BIE ,n cReeK

expanded our Simpson line as well as paints, stains and caulking. And we're now able to add new and interesting products, such as Flexi-Fence, which adds louvers on top."

And, a grand, new opportunity to showcase Big Creek's prime claim to fame. redwood: redwood harvested, milled and sold by the company, both wholesale and retail, for fence and decking use.

Although the move took place literally overnight ("We closed the old place on a Friday night in March and opened in the new site on Saturday morning"), it only looked easy. Behind that seamless transition were months of planning. "A lot of time went into the design," Johann notes. "We prepared to-scale floor plans to facilitate the move, so the store was completely set before opening. It was an incredible amount of work, but we had the expertise of the whole company behind it. We'd decided early on that this wasn't a one-man job, but a shared responsibility, so we matched people to the task-our best and most experienced foremen, managers, etc. "And that philosophy worked really well. (I've been involved in other business's moves," he says, "and never seen one so smooth.) The store's staff remains at 12, but because of solid planning, they can handle the greatly expanded space."

Probably because its people are Big Creek's biggest asset. Sure, lots of operations make that claim, but Big Creek walks the talk. Not only does it promote from within, but "we create our own lumber people," Johann attests. "There's a lumber language, a lumber culture, and nowhere can you learn that but on the job. We take the effort to both train and retain our employees."

Big Creek offers competitive salaries and benefits indeed, but beyond those basics, it provides education-big time. Big Creek University offers l2 classes-one a month, "with lots of homework in between"-for selected employees, "to develop leaders, managers and supervisors. I went through the first class myself," affirms Johann, "and found it extremely helpful for moving up in the company. I'd started here driving a small truck, and now I'm a branch manager. And that's common" in this culture, he claims.

Additionally, Big Creek pays class costs for job-related courses at community colleges and offers ESL (English as a second language) training for its Latino employees.

Premier staff translates to premier service. Contractors stay loyal "because we go the extra mile," professes Johann. "We'll take the time to talk them through their project and make sure they have the right product-for instance, alerting them that the fire code recently changed regarding siding, venting and roofs. Plus, we offer green products and guidelines on certification," huge here in California. And," he adds, "we delivet."

Recently, that delivery system has entered the electronic age. "We changed from individual deliveries to a centrally-dispatched system, indicated on a wide-screen TV in the store that allows everyone to see a delivery's course in real time. Plus, there's no more overlap-no trucks passing on the highway or returning empty. With this system, we've achieved a 25Vo savings in trucking costs. We're excited!"

Give owner Bud McCrary credit for further economies and ease of operation. He's what Johann calls "a mechanical genius," who's invented and patented an hydraulic beavertail truck that sports a full-length, widetail ramp that rolls and rotates to drop loads with utmost care. "It makes for safer, undamaged delivery of lumber, which our pros love. (On those [big ticketl jobs, if there's lousy-looking lumber, their customers call 'em on 1t.' )

Bud also has designed a loadbuilding machine that builds loads without a forklift and is more efficient. Plus, it's low-emission-"the same as propane," explains Johann. "And only 24 horsepower," a major plus with the new California standards, which kick in at 25. "Other truckers will be circling Sacramento with pitchforks" when it's enforced, Johann foresees.

Big Creek can offer its customers not only quality but competitive pricing, partly because the multi-yard company can leverage savings by buying for six stores, but also because, as Johann explains, "We buy, sell and trade with each other on a daily basis."

Contractors also know that Big Creek is the go-to yard for special orders. "They work on a lot of historic, old homes-and, even though we're one of the smaller yards in Central California, we have the best selection of traditional redwood siding for historic-preservation use," Johann declares. D-i-yers swarm here for major purchases, too. Says Johann, "It's not for a drawer pull, but rather, 'Is my deck plan going to work?'

"Here, with outdoor living yearround, homeowners don't hold back. We just sold an outside shower, plus some incredible pergolas; they're creating some spectacular outdoor living spaces. That's why I enjoy doing business here. Plus, the company has a long-term vision and significant history. It's a pleasure to be around."

