The Grit Blueprint Podcast
Building Legacy: A Century of Lumber and Leadership with Chip Cofer of Cofer Brothers
August 12, 2025 Length: 26 min Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
On The Grit Blueprint Podcast, Chip Cofer talks with Stefanie Couch about a century of lumber and leadership at Cofer Brothers, his family's lumberyard and building materials business in Tucker, Georgia. He explains how balancing tradition with innovation helps the business survive downturns and build community.
About This Episode.
Chip Cofer of Cofer Brothers Inc. shares the remarkable 105-year journey of his family's lumberyard and building materials business in Tucker, Georgia. His insights reveal how balancing tradition with innovation creates a business that survives economic downturns while building deep community connections.
- • Founded in 1919, evolved from dry goods to building materials
- • Leadership philosophy centered on setting examples and treating everyone with respect
- • Survived 2009 housing crash by pivoting to movie industry supply
- • Developed "three-legged stool" model balancing builder, retail, and specialty business
- • Transformed sales approach during COVID from counters to desks, improving customer experience
- • Prioritizes vendor relationships for mutual support during challenging times
- • Never laid off employees for slow business, even during worst economic downturns
- • Currently transitioning to fourth generation of family leadership
- • Company culture described as therapeutic and family-like
- • Success built on competitive pricing balanced with superior knowledge and service
Key Takeaways.
- Founded in 1919, Cofer Brothers evolved from dry goods to building materials and is now transitioning to its fourth generation of family leadership.
- The company survived the 2009 housing crash by pivoting to supply the movie industry.
- A three-legged stool model balances the builder, retail, and specialty sides of the business.
- During COVID, the sales approach moved from counters to desks, which improved the customer experience.
- Cofer Brothers has never laid off employees for slow business, even during the worst economic downturns.
Questions and Answers.
When was Cofer Brothers founded?
Cofer Brothers, a lumberyard and building materials business in Tucker, Georgia, was founded in 1919 and evolved from dry goods to building materials. On The Grit Blueprint Podcast, Chip Cofer shares how the family business is now transitioning to its fourth generation of leadership.
How did Cofer Brothers survive the 2009 housing crash?
The company pivoted to supplying the movie industry. Chip Cofer also shares that Cofer Brothers has never laid off employees for slow business, even during the worst economic downturns.
What is the Cofer Brothers three-legged stool model?
It is the model Cofer Brothers developed to balance its builder, retail, and specialty business. The company's success is built on competitive pricing balanced with superior knowledge and service.
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