E.C. Barton and Company

What E.C. Barton and Company does

E.C. Barton & Company is a 140-year-old, 100% employee-owned (ESOP) private retail holding company that operates three building materials banners in the United States. Founded in 1885 at a grocery store in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the company has grown to 126+ retail locations across 19-21 states under the Home Outlet (117+ stores, discount in-stock kitchens, baths, flooring, doors, windows), Barton's (full-service lumber in Arkansas and Southeast Missouri), and Seconds & Surplus (discount building materials in Dallas-Fort Worth, acquired 2022) brands. More than 800 employee 'Partners' participate in the company's ESOP, which became fully employee-owned in 1983 and produces documented multi-decade tenure. The company sells through physical retail, e-commerce with Buy Online Pick-Up In-Store and local delivery in 48 store markets, and a nationwide shipping program launched February 2025.

The technology stack consists of an e-commerce platform across homeoutlet.com and secondsandsurplus.com, online kitchen/bath design services with 3D renderings, and standard point-of-sale and inventory systems managed by an internal IT team. Core differentiators are the 'Guaranteed Lowest Price' commitment, free design services, and specialty programs including Pro Program (3% base discount plus volume discounts for contractors and tradespeople, launched 2022), Military Appreciation (10% discount), Home Outlet Insiders (email/SMS loyalty), and the Spend Less Express Program (special-order brand-name products). The company has no public revenue disclosure, no parent company, no outside equity, and no AI/ML or proprietary technology products.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time retail transactions at physical stores and online, with no subscription or recurring contract layer. Customers are split horizontally across homeowners/DIYers (primary), professional contractors and tradespeople (Pro Program), and house flippers/real estate investors. Geographic reach spans the Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Central U.S., with planned expansion into Nebraska and Illinois in 2026. Marketing relies on social media (Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn), email/SMS (Home Outlet Insiders), community sponsorships (Susan G. Komen, Make-A-Wish, Habitat for Humanity, United Way), and grand opening events.

Name

E.C. Barton and Company

Legal name

E.C. Barton & Company

Website

https://ecbarton.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

E.C. Barton & Company is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) building materials retailer operating 126+ stores across 21 states under the Home Outlet, Barton's, and Seconds & Surplus brands, serving homeowners, DIYers, and professional contractors with a Guaranteed Lowest Price commitment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Home Improvement Retail

NAICS

Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers (449)

SIC

Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores (5531)

akta.pro primary industry

Closeout Home, Furniture & Decor Retail (CRAEAFAI)

Keywords

• Building materials retail
• Home improvement supplies
• Lumber and flooring
• Kitchen and bath renovation
• Employee-owned retailer

Headquarters

HQ city

Jonesboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Building Materials Sales: The company generates revenue through retail sales of building materials including flooring, cabinetry, plumbing, doors, windows, and millwork products. Sales occur through company-owned retail stores under the Home Outlet, Barton's, and Seconds & Surplus brands. Transaction-based revenue model with one-time purchases.
2. E-commerce Sales: Online sales through homeoutlet.com and secondsandsurplus.com. The company launched nationwide shipping in 2025, expanding beyond its physical store footprint. Local delivery options available in 48 store markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

E.C. Barton & Company is the parent organization of three U.S. retail brands (Home Outlet, Barton's, Seconds & Surplus) that sell in-stock and special-order building materials—flooring, kitchen and bath cabinetry, plumbing, doors, windows, and millwork—at a Guaranteed Lowest Price. The company complements its 126+ physical stores with e-commerce featuring Buy Online Pick-Up In-Store, local delivery, complimentary kitchen and bath design services, and a 2025-launched nationwide shipping program for out-of-footprint customers.

Product overview

E.C. Barton & Company operates as a parent organization for three distinct retail brands under employee ownership. Barton’s is a full-service lumber division serving Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. Home Outlet is a discount building materials retail chain offering in-stock kitchen, bath, flooring, door, and window products at the Guaranteed Lowest Price with complimentary design services and the Spend Less Express Program for special-order products. Seconds & Surplus is a Texas-based discount building materials retailer acquired in 2022, offering cabinetry, doors, flooring, plumbing, and millwork. Additional programs include the Home Outlet Pro Program for professional contractors (3% discount plus volume discounts), Military Appreciation Program (10% discount), and a Nationwide Shipping Program launched in 2025. The company operates 126+ locations across 21 states with 800+ employee Partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Home Outlet: Building materials retailer supplying homeowners/DIYers and professionals with expert advice and excellent customer service. Over 100 Home Outlet stores carry in-stock, quality kitchens, baths, flooring, windows, doors and more at the Guaranteed Lowest Price. Began as Grossman's Bargain Outlet in the Northeast and Surplus Warehouse in the Southeast, united under the name Home Outlet in 2019.
• Barton's
• Seconds & Surplus

