Investor Profile - Finewood Flooring and Lumber Ltd.
Family Owned Business a Competitive Force
What began as a sole proprietorship for Peter Christiano in 1982 has since grown into a family operated business with international ties. Christiano, a hobby woodworker from New England, recognized the value of hardwood that was then being used to produce items of lower value rather than used as high quality cabinet wood and flooring.
Christiano also realized that there was a lack of kiln dried hardwood boards in Atlantic Canada. With that realization Christiano began Finewood Flooring and Lumber Limited in Middle River, Nova Scotia.
By converting local and imported hardwoods into a wide range of finished hardwood building materials Finewood Flooring became a competitive force in the hardwood market. They now employ 16 people and operate five days a week.
“Timber trading has a rich worldwide history and this is an opportunity to create a high value market for the hardwoods of Cape Breton,” said Candace Christiano. “By using Cape Breton hardwoods we are hopefully also encouraging silvaculture operations to increase the hardwood component of the forest.”
The Christiano’s also pride themselves on being an eco-friendly company. They even sell their wood waste to a local pulp and paper mill, to ensure that nothing goes to waste. In 2006 they were profiled by Dalhousie University’s Eco Efficiency Centre as an Eco Efficiency Success Story.
On being a member of the Cape Breton Partnership Candace said “Small to medium business in rural areas share many challenges and opportunities. There is a very real value in a united lobbying voice. There is always value in sharing anecdotes and experiences.”
For product information please visit the Finewood Flooring and Lumber Ltd. website at www.finewoodflooring.ca.
