met in junior
high. Fresh out of high school, Mark became a member of
the Hardman Lumber Company family as a hired hand in
1990, helping customers load in the lumber yard. Mark and
Jennifer went on to marry and are continuing the tradition
of running the family business with the same customerfirst
mindset. ike the first two generations before them, Mark
and Jennifer have maintained a skilled team of employees
48 ARKADELPHIA LIFE 2023
to operate the hardware store. " We have some great people
working here, " says Jennifer. " We call it our Hardman
family. " Store managers Mason Barnes and George Magby
oversee the 40 employees who man the operation while Mark
and Jennifer have busied themselves with expanding the
Hardman brand at two other locations: Hardman Interiors,
located less than a mile down the street, and a third store
they recently purchased in Hot Springs. " We try to take care
of our employees, " says Mark, " they are the lifeline of this
company. "
While all employees are considered part of the Hardman
family, some of them have hardware running through their
veins. Among those employees are the Burnhams' sons,
J.B., and younger twins Josh and Jack, each with college
degrees from local universities. " The boys do everything from
truck deliveries to sales, " Jennifer says. " It's a family affair. "
Customers are also treated like family at Hardman Lumber
Company. " We emphasize a focus on service, " Mark says.
e know  of our customers by their first name.
Customers at Hardman Lumber are greeted with a friendly
Arkadelphia Life 23-1

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