Building Products Digest - August 2001

Buildinq -- Pro ducts

Serving buildtng : products retailers and wholesale distributors in 13 Southern states

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Seruing buildingV products retailers

8t uholesale distributorc in I3 Southern states

Building Products Digest

AUGUST 2OO1

Worning lobels coning for CGA pressule treoted wood

Ihillwork DC for Atlcnto Service is key criierio in designing monufoctureis distribution focilitv.

Moulding lrends

lmports from Southern Hemisphere continue strong, os MDF millwork holds its own.

lnnovotions in windows

Monufocturers' wish list of inventions.

Whot builders wonl

Iips on selling windows to builders.

Dobbling in e+ommerte

Checking in on how the Internet is working for lop choins ond co-ops.

and assumes no liability for materials fumished to it.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send address label from rec€nt issue if possible, new address and nine-digit zip mde.

Serving 13 Southern states

PUBLISHEB Alan Oakes (ajoakes@aol.com)

PUBLISHER EltlERlTU$ David Cutler EDITOR David Koenig (dkoenig@ioc.net)

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ADIIINISTRATION DIRECTOR/ SECRETARY Marie Oakes (mfpoakes@aol.com)

CIRCULATION HeatherKelly

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Respecting the Past, While Moving Forward

Last month I wrote about our goals as a magazine and how we would truly respect our past and almost 80-year heritage, while yet moving forward.

As a c.e.o. with over 25 years of managing businesses of all sizes in a variety of industries, I have been struck by how steeped in history and tradition this industry is compared to most. Having been part of industries, especially technology, where change was the only constant, I have found it fascinating and refreshing to talk to a number of veterans who have freely given their advice and counsel-unlike some industries I have been in.

As so many of these individuals start to retire, I cannot help but be sad that so much knowledge and talent is being lost. These are the people in our organization who can tell you everything and when. When they leave they take with them a chunk of your company's history. Unfortunately early retirements, cut backs, buy-outs, mergers, etc., are on the rise again, a scenario only too familiar to many of us, and this often strips the company of its trusted mentors to whom we all

seek advice. This institutional memory is hard if not impossible to replace.

How many of us can look back at our mentors who were instrumental in our career growth, and I wonder how many of us told them how important they were to us. The past is an important anchor to our future. Only too often those who follow want to bring change, and this often brings culture change and shock for those left behind.

When we next wave goodbye in the boardroom to one of our long-term colleagues, think about how we should play the role of senior or teacher, so that the bridge to the past, present and future can be balanced. The challenge for leaders is to find the balance between what is worth preserving, what should be discarded and thrown out, and to find the balance between old and new.

In a world of consolidation, do not make the mistake of believing that the knowledge of our industry seniors can be so readily replaced. In the last rounds of downsizing a few years ago many companies found that out at great cost. Unfortunately, many will again.

Warning Labels Coming

The EPA has approved the pressure treating industry's proposal to place consumer warning labels on virtually all CCA treated wood, beginning this fall.

The labels are part of a program to better inform consumers about the chemical. Fifteen years ago, as the EPA moved to ban most inorganic arsenic pesticides, manufacturers voluntarily agreed to distribute Consumer Information Sheets listing use, handling and disposal precautions of CCA treated wood. The agency allowed continued use of CCA in wood as a "restricted use" pesticide, but in the years since, dissemination of the fact sheets has been spotty, at best.

In recent months. a flurry of controversy, marked by critical newspaper articles (see Digest, April, p. 13), lawsuits and proposed legislation, has brought heat on the industry and the EPA to improve the system.

The American Wood Preservers Institute proposed a five-pronged program, including newly renamed Consumer Safety lnformation Sheets, a toll-free information line and Web site, end-tags on every piece of CCA lumber 5/4 and larger, and various instore signage, such as hang cards and bin stickers, all approved by the EPA.

According to EPA's timetable, AWPI introduced the toll-free phone number and Web site in July; retailers are to begin displaying point-of-sale signage in August; treaters should begin shipping labeled wood in September, and the program should be in "significant implementation" by October 1.

Retailers can obtain the signage from their CCA wood suppliers. Treaters can obtain the signage as well as the end tags from their chemical providers or produce their own similar labels.

"There shouldn't be any real cost for dealers," says Huck DeVenzio, Arch Wood Protection. "They can get all the materials from their suppliers. And, I imagine some large retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's will demand that the treaters themselves come and install (the signage). But however it gets done, we just hope it gets done."

Although the program is voluntary, retailers and dealers are urged to participate. "Our biggest push now is to ask retailers. home centers and building material dealers to insist that their treaters and suppliers comply with this

For CCA Treated Wood

new program," says AWPI's Mel Pine. "EPA is going to monitor it closely."

More regulatory changes may lie ahead next year after the EPA releases a comprehensive review of CCA treated wood that includes an evaluation of how well the new consumer information programs are working.

MDF Moulding Plant Starts Up

TLC Mouldings is now in full production at its new MDF mouldins

plant in Willacoochee, Ga.

A division of Langboard, Inc., TLC offers standard and lightweight products, including base. crown. casing. chair rail, stool, jamb stock, shelving, plinth block, rosettes, and custom profiles, all under the Harmony Mouldings brand.

The 105,000-sq. ft. manufacturing facility features two Weinig Hydromat moulders, two Delle Vedove vacuum coat prime lines for consistent coating, and an in-house tooling management system. Initial production capacity is 40 truckloads per month.

New millwork DC designed for service

lar LEN Oak Lumber & Milling has \fdesiened everv facet of its new distributiin center'near Atlanta. Ga.. to serve customers' needs.

The Wisconsin-based national manufacturer of lumber and millwork products added the 22,000-sq. ft. DC to facilitate distribution of interior trim products in the Southeastern United States. The clear span facility with over 22' clear-height was designed to house loads of Glen

retailers in a 250-mile radius of Atlanta with greater access to the volume of raw and paint-primed Prime Poplar products manufactured in Glen Oak's Somerset, Ky., facilities. The recently expanded Somerset mills feature raised deck production and an eight-head moulder capable of producing S4S boards with a very fine finish, at a rate of up to 500 ft. per minute.

The Atlanta DC's inside and outside sales personnel and office staff traffic product inventory and orders during standard business hours, while truck drivers make deliveries around the clock-to independent dealers by day, and to Home Depot stores at night. According to Warford, such service is possible because of careful attention to detail, on all fronts.

Oak's Prime Poplar boards and mouldings, solid oak, maple, aspen and pine S4S boards, and engineered veneer board products. The Glen Oak DC also cross-docks products for other select manufacturers lacking their own localized distribution centers.

Developed by distribution manager David Warford, Glen Oak's newest facility was initially conceived to support deliveries to Home Depot stores and warehouses in the retailer's MidSouth Region. Glen Oak supplies Home Depot with a full range of board programs and hardwood flooring in this and other markets. Additionally, the Glen Oak DC supplies independent dealers and architectural millwork houses with board and moulding products.

"Dealers receiving product from Glen Oak's Atlanta DC get just-intime delivery of elite product, milldirect," David Warford explains. "We eliminate middlemen, help keep costs down, and the product remains nice and neat from mill to store shelf."

The DC provides area dealers and

"It's always an advantage when you can design and build a facility from the ground up for a specific purpose," says Warford, who designed the DC facility himself. "With our unloading dock and bay docks, we are able to receive containers straight from the port and eliminate unload/reload functions typically necessary with flatbeds. This keeps product and package handling to a minimum."

He says his competitors in the distribution business typically try to sell many different products, all bought from outside sources. "One of the differences between us and them," Warford says, "is that we manufacture the majority of the products we distribute and we focus on fewer items, handling them extremely well. This results in better quality controls and pricing."

The DC's carefully selected location is another distinct advantage. Strategically situated 40 miles north of Atlanta in Ball Ground. Ga.. the facility is within 200 yards of Atlanta artery U.S. 575, and just north of the proposed Atlanta beltline highway. The DC is also within minutes of a private airport, making customer tours

of Glen Oak's Southeastern manufacturing and distribution facilities, via its corporate aircraft, expeditious and hassle-free.

As is common with Glen Oak's other facilities, visitors to the new Southeast distribution center are clearly impressed. Clean, bright, spacious and well organized, the facility is more than just a warehouse. Its lobby and offices are showrooms of Glen Oak product installations. High ceilings, large stacked mouldings and 6-panel doors belie the building's hard working industrial nature.

Warford trusts that his Atlanta team's hard work and attention to detail will pay off. And, as Glen Oak's southeast distribution business grows, so, too, can the facility. There is already room planned for an adjacent 12,000-sq. ft. expansion to house more inventory, when the need arises.

"lt's always an advantage when you can design and build a facility from the ground up for a specific purpose."

ATLANTA area DC supplies lumber and millwork to independent dealers and home center chains within a 200-mile radius.

rk trends: oulding rY awash ports

"If you're going to compete in fingerjointed moulding, you've got to import," says Bill Nathews, sales manager, MilfSource. Montevallo, Al. "Well over 9O7o of what we use now is imported."

Nathews points to the price advantages of imported species, as well as their maturing radiata pine plantations. It also helps that a few years ago, as MillSource was increasing its reliance on imports, the company was acquired by Woodgrain Millwork, Fruitland, Id.-which operates two mills in South America.

Butzelaar wonders, "Given the decline industrial pine supplies and surging imports, der that even diehard ponderosa pine users leader Sierra Pacific have made the move to ed radiata pine?"

Early this year, Sierra Pacific Industries, began buying surfaced lumber from New

in domestic is it any wonlike industryusing importRedding, Ca., Zealand and rFHE ECONOMIC slowdown in the U.S. and the draI. matic influx of imported lumber and finished millwork items has braced the moulding and millwork industry for a potentially difficult year.

"With moulding consumption expected to level off in 2001 and 2OO2," explains Peter Butzelaar, associate editor of Wood Markets newsletter, "the battle fbr market share between import and domestic production will no doubt intensify."

Since 1990, domestic "shop & better grade" or cleartype lumber consumption dropped from 2.8 billion bd. ti. (6.6 million cu. meters) to 0.9 billion bd. ft. (2.l million cu. meters) in 2000. Output of shop & better ponderosa pine lumber, the main industrial grade species, plummeted by over 707o from 1.7 billion bd. ft. (4.0 million cu. ft.) in 1990 to approximately 0.5 billion bd. ft. (1.2 million cu. meters) in 2000. In contrast, imported shop & better grade lumber from pine-producing countries (excluding Canada) rose sevenfold to 561 million bd. ft. (1.3 million cu. meters) in 2000.

