WISCONSIN’S FINEST
A Toast to Bliffert Lumber, the 2024 ProDealer of the Year
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New data on the cost of card transactions
Home Depot takes a stand on packaging
Lumber is
by
From Wisconsin (from left): Ray Weisenbeck, Sturtevant Location Manager; Chris Hegeman, Morgan Avenue, Milwaukee Location Manager; Eli Bliffert, Vice-President and CEO; Lisa Bliffert, Marketing Director; Josh Brown, COO.
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The Golden Hammer strikes again! There’s still time to submit nominations for the best products of the year. Building products, smart home products, tools, gadgets and kitchen sinks — they’re all fair game. Visit HBSDealer.com/Golden
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Openings, closings and acquisitions
Recent updates to the HBSDealer News Map, powered by Epicor, include Carter Lumber’s expansion in South Carolina and Aubuchon Company’s acquisition of four Ace stores in Pennsylvania. For more coast-to-coast activity, visit the continually updated interactive graphic at HBSDealer.com/map
Matt Sauders, CFA, CBE
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From the Editor An existential question
Ken Clark, Editor-in-Chief
When I became a home owner in New Jersey, a friend of mine warned me of an unintended consequence.
“Well, there goes your golf game.”
What do you mean?
“It means you’ll be going to the [national home improvement warehouse retailer] every weekend for the next two years. You won’t have time to play golf.”
I’m here to tell you that my friend was wrong. He was wrong because I did not venture each subsequent weekend into a blue or orange big box for the next two years. There were some weekends where I ventured into a locally owned independent hardware store.
But he was right about the impact of housing turnover on home improvement and remodeling spending. And
sales
Source: National Association of Realtors
the experience gave me an appreciation for the metric produced each month by the National Association of Realtors: Existing home sales.
But wait! Is there too much emphasis on existing home sales?
That’s the question raised by Matt Saunders, senior vice president of building products research for John Burns Research & Consulting. [The free webinar —“Building Products Growth Amidst Uncertainty” — can be replayed at HBSDealer.com/webinars.]
“This metric gets a lot press,” he said, especially as the gure today is running as low as it was during the great nancial crisis. “But we think the low turnover isn’t nearly the headwind for remodeling that it’s made out to be.”
For one thing, he pointed to survey results from 500 professional remodelers who were asked what’s holding them back from achieving stronger growth. Turnover was nowhere near the top of the list.
“Consumer uncertainty” (23 percent), “skilled labor availability” (22 percent),”higher nancing costs of remodeling” (16 percent), “building material costs” (14 percent) and “competitive pressures” (7 percent) all ranked above “weak existing home sales” (6 percent). For another thing, while it is de nitely true that recent movers do spend more on average, there are just a lot more households out there who haven’t moved and don’t intend to. Saunders pointed to a stat showing that only one out of every four remodeling dollars is spent by recent movers and owners preparing there homes for sale.
The question being asked isn’t the right question, he suggested. Instead of: “Do recent movers spend more on average?” It should be: “What share of remodeling spending is driven by movers as opposed to non-movers.”
In Saunders' view, existing home sales are an important metric but overrated in creating a picture of remodeling.
Send your thoughts (and golf tips) to our editors at news@HBSDealer.com
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Levi Smith, CEO, Franklin Building Supply Steve Sallah, former CEO, LBM Advantage
Christi Powell, Women & Minority Business Enterprise Market Manager, 84 Lumber
Neal DeLowery, Store Projects and Merchandise Manager, Aubuchon Co. Brad McDaniel, Owner, McDaniel’s Do it Center
Joe Kallen, CEO, Busy Beaver Building Centers Tom Cost, Owner, Killingworth True Value
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Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (PLM) goes beyond providing coverages with an emphasis on preventing and reducing losses to safeguard our customers' operations. We allocate much of our resources to this purpose, more than many other carriers, to provide our customers with valuable, industry-specific knowledge and services to help them protect themselves, their employees, and their businesses.
Our Loss Control Representatives are experts in all aspects of risk management, especially in the lumber and wood industry. They partner with our customers through consultative services, helpful recommendations, and custom training plans to help mitigate areas of risk and build safer and more resilient lumber businesses.
