Great Business Partners Make Great Friendships
The Barnum family has consistently been one of Allegheny’s top installers since the early 2000s when we started making hardwood flooring.
Gary & his father, Al Barnum, met Dennis & Jane Hickman at an NWFA expo and quickly realized a similar business philosophy. Quality work, honesty, and family were all very important to them both. They liked our rift and quarter-sawn white oak flooring. Barnums knew to make the greatest floors on earth, they needed to use the best flooring from the best source. That was with AMHF. Business remained strong over the years, and the friendship grew along with it.
Denny & Gary have gone on fishing trips together and always get together at the NWFA expos for dinner and to talk business, Pat & Kathy keep all the orders in line behind the scenes, and the next generation, Amberle, Austin, Jake & Jessica, (all were awarded top 40 under 40 in the Hardwood Floors Magazine in 2017) keep moving things forward.
Interview with Gary Barnum:
QUESTIONS:
How did you and my Denny first meet?
I met Jane at one of their 1st NWFA Conventions on the escalator. I was going down, she was going up, we both had beers in our hand, we cheered. She said come see us at our booth. My father & I stopped by later that day.
What makes Barnum unique in your flooring market?
Family owned, custom wood is our focus. Real wood floors only. In house employees , majority with us for over a decade, no subcontractors. NWFA Active member.
Do you remember the first floor that you did with AMHF?
My father’s home. We used a 3” clear Rift & Quarter White Oak Double Herringbone. WOWZA!
Barnum has been consistently one of our top customers over the last 10 years +. How do you move so much AMHF material?
Our passion for your Rift & Quarter products shine through the minute you walk into our showroom. Its out go to floor in almost any house, versatile, stable & beautiful!
What have been your top 3 reasons for working with AMHF over all these years?
Our long lasting relationship with the Hickman Family. Also, their service & amazing consistent products!
Do you have a favorite floor that you did with our flooring?
It’s hard to pick just one. Herringbone pattern always turns out beautifully!
What flooring do you have in your personal home?
My current home is 4”-8” Long Length Live sawn White Oak. (All Allegheny Mountain hardwood!) We then edge crafted, face scraped & burnished it with hardwax oil.
What’s your favorite Denny Hickman Story?
Fishing in Elfin Cove, Alaska. Denny reeling in a Rock fish from 1,200’ deep, with a cigar in his mouth. I reeled one in too shortly after. We thought we ere going to die from reeling!
“The bitterness of low quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” – Ben Franklin