Chile to produce fingerjoint and solid moulding.

For a large timberland owner like Sierra Pacific, availability wasn't the issue. "There's plenty of lumber, but the gaps in price between domestic and imported pine got to be too wide," says sales manager Dan Wolter. He notes that customers, including window manufacturers, have been receptive, and radiata pine should continue to be about l5Vo of Sierra Pacific's moulding business.

"Today," says Butzelaar, "more than two-thirds of all mouldines consumed in the U.S. are from imported

"More moulding buyers have stuck with MDF even when fingerjoint prices became so depressed. lt's a comfort thing."

species, either as mouldings produced from imported lumber or as imported finished products."

Setzer Forest Products, Sacramento, Ca., imports lumber to produce mouldings, but not finished products. Mark Setzer notes that imported finished products have been extremely "strong in the Midwest to East, which has forced us to concentrate west of the Mississippi."

Imports, says Ron Middleton, sales manager, Southwest Moulding Co., Dallas, Tx., "have become much. much stronger in recent years. There's still a smattering of domestic production, but it's not anything like it was even five years ago."

According to a new Wood Markels report by Butzelaar, despite l0 years of increasing moulding consumption in the U.S., the market share of U.S. domestic moulding producers has fallen from about 80Vo in 1990 to around 45Vo in 2000. As of 2000, the top four countries exporting pine mouldings into the U.S. were:

Chile, 897 million lineal ft. (37Vo of total imporrs);

Brazrl,529 million lineal ft. (22Va):

Mexico, 566 million lineal ft. including dowels (23Vo), and

New Zealand,203 million lineal ft. BVd.

Chile, Brazil and New Zealand, explains Dallas Stovall, president, Brite Wood Corp., Madras, Or., "have got the wood. They've got the cheap labor. They can do commodity mouldings cheaper than we can. They have plenty of capacity to create plenty of volume. They have reasonable expertise with commodity mouldings." Although Brite Wood's core business is components, the company does buy some imported fingerjoint blanks and blocks.

In terms of alternative moulding products, paint-grade mouldings' market share (comprising both fingerjoint and MDF) grew from 74Vo in 1997 to 78Vo in 2000. Through the mid-'90s, MDF mouldings enjoyed sready gains in market share due to MDF mouldings selling at a significant discount to fingerjoint.

However, through the latter part of l998 and into 2000, fingerjoint moulding prices fell to an eight-year low, causing the price spread between MDF and fingerjoint mouldings to narrow from a peak of 57Vo to the current llVo. Despite the shrinking price gap between MDF and finger- joint mouldings, MDF maintained an lSVo share of the market through 1999 and 2000, while fingerjoint mouldings plateaued at607o. Until the price relationship between the two widens once more, Butzelaar predicts the respective market share of MDF and fingerjoint will remain static through 2001 and20O2.

Middleton anticipates fewer buyers will switch back from MDF to fingerjoint. "A few years ago, if fingerjoint prices started falling closer to MDF, everybody swung back to fingerjoint. Now, there's less flopping back and forth," he says. "In this past year more have stuck with MDF even when fingerjoint prices became so depressed. They've become more comfortable with MDF, they've seen its advan-

tages. It's consistent, there are no knots, splits, cracks or warping. It's all a comfort thing. Price is still sensitive, but a little less so."

Brian Peak, SierraPine Ltd., Roseville, Ca., agrees, noting that the growing numbers of MDF manufacturers have improved the product. The wood used for fingerjointed mouldings, Peak says, "isn't what it used to be as far as availability and quality, while the MDF substrare has gotten better over the years. There are no joints, it has better machinability, and it's already pre-primed, so it's almost a finished product. I suspect a lot of homeowners just leave it as is."

The trend in solid lineal (stain-grade) mouldings has been one of shrinking market share beginning in the late '80s. It has only been in the last three years that the rate of decline has begun to level off, due partly to an influx of imported radiata pine mouldings from New Zealand.

"Imports have gained significant market share, but it has reached a plateau over the past few years," agrees Setzer. "We now have several customers who specificallv want domestic species, some of it certified."

Yet foreign producers are also beginning to pursue certification. Butzelaar notes, "FSC certification of Southern Hemisphere plantation forests along with the ability to offer chain-of-custody documentation is creating a major opportunity for exporters to the U.S. market in both lumber and finished products." Certification gives offshore moulding producers a major advantage in selling to large national accounts such as Home Depot, Wickes, Centex Homes, Andersen Windows, and others who are demanding FSC-certified wood products.

Looking to the future, escalating Southern Hemisphere pine plantation harvests and burgeoning sawmill and remanufacturing capacity will continue to motivate offshore producers to target the U.S. market. As a result, expect to see even more imports of fingerjoint, MDF and solid lineal pine mouldings in the U.S. market in the comlns vears.

MDF MOULDINGS are holding their own despite a sometimes nanowing price advantage over fingerjointed oroducts.

U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Program is partnering with the window industry to develop more energy efficient technologies. They have identified 65 different opportunities for innovation, including:

Advanced holograms - produce holographic images on windows

Aerogels - Incorporate nonopaque, highly insulating aerogel into insulating glass units

Alternative glazing methodsDevelop more durable and efficient glazing materials

Billet stock from recycleDevelop process for making billet out of recycled aluminum

Blast-resistant windowsDevelop new, cost effective, architecturally acceptable blastresistant window materials

Daylight rating - Provide a rating to measure the amount of daylighting provided by a window

Fire-rated windows - DeveloP lower-cost alternative materials for fire-rated windows

Glass/frame ratio - Increase vision area without a corresponding increase in framing

High-security windowsDevelop stronger, cost- effective, architecturally compatible materials for high security

Insulating coatings - Develop new colored architectural coatings that reduce conductive heat loss through window frames and sashes

Insulating componentsDevelop new alloys or composites that reduce conductive heat loss through window components

Integral smarts systemsDevelop self-contained power supplies, sensors, controllers and actuators to actively control heat and light transmission

Integral wind power recovery - Integrate components into windows to capture wind energy

Integral wiring - Incorporate wiring or wiring runs into the window

Interior lighting sourceTransmit light from spandrel through ceiling space

Interior passive lightingDevelop light shelves for curtain wall and window wall applications

(Continued in box at far right)

What builders want in a window

II/HEN selecting a manufacturer Y V of windows, doors and skYlights, builders are concerned most about on-time shipment and the availability of product, according to a new survey by the National Fenestration Rating Council.

The survey sked builders to indicate the importance of each of l6 attributes in selecting a fenestration manufacturer, with "very important" assigned a score of 5 and "not important" assigned a score of l.

On-time completion and shipment and availability tied for first with an average score of 4.6. Warranty and service terms (4.5), durability of products (4.3), and manufacturer's reputation (4.1) rounded out the top five.

Most builders buy their windows from a dealer, lumberyard, home center or local distributor. A smaller percentage (187o) buys directly from the manufacturer. More than eight out of 10 said that they use the same manufacturer on a regular basis, and those who switch do so mostly

because their regular manufacturer doesn't have the right product for a given job or the price is not right.

The survey was mailed to more than 4,100 members of the National Association of Home Builders in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 807o indicated that they build single-family homes (437o customer and 39Vo specltract), with the remainder buildine multi-

family housing.

The survey also found that when it comes to fenestration energy performance, builders care most about air leakage (4.3 on a five-point scale), comfort (4.2), and long-term energy performance (LTEP) and condensation resistance (tied at 4.1). NFRC currently offers an air leakage rating to manufacturers (NFRC 400), and its ratings for U-Factor (NFRC 100) and solar heat gain coefficient (NFRC 200) are directly related to comfort. In addition, NFRC is working on ratings for LTEP and condensation resistance.

Most home buyers have some say over the windows installed in their new homes, according to the survey. A little over 357o can choose from a set of options offered by the builder, whi\e 247o can choose any window they want. In all other cases, the windows are already installed when the buyer purchased the home.

"Ultimately," said one window firm representative, "it's the homeowner or home buyer who says, 'Hey, I want that particular window.' But a lot of the trends are driven by the architectural community."

The survey also found:

. Builders use energy performance ratings to help select fenestration products less often than architects. When asked to indicate how often they do so on a scale of I to 4, with I

that detects the sun's intensitv and automatically raises and lowers the shhdes to prevent glare and heat gain.

defined as "never" and 4 as "frequently," builders' average response was 3.2. while architects' was 3.4.

. Clients express interest in fenestration energy performance less often to builders than to architects. When respondents were asked how often clients ask about fenestration energy performance on a scale of I to 4, with I defined as "never" and 4 as "fre-

Low-E coatings - Develop new generation of scratch-resistant, cleanable coating materials

Modular windows - Design window systems with permanent frames and modular windows

Power supply miniaturization

- Develop miniature, self-contained power supplies for active windows

Recyclability - Improve ability to disassemble dissimilar window materials for recycling

Slope U-factor - Develop a Ufactor rating for sloped skylights

Solar heat gain - Develop a solar heat gain rating for skylights

Stronger sealant - Strengthen the bond in structural windows

Sunscreening - Develop skylight accessories to control conductive and radiant heat transmission

Vacuum glass - Develop commercially viable vacuum glass

Ventilation - Develop fenestration systems that regulate or condition outdoor air for indoor use

Window selection softwareDevelop software to select windows based on effects of building energy consumption

As a result, the agency has several joint industry/government projects underway, including:

Affordable highly insulating ssrogel windows

Aspen Systems is developing a equipment to produce continuous sheets of transparent, resilient aerogel with an R- l0/inch performance rating. The sheets will be used to produce clear glass double glazing windows with an R-6 rating at affordable prices.

Durable large-area EC glazing

quently," the average response from builders was 2.6 and from architects 3.r

The biggest energy barrier preventing builders from gaining access to fenestration energy performance ratings is that they simply don't know where to find them (32Vo). Another 20%o said that the biggest barrier was the fact that energy codes where they work don't require ratings.

Builders mostly wanl to receive NFRC ratings in manufacturer marketing materials (457o) or a hard copy of the Certified Products Directory (32Vo). Electronic versions of the Directory, both online and CD-Rom, came in a close third.

