Roper Brothers Lumber has laid off dozens of workers due to a slowdown in the housing sector.
The Petersburg-based company, which had operations around Virginia and North Carolina, closed a plant in Raleigh, let go of around 22 workers at a Newport News Truss plant, and cut the size of the workforce at showrooms in Petersburg, Goochland and Fredericksburg, according to a laid-off employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wants to go back to work at the company.The employee – who was let go two weeks ago – said some of the laid-off workers were salespeople with decades of experience. He estimated that the company might be cutting 20% to 40% of the workforce.
Roper did not return several calls over two days seeking comment. Other lumber companies confirmed that Roper had made cuts.
Business at lumber companies is down between 15 and 20%, according to an associate at 84 Lumber in Richmond.
BizSense was unable to contact anybody at Roper’s Richmond showroom at 2179 Tomlynn Street.
There was a sign in the window: 
Roper Brothers Lumber has laid off dozens of workers due to a slowdown in the housing sector.
The Petersburg-based company, which had operations around Virginia and North Carolina, closed a plant in Raleigh, let go of around 22 workers at a Newport News Truss plant, and cut the size of the workforce at showrooms in Petersburg, Goochland and Fredericksburg, according to a laid-off employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wants to go back to work at the company.The employee – who was let go two weeks ago – said some of the laid-off workers were salespeople with decades of experience. He estimated that the company might be cutting 20% to 40% of the workforce.
Roper did not return several calls over two days seeking comment. Other lumber companies confirmed that Roper had made cuts.
Business at lumber companies is down between 15 and 20%, according to an associate at 84 Lumber in Richmond.
BizSense was unable to contact anybody at Roper’s Richmond showroom at 2179 Tomlynn Street.
There was a sign in the window: