Fowler & Peth Company History

Take two investors with $2,000 each and one man with a car and an idea, put them together and what do you get? In 1948 this combination produced Fowler & Peth, a company that has successfully endured revolutionary changes in the marketplace since its inception.

More than 50 years ago, William Peth traveled the roads of the Midwestern states selling treated fence posts. During his travels, he struck up a friendship with a customer of his, Herb Fowler, who recruited Peth and another friend, C. Forrest Perdue, to start up a wholesale lumber business. This concept appealed to Peth, who loved the idea of working for himself. Perdue and Fowler contributed the necessary start-up money, while Peth, lacking funds, contributed his car and his considerable talent for making the sale. Thus, Fowler & Peth came into existence in Cheyenne in 1948. The men had discovered a novel niche in the market, becoming the only full-line wholesalers of building materials who concentrated on the tri-state area (Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado). This focus led to Fowler & Peth's early prosperity, a time during which the metropolitan Denver niche was serviced by other companies in the business.

In the late 50s and early 60s, the lumber industry underwent an enormous change, one that would cause the company to shift gears. Large forest products companies started to enter the distribution business, threatening independent distributors like Fowler & Peth. In response, Bill Peth redefined his business, narrowing the company's focus to roofing distribution and moving its headquarters to Denver. This move allowed Fowler & Peth to successfully recapture a niche. The company set itself apart by introducing rooftop loading (placing roofing materials on the customer's roof) to the region. By providing this, as well as other new services to consumers of roofing and related products, the company success-fully positioned itself to grow and open new branches throughout the trade area.

The relative lack of competition in the 60s gave way to a revolution in the roofing business in the 70s. By that time Fowler & Peth's success had inevitably led to the opening of copycat competitors in the Denver marketplace. Due to the energy crisis of the early 70s, the price of asphalt, the major component in roofing products of the day, sky-rocketed and many new products entered the marketplace. Once again, the company, as well as the industry in general, needed to reinvent itself.

Recognizing this, Fowler & Peth changed the focus of all its existing branches — Denver, Cheyenne and Casper — restricting the company's business to the distribution of roofing and related products. The branches, which enabled Fowler & Peth to provide enhanced services throughout the entire trade area, had by then proved to be a successful maneuver. This decade also saw the addition of Bill Peth's sons to the company. Eric ("Ric") Peth joined in 1975 as the branch manager in Casper, and younger son, Kurt, joined in 1979 as the branch manager in Cheyenne.

In 1984 Fowler & Peth joined Building Suppliers Corporation (BSC). Incorporated in 1982, BSC is a cooperative organization of leading roofing and construction material wholesale distributors with locations in 46 states and four Canadian provinces. Annual sales for BSC total up in excess of $2.2 billion. BSC primarily focuses on preparing to meet future trends in a positive manner, on maximizing the role of the distributor and on providing new, value-added services by integrating user-friendly technology.

In light of such goals, BSC strives to improve its member companies by offering training and education for all levels of their individual organizations. In addition, BSC membership enhances business relationships with material suppliers by providing a variety of forums for communication and cooperation. By combining the national focus and enhanced expertise of a BSC member with the flexibility and independent vitality of a regional, family-owned organization, Fowler & Peth is uniquely positioned to be the supplier of choice to all consumers of roofing and related building materials.

During the 80s and 90s, Fowler & Peth's success continued as it addressed the changing needs of the market. Three new branches opened: Colorado Springs in 1984, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 1996 and Rifle, Colorado, in 1997.  The continued growth of Colorado’s western slope added two more branches in Montrose and Granby, Colorado.  Since 2000 the company has experienced success within this branch network which exists today.

During the last several years the company has emphasized employee training.  A substantial investment has resulted in a superbly trained sales force and management team.  Safety training is ongoing and execution of that training is monitored by dedicated safety and compliance employees.

2010 saw a complete upgrade to the technology side of the business.  A disaster recovery plan, including the necessary hardware, was upgraded and put in place.  New operating software was phased in over an eighteen month training and implementation program.  The company is ready to continue its growth and improvement with these new tools in place.

The economic problems of the last three years have not slowed the company’s progress.  Despite the challenges, Fowler & Peth has outperformed its peer group in both sales and profitability.  We look forward to the future and intend to continue to build on our rich history.