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Jun Tomagan, Loss Control Representative
Shakeup in the flooring arena
‘YELLOW AND BLACK IS BACK,’ SAYS A FAMILIAR NAME
Throughout 2024, there was one national flooring giant—Floor & Decor—that has been spreading its wings, building its pro business and opening stores.
Another one—LL Flooring—was struggling into bankruptcy, for which it filed in August.
But there’s a new sheriff in town. He’s the founder, and he’s taking LL Flooring and bringing back its original banner: “Lumber Liquidators.” And he’s doing it in dramatic fashion.
Just weeks after the company announced it would be closing all its stores and dissolving the business, LL Flooring finally found a buyer in Miami-based F9 Investments for a “going-concern” sale. F9 is led by Thomas Sullivan, who founded the company as Lumber Liquidators in 1994.
He left in 2016 following a "60 Minutes" report in 2015 related to claims of unsafe levels of formaldehyde in flooring it had imported from China. The report, which led to class-action lawsuits, proved damaging to the brand, which
Scanner violation in the news
changed its name to LL Flooring in 2022.
According to a press release issued by LL Flooring, F9 Investments will acquire 219 stores, along with inventory in those stores and the company’s distribution center in Sandston, Virginia. The transaction also includes LL Flooring’s "intellectual property" and other company assets. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Charles Tyson, CEO of LL Flooring, said, “We are pleased to have reached
In a case that demonstrated the pitfalls of inaccurate and mismatched pricing, the Home Depot agreed to settle a civil complaint arising in California and related to overcharging at the checkout.
The Home Depot will pay nearly $2 million to settle the case.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the complaint alleged that Home Depot charged customers prices higher than Home Depot’s lowest advertised or posted price. Often called a “scanner violation,” the problem occurs when the price on the item, or on the item’s shelf tag, is not the same once the UPC code is scanned at the point-of-sale device or register.
The Atlanta-based retail giant did not admit wrongdoing. It was cooperative in the investigation and has taken steps to correct the violations, according to the DA’s office.
this agreement with F9 Investments for a going-concern sale following significant efforts by our team and advisors to preserve the business and maintain ongoing operations. As we move through the court-supervised process toward the approval and completion of this transaction, we remain committed to continuing to serve our valued customers and working closely with our vendors and partners. I continue to be appreciative of the ongoing focus and efforts of our associates to provide the best experience for our customers.”
Sullivan also shared with the Associated Press that the 219 purchased stores will operate under the company's original Lumber Liquidators banner once again. He's quoted as saying: “Basically, yellow and black is coming back ... We know what worked before. It’s not fancy offices in Richmond with 200 people that didn’t know the flooring business. It’s great people in our stores that know flooring (and) customers that want a great deal and know Lumber Liquidators is the place to go.”
Poll results: Speaking Español
As part of a Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) celebration, 84 Lumber shared the following comment from Luis Moscozo, outside sales coordinator at 84 Lumber’s store in Westminster, Maryland.
“It makes you feel proud, remembering where you’ve come from. Siéntete orgulloso, nunca olvides de tus raíces,” he said. “Feel proud, don’t forget about your roots. We need to remind our future kids where their family came from, that we have Hispanic blood, and teach them our language(s). Remembering this and how hard you’ve worked, how far you’ve come during this month is important to me.”
Learning Spanish is not only a point of pride, it can be a point of business, as the results of a recent HBSDealer poll question demonstrate.
Lumber Liquidators is back, according to its founder.
Q&A with an M&A VIP
It’s a good time for buyers and sellers in the world of building materials, according to Andrew Petryk, managing director of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company and head of the company’s Industrials vertical. Petryk should know, as his firm has completed merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions for businesses representing a wide swath of industrial end markets. He works largely with companies that design, manufacture and market high value-add products, including those that specialize in residential and commercial building products.
Here’s the edited Q&A:
Q: What’s your 2025 outlook on the building products sector?
Petryk: As we sit here today, we expect 2025 to be very strong. There could be one if not two interest rate decreases, which will help relieve current mortgage rate levels. As we see 2024 being a relatively strong year for the economy, we expect consumers to be more confident. New home construction should pick up. The recession everyone expected in 2023 didn’t materialize, and recession fears have been overblown in 2024 as well.
agement tools, whether it’s managing sales or communication with customers and employees. Getting ahead with technology can have a material impact in all functional areas of a business, but it’s crucial to be able to show your work rather than just touting buzzwords. Visit HBSDealer.com for more insights from Petryk.