Schott Donnelly is researching EC technology for energy efficient architectural glazing applications, focusing on improving EC device size, pedormance, durability, manufacturabilify, and cost. EC technology allows windows to lighten or darken in response to the amount of daylight and solar heat.

Integrated energ5r efficient building window and wall system

Aspen Research is testing a windodwall system that combines material and construction processes including wall construction, HVAC, framing, window installation, and utility coordination.

OFFICE windows facing east and west are outfitted with "smart" motorized window shades, Each shade has a ohotovoltaic sensor

"A lot of the trends are driven by the architectural community,"

Retailers testing waters of e-commerce

THE e-commerce honeymoon may

but the marriage remains, according to marketing expert Dr. Roger Blackwell, who analyzed successful e-commerce strategies at a recent Hardlines Technology Forum in San Antonio, Tx.

To capitalize on the potential of online retail, Blackwell said companies need to master commerce functions, understand how customers buy their products, create blended sales strategies, and build their brand on the Internet. "You go online to serve your existing customers better, not to get new ones," he said, suggesting that companies should have all functions of management represented on their e-commerce team.

"The purpose of e-commerce is not to replace but to enhance traditional selling. The Internet is more about searching for stuff than selling it," he said, adding that research has revealed

that 43Va of online customers are very satisfied with their purchase experiences.

Blackwell said companies need to build the logistics and operations side of the business before brand campaigns are launched. The next step to building a brand online is to get the Web site right with consumer-friendly, two-way communication. Finally, the company must create an "event" that involves customers and then give them a reason to visit the Web site on a regular basis. The items that sell best on the Internet are specialty products, not convenience items. Blackwellnoted.

Rob Palevich, manager-electronic commerce, Do it Best Corp., said the Internet allows the buying group to use data mining to provide better customer relations management. "We can determine which items sell best for members in the same demography and do e-mail direct marketing and ad targeting," he said.

The company is also getting into wireless lumber applications, with members being able to use a cell phone to gain immediate access to Do it Best's lumber system to check prices and reserve inventory.

Another new initiative for Do it Best is the placement of Internet kiosks in airports and malls, offering the co-op's 70,000 item catalog greater exposure to niche markets. "Its been generating a lot of sales for us," Palevich said.

Another positive development is a recent affiliation with goracer.com, which Palevich said has the ability to add 30 million hits each month to Do it Best's Web site.

TruServ is looking to create a seamless network with vendor-managed data. According to eBusiness director Eric Lane, the co-op now receives 707o of invoices and 907o of purchase orders electronically. "We want your data electronically," he told

manufacturers. "We have the tools to translate it and get it to our members."

Lane said upcoming initiatives are to begin doing electronic funds transfer with members and vendors and to develop an electronic catalog to put in front of its members' customers. "They will be able to price it separately, show what SKUs they want to show, and then get orders," he explained.

Greg Lenard, director of inventory control, Ace Hardware Corp., noted that Ace has to carry a lot of buffer inventory to deal with uncertainty in the marketplace. "The more we talk (with suppliers), the less uncertainty there is." Ace is currently doing vendor-managed inventory (VMI) with 28 suppliers, Lenard said, but sees even more opportunity with CPFR (Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment). A test with one Ace vendor involved taking collaborative sales forecasts and creating live orders with pre-defined parameters. The result was a9Vo increase in annual sales with that supplier, a 247o reduction in overstock returns. and a 28Vo reduction in distribution costs, according to Lenard.

"lt's the single largest opportunity over the next five years to move inventory management forward," he said. "CPFR delivers, clear, measurable results and Ace is committed to this process."

Ken Tackett, Sears' director of merchandise information systems, said his company is seriously looking at item setup and maintenance this year. It has adopted paperless Web applications to enter a new item into the retailer's system.

The chain also plans to expand its use of GlobalNetXchange, which gives Sears the ability to collaborate with vendors on merchandise and supply chain planning. "We want to start piloting things such as CPFR, auctions for retailers, and start mov-

I be over.

TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES to drive costs out of the distribulion orocess are on the lront burner for Ace Hardware and other retailers.

ing off EDI on VANs and onto the Internet," he said.

Lowe's is currently doing VMI with more than 100 suppliers. "We're sending daily and weekly point-ofsale information to about 350 vendors," said Greg Forester, director of logistics support. "We've hit the ceiling with that, so we came up with Internet EDI and have about 40 vendors doing that now."

In an effort to eliminate paper in its systems, the retailer now sends about 93Vo of purchase orders electronically. "We're going to start rolling out a process where we will send out special orders electronically," Forester said, adding that the goal of many of Lowe's electronic initiatives is to reduce lead times with vendors and make information more visible to them.

Gan €.Gomllrerce really bring value to the building materaals industry?

Th" In,"rnet has enabled a new business paradigm called electronic commerce. Commonly referred to as e-commerce, e-business or business-to-business, these electronic methods of doing business are projected by various prognosticators to handle between $6 and $8 trillion annually by 2004.

Within e-commerce discussions, you've no doubt heard a lot of hype about how the Internet is going to change the way you do business. Well, let's get one thing straight: the Internet is not a change agent, it is only a delivery mechanism. It is the software running through the Internet that really determines how effective the Internet will be in optimizing business processes.

By Thomas J. Westbrook President and c.e.o. World Wide Wood Network. Ltd.

very basic form, an exchange may be no more than a "match maker" or "dating service." In the most useful form, the exchange will offer deep enterprise-to-enterprise systems integration between existing trading partners, as well as providing useful tools for supply chain integration and management.

The role of its Internet initiatives. according to Matthew Deeter, v.p. of Lowe's Internet Business Group, is "to design systems to help customers understand Lowe's value proposition." The objectives are three-fold:

(l) Expand relationships with existing customers.

(2) Establish relationships with potential customers.

(3) Provide a channel for research and sale of products and services.

Lowe's has received good results from its testing of in-store appliance kiosks in the Raleigh, N.C., and Indianapolis, In., markets, according to Deeter. "It's led to a lot of interaction between our associates and customers. We end up with better informed customers who are more apt to buy."

In Deeter's opinion, the best direct sales opportunities on the Internet involve replenishable supplies to property and plant management workers, repair products for specialty contractors, and big-ticket, stand-alone purchases by consumers and commercial customers. He noted that Lowes.com users buy l30Vo more annually than the average Lowe's shopper, visit the store I OOVa morc frequently, and have a 23Vo higher averase ticket.

While e-business is limited to how an organization or enterprise integrates its internal business processes with the digital world, ecommerce encompasses the much broader scope of electronically integrating supply and value chain practices between other enterprises (E2E) or business (B28).

So, what is the promise of the Internet in the business environment? Some people say it amounts to three key benefits:

(l) The Internet helps businesses run more efficiently.

(2) The Internet collapses time and space. allowing businesses to eliminate geographic and time barriers.

(3) The Internet can dramatically improve the way businesses attract, track, serve and retain customers.

Again, the Internet does not do this just by its existence. It is essential to have access to useful solutions that help leverage the promise of the Internet. A properly structured third party exchange can be a good business partner to deliver the right e-commerce solutions.

Sometimes called an e-marketplace, net market or vertical hub, a third party exchange is an outgrowth of B2B e-commerce. As the name implies, a third party exchange is a neutral and independent forum that is not owned by any of the market participants. Its primary purpose is to connect buyers and sellers electronicallv. In the

The models for exchanges vary greatly. Potential participants should understand what a particular exchange may or may not provide before joining. Matching the business needs of an enterprise with the tools offered by the exchange is critical. An enterprise should not have to change the way it does business to use the services of an exchange. A properly modeled third party exchange will have solutions available that enable the existing business process of an enterprise to be optimized through application of those solutions.

The concept of an exchange is nothing new to business. The trading exchange format has existed in the physical world since the beginning of e-commerce. For thousands of years, man first brought his wares to sell at a centralized public market, where buyers came in search of products and negotiated prices. Over time, the advent of new communication devices and delivery mechanisms allowed commerce to decentralize. As the telegraph, telephone, telex and fax were introduced and embraced, commerce began to spread over larger geographic distances. Then the train, automobile and airplane began to move products between those locations at commercially affordable rates and times. These advances evolved gradually to how we have conducted commerce for the last 100 or so years.

An electronic exchange is just another market channel. Beyond connecting buyers and sellers, a well positioned third party exchange will offer supply chain fulfillment tools, as well.

"You go online to serve your existing customers better, not to get new ones,"

Rrrrlrrns

Breedlove Lumber Co., Charleston, Ms., has been acquired by Rusty and Marvin Mims from Janet Breedlove, who has retired after 65 years; the new owners are retaining the company name

Jones Hardware & Lumber, Jones, Ok., has been opened on the site of Economy Lumber Co. by Mike Evans, who purchased Economy's inventory

Carolina H oldings, Raleigh, N.C., has acquired Fagen's Building Centers in Panama City and Hudson (Tampa), Fl., to operate as Stock Building Supply units; the additions bring Carolina Holdings to 6 units in Florida and 225 tolal in 24 states ...

Hoke Lumber Co. (Oklahoma Home Center), Stillwater, Ok., has been acquired by Bill Van Sant from Ed and John Stuart

Leeds Building Products, Kennesaw, Ga., agreed to buy the assets of San Antonio Lumber, San Antonio, Fl.; 19-unit Leeds plans to move its Zephyrhills, F1., yard to the new location

Puryear Lumber Co., Senatobia, Ms., has expanded its rental center to 22,000 sq. ft. ...

Smith & Sons Building Center, Anadarko, Ok., built a 5,000-sq. ft. store adjacent to its former 1,500sq. ft. location

King Lumber Co., Bassfield, Ms., is operating from temporary quarters while it rebuilds after a May 18 fire ...

Elk Supply Co., Clinton, Ok., is converting 13 of its 14 yards from True Value to Ace Hardware affll,iation, including Beaver Lumben Clinton Lumbet Cordell Lumber EIk City Lumber Leedey Lumber Sayre Lumber, Thomas Lumber, Weatherford Lumber Woodw ard

Lumber, Carnegie Lumber, Mangum Lumber Hooker Lumber and JB Lumber; Frederick Lumber Co. remains withTruSen

Home Depot agreed to lease 100,000 sq. ft. in east Tampa, Fl., for a new regional call center; the office is expected to handle about 100,000 calls a day for stores throughout Florida and south Alabama...

