Hardwood frorn Gerrnany.

European beech for a modern lifestyle

Beech - the new material for interior decorating, whether contemporary or eclectic in design. lt s a light, versatile wood. From sustainably managed European forests. Get acquainted with its outstanding properties: easy to process, extremely durable, and featuring a smooth surface suitable for your choice of stainino.

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II fhen Jeff Booth and Rob Banks Y Y launched BuildDirect seven years ago, their goal was to change the way building products are sold.

"The building products industry is one of the most fragmented industries in the world," said Booth, who has worked in construction and real estate development. "There are literally millions of manufacturers out there, and because it is such a fractionalized industry, you end up with many layers between the manufacturer and the end customer, all of whom are looking to build a profit into their pricing."

True to its name, the Richmond, B.C.-based company buys directly from top manufacturers in the world and ships directly to customers. Current product lines include flooring, tile, roofing, countertops, and decking. Proprietary shipping and logistics software automatically maps out the best delivery route and shipping method for door- to-door delivery anywhere in North America or to any port worldwide. Purchasers receive instant shipping estimates so they know the exact costs of shipping before they buy.

"We have been able to build the business into what it is today because of the unique advantages we offer to both manufacturers and customers," said Booth. "For manufacturers, we are able to take on all of the costs and work associated with branding, logistics, and marketing for their products intemationally. For volume buyers, we provide unrivalled customer service. the best quality and pricing together with integrated on-time logistics." The company also provides all warranty support and customer service.

After seven years, BuildDirect continues to grow and change. "A lot of companies in the building products industry that used to think of us as a competitor now see us as an ally," said Banks. "There are also some areas where we are just never going to compete. For example, we never plan to get into the business of warehousing product. Our success has been built on providing volume buyers (homebuilders, developers, contractors, remanufacturers, architects, and do-ityourself renovators) with the best quality products shipped directly from the manufacturer."

Some customers, he said, need to have warehoused products that they can pick up or have delivered the same day. "There will always be a need for that business," he said, " and to our benefit, some of the wholesalers and