EWP Business Consultant:

DOISE Building Solutions, Boise, -fDrO.. has introdriced a new business initiative aimed at passing along not just engineered wood products to its distributors and dealers, but business planning advice and consultation as well.

The Boise business planning process is a new value-added service for Boise EWP distributors that hopes to broaden the traditional vendor/customer relationship to more of a business consulting relationship.

"This a pioneering program," said Boise's Dennv Houston. "We think our business today is about long term, mutually beneficial relationships with the firms tribute and sell our products,"

Houston added, "If we can help them grow stronger financially and enjoy more success, that will strengthen the entire distribution channel."

Right now the program is in its initial roll out phase with wholesalers, and according to Houston, will soon expand to phase two with the inclusion of dealers.

Houston said Boise's new consultins approach is unique among major U.S. EWP manufacturers.

"lf we can help

that will strengthen the entire distribution chainl'

Services available to Boise distributors and dealers include:

. determining the market available to them, their share of that market, and growth objectives;

. ways to sell against competitive products;

. balancing inventories and marketing new products; projecting future growth, and

. targeting new existing accounts for increased sales and profitability.

Distributors can expect face-to-face consultations with Boise representatives at their yard or distribution center.

All current Boise EWP distributors are eligible and automatically enrolled in the program.

"Our organization is excited about employing the Boise business planning process to help our distributors and dealers improve the performance of their organizations at every level," Houston commented. "We see this as the cornerstone of how we plan to do business in the future."

Boise operates three EWP plants in Boise, Lena,La., and White City, Or.

Rrrllt:ns

Zarsky Lumber, Victoria, Tx., has opened a new yard in Laredo, Tx.; Frank Jimenez, mgr.

Bowlings Home Center, King George, Va., has been acquired by Fred Caudle and renamed King George True Value

Barnes & McCullough Lumber has closed its Goldthwaite. Tx., lumberyard...

Stock Building Supply has sold its specialty millwork facility in Springfield, Va., to Fairfax Lumber & Millwork...

Lowe's Cos. opened new stores the first week of March in Acworth, Ga. (Jeny Coon, mgr.); Sanford, Fl. (John Steinhauer, mgr.), and Elkin, N.C. (Jill Reinhart, mgr.), and Feb. 28 in Fernandina Beach, Fl. (Mitch Miller, mgr.)

Lowe's is building a new home center in The Villages, Fl., for a fall opening, and a 186,000*sq. ft., $11.5 million flatbed center on 41 acres in Ennis. Tx.. to serve 100+ south central stores ... the chain anticipates summer openings in Leeds, Al.; Plant City, Fl.; Georgetown, Ky.; Southaven, Ms.; Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; Brownsville, Tn., and Dale City, Va.

Sharp Lumber Co., Hopkinsville, Ky., was honored with a Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award...

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Home Depot this month opens new home centers in Denham Springs, La., and Texarkana, Tx., and a new Landscape Supply store in Grapevine, Tx.

Ace Hardware Corp. placed fourth in the wholesaler/diversified category in a recent Fortune magazine survey that asked business executives to name America's most admired companies ... Lowe's replaced Home Depot in the specialty retailer category ...

Wnor:slrrns/texurrcrumRs

The Environmental Protection Agency agreed to allow the continued use of CCA to treat agricultural fence posts (C16) and permanent wood foundations (C22) after the chemical's ban for residential applications goes into effect December 31,2C03

Ecosafe Wood Treaters, Greenville, S.C., is being opened early this month by Linda Starr; the plant, with an annual capacity of 40 million bd. ft., uses boratesbased EnviroSafe Plus ...

Dixie Plywood & Lumber Co., Savannah, Ga., plans to open its 1Oth DC in Charlotte, N.C., to serve the industrial and retail dealer markets; Tim Naish, mgr. ...

Grayson Lumber Corp., Grayson, Al., agreed to buy sawmills in Marianna and West Bay, Fl., from Louisiana-Pacific Corp.

Red Town Timber Products, Macon, Ga., has acquired 29,440 acres of timberland in and around Houston County, Tx., from Louisiana-Pacific Corp. for $21 million, less $2.5 million for timber harvesting and other adjustments prior to closing ...

HB &G Building Products, Troy, Al., was acquired by Pennsylvaniabased Graham Partners for an undisclosed sum

Pride Forestry, Raiford, Fl., plans to shutter its CCA treating plant in Raiford, F1., in June; all other operations, including sawmill, planer mill and post peeler, will continue

Laurel Creek Hardwoods, Richwood, W.V., is acquiring a $ 1 1 l,177 loan from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to buy and install a horizontal band saw ...

Ande r s o n - Tul ly' s Vicksburg, Ms., engineered wood plant laid off 57 workers, following workforce reductions of 68 and 50 last spring

PGT Industries, Venice, Fl., has acquired window and door manufacturer Binnings Building Products, Inc., Lexington, N.C. ...

Lumberjack, Inc., Palm Harbor, Fl., has changed its name to LII Technologies; the name of its flagship software product, Lumberjack Software, will not change

CertainTeed Corp., Oxford, N.C., and Ennis, Tx.; GAF Materials, Chester, S.C., and Johns Manville Corp., Natchez, Ms., received 2002 President's Awards from the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association in recognition ofthe plants' safety records

John Biewer Lumber Co. is now distributing a full line of fre retardant products, including FRX

Capital Lumber Co. locations including Lubbock and Woodway, Tx., are now distributing Undercover Deck Enhancement DrainageSystem...

Anniversaries: Hughes Supply, Orlando. Fl.. 75th ... Goldsboro Builders Supply Co., Goldsboro, N.C.,50th ... Architectural Woodwork Institutu, Reston, Va., 50th ... Spencer Hame Center, Lexington, Ky., 25rh .., uminum layer, TechShield sheathing prevents up to hr 7o/o of the radiant heat in the panel from radiating into

Housing starts in February (atest figures) fell llVo to an annual rate of I.822 million single family starts dropped l3.7Vo to a rate of 1.295 million: multi-familv starts (5+ units) were at a pace of 297,000 ... building permits crept up O.4Vo to a 1.786 million rate.

You could be making yourself more profitable with TechShield' radiant barrier sheathing, an energy saving upgrade that consumers are willing to pay for. With its thin, laminated the attic, which means cooling energy savings of up td 20o/ofor your customers. So if you're not using TechShield stop wasting your energy. Ask for it by name.

Spegtes

. Western Red Cedar lncense Cedar

. Redwood

Hem-Fir. Douglas Fir

. Pine. White Fir

Alder

Proidugts

. Fingerjoint Boards

. Pattern Sidings

Spa Components

. Engineered Products

Edge-Glued Panels

.12 Dry Kilns for Custom Drying.

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locatk;ns with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Apnn

National Wood Flooring Association - April 9-12, annual convention & expo, St. Louis, Mo.; (636) 391-5 161.

Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America - April 9-12, joint woodworking meeting, St. Petersburg, Fl.; (215) 564-3484.

Center for Forest Products Marketing & Management - April 11-12, low grade hardwood workshop, Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Roanoke, Va.; (540) 231-5876.

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show - April 11-12, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fl.; (908) 852-0033

American Lumber Standard Committee - April 24, spring meeting, Washington, D.C.; (301) 9'72-I'700.

Center for Forest Products Marketing & Management - April 24-25, forest products marketing seminar, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.; (540) 231-5876.

Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association - April 24-25, spring conference, Grandover Resort & Conference Center, Greensboro, N.C.; (703) 435-2900.

Anderson, Ca,: (800) 427-8253. (530) 378-6980

Fax 530-378-6987 Fred Duchi'Don Cherovsky