Products and services

• Home Outlet Discount building materials retailer offering in-stock kitchens, baths, flooring, doors, and windows at Guaranteed Lowest Price across 117+ Home Outlet stores in 19 states, with complimentary design services and the Spend Less Express Program for brand-name products. Serves homeowners, DIY consumers, contractors, and property managers nationwide through stores plus an e-commerce site with BOPIS, local delivery, and 2025-launched nationwide shipping.
• Barton's Full-service lumber division serving Arkansas and Southeast Missouri, providing homeowners and professionals with everything needed to build or remodel — from framing to shingles and roofing.
• Seconds & Surplus Value-driven discount building materials retailer based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, dedicated to providing quality cabinetry, doors, flooring, plumbing, and millwork products at discount prices. Operating in Texas since 1987 and acquired by E.C. Barton in 2022.
• Home Outlet Pro Program Loyalty and discount program for professional trade buyers—contractors, handymen, restoration companies, realtors, investors, landlords, and property management companies—offering 3% everyday savings plus volume discounts with no membership fees across Home Outlet's building materials assortment.
• Nationwide Shipping Program Nationwide shipping service for Home Outlet building materials, launched February 2025 to extend the brand's reach beyond its 117+ physical store markets to homeowners and contractors across the United States, with new products continuously added to the program.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Arkansas Children’sminorOthers · 1 March 2023E.C. Barton & Company formalized a $45,000 pledge to Arkansas Children’s to aid in improving healthcare for children in Arkansas. The partnership aligns with the company’s headquarters location in Jonesboro and significant employee partner base in Arkansas.
• Susan G. KomenminorOthersCompany sponsors Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure event in Jonesboro, AR. Partners participate in fundraising activities including the Pink Pasta Party and race day events.
• Make-A-WishminorOthersE.C. Barton & Company proudly supports Make-A-Wish foundation as part of community outreach. Employees participate in fundraising activities for the organization.
• Habitat for HumanityminorOthersCompany supports Habitat for Humanity as part of community giving initiatives focused on housing and helping those in need.
• United WayminorOthersE.C. Barton & Company participates in United Way Day of Caring in Jonesboro, AR. Partners volunteer for community service projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves26 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Builders FirstSource: Largest US supplier of building materials to professional homebuilders, including lumber, millwork, and components. Comparable to E.C. Barton's pro-facing business and Barton's lumber division, though focused upstream on production builders rather than retail remodelers.
• Lowe's Companies: Second-largest US home improvement retailer serving both DIY and pro customers. Comparable in product mix (flooring, cabinetry, plumbing, doors, windows) and target segments; represents direct competitive pressure on E.C. Barton's markets and pricing position.
• ABC Supply Co. Largest wholesale distributor of roofing, siding, windows, and exterior building products in North America. Comparable to E.C. Barton in serving professional contractors with building materials, though operates a wholesale rather than retail model.
• The Home Depot: Largest US home improvement retailer with thousands of stores nationwide and a dominant pro customer program. Comparable to E.C. Barton in product categories and customer base, but vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint create a competitive ceiling on E.C. Barton's pricing and assortment.

Direct peers

• Ollie's Bargain Outlet: Public closeout retailer offering discounted brand-name merchandise including home goods. Comparable to E.C. Barton's discount/value positioning and surplus/closeout sourcing model, though with broader general merchandise focus and similar regional expansion strategy.
• Menard Inc. Private, family-owned home improvement retailer primarily serving the Midwest and South. Comparable to E.C. Barton as a private, non-publicly-traded home improvement chain with strong regional density and similar product categories (lumber, building materials, home goods).
• 84 Lumber: Private, privately-held lumber and building materials dealer serving professional contractors and homeowners across the US. Comparable to Barton's division as a lumber-focused operator with strong pro relationships and similar regional store model.

Regional players

• US LBM: Private, PE-backed distributor of specialty building materials to professional builders and remodelers across the US. Comparable to E.C. Barton's pro-facing building materials business and Barton's lumber operations as a private building materials operator with regional density.

Emerging players

• At Home Group: Specialty retailer of home decor and furniture at value prices across ~250 stores. Comparable to E.C. Barton in the home-related discount/value positioning, though focused on decor and furnishings rather than building materials and remodeling.
• Big Lots: Closeout retailer selling discounted general merchandise including furniture, home goods, and seasonal items. Comparable to E.C. Barton in the closeout/discount retail model and value-conscious customer base, though with broader general merchandise assortment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ecbartoncompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/ECBartonCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/e.c.-barton-&-company
• Xx.com/ecbarton_co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about E.C. Barton and Company