Ryan Ringer

#5531 | Member since 1991
Gold Beach, Oregon | 8 locations

Fourth-generation Gold Beach Lumber Yard President Ryan Ringer grew up in the single-location business started by his great-grandparents. He carries on traditions established back then—providing lumber and building materials to their rural communities and always having a pot of coffee on for customers. “On weekends, I’d sweep floors, take out garbage, or ride shotgun on a forklift,” he says. “I loved the equipment and could run a forklift and pull my own jobs by age 12.” After college, he returned to help run the family business. “My dad was a great salesman, but didn’t enjoy the operational side, so he gave me the chance to do that.” Ryan implemented a POS system and inventory control procedures that are now standard in every store.

Overseeing 8 locations today, Ryan is laser-focused on growth through acquisitions and ground-up builds to expand into underserved markets with a broad selection of products. “We’re typically the only place to get lumber, but we’re very home-center-based and carry most everything else,” he says. “We offer a complete experience—whether you’re building a home, changing a lightbulb, or buying toys.” Ryan enjoys forming relationships with those coming in seeking a solution and welcomes the challenge of providing one. “Their last experience is their new expectation, so if we make it a positive one, they’ll keep shopping with us,” he says. “I was given a fantastic foundation to grow, and I absorbed a lot from my dad’s experiences and gained many life lessons. I love the flexibility to make decisions and react quickly—some acquisitions have transpired in a matter of days, which is exciting.” 

Ryan loves the culture of the industry and the Do it Best community. He believes strongly in being a genuine, honest, and respectful person. “That goes personally and professionally,” he says. “The world is much clearer when you’re honest, and things just work better when you treat people with respect.” He enjoys working with and learning from his fellow board members. “They’re phenomenal people with extensive industry knowledge. He adds, “I feel my experiences can benefit members, especially those who are working to grow—I’m a voice for the positives and the challenges. And I’m humbled to have the opportunity to give back to a co-op that’s given me so much.”

At a glance
Area: Southwest Oregon
Store type: Home center and hardware
Market: Rural
Core categories: LBM, lawn & garden, paint, tools
Best advice: The only thing you can control when you wake up each day is your character.
Favorite activity outside of work: Activities with my wife and our three boys; trips to New Zealand

NHPA Young Retailer of the Year (2015)