Merry Ghristmas and Happy Holidays

fr Hns BEEN an interesting year! And, the most interesting part of the year has been the Imost recent. The industry nationally began the year very slow. A long winter gave many companies a late start, and the breakout year that many of us expected did not quite materialize. It was better certainly, but not to the level of most economic forecasts, as housing starts appear to be hitting just over the one million mark. However, any year we make money is a good year, so it has been great to see many more smiley faces of late and the industry beginning to enjoy itself again.

Once the year did get underway-and for many that was April-it became quite busy and, from what I heard, stress levels rose higher, as the industry had to deal with supply and freight issues. Many mills were reporting fully sold out. Now when one considers that housing stafts were, although up, nowhere near projections, and that it was multi-family not single-family driving the starts, it begs the question of what issues will be created by an additional, say,20Vo growth in 2015, which only returns us to traditional building levels. We will realize even more clearly how much capacity has gone out of the industry.

The good news, though, is that for many states, the weather has been kinder, helping to make up for the year's late start. Those working outside have continued to frame, and outdoor projects are still getting completed into November.

Recent trade events we have visited show growing optimism and high expectations for 2015.Indeed, the mood at recent shows has been the best we have felt since the imaginary years of 2005 and 2006.I think the industry should be gearing up for another good increase next year.

That is what we need to feel in this industry-optimism and trust! For many of us, both in our private lives and our business lives, the decisions we make are based on the last seven years or so, therefore we are untrusting and hesitant to move forward and back to normalcy. There is always the fear of what is around the corner. Indeed, when the stock market crashed in October short-term, we all said under our breaths, "Okay, here we go again." With Ebola, issues in Europe, the slowdown in China, we keep being thrown curve balls. In business, it makes management and company boards shy from investing for the future. Many companies are still reluctant to hire, and that does not bode well for stress levels in 2015.

We continue to see acquisitions and mergers, as owners finally, understandably have a chance ofcashing in after the rough years. But it makes finding new and keeping current customers more important than ever. Here at BPD,we often cringe when we hear someone has been bought by or merged with another company, wondering who will be leading the charge after the dust settles. You should hope you are on the side ofthe winner.

As consolidation continues, ensure you are not reliant on a few customers. Some ycars ago, one client told me that they had lost their best customer-who had represented 4OVa oftheir business. Lesson be learned the hard way that you never want one customer representing more than l0% of your business. There is a constant need to seek out and acquire new business, and that is what our magazines are for. Indeed, through my business career, I have tried to never have one client accountins for more than 57o. You never know what is going to happen in life, and I never want to wake up to such news.

Lastly, thank you for all your feedback and comments to us during the year. It has been a great year and one of the most rewarding of my 14 years here. Thank you to our advertisers who have supported us-many through thick and thin-and thank you,loyal readers, for your support. I love to hear from you when something we write impacts the way you do business or helps you in your career.

The new year will bring many exciting things in our industry-even hcre ar BPD. Stay tuned! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and may 2015 be the year we have been waiting forever for.

Alan Oakes. Publisher aioakes@aol.com

Bpii

Building Prcducts lfigest

www.building-products.com

A publication of Cutler Publishing 4500 Campus Dr., Ste.480, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Publisher Alan Oakes ajoakes@aol.com

PresidenUCo-Publisher Patrick Adams padams@building-products.com

Publisher Emeritus David Cutler

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BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST is published monthly at 4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660-1872, (949) 852-1990, Fax 949-852-023'1, www.buildingproducts.com, by Cutler Publishing, Inc. (a California Corporation). lt is an independently owned publication for building products retailers and wholesale distributors in 37 states East of the Rockies. Copyright@2014 by Cutler Publishing, Inc. Cover and entire contents are fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. All Rights Reserved. BPD reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter, and assumes no liability for materials fumished to it.

[rvenv LBM oPennrtoN is differ-U.lent. Some may have multiple yards catering to general construction; others may be smaller operations specializing in high-end homebuilding and remodeling. One might be expanding its product lines; another might think its current site can't accommodate expansion.

Whatever the differences, there's one thing they all have in common: the need for hardworking, efficient storage. The right buildings, sheds and racks, when selected and planned for an LBM retailer's particular site, product mix, and objectives, can meet a multitude of storage and space challenges. Plus, they can bring newfound efficiencies, benefits and growth opportunities.

Versati le, H igh-Density Storage Solutions

When it comes to helping LBM retailers of all types and sizes update their sites, expand their offerings, or open new yards, Sunbelt Rack turns to four workhorses that offer outstanding design flexibility, storage capacity, and material handling and organization efficiency.

L. Drive-thru buildings

These covered rack-supported steel structures protect lumber and other building materials not only from weather damage, but from unnecessary product movement as well.

Access from one or more drive-thru aisles allows materials to be loaded directly onto the customer's truck or trailer. Direct access and streamlined handling also reduces time, labor, and risk of damage when loading product into the building.

Using rack systems to support the roof increases storage capacity and makes this hybrid set-up a far more cost-effective solution than using separate buildings and rack systems.

2.f - o, L-sheds

These offer the same benefits and efficiencies as drive-thru buildines but with a smaller footprint. They can be used when a site can better accommodate multiple smaller structures than one large one, or when the capacity of a drive-thru isn't needed.

T-sheds are ideal for long-length materials like dimensional and treated lumber and engineered wood products, and provide direct, drive-up loading and unloading from two sides.

If two-sided access isn't needed or the site layout doesn't allow for it, Lsheds, with access from one side, provide the same storage functionality as T-sheds. L-sheds work well along property lines, or against the sides of existing buildings.

3. Umbrella sheds and threesided buildings

These are designed for large-quantity bulk-storage of materials like drywall, OSB and other sheet materials, as well as full units of dimensional lumber and studs. The umbrella shed allows loading and unloading from two sides; the three-sided building

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By Ken Brzozowski, Raymond