Lowe's Cos. opens new stores late this month in Decatur, AI. (Michael Boshell, store mgr.); Athens, Tn. (Doug Bell, mgr.); Hampton, Va. (David Taylor, mgr.); Port Arthur, Tx. (Sandy Bennett, mgr.); E. Houston, Tx. (Jeff James and Peter Reed, mgrs.); NW Central San Antonio. Tx. (Leo Martinez, mgr.), and Pinellas Park, Fl. (Marty Nichols, mgr.) ...

Lowe's expects to complete construction in Columbus, Ms., by late Oct.; got the go-ahead to build in Smyrna, Ga., for a spring 2002 opening; begins construction this month in White Settlement (Fort Worth), Tx.; is building replacement stores in Albemarle and Rockingham, N.C.; will co-anchor a redeveloped University Mall in Pembroke Pines, F1., and applied to build its 3rd Jacksonville, Fl., location on 17.8 acres at I-10 and LennoxAve....

Frank's Nursery & Crafts is shuttering units in Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Yorktown. Va.

FAX us your news!

Recent changes at your comPanY?

Publicize your expansion, staff promotions, store remodeling or other com' pany changes in the next issue of Building Products Digest!

Just FAX your news to 949-852-0231.

(a free service)

Wror:sm:ns/tlrurrtrunrns

Texas Wholesale Building Ma' terials moved into a new comPlex in Farmers Branch, Tx., occupying 239,W0 sq. ft. of warehouse space and 20,000 sq. ft. of offices ...

Aiken Exporting, Spanish Fort, Al., has been opened by Lane Merchant, ex-Woodland Timber; former partner John Braun has relocated to Arizona ...

Willamette Indastries' new Carolina Particleboard plant in Bennettsville. S.C.. is on schedule to open next month ...

Bradco Supply Corp. plans to relocate its 25,000-sq. ft. Charlotte, N.C., DC to a 45,000-sq. ft. facility by year's end

Peachtree Cos., Norcross, Ga., is the now corporate identity for Peachtree Doors & Windows, Crestline Windows and Vetter Windows & Doors after the three sister companies recently merged their senior management teams

Ace Hardware Corp. provided Ace Royal Paint for The Southern Living Idea Home in WinstonSalem. N.C. ...

P recision Architectural Products, Inc., Largo, Fl., has added a Shaker style LDF stile and rail door to its Villacrest line ...

Builder Marts of America, Greenville, S.C., is partnering with Sawbucks payment exchange

Anniversaries: Hansgrohe, Alpharetta, Ga., 100th Witten Lumber Co., Inc., Gastonia, N.C., 75rh ...

Housing starts in June (latest figs.) fell 3Vo to a seasonallY adjusted annual rate of 1.568 million single-familY starts climbed LVo to 1.286 million; multi-family was at a rate of 297,W for 5+ units.

A rcliable altemative to traditional prcssurc-trcated lumben

t-

Wolmanized' Natural Select" Wood by Cox has been produced for applications where special environmental concerns or restrictions exist, and offers consumers a choice in preserved wood. It is no more corrosive than untreated wood and requires no special hardware. It carries the same lifetime limited warranty as conventional Wolmanized'wood and is the most effective and successful altemative to traditional treated wood. And like other products from Cox Wood Preserving, Natural Select wood is available re-dried after treatment for greater dimensional stability, lighter weighf and a cleaner surface.

For more information about Natural Select by Cox and our stocking dealer program, please contact:

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Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verifi dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Auausr

National Hardware Show & Building Products Expo - Aug. 12-14, McCormick Place, Chicago, Il.; (847) 605-1025.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealers AssociationAug. 15, installed sales workshop, Lexington; (502) 245-67 30.

Kentucky Forest Industries - Aug 16, regional meeting, Kentucky Dam Village, Gilbertsville, Ky.; (800) 325-0146.

Florida Building Material Association - Aug. 16-18, annual building products & design show, Marriott World Convention Center, Orlando, Fl.; (352) 383-0366.

Moore-Handley Inc. - Aug. 17-19, market, Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, Al.; (205) 663-8011.

National Hardwood Lumber Association - Aug. 22-24,lumber grading short course, Memphis, Tn.; (800) 933-0318.

Wood Moulding & Millwork Producers Assn. - Aug,22-25, semi-annual meeting, Quebec City, Quebec; (800) 550-7889.

Orgill, Inc. - Aug. 23-25, fall dealer market, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Md.; (901) 948-3381.

Texas Home & Garden Show - Lug.24-26, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio; (800) 654-1480.

Florida Hardware Co. - Aug. 25-26, fall dealer market, Centralplex, Orlando, Fl.; (904) 783-1650.

S:prrmrrn

National Association of Women in Construction - Sept. 6, chapter meeting, Austin, Tx.; (512) 4'16-5534.

Restoration & Renovation Show - Sept. 6-8, Fairmont Hotel, New Orleans, La.; (800) 982-6247.

Handy Hardware Wholesale - Sept. 7-9, fall market, Astro Arena, Houston, Tx.; (713) 644-1495.

West Texas Wholesale Supply - Sept. 7-9, annual market, Abilene Civic Center, Abilene, Tx.; (800) 800-4393.

Hardware Distribution Warehouse - Sept. 8-9, fall market, Expo Hall, Shreveport, La.; (318) 686-8527.

Hoo-Hoo International - Sept. 8-11, 109th annual convention, Portland, Or.; (800) 979-9950.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealers AssociationSept. 10, blueprint reading seminar; Sept. 11-13, estimating class; Sept. 19, yard foreman seminar, Bowling Green; (502) 245-6730.

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors - Sept. 12-13, c.e.o. conference, O'Hare Hilton, Chicago,ll.; (202) 872-0885.

National Hardwood Lumber Association - Sept. 12-15, annual convention, Sheraton, New Orleans, La.; (800) 933-0318.

Kentucky Forest Industries Association - Sept. 14-15, expo, Western Kentucky Agricultural Complex, Bowling Green, Ky.; (800) 203-92r't.

Texas Home & Garden Show - Sept. 14-16, Dallas; Sept. 2L23, Fort Worth; (800) 654-1480.

Consider these benefits:

r Structural strength ofwood.

r No annual maintenance.

t Residentialandcommercialqrade.

o Several colors.

. Easy to install. No pre-drilling, just nail it down!

From Norlhstar: Kennesaw,GA morex@northstarvinyl.com 61 o o{* 6,o o (800)558-6702 (770)794-1105 .Jr-"

APA-The Engineered Wood Association - Sept. 15-18, annual meeting, San Diego, Ca.: (253) 565-6600.

Garden & Leisure Exhibition - Sept. 16-18, National Exhibition Center, Birmingham, England; (201) 659-0134.

Virginia Tech Center for Forest Products - Sept. 19-20, selling forest products short course, Donaldson Brown Hotel & Conference Center, Blacksburg, Va.; (540) 231-9759.

Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association - Sept. 19-21, fall conference, Grand Rapids, Mi.; (703) 435-2900.

Wood Products Manufacturers Association - Sept. 19-22, annual meeting, Sheraton, Portsmouth, Md.; (978) 874-5445.

Southern Forest Products Association - Sept. 22-26, annual meeting, Westin Savannah Harbor, Savannah, Ga.; (504) 443M64.

POLYMER COATED WOOD DECKING

High quality pressure treated decking is coated with a skidresistant polymer to provide years of maintenanceJree service!

TechShield is a combination of standard roof sheathing and a thin, but durable,

makes the whole home cooler, it also allows the air conditioning system to

do iess work all summer rong.

Most new home buyers think that's pretty cool. And that means interest among contractors is heating up.

Start stocking it today, and see how much coolerand profitableroof sheathing can be.

Making homes a little cooler justbecame alot more profitable.

Florida Building Material Association has added Sean Hannity, co-host of Fox News' Hannity and Colmes, to speak at its annual convention and trade show Aug. l6-18 at the Marriott Orlando World Center.

Seminars include "Increasing Your Gross Margins-You Don't Have to Give It Away" by Mike Butts, "When Selling to Them, How to Get Past the Independence of the Independent Dealer," plus hourlong WoodSource classes on engineered wood products, the new Florida building code, building to resist termites, raised platform floor construction, fire retardant treated wood, architectural wood products and borate-treated wood systems.

Lumbermens Association of Texas has moved to new offices at 816 Congress, Suite 1250, Austin. E-mail addresses, fax and phone numbers remain the same.

Southern Building Material Association is holding a Bill Darling blueprint reading seminar Sept. 24 in Charlottesville, Va., followed by a three-

day estimating seminar Sept. 25-27. The blueprint seminar will be repeated Oct. 8 and the estimating class Oct. 9-ll in Charlotte, N.C.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association is sponsoring a three-day Bill Darling lumber estimating seminar Sept. I l-13 at the Holiday Inn, Bowling Green, preceded by a blueprint reading seminar Sept. 10.

Roy Burleson will present an installed sales workshop Aug. 15 at the Holiday Inn North, Lexington, while Lee Resources is staging a yard foreman seminar Sept. 19 at the University Plaza Hotel, Bowling Green.

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association is staging its 85th annual convention Sept. 27-29 at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.

Speakers include Mark Suwyn, chairman and c.e.o., Louisiana-Pacific; Robert Legg, Temperate Forest Foundation; Albert Bates, Profit Planning Group, on "Improving the Bottom Line;" economist Martin Regalia, "Forecasting the Nation's

Economic Future;" Greg Brooks, Building Supply Channel, "The Demand Chain: How Independents Thrive in a Consolidating Marketplace;" Kelly McCloskey, Wood Promotion Network, "How to Educate Customers & Community: Wood Is Good;" Deborah Hayden, Tindell's, "Shaping a Safety Culture," and Ruth Grubb, Profit Builders, "Managing Generations" and "Managing Languages and Cultures."

Kentucky Forest Industries Association's l9th annual Kentucky Wood Expo will be held Sept. 14-15 at the Western Kentucky Ag. Complex, Bowling Green.

ECMD Now Five Firms In One

ECMD, Inc., formerly East Coast Millwork Distributors. Inc.. has restructured to serve as an umbrella for five building component companies.

The North Wilkesboro, N.C.-based firm is now comprised of manufacturers Eastcoast Moulding Co., A&H Window Co. and Crown Heritage Stair Co.. door hardware distributor Premier Lock Systems, and logistics provider ECMD Distribution Co. Allen Dyer, c.e.o., anticipates more changes within the next 18 months to two years.