Product Knowledge
Product: IQ Vise
Manufacturer: Work IQ Tools of Minneapolis, Minnesota
MSRP: Sells for about $280.
Q: What’s some recent M&A activity that’s shaken up the building materials sector, and what’s the current M&A climate?
Petryk: M&A activity in the building products market has been accelerating in 2024 and is well ahead of 2023 pace, with both strategic and private equity buyers showing renewed interest. Rate cuts will drive additional M&A activity as demand for building products will likely improve further.
Additionally, we’re seeing a growing interest from private equity buyers looking to capitalize on the long-term outlook for the building products sector, and they are willing to pay attractive prices for quality businesses.
A QXO bid is rebuffed
Q: How can building products companies maximize their value in a dynamic, volatile housing industry landscape?
Petryk: The valuation drivers don’t change over time. Quality management and high-quality services are essential. Customers want to know that items will be delivered on time and installed properly. Proprietary products can also differentiate companies.
Demonstrating mastery over cutting-edge technology also makes companies more attractive. Buyers are always looking for efficiencies. Higher levels of automation can enable better management of your vendor base and inventory. Design and engineering of new products all benefit from technology as it relates to software and man-
After announcing its intention to enter the building products distribution space, and building its war chest into the billions, QXO hit resistance in its takeover target of France-based electrical components giant Rexel.
Rexel announced in September that its board unanimously decided against pursuing what was a $9.4 billion bid.
Analysts of the nascent company, founded by billionaire businessman Brad Jacobs, describe a plenty-of-fi sh-in-the-sea situation.
“We suspect that QXO will move on to other acquisition opportunities, of which there are many,” wrote an analyst with Oppenheimer & Co.
Knowledge: The IQ Vise is built with a multi-axis articulating balland-socket base with a locking quick cam compression lever. These features allow the vise jaws to operate at any angle, and to quickly adjust into the perfect position. Hands-free plug-and-play work light, magnifying glass and cell-phone holder—each attached to fl exible gooseneck arms—provide additional versatility (sold separately).
Fun fact: The IQ Vise System received a National Hardware Show Rising Star Award.
director of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company.
Hampton Lumber’s Tara Takano
CAREER-JOURNEY ADVICE FROM A SEASONED TRAVELER.
By Robby Brumberg
Tara Takano says her entrance into the world of lumber started with a visit to a temp agency. But her journey to rising the ranks at Oregon-based Hampton Lumber, where she works as a domestic sales support supervisor in Portland, stretched around the world.
After completing her bachelor’s in psychology, the native Oregonian spent time in South Korea teaching English. Afterward, she traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia, which “broadened my view of life,” Takano says. “My biggest hobbies are traveling anywhere and everywhere.”
After arriving back in the States, Takano was unsure which path to pursue. So, she visited a local temp agency in Portland and asked for one stipulation: a company with a good culture and supportive work environment.
According to Takano, she’s found that and more at Portland-based Hampton Lumber. Takano started at Hampton on the invoice team. Today she oversees Hampton’s domestic sales assistants, which entails “a lot of management and process and problem solving,” as well as “helping my team succeed with software issues and working with traders, guring out what the traders need and helping them achieve their goals.”
Takano is also focused on bigger-picture issues. When asked about challenges she’s had to overcome, Takano is passionate about uplifting other women in the workplace.
“Some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced are things like con dence, impostor syndrome and not asking for what I want or need.”
She offers an example pulled from her initial interview at Hampton, where she said something about “not tooting her own horn.” The interviewer conveyed that now was, absolutely, the right time to toot her own horn.
Takano shares that women may some-
“Seek out mentors, and be a mentor to younger people.”
—Tara Takano
times lack the boldness or con dence to speak up at work “with the way society is and what we’re told growing up.” Having a lack of visible role models in traditionally male-dominated industries makes it even more dif cult. “It’s something a lot of men take for granted, that they see people who look like them in positions of power all the time.”
However, Takano is seeing notable gains as far as better representation and more opportunities for females to thrive in the lumber world. “The industry is changing and improving dramatically; I’ve already seen that in my time here.”
