Moulding a Better America with Quality and Service

Thinking local has allowed a 5o-year-old yard in Vero Beach, FL, to succeed despite competition from big boxes.

"We are a niche business that specializes in stuff that's different," said Jack Sturgis Jr., who co-owns Sturgis Lumber & Plywood with his brother Charlie. "The big boxes carry 80Vo of the things people need. We carry the other 2OVo."

That means everything a homeowner or business needs, including glass cutting and hard-to-find hardware and lumber, is available-or the Sturgis brothers will find it for you.

Founded in 1954 by Jack Sturgis Sr., the business sits on six acres and includes a True Value Hardware store, a lumberyard, and lumber-storage buildings. The family also owns and manages timber hardwood land in Alabama, where the brothers' great-grandfather worked in the lumber business in the 1830s.

"We're an old-style lumberyard," said Jack. "We're heavily into materials for docks and dune crossovers."

Pressure-treated timbers that can survive a Category 5 hurricane are a specialty, as are stainless steel fasteners, nails, screws, and drill parts that can stand up to corrosive sea air.

In addition to standard plywood grades, the yard also carries hardwood plywood in teak, cherry, maple, and African mahogany. Other local favorites are 18"x18" beams and decorative

.: pecky cypress boards.

Service Rates Industry Websites

The Construction Marketing Association has rolled out the Construction Brand Internet Index, a comprehensive rating of the Internet presence of top construction brands based on over 50 variables.

The rating identifies how effective a specific website domain is relative to other websites. The ratings are based on key search engine data, website meta structure, traffic, social media integration (use of blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), inbound links, indexed pages, and more.

"Overall, the top construction brands rate high due to high volume website traffic and large quantities of links; however, a number of missed opportunities were identified with highly rated websites," said CMA chairman Neil Brown. "Certainly, the low-scoring websites lacked social media integration, and in one case, even basic meta data. As we evaluate the top construction brands, it is apparent that we (construction) lag other sectors in Internet best practices. Fortunately, the association addresses these opportunities with programs and training."

Top rated industry sites were www.ridgid.com and www.andersenwindows.com.

CMA's rating service is free to qualified construction brand websites.

ADVERTISERS lndex I

For more in{ornration on advertisers, call them directly or visit their websites lin brackets].

Advantage Trim & Lumber [www.advantagelumber,com]..........13

AERT [www.aertinc.com]

Ainsworth [www'ainsworth.ca].....................................38-39, 44-45

Anthony Forest Products [www.anthonyforest.com] .................23

Arch Wood Protection [www.wolmanizedwood,com].........Cover I

Cedar Creek Wholesale Inc. [www.cedarcreek.com] ............30, 42

Grumpler Plastic Pipe [www.cpp-pipe.coml

Dixie Plywood & Lumber Co, [www.dixieply.com]...........,..........21

Fiberon LLC [www.fiberondecking.coml ............................Gover ll

Fletcher Wood Solutions [www.tenonusa.com] ................,.,...,.,.43

Forest2Market [www.foresUlmarket,com] ....................................33

Krauter Solutions [www.krauter-storage.com]............................31

Landry Lumber Co....

Lee Roy Jordan Lumber Co. [wwwjordanredwood.com]...........41

Mary's River Lumber [www.marysrivedumber.com] ..................28

Mil12Market [www.forest2market.com].........................,...............33

New South [www.gator-guard.com] .........Cover lll

North American Wholesale Lumber Assn. [www. lumber.or gl ...22

Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn. [www.nelma.orgl...40

Peak Auctioneering [www.peakauction.com]............,........,........35

Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance [plmins.com].....37

Richardson Timbers [www.timbersonline.com] ..........................34

RlSl [www.risi info,com/crows]

RoyOMartin [www.royomartin.com] .......,..,........27

Simpson Strong-Tie [wwustrongtie.com]

,...3

Siskiyou Forest Products [www.siskiyouforestproducts.com] ..29

Smith Millwork [www.smithmillwork.com]

Sunbelt [www.sunbeltracks.com]......,.. ...,.,........15

TLC Mouldings [www.tlcmouldings.com],.........,.,,...,.,......Cover lV

U,S, Lumber Group [www.uslumber.com] .......,..25

Viance [www.treatedwood.coml

GatorGuard" treated lumber always delivers. Canfor operates two treating plants in Camden a nd Conwdy, South Ca rolina Both are equlpped with new state-of-the-art control systems to ensure consistent quality. By having control over our fiber resources and lumber treatment, plus delivery by Canfor trucks, we guard the entire process.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 1-800-346-8675 ()R VISIT WWW.GATOR.GUARD.COM