With energy costs rapidly rising in America, it's no wonder more and more lumber dealers and distributors in warm climates are riding a wave of profits with SOIAR BOARDo Radiant Barrier Sheathing, made by International Paper.

SOLAR BOARD is the roof decking and wall sheathing that's laminated with polished aluminum. It reflects up to 97olo of radiant heat from the sun-and reduces the cost of cooling a home bv up to 25o/o. Because SOTAR BOARD conserves energy and saves homebuyers money for as long as they own their home, it's an in-demand product that helps builders attract customers and offers you a big opportunity to increase profits. In fact, SOIAR BOARD offers significantly greater margin opportunities over standard commodity OSB and plywood. Plus, we keep a large standing inventory on the floor-so, you don't have to-and we deliver promptly, to you or your builder-customers.

To catch the wave, call us at l-800-527-5907. You'll see for yourself, increasing profits is as easy as it looks!

Sister Millwork Firms Expand General Builders Supply,

Oklahoma City, Ok., has added a larger building to accommodate its expanding millwork manufacturing operations.

The company, which manufactures interior trim and supplies lumber and plywood to high-end home builders, has acquired a new Weinig moulder, according to gen. mgr. Brad Courtnay.

It will share the new facility with sister company Precision Component Manufacturing, which previously operated at a leased facility. Precision cuts components and manufactures custom doors under the Millright name. Since relocating, the firm has acquired a new BNC router and added another production line to produce interior shutters.

New Plastic Lumber Standard

A new standard for recycled plastic lumber decking has been approved by the American Society for Testing Materials.

ASTM's "Standard Specification for Polyolefin-Based Plastic Lumber Decking Board," which covers plastic lumber that is greater than 507o resin by weight, was created to provide a

basis for developing 1007o plastic structures.

It permits manufacturers to apply an ASTM stamp, so their plastic lumber can be specified by architects, municipalities and others dependent on building code specifications.

Asbestos Forces USG To File

USG Corp. has filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy to manage the growing asbestos litigation costs of its United States Gypsum Co. subsidiary.

Also filing Chapter l l were USG's major domestic subsidiaries, including United States Gypsum Co., USG Interiors, and L&W Supply Corp., but not its international operations.

USG reportedly is the eighth company in the last 18 months-and27th in the last two decades-that has been forced to file Chapter 11 to resolve asbestos claims.

Since 1994, U.S. Gypsum has been named in more than 250,000 asbestosrelated personal injury claims, and has paid more than $450 million to manage and resolve related litigation. The company has received 22,000 new claims since the beginning of this year.

USG also announced it has

"Business has been excellent. If there's any downturn anywhere, we don't need to participate in it."

- Richard Legrande, Legrande Lumber, Luther, Ok. received a commitment for up to $350 million in debtor-in-possession financing from JP Morgan Chase, helping fund operations during the restructuring process.

Wholesaler Celebrates 20th

To mark its 20th anniversary, Arrowhead Lumber Sales. Oklahoma City, Ok., plans a special event to thank its customers and suppliers.

Jon Anderson, publisher of Random Lengths, will speak during the evening celebration Oct. 9 at the wholesale distributor/reloader' s facility, according to Dusty Hammack, general manager.

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CAN TRIM'

THE IUILDER'$ CHOICE ru MMEN r8F*oumn*es

... that eaery piece of Can Trim mould.ing is produced from 100%o recouered. and recycled uoodfiber, and you are continually searchingfor better uays to recycle lour ou)n by products ... ultether it's utood stoue pellets, extruded polymer/utood deching lumber, or organic agricuhural fertilizer. "

Norl Cochran has rejoined McClain Building Center, Eufala, Ok., as mgr.

Brad Cooper has joined the sales force at Jackson & Langford Wholesale Lumber, Tyler, Tx.

Scott Barnett has been named regional mgr. of Plymart. Inc.. overseeing stores in Newnan, LaGrange and Columbus, Ga.

Ed Tolley, previously with Payless Cashways, has joined Lee Roy Jordan Redwood Lumber Co., Dallas, Tx.

Chris Thomason has transferred from Lumber 2 to Fox Building Supply, Oklahoma City, Ok., as mgr.

Larry Zhou is the new senior mgr., engineering and technology for Anthony Forest Products, El Dorado, Ar.

John L. Yohanan has been appointed president of Gulf South Forest Products, Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Sam Yohanan will remain chairman and c.e.o.

Tony Meyer is new to sales at Hughes Lumber Co., Stillwater, Ok.

Dennis Carpenter, vice president and gen. mgr., Daniels Lumber, Lake City, Fl., has retired after 30 years with the company.

Chris Hassinger has been named mgr. of Pryor Lumber, Pryor, Ok., succeeding "Gus" Gustafson, who is retiring later this year.

Mark Giles. ex-Sunbelt. is new to Gulf Southern Forest Products, Fort Lauderdale, Fl., as vice president of new business development.

Tonya Farina has been promoted to mgr. of plans and programs at Trex Co., Winchester, Va. Rick Reles, exKohler, is new as v.p.-sales, succeeding Ralph Bruno, who has joined trim board producer Vycom as v.p.-sales and marketing.

Greg Gurley has been named national sales mgr. at Therma-Tru Doors.

Dan Beaty, ex-Louisiana-Pacific, is new to outside sales, working out of Clayton, Al., for TLC Mouldings, Willacoochee. Ga.. a division of Langboard Inc.

Randall Booker has been named vice president, operations for The Peachtree Companies, Norcross, Ga.

Mike Earley has been named inside sales mgr. at Texas Wholesale Building Materials. Dallas. Tx.

Patrick Ikerd is the new manager at 84 Lumber Co., Neosho, Tx. New comgrs. include Chris Martin, Greensboro, N.C.; Terry Stevens, Danville, Ky.; Eric Malloy, Bluff City, Tn.; Kris Phillips, Plainview, Tx.; Doug Yickers, Covington, Ga., and Joel Butler, Bowling Green, Ky. New mgr. trainees include Jeff Champion, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Justin Boyer, North Port, Al.; Mark Turiano, Monroe, Ga.; Damian Houchens, Maysville, Ky.; Michael Webster, Bowling Green, Ky.; Ron Fischer, Henderson, Ky.; David Amanns, Alexandria, Ky.; Shawn Noe, Austin, Tx.; Johnathan Keith, Somerset, Ky.; Howard Bournes, Richmond, Va., and Chuck O'Dell. Anderson. S.C.

Jerry Edwards has been promoted to senior v.p. of merchandising for Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga. New store mgrs. include David Copeland, Chalmette, La.; Wendel Logue, North Myrtle Beach, Fl., and Cyndi Powell, The Colony, Tx.

David T. Krawczyk has resigned as president and chief operating officer of Wickes Lumber Co. J. Steven Wilson, c.e.o., has resumed the title of president.

Charles Felix, senior vice president of investor relations, Universal Forest Products, retired after 30 years with the company.

Fred Stimpson, president, Gulf Lumber Co., Mobile, Al., received the Beal Award at the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association's annual conference in Palm Beach, Fl. Furman Brodie, v.p., Charles Ingram Lumber Co., Effingham, S.C., was elected chairman of SLMA.

Rob Green is the new business development mgr. for Snavely International, a division of Snavely Forest Products.

Chris Lyons, L&T Associates, Cumming. Ga., is now representing Zero lntemational in Georgia.

Jason Metnick has joined the American Forest & Paper Association as Sustainable Forestry Initiative program coordinator.

Donald Hoye has resigned as c.e.o. and president of TruServ Corp. Bill Blagg will serve as an interim c.e.o. Pamela Forbes Lieberman has been promoted from chief financial officer to chief operating officer.

Jacques R. Sardis, chairman and c.e.o., Daltile Corp., Dallas, Tx., has been named "Turn-Around Enterprise Winner" for the Southwest area at Emst & Young's 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Howard Jung, owner, Ace Hardware, Raleigh, N.C., was re-elected to a twoyear term as chairman of Ace Hardware Corp.'s board of directors. He has held the position since 1998.

Peter Charles Ahlers, Lowe's, Savannah, Ga., wed Mary Elizabeth Derrick June 16. John Deric Hall, receiving mgr., Lexington, Ky., married Jennifer Marie Davis June 9.

Ivie Moss is new to the nursery department at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

Willamette Loses Election, Continues Fight

Willamette Industries will continue battling a hostile $5.5 billion takeover bid by Weyerhaeuser Co. even after three dissident directors won seats on the Willamette board.

Willamette argues that although Weyerhaeuser-friendly nominees narrowly won three seats on the Willamette board. since neither side garnered a majority of outstanding shares, there is insufficient support fbr Weyerhaeuser's current offer of $50 per share.

In the vote count certified by the independent inspectors, three Weyerhaeuser nominees, Thomas M. Luthy, Robert C. Lane and Evelyn Cruz Sroufe, received votes totaling 49.16 million shares, or 44.857c of the total shares outstanding. Willamette nominees Kenneth W. Hergenhan, Duane C. McDougall and Robert M. Smelick received votes totaling 46.9 I milfion shares. or 42.807c of all shares outstanding.

Shareholders also voted to reject two proposals, on declassification of the board and on the composition of the company's compensation committee.

"We're going to operate as business as usual," vowed Willamette pres. and c.e.o. McDougall. "Unless the board changes its vote fiom the way it has voted three or four times in the past, we're not trying to sell this company, and even if we were, $50 is not the right place to start."

Swindells said the burden rests with Weyerhaeuser either to "make a

real offer or drop its hostile bid."

Weyerhaeuser chairman and c.e.o. Steven Rogel countered, "The outcome of the election provides clear direction to Willamette," said Weyerhaeuser. It is time for Weyerhaeuser and Willamette to sit down together and accomplish the objectives of Willamette's shareholders-a prompt, negotiated transaction with Weyerhaeuser to create the premier forest products company headquartered in the Pacific Northwest."

Although Weyerhaeuser's current tender offer is set to expire Aug. 15, the company already has extended the deadline several times. Weyerhaeuser says that if Willamette's new board continues to resist a sale. it would wait and wage another proxy battle next year, when it could win an additional three seats and gain control of the company's nine-member board.