To empower women in the industry, Takano helped found Oregon Women in Lumber (OWL), a “coalition dedicated to championing and elevating women in the forest products sector by providing a supportive network advocating for inclusivity and offering tailored resources and mentorship.”
She says the idea for OWL came from a retreat for women in the lumber industry she attended. It was an exclusive (expensive) event, so Takano wanted to offer something more inclusive and accessible. She says she was expecting maybe 50 attendees for OWL’s rst event, held in May 2024, but over 100 women representing a broad swath of lumber and lumber-adjacent elds turned up.
In an industry that’s quickly evolving, Takano shares that it’s a great time for women interested in shaping the future. “There’s a huge need for housing moving forward. It’s a good industry to advance your career in,” she says. Her advice? “Find a company that supports women and provides ample opportunities. Thankfully, Hampton has been very supportive of women
Amid ongoing labor shortages, companies would be wise to make opportunities more attractive and accessible to women.
There’s ample opportunity in the C-suite, too. “We need more higher-level execs, VPs and owners. We need them as role models younger people can look to.”
To get a foothold and an upward trajectory, as with most industries, it’s about building relationships. Takano says it’s vital to create relationships with supportive, uplifting people. “Seek out mentors, and be a mentor to younger people,” she says. Be direct, and ask: How did you get to where you are today?
Can you give me advice? Sometimes that requires boldness. “Be brave. People might say no, but most people want to help and be supportive.”
Discover your purpose, unlock your potential and outperform expectations. Grow Your Career From Within.
WISCONSIN’S FINEST
Bliffert Lumber builds on six generations
By Ken Clark
Milwaukee, Wis.— Cheers to Bliffert Lumber & Hardware, the 2024 ProDealer of the Year, as selected by the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and Hardware & Building Supply Dealer magazine.
Founded in the late 1800s and incorporated in 1904, the 14-location dealer with deep Milwaukee roots goes to market with a promise of “everything you need under one roof.”
All around Wisconsin, the impact of the family business that extends back six generations is displayed in hospitals, stadiums and new homes.
“Driving around with the kids, we would say, ‘Yeah, we built that. We shipped lumber for that,” said Josh Brown, a 23-year company veteran who was recently named COO. “The amount of material we put into this city — it’s immense.”
And the impact is growing. In the past three years, Bliffert has closed on a string of well-thoughtout mergers — including Oostburg Lumber of Oostburg, Wisconsin; Milwaukee Cabinetry and Fillinger Millwork of Milwaukee. Three Chase Lumber locations merged into the Bliffert family in 2023, and Portage Lumber joined in 2024.
But more than just business, Bliffert puts family values at the forefront. Not only with all the uncles, aunts, children, cousins, moms and dads performing various duties across the enterprise, but with long-time customers and suppliers.
“We have three great families,” said fifth-generation leader Eli Bliffert, vice president and CEO. “We have our family of staff. We have a great family of customers — generational customers. And we have a great family of suppliers and vendors. It doesn’t work without all three.”
ABOUT THE AWARD:
The ProDealer of the Year Award is selected by the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association in partnership with Hardware & Building Supply Dealer. This prestigious national award is designed to recognize a high-performance lumberyard with a commitment to values consistent with the lumber and building material industry: excellence in customer stewardship, devotion to its employees and a positive workplace culture.
“We are honored and humbled to be named the 2024 ProDealer of the year,” said Eli Bliffert, vice president and CEO. “We are fortunate to have generations of great customers and dedicated team members that have made winning this award possible.”
The company is slated to accept the award at the 2024 ProDealer Industry Summit in Savannah, Ga., Oct. 10.
What they’re saying about Bliffert
“I was a terrible driver,” says Eli Bliffert, referring to the time when his role was to make deliveries. But don’t be misled by the self-deprecating humor. Bliffert Lumber & Hardware has earned respect well beyond Wisconsin’s borders as an outstanding all-around operator.
At the recent Do it Best shareholder’s meeting in Indianapolis, Do it Best CEO Dan Starr had this to say about Eli and Lisa Bliffert. “They’ve brought an incredible vision and a keen eye for detail that has helped shape the strategic direction of our company,” Starr said. “Eli has never shied away from asking the tough questions and pushing us to go faster to ensure we remain at the forefront of the industry.”