- A former award-winning LBM trade magafine editor, Carla Waldemar writes frequently on the industry. Contact her at cwaldemar@ comcast.net.

Rrrlrrtns

Badger Building Center, Post Falls, Id., plans to build store #3 within one to two years, on a 4.3acre site in Bonners Ferry, Id., ...

Miner's Ace Hardware this month will open a new 18,279-sq. ft. store in Nipomo, Ca. (Sandi Cenovini, mgr.)

Orchard Supply Hardware opened new stores Sept. 24 in Santa Rosa, Ca., and Sept. 4 in Fairfield, Ca.

Building Materials Holding Corp., Boise, Id., has been delisted from the OTC Bulletin Board: the chain, which moved from the New York Stock Exchange less than a year ago, hopes to emerge from Chapter 1l bankruptcy before the end ofthe year...

Builders FirstSource is considering an investment proposal from its two largest stockholders, JLL Partners Fund V and Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, to restructure its debt

Habitat for Humanity is opening a ReStore discount LBM outlet this month in Cheyenne, Wy., and a 30,000-sq. ft. unit next month in Salt Lake City, Ut. (mgr. Bill Huntzinger, warehouse mgr. Layne Burrows, asst, mgr. Stephanie Carter)

C .R. Laurence Co ., Los Angeles, Ca., added a 55,000-sq. ft. DC in Sunrise, Fl. ...

Center Hardware, San Francisco, Ca., was rammed by a stolen van early Sept. 29, causing at least $30,000 in damage to a folding metal door and store merchandise; investigators are checking surveillance film and seeking the two men who fled from the scene

Parr Lumber, Hillsboro, Or., was honored by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and

SW Washington with its Partners of Distinction Award

Wrolrluns/tlrurrcrurrns

Peterman Lumber has relocated its Las Vegas, Nv., operations to a larger facility, to accommodate increased demand after gaining exclusive rights in Las Vegas for Nevamar's high-pressure laminates line ...

Rosboro has restarted its Springfield, Or., plywood mill on a one-shift basis; the mill had been down since November

Diversified Lumber inked a fouryear lease for a new 18,000- sq. ft. warehouse in Phoenix, Az. ...

Yakima Resources has come under fire from local officials following a massive multi-day, logpile blaze that began Sept. 27 at its wood-chipping operation on Boise Cascade's former mill site in Yakima,Wa....

U.S. Concrefe, Houston, Tx., sold its four ready-mixed concrete plants in Sacramento, Ca., for roughly $6 million to Syar Industries, Napa, Ca. ...

Overhead Door Corp., Dallas, Tx., has agreed to purchase WayneDalton's overhead door business in North America and Europe

Osmose's MicroPro and NatureWood wood preservative technologies have earned Green Approved Send

Have

Product Certification from the National Association of Home Builders Research Center

USG Corp. is closing 30 more L&W Supply building products distribution centers this month; over the last two years, L&W has shuttered 75 locations

Capital's facility in Salt Lake City, Ut., is now the exclusive distributor in Utah of MiraTEC treated exterior composite trim

D.R. Johnson Lumber, Riddle, Or., and Riddle Laminators, Riddle, have been certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards...

ProBuild Holdings, Denver, Co., has been SCORE (Structural Component Operations Reaching for Excellence) certified at the Elite level at 39 of its truss plants, including Phoenix, Az.; Albuquerque, N.M.; four each in Alaska and Washington, and two each in California, Colorado and Oregon ...

LiftTime Lumber, Carlsbad, Ca., rcports that its composite decking, dock and fencing products are now certified as compliant with building codes in San Diego, Ca., including the county's fire hazard severity zones ...

Anniversaries: JS West & Co., Modesto, Ca., 100th Osmose, 75th Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga., 30th Progressive Solutions, Vancouver, B.C., 20th ... Sun Mountain Lumber, Deer Lodge, Mt., 5th ...

(a free service)

Housing starts in August rose 1.57o to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 598,000, the highest level in nine months ... singlefamilv starts fell 3Vo to a vearlv rate of 479,000 units. while multifamily construction jumped 25Vo ... regionally, starts in the West were flat... permits climbed2.TTo to a 579000 annual pace.