Nardelli Vows Sales Will Rise

At his first shareholders meeting as Home Depot president and c.e.o., Robert Nardelli said he believes tax rebates and lower interest rates will encourage mortgage refinancing. increasing home-improvement spending this year.

Nardelli said the chain has not reached saturation in North America and asserted that he will more than double Depot's annual sales to $100 billion by adding more stores and "raising the roof'on existing sales.

The l'ormer GE executive main-

tained that while consumers have not yet benefited from Federal Reserve rate reductions, he believes the cuts eventually will create a "huge influx back into the home improvement" sector. He said the extent of the sales recovery will depend on how consumers choose to spend any discretionary income they receive later in the year.

GP Workers Allege Racism

More than 4,000 African-American employees of Georgia Pacific Corp. filed a motion July l7 seeking class action status in a discrimination case against the Atlanta-based company.

The suit. filed as an amendment to a previous individual claim, alleges that qualified and experienced African-American workers were passed over for promotions based solely on race. A spokesperson for the company denied the allegations.

The employees in the suit work at 80 different company plants in nine southern states.

Jobbers Roll lnto Reno

The National Sash & Door Jobbers Association is scheduled to hold its 38th annual convention in Reno, Nv., Oct.21-31.

This year's convention is themed "The Challenge of Change" and will feature more than 500 exhibitors representing over 200 companles.

Speakers include astronaut Neil Armstrong; actor Charlton Heston; Task Masters owner Julie Morgenstern; Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool; distribution expert Dr. Don Rice, and customer service consultant Robert Tucker. Country music singer Clint Black will entertain.

Play Set Maker Drops GCA PlayNation Play Systems,

Kennesaw, Ga., has discontinued the use of CCA treated lumber in the manufacturing of their wooden playground equipment.

PlayNation becomes the first national playground manuf-acturer to make the switch to arsenic-free preserved wood. The company now uses Preserve Plus in all of its operations.

The company first began manufacturing playgrounds built with Preserve Plus in 1998. Six months after their introduction, playgrounds built with Preserve Plus accounted for 807o of PlayNation's total sales.

T{ $feoitrec Co, hs I 600) ??0098{ 2il.Jfi{n?l raeffit}t#2?tr

Engineered Wood Training Online

APA-The Engineered Wood Association now offers free online training to help keep dealers and distributors current on the characteristics and common applications of engineered wood products.

Completion of the class allows you to:

. Answer common questions about engineered wood products and their applications:

Better communicate the benefits of wood structural panels and other engineered wood products; Help customers select the right product for the job; Give customers valuable installation tips, and Increase sales effectiveness and help better serve customers.

Presented in an easy-to-navigate Web format, APA's Wood University is housed at www.wooduniversity.org. Its mission is to expand architects' and building professionals' understanding of engineered wood products and applications through engaging curriculum, which is based on APA's extensive resources.

The products covered include l-joists, glulam beams and wood structural panels, such as plywood, OSB and composite panels.

Wood University courses are free, and classes are always in session. Courses are accredited by the American Institute of Architects continuing education system and the American Institute of Building Designers continuing education program.

Course l0l: Engineered Wood Basics, serves as Wood University's backbone. lncluded are five units, each taking about an hour to complete.

Unit l: Understanding Engineered Wood Products

Unit 2: Selling Engineered Wood

Unit 3: Structural Wood Panel Grades and Application

Unit 4: Glulam Basics

Unit 5: Understanding l-Joists

Wood University's learning center also includes a comprehensive engineered wood glossary, current product specifications and design tables, streaming video clips of engineered wood product manufacturers, and nearly 300 APA publications available for download as PDF files.

Media Stands Up To Radicals

Recently, newspapers have begun refusing to run attack ads from radical environmental groups.

Anti-timber coalitions have used full page ads to pressure retailers to stop selling wood products. Some newspapers readily accept green-group ads making the most outrageous claims so long as they skirt the libel law. Other newspapers used to do the same, but now a few are holding environmentalist attacks to a higher standard than merely evading prosecution.

In March, The Boston Globe refused to run an attack ad against office products retailer Staples. Berkeley, Ca.based Forest Ethics, which has never filed an IRS report form and doesn't exist in California Department of Justice non-profit organization records, submitted the ad. The group apparently is a front for the multi-million-dollar Rainforest Action Network (RAN). Claiming that "thousands of acres of forest are needlessly destroyed every year to supply Staples with cheap, disposable paper products," the ad urged readers to contact Staples' c.e.o. to "ask him to stop destroying our forests." Critics say the campaign was designed to force Staples into the RAN-supported certifica-

tion program of the Forest Stewardship Council.

When The Globe refused to run the ad, Forest Ethics offered to remove the phone information. The Globe still refused to run an ad that mentioned Staples by name.

The Seattle Times, too, acted responsibly by refusing to run a different Rainforest Action Network ad, one proposed during the Green Building Conference, a meeting held recently in Seattle to persuade builders to stop using wood.

RAN wanted an advertisement that smeared the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, calling it "a sham" and urging wood buyers to give preference to FSC-certified wood. Shots also were taken at SFI participants Interfor and Boise Cascade.

The Seattle Times refused to run the ad. The sticking point, according to Todd Paglia, anti-logging campaign director, was the mention of Interfor and Boise Cascade by name. But "at that point, the ad is worthless," Paglia said.

But Lloyd Stull, the newspaper's national sales manager, said The Seattle Times only requested documentation to support RAN's assertions.

roducts

Plant By Numbers has three different flower bed plans that list how many of each flower are needed, as well as a number for each plant that matches one of the numbers on the fabric.

The product is made of continuous, 1007o polypropylene filaments and will reportedly last indefinitely when covered with 3"-4" of mulch.

Circle No. 804

Through The Looking Glass

A pre-finished, composite, double hung window designed for energy efficient performance is new from MW Windows & Doors.

Vinyl For The Outdoor Life

Extruded vinyl railings and fencing formulated for outdoor exposure have been introduced by Superior Aluminum Products.

The products are said to resist color changes from environmental factors and yellowing. They contain

impact modifiers, which improve strength and prevent denting, splitting, blistering, and peeling.

All the products in the series are available in 6' or 8' sections and heights of 36" or 42".

Circle No. 801

Portable Vise Squad

Record Hand Tools has introduced a portable vise that is said to provide the same stability of stationary vises.

Two-Way Tool Holster

The first universal drill holster that fits both right- and left-hand users is new from DeWalt.

The D5120 is made from ballistic nylon and holds pistol-grip and midhandle drills. It measures 6" wide and 14" tall and has a reinforced belt loop tunnel guaranteed not to tear.

Circle No. 802

The Quick Vise features a slideand-lock mounting system, allowing a base to be mounted wherever a clamp is needed.

The vise weiehs 3.5 lbs. and has more than a quaiter ton of clamping pressure. It is manufactured from glass-filled nylon and needs no lubrication.

Circle No. 803

Throw A Garden Party

A 7'x3' landscaoe fabric with numbered circles to tell gardeners what and where to plant, while also keeping out weeds is new from Typar.

The MW Unity window is constructed with a full depth wood frame, composite two piece sill, blind stops, and classic brick mould.

The window comes with 3/4" Warm-Edge insulating glass and has a tilt balance system for cleaning.

Circle No. 805

Say lt Paint So

A gel that is said to safely remove multiple coats of paint, varnish, epoxy and polyurethane from wood, concrete, masonry, brick, plaster, metal, stone and fiberglass is new from Abatron, Inc.

Non-caustic,

environmentally

friendly ClearStrip contains no harsh solvents, has a very low odor and is non-fl ammable and biodegradable.

Circle No. 806

Pro Sales Software

An automated routine and scheduling software system foi builders and their components suppliers is new from InterGis.

The Visual Control Room is a graphically driven real-time system which is said to solve field resource management problems involved with the movement of people, products and equipment.

The software was designed for Windows NT, but it also operates with Windows 95/98.

Circle No. 807

Things Are Heating Up

Enerjee has introduced a two-way thermostatic valve for non-electric floor zone control.

Pot Holes Be Gone

An instant concrete from Garon Products reportedly becomes three times harder than ordinary concrete after one hour of setting.

Hy-Speed 500 comes in 5-gallon pails and when mixed with water is said to repairs potholes by expanding and locking in a permanent patch of concrete.

Circle No. 810

Five Foot Panel Discussion

A new 5' plywood panel that increases yield and reduces waste is new from Columbia Forest Products. One foot wider than standard plywood, CFP 60's measure 60"x96" and are available with paper backings,

for durability and impact resistance.

The large, interlocking edges provide a wide contact area, and the product is said to resist winds up to 160 mph.

Circle No.812

Open Sesame

A patio door system which is said to have a 2OVo greater viewing area and 3/4" Low-E insulated slass for

The HRF Valve is used in new radiant floor heating installations to permit zone control of individual rooms while requiring no wiring. It is designed to accept typical PEX tubing connections.

Circle No. 808

Backerboard Gets Better

Custom Building Products recently increased the compaction of its cementitous WonderBoard backerboard.

The new model reportedly is stronger, with less crumbling and improved workability when using nails and screws. It comes with a lifetime warranty.

Circle No. 809

featuring either panicleboard or MDF cores.

Sales representatives will use a software program to determine the size and number of panels needed. Standard 4' wide panels are still be available.

Circle No. 811

Ghoose Up Sides

Extra-thick vinyl siding with a snap-lock system to create a more secure, stable connection between panels is new from Rollex Corp. Eagle siding panels are 0.46" thick

increased energy efficiency is new from Premdor.

The PremVu Gold Patio Door System features flush glazed glass reinforced plastic and has a solid core of polyurethane that reportedly provides five times more insulation than wood doors.

It is a stainable/paintable unit with true stile and rail oak grain patterns.

Circle No. 813

on ony New Produ(t

is ovoiloble by circling the corresponding Reoder Service number opposite lhe inside bock cover ond sending the form to New Produch Iditor FAX to 949-852-0231, by E-moil to rfoy@ioc.net, by moil to 4500 Compus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beoch, [0. 92660, or by colling (e4e) 852-r 990.

The Chairman Of The Board

A non-wood, polymer board designed for trim, fascia, and soffit cornerboards is now available fiom Vycom.

The Trim-Tec Trim Board reportedly will not rot, split or absorb moisture. It comes with a 25-year manufacturer's warranty.

