ABOUT TOTEM Our Strategic Location Totem Lumber & Supply is one of two operating divisions of parent company Industrial & Wholesale Lumber.  Located at 4401 N. 25th Avenue in Schiller Park, Illinois. Totem and the IWL Corporate offices are conveniently situated between Lawrence Avenue to the north and Irving Park Road to the south. Totem’s fleet of delivery trucks has easy access to the largest interchange of interstate roadway in the Chicago area, including I-90, I-290 and I-294, making deliveries to your locations fast and efficient.  Our sister lumberyard, also known as Industrial & Wholesale Lumber, is located just southeast of Totem at 4019 Rose Street. Who We Are Totem's roots go back to the 1850’s when the company, then known as Reitz Lumber Company, was founded by John Augustus Reitz, the “lumber baron” of the Midwest, who built his reputation by milling more lumber than anyone in the country. In 1958, facing hard times and increasing competition, Reitz Lumber was taken over by an ambitious 28-year-old employee named John A. Kathrein.  John renamed the company Industrial & Wholesale Lumber and created the Totem division to supply Chicago lumber and construction materials to professional builders. Until his death in 1999, John devoted his life to making Totem Lumber & Supply a world class commercial, industrial and residential lumber and construction supply company. Today, Totem Lumber & Supply is run by Mr. Kathrein’s son, John R. Kathrein, a man who literally grew up in the business and worked first hand at virtually every position in every department.  John’s “ground-on-up” experience has continued to sharpen the focus and functionality of Totem, as well as our business philosophy: “On a daily basis, our number one goal is to become our customers’ preferred supplier of choice. Few companies have been as fortunate to have as loyal a customer base as Totem.  One big reason is that in a day and age when good old fashioned customer service is becoming extinct, Totem continues to hold steadfast to the notion.” The Totem Difference - A Perfect 10! All lumberyards are not created equal.  Totem has been careful to not become distracted by the hype and superficiality of the big box stores.  Instead, we’ve quietly gone about meeting the needs of thousands of area tradesmen who demand fast and reliable customer assistance and “Pro-Grade” products, offered at fair and competitive prices. In a recent customer satisfaction survey, Totem received an unprecedented “10” rating for service and our ability to listen to and address each individual’s needs.  As John R. Kathrein puts it, “No wonder that for the last several years, Totem has been seeing an influx of customers who make no bones about their dissatisfaction with buying lumber and supplies elsewhere.  As a privately owned company, it’s much easier for Totem to build lasting relationships.  We have no corporate or franchise agendas to worry about, just an honest desire to be partners, not merely suppliers.” What Totem Offers You Quality products and excellent service at competitive prices Professional, experienced personnel who care Large inventory levels so you can get what you want when you need it Orders processed quickly and accurately Accurate quotations and estimates from drawings or prints Fast product searches Detailed transaction records Reliable truck deliveries Who We Service With our emphasis on being “where the Pros shop,” it’s only natural that we are best known for meeting the needs of professional tradesmen such as carpenters, remodelers and builders. We're also well known among industries whose emphasis is on installation and maintenance, such as HVAC, electricians and plumbers.  Because we have dedicated ourselves to commercial, industrial and residential interests, you can be assured we understand your business and what Chicago lumber and supplies you require to remain successful. Totem also serves a wide range of industrial and manufacturing accounts that are customers of our parent company, Industrial & Wholesale Lumber.  IWL is a manufacturer and supplier of wooden shipping crates, skids and pallets.  This relationship with IWL greatly increases Totem Lumber’s capabilities by giving us ready access to non-architectural grades of lumber, including Heat Treated (HT) lumber mandated for use in the manufacture of wooden export shipping containers, skids and pallets.  Many of IWL’s accounts enjoy the convenience of  having construction and maintenance supplies delivered along with their scheduled monthly shipping crate orders. Totem Lumber & Supply has long been the first choice among local broadcast, film production and theater companies.  We’re also seeing an ever-growing number of residential customers who believe that if Totem is good enough for the pros then it’s the best choice for them. It's easy being Green! Totem Lumber & Supply recognizes that more and more customers are demanding environmentally responsible design and construction, so we are proud to announce our recognition as a Certified Green Dealer. This honor is bestowed upon lumber and building supply dealers who complete extensive training, which is sponsored exclusively by LBM Journal. It's the only official certification of its kind in the country.  This means you can count on Totem to supply you with the kinds of sustainable, renewable and environmentally friendly products and advice that your customers will be demanding. And our commitment to green goes even further. Our parent company, IWL, is privileged to have received its FSC certification by SmartWood to the Forest Stewardship Council standards.  This FSC certification eliminates the wasted time and multiple mark-ups required for "green" lumber certification. In addition,Totem participates in helping you earn LEED points. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council for rating and evaluating buildings nationwide. The following materials are FSC certified materials available through Totem Lumber & Supply and IWL: Fire retardant lumber and plywood Untreated lumber and plywood Preservative treated lumber and plywood Forming plywood You will also find many other “green” products at Totem, including: hardwood lumber; moldings; MDF panels; permeable house wraps; low and no-VOC sealants, caulks and adhesives;  Energy Star-rated windows and doors; and so much more.  Click Here To Download A Certificate SmartWood is a program of the Rainforest Alliance accredited by the FSC. © 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C.

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