Circle No. 814

Have Forklift,Will Travel

A forklift trailer from Premco Products is said to eliminate the difficulty of tilt beds or dangerous loading ramps. One person reportedly can load it in poor conditions with the deck raising hydraulically in less than l5 minutes.

The trailer has a 6'xl2' deck and a 10,000-lb. carrying capacity. It also f'eatures a self--contained hydraulic system,

all-steel tubular chassis. built-in lockable storage. and a diamond steel deck plate.

Circle No. 8'15

Windows Compatible

Andersen dealers can now create and submit quotes using new software from Computer Associates Inc.

The Andersen Windows Intelligent Quote (IQ) system polls parts numbers, pricing and descriptions. Other products can be added, providing a single quote for all lumber and millwork items.

Circle No. 816

A Jack-Of-All-Trades

A multi-task tool that scrapes, trims, and cuts is new from American Safety Razor.

SmartEdge features a push-and-turn dial that allows the user to turn the blade to one of four safety lock positions. It also features ground carbon-blue blades and an ergonomically correct handle.

Circle N0.817

Up On The Roof

A roofing system that reportedly reduces HVAC costs by as much as 307o to 50Vo is now available from Specialty Products.

This Pen Has All The Angles

Fisher Space Pen has introduced a new pen with a variety of useful tools for construction professionals and d-iyers.

The Carpenter Pen can be used for jotting down marks, notes, or measurements at any angle, even upside down, on trim, drywall, lighting fixtures, wet lumber, or steel.

The Polyshield HiE is a two-component, elastomeric, polyurea coating for application over sprayed polyurethane foam roofing systems.

Circle No. 818

Discover A New Siding

Vinyl siding designed to emulate the warmth and beauty of natural cedar shingles is new from Mastic.

Cedar Discovery Premium Siding is an injection molded panel that is reportedly easy to cut with snips and can be flexed and bent when installing in tight spots. The C-Lok system gives it a secure, continuous lock over the entire length of the panel.

It reportedly will not split, rot, peel, or chip like natural cedar shingles. The siding comes with a lifetime limited warTanty.

Circle No.819

Corbels & Columns

Western red cedar columns that come with or without decorative corbels are new from Latham Stairs & Millwork. The cedar is from British Columbia and the color varies .from light to dark reddish brown. The cedar columns are said to have a long life and are resistant to most insects.

Circle No. 820

Just Hanging Out

Adjustable hangers for I-joists or plated trusses that have extra long straps and can be field-formed for height are new from Simpson Strong-Tie.

THAISL/R and THASL/R adiustable hansers feature positive-angle nailing which reportedly helps eliminate splitting of the I-joist's bottom flange.

They come factory skewed from 45" to 84" for 2x or double 2x trusses and l-3l4" I-joists,9-l/4" to 14" deep.

Circle No. 821

The product has several features built into its body, including a horizontal and vertical level, an angle gauge, a ruled scale in inches and centimeters, and a magnetic strip to pick up stray nails or attach the pen to metal surfaces.

The pen element can be removed from the body to reach into tight spaces or to take advantage of the ruler, and the implement is said to write without fail in extreme heat and cold, on wet, moist, or glossy surfaces, even underwater.

Circle No. 822

o Airport Runway/Parking Lot Golf Course Storm Drains

o Industrial Waste Water Applications

o Constructed Wetlands

o Landfill Drainage

literqture

Saving Energy

Energy Conservation with Comfort Manual and Handbook, a step-by-step guide to setting up an energy conservation program, is free from Honeywell, (800) 345-6770, ext. 435.

Clear As Glass

A catalog featuring updated lines of glass film overlays is free from Outwater Plastic Industries, 4 Passaic St., WoodRidge, N.J. 07075; (800) 631-8375.

Even The Kitchen Sink

A 24-p., full-color guide featuring a range of bathroom and kitchen building products is free from Swan Corp., I City Centre, St. Louis, Mo. 63101; (314) 2318 148.

Starter Kit For Stores

Retail Business Kit for Dummies, a book and CD kit on branding and distinguishing yourself in the market by retail expert Rick Segal, is $29.99 from Dummies Press, IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., 909 3rd Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022: (212) 884-5000.

Taking The Guesswork Out

National Mechanical Estimator, a 950p. illustrated book on estimating techniques for every aspect of the HVAC industry, is $140 from Fairmont Press, 700 Indian Trail, Lilburn, Ga.3OO4'7; (770\ 925-9388.

Renewable Resources

Growing For Tomorrow, a l4-minute video on sustainable logging and sawmilling practices in the Northwest, is free from the Colville Indian Precision Pine Co., Box 3293, Omak, Wa. 98841; (509) 826-592'7.

The Digital Age

A 7-p., full-color brochure on point-of -sale systems for building material dealers is free from Enterprise Computer Systems, www.ecs-inc.com; (800) 569 -6309.

Wholesale lmprovements

The Wholesale Distribution Customer Speaks is $100 from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, 1725 K Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20006: (202) 872-0885.

The Solution ls Concrete

Concrete Homes: Built-in Safety, an8min. video that compares tornado and hurricane resistance of concrete walls to their wood and steel-frame counterparts, is $4.95 from the Portland Cement Association, 5420 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, ll. 6007'7 ; (847 ) 966-6200.

Weld Over

An 8-p., full-color brochure on the Invertec V350-Pro welding power source is free from Lincoln Electric Co., 22801 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, Oh. 44117; (2r6) 581-8100.

Let's Do The Twist

A 6-p., full-color brochure on electrical twist-ons for all applications is free from King Safety Products, 3801 Lloyd King Dr., St. Charles, MO 63304; (800) 633-0232.

It's Easy Being Green

GreenSpecDirectory, a 362-p. guide of more than 1,500 green building products and materials, is $79 from GreenSpec,

Building Products Bonanza

Source Book, a I I I -p. catalog of lumber, building materials and millwork, is free from Ring's End Lumber, (800) 3901000.

Kindly Step In

The Craftsman Collection and Shaker door series are previewed in a free fullcolor brochure from Simpson Door Co., (800) 952-4057.

Breaking the Mould

The Final Touch, a 49-p. catalog and guide of decorative moulding ideas, is free from KraftMaid Cabinetry, 15535 State Ave., Middlefield, Oh. 44062: (440't 6325333.

Millwork Solutions

A 170-p. technical catalog, a15-p. product catalog and a 5-p. product guide on urethane millwork products are free from StyleSolutions, 960 Barre Rd., Archbold, Oh. 43502; (800) 446-3040.

Custom Designed

BuildingGreen,lnc., 122 Birge St., Suite 30, Brattleboro, Vt. 05301; (800) 8610954

Make lt Fast!

A residential construction catalog on cordless and pneumatic power fasteners is free from Paslode, (8OO) 682-3428.

The ldes Of Arch

A 4-p., full-color brochure on arched cased openings for transforming ordinary doorways into elegant, architecturallydetailed archways is free from CurveMakers, Inc., (800) 999 -57 92.

A catalog of select milwork and custom doors and mouldings is $10 from Select Millwork, 383 East D. Ave., Kalamazoo, Mi. 40004; (800) 349-2056.

Assisted Living

An 8-p., full-color guide of ADA-compliant bath fixtures for assisted living is free from Swan Corp., (314) 231-8148.

Panned Again

Information on ProForm shower pans, curbs, slope panels and niches is available in a free, 8-p. brochure from W.R. Bonsal Co., Box 241148, Charlotte, N.C. 28224; (704\ 525-1621.

Fro* our beginnings in 1940, we've used teamwork to provide our customers with outstanding service and quality products.

ToOay, the Bean Team works just as hard to ensure that the Southern Pine products we manufacture meet rigid quality standards.

!Vl"n you call, rest assured you'll talk to a human being, not a machine. We'll prove to you that we mean it when we talk about unequalled customer service.

rTt

I he gentlemen in the old photo above worked hard to position tbat log so that each board that left the sawmill was as perfect as they could make it. Just like today.

W, t"r" there for you yesterday, we're here fbr you today and we'll be here for you tomorrow. Count on it.

Th, B"un Team is backed up by two sawmills, three pressure treating cylinders, a deck accessories shop and dry kilns for KDAT.

The Bean Team, circa 1942-1943

uolres

Louis J. Greco, 48, United Plywood Industries, Mocksville, N.C., died of heart disease May 6.

He had served as an associate member representative of the Architectural Woodwork Institute board of directors.

Jack Peters, 93, retired senior sales representative, Hearin Lumber Co., Largo, Fl., died June 8.

He worked in the industry for 50 years until retiring from Hearin Lumber in 1986.

A. J. Waechter, Jr., 87, retired attorney and legal counsel for the Southern Forest Products Association, Kenner, La., and the southern pine industry for over 40 years, died from complications of a blood disorder June 16.

A graduate of Tulane Law School in 1936, he served as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later became a partner at the law firm Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, New Orleans, La.

Ex-Depot Worker Kills 2, Self

A former Home Depot worker killed his former girlfriend, another woman, and himself at the Morrow, Ga., store July 14.

Brandon Bolton. 22.had worked at the suburban Atlanta Home Depot along with 20-year-old Lisa Atkins.

Friends of both Bolton and Atkins claim a recent break up had caused obsessive, angry behavior on Bolton's part.

The shooting occurred at 8 a.m. as the stored opened. Police say no customers were involved.

Atkins was shot several times in the head. Employee Tiffany Busch, 2J, was shot in the head and died later in surgery.

Another employee sustained gunshot wounds, but remained in good condition at an area hospital.

After the shots were fired, Bolton exchanged gunfire with police outside the store before returning inside and shooting himself in one of the aisles.

Traders Market Keeps Growing

The North American Wholesale Lumber Association expects more than 2,000 wholesalers, manufactur-

ers, wholesaler-processors, importers and service providers to attend its annual NAWLA Traders Market Oct. 10-13 in Dallas, Tx.

The show is highly regarded as cost-effective both to attend and exhibit. In addition to the trade show itself, there are educational sessions, professional development presentations, and free time for networking.

This year's keynote speaker is Ken Schmidt, former director of corporate and financial communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Co.

Seminars include "Guaranteed Successful Selling through Listening" by Manny K. Steil, "Global Influences on the North American Wood Products Market" by Dr. Sam Sherrill, C.C. Crow Publications, and "U.S./Canadian Softwood Lumber Trade Update" by Jon Anderson, Random Lengths.

In addition, as part of the Cyber Connection exhibit area this year, a classroom will be set up to stage several 15 to 20 minute "quickie classes" on different technology-related topics. For more details, see the special preview of the NAWLA Traders Market in next month's Building Products Digest.

ploce

Rates: 25 words for $25, additional words 70Q ea. Phone number counts as I word, address as 6. Headline or centered copy, $6 per line. Private box or special border, $6 ea. Column inch rate: $45

camera-ready, $55 if we set the type. Names of advertisers using a box number cannot be released. Address replies to box number shown in ad c/o Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660-1872. Make checks payable to Cutler Publishing. Mail copy to above address, Fax to 949-852-0231 or call (949) 852-1990. Deadline for copy is the 20th of the month. Payment must accompany copy unless you have established credit with us.

Flint River Forest Products Wholesale Opportunity

We have a great opportunity for a proven, high integrity sales professional. The position is in Perry, Georgia.

As the first salesperson, all accounts are open to you as we start together on the ground floor. Why should you come with us?

1. We have been in the lumber business since 1919.

2. We have a 4,{+l credit rating.

3. The "good accounts" are not already "locked up."

4. Insurance and 401k is available.

5. The quality of life in Perry is THE BEST!

Our community of Peny is the finest "little city" in Georgia with a population of 10,000. It is on Interstate 75 thirty minutes south of Macon and ninety minutes south of Atlanta. We have excellent schools and a great private school (K4-12). Our private school is college prep with all graduates going to college.

We have a wonderful opportunity and will be very selective. Call us at (888) 605-7601 and ask for Roy Gentry.

WANTED: Plywood/OSB strips, drops; sound, square, uniform, dry, thickness l/4 through23132. Prefened width, 3-l12, 5-l/2 or wider. Length 32 to 96 inches or Ionger. Mixed or truckload. Send price and availability to FAX #901-682-8501, or mail ro: Lumber Source, 4746 Spottswood, Memphis, Tn. 38 I I 7. Phone (888) 576-8723 (LSOURCE).

COMPLETB REMAN & FINGERIOINT PLANT FOR SALE IN WACO. TEXAS

7 acres of land served by MP Railroad. Lumber storage sheds, dry kiln, priming line.

All equipment to manufacture door jambs and F/J studs.

Cafl Scotty Aston at (972) 494-2516 or Bob Crandall at (254) 799-4991.

FOR SALE: (2) 75 h.p. Ingersol Rand air compressors, $1,000 each. (l) 75 h.p. Gardner Denver screw air compressor, $6,000. (l) 15,500-lb. Hyster forklift, $15,000. (2) Samuel plastic strapping machines with OMS heads, $18,000 each. (1) Interlake plastic strapping machine, $8,000. Call (540) 483-5264, ext. 231.

100 MBF 2xl2xRlL, #4 common pecky incense cedar, $135/1\4. Jerry @ RPF Lumber, (800) 655-0350.

DRY KILN STICKS

HONDURAN HEART PINE FLOORING

IPE & OTHER HARDWOOD DECKING BOARDS

Interamerican Wood Products has available for sale hardwood dry kiln sticks from Malaysia, heart pine Honduran flooring, and imported decking boards. We can ship all over the U.S. Please call us for a quote at (912) 2830353 and ask for James Stovall. Your complcte satisfaction is our guarantee.

Auum

Georgia-Pacif ic .................... (800) 866- 1 41 4

Lumber C0rp..................................

Southern Wood Preservino.........

Lumber Co., Inc

Lumber Co.

Arxmsls

Anthony Forest Products Co. Bean Lumber Co., curt .......14001 zsz-i526 Dellic Timber Corp.

Hoover Treated Wood Products................... Weyerhaeuser Co. White River Hardwoods...

Brothers.................(800) 542-6777 (828) 584-0785

Building Products ol America .........................(800) 962-1 51 8

Buildscape.. ........(888) 552-0061

......(941) 768-5248

Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc. .............(904) 258-781 8

Lumbermen's Underwriting Alfiance,,.,..,,....,..(800) 327-0630

McEwen Lumber Co. (Delray Beach).............(561) 276-5155

McEwen Lumber Co. (Jacksonville) ...............(904) 783-01 70

McEwen Lumber Co. (Orlando)......................(407) 299 4280

McEwen Lumber Co. (Tampa) .......................(813) 248-41 1 1

Pacific Forest Products........(800) 845-0224 (877) 955-9663

Precision Architectural Products, Inc..............(888) 966-3777

Robbins Mlg. (Ft. lilyers) ....(800) 330-2219 (941) 334-2219

Robbins Mtg. (Orlando) .... .(800) a32-8858 (407) 293-0321

Robbins Mfg. (Tampa) ...... .(800) 282-9336 (813) 971-3030

Southeastern l\4etals Mlg. C0.......,.................(904) 757-4200

Southern Pine Inspection 8ureau...................(904) 434-261 1

Southern Pine Timber Pr0ducts............,..,.....(800) 229-7463

Southern Wire Cloth C0.......(800) 345-6589 (305) 688-2572

Weyerhaeuser BMD (Jacksonville) ................(800) 342-5955 (904) 783-2007

Weyerhaeuser Bl\,lD (Pompano Beach).,.,,.,,.(800) 432-0655 (954) 946-51 1 1 Gronon Arauco Wood Products, Inc..................... .......(770]| 379-9270 Arch Wood Protection .......,.., (770) 801-6600 Burt Lumber Co. ......(706) 678-1 531 Georgia Lumber Co , .. .....(800) 995-8627

Georgia-Pacific....................(770) 953-7000 (800) 866-1414

Glen Oak Lumber & Mi11in9

0runom

Sour Cmorm

Trrrrsr:

Turs

Mississippi Lumberyard Celebrates 75th

Y-D Lumber Co., Belzoni, Ms., is celebrating its 75th year of continuous family operation. Ownet W,L. Solornon ItrI noted that although "things are tough down here at the moment," he sees the recent dip in the U,S. economy as just a side-bar when considered from the vantage point of 75 years in business.

The company h*s been owned by the Solomon family since its founding in 1926 by Will Solornon, who prior to founding Y-D, worked for the railroad in Greenville, Ms.

Will Solornon began the business in April of 1926, only to haye the yard and store destroyed one year later by the Mississippi Delta flood of 1927. A.lthough the flood

Big Boxes Attract Each Other

An increasingly familiar scene nationwide finds Home Depot and Lowe's units located directly across the st''eet from one another, a setup some view as advantageous to both stores, despite initial customer losses.

"They can actually draw off each others' customers," says marketing professor Gayle Marco.

Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing, advertising and communications, says that when a Home Depot operates across the street from a Lowe's, which is the case at 57 locations nationwide, everything from store management to parking lot lines to store signage is carefully reviewed.

"We'll step back and make sure we go over it two or three times to make sure that store's performing as it should be," he says, adding that the

water was 5' high in the buildings, a fire started by lime and cement mix actually accounted for most of the destruction.

W.L. "Mr. Red" Solomon Jr. joined the business after WW II, running Y-D Lumber with his father until the former's retirement in 1976. "Mr. Red" retired in 1987 to let his son W.L. Solomon III run the business, thus becoming the third generation of Solomons at the reigns of the Belzoni company.

In 1948 Y-D Lumber acquired a ready mix plant in Belzoni and another in Hollandale, Ms., in 1965. The plants were sold in 1997 and 1994 respectively.

According to Solomon III, no official anniversary celebrations have been planned as of yet.

average nine-month period between the inking of a real estate deal and the store opening is ample time to prepare.

"Any kind of business hit we take, as customers might try a competitor. is short-lived," he says. "If stores aren't in great shape, or if management isn't in great shape, you run the risk of losing customers to a competitor."

Gfeller said customer loyalty in the home improvement sector is not as high as most people think. "We like it when we open up a Lowe's across from a Home Depot," he says. "We're finding that the consumer is more critical and analytical in how they make their choice. We're finding we can go toe to toe."

Nevertheless, Marco says, history says one of the giants has to fail. "It's destined to happen," he asserts. "After all, how much more can we fix up?"

THBEE GENERATI0I{S: Y-D Lumber leaders (L-r) W.L. Solomon Jr., and W.L.'Larr/ Solomon lll.

"Will'Solomon. W.L. "Red"

or call (949) 852-1990 or mail to Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca.92660-1872.

Building Products Digest - August 2001

Name (P/ease print)

For more information on products or companies (see list at right), circle the appropriate Reader Service FAX Response number(s):

For more information from advertisers, use FAX Response numbers in brackets.

Arauco Wood Products [1131........23

Arch Wood Protection [101].Cover I

Bean Lumber Company 11221.......33

Bowie Sims Prange [115] ...............25

Buildscape t1291..................Cover IV

Building Products Digest.....Cover II

Can Trim [114] )L

Computer Associates, Inc. [06]......7

Cox Wood Preserving [lO8].....17, 22 Crows [107]

Crumpler Plastic Pipe [121] ..........31

DLH Nordisk t1051...........................6

Distribution Management Systems, Inc. [103].... ..............3

Elder Forest Products, Inc. [128] Cover III

Elder Wood Preserving t1251 ........36

Glen Oak Lumber & Milling t11U

Hankins, Inc. [123] .........................34

Hood Industries [117].....................27

International Paper Co. [112] .......21

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. [110]........19

Lumber Tag Specialties [116]........26

Want to Subscribe? Check the appropriate boxes to begin receiving your monthly issues.

Maze Nails t1261 .............................37

Northstar Vinyl Products [109].....18

Pacific MDM Products t1041...........5

Precision Architectural Products t1021

Savannah Wood Preserving Company If f 9]...........................30

News or Comments? We welcome your comments on articles, the magazine, or news of your company such as promotions, new hires, expansions or acquisitions (Tftis is afree service)'.

Smith Millwork [127].........Cover III

Somerset Door & Column Company t1181........... ............30

Swan Secure Products t1241..........34

Save money on your inventory by stocking cypress in place of redwood and cedar. This beautiful, versatile, all around species, for exterior and interior use, finishes better than cedar or redwood and is more stable than southern pine.

LARGE INVENTORIES ON HAND, STANDARD ITEMS

0r we can mill to your specs-any pattern siding, plus finish, S4S, fine bevel/bungalow sidings, 1" sidings, paneling, ceiling, wainscot stock and

flooring. All kiln dried, from finish to common grades. No order too small.