“Bliffert Lumber & Hardware is an incredible company that is more than deserving of the 2024 ProDealer of the Year Award,” said NLBMDA President & CEO, Jonathan Paine. “Bliffert is a wonderful example of a well-run operation that places an emphasis on its employees, customers, charitable contributions, and volunteer service.”
BLD Connection executive director Cody Nuernberg offered: “Bliffert Lumber exemplifies what it means to be an committed member of their community and the organizations that serve their industry. Members of the Bliffert Lumber team have served on various boards and committees and have represented themselves, their state and the industry in Washington D.C. In addition, Bliffert Lumber is committed to the team members and their overall success.”
Do it Best Vice President of LBM Russ Kathrein stated: “Bliffert Lumber truly sets the bar in our industry. Their commitment to valuing their employees, smart purchasing, and always doing the right thing makes them a standout. It's no surprise they’re being recognized as ProDealer of the Year – they've earned it through their outstanding practices and long-standing family business values.”
In Sturtevant, Wisconsin (from left): Ray Weisenbeck, Sturtevant location manager; Chris Hegeman, Milwaukee (Morgan Ave.) location manager; Eli Bliffert, VP and CEO; Josh Brown, COO.
reasons to toast Bliffert
There are seven breweries within walking distance of Bliffert Lumber & Hardware’s downtown Milwaukee location. In recognition of that statistic, and in homage to the brewing tradition of the Cream City, here are seven reasons to raise a glass to the award-winning Milwaukee-based institution.
1
Growth-oriented mindset
The family business has been on a notable growth streak — adding seven locations in three years, pushing its footprint to 14 locations. Building on that expansion and possibly establishing a physical presence in neighboring states, will be a key to success in coming years, Eli Bliffert said.
“I think there’s going to be much more consolidation in our industry in the next five years,” he said. “You either have to be a very strong single location dealer, or you have to have multiple locations. For us, the key will be getting into more markets, and bringing up that next group of leaders.”
The current crop of company leaders are quick to point out that teamwork and people are the basis for success.
“Our teams are very close and tight knit,” said Chris Hegeman, manager of the company’s Morgan Avenue location. “They care for each other, have each other’s backs help to empower each other and celebrate each other’s wins. It really is wonderful to see.”
2
This five-star review on Yelp!
“I can see why people have so much love for Bliffert …. It's big enough to have everything you need (including a surprisingly
big lumberyard) but not so big that you'll get lost looking for a furnace filter …. They sharpen ice skates too, should you need that service. I saw the sign on the door when we came in and thought ‘wow, that's kind of a random thing.’ But as we were checking out a guy brought in a pair of hockey skates for sharpening.”
3 Entrepreneurial spirit
If there’s an opportunity to bring a new category to a new market, the company has a stock answer: “We’ll give it a try.”
For instance, with some of the company’s new acquisitions, there was a feeling in the yards that if they could get a solid inventory of shingles and a boom truck to deliver them, then business would follow. And it did, says Eli Bliffert.
“We tell all of our outside salespeople and our managers that if they want to try something, then we’ll try it. Absolutely.”
The company’s leaders feel that their breadth of assortment and variety of expertise that have accumulated in the 14 different locations are a major advantage when it comes to building business. From hardwood lumber to fire-treated lumber to engineered lumber — we just have more of it than anybody else,” Eli said.
Even crating lumber is a Bliffert specialty niche. These crates containing various manufactured products are shipped all across the globe.
4
Next-level ESOP
In 2020, the company transitioned to an ESOP in an extraordinary way. A big chunk
Bliffert Lumber operates 14 locations across southeast Wisconsin, each with a unique personality. Eli Bliffert (at left, center) describes staff, customers and vendors as "three great families."
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of shares were generously gifted to the employee trust, which owns 30 percent of all shares.
Eli Bliffert explained that the ESOP plan came about when the company was growing significantly, and he found himself with 82 percent of the shares. “I felt that it was too big for me,” he said. “I thought, ‘I’m never going to sell it, so I should just share it with everybody.’”
The move wasn’t a loan, but an outright gift of a significant chunk of shares. The move made the ESOP transition as inexpen sive as possible for the employees to get vested.
Four years later, the move is paying off.
“Our team understands that the company’s success directly affects their future retirement benefits,” said Chris Hegeman, manager. “The sense of ownership in their roles within the company really shows — and that translates into a better experience for the customer.”
5This
great story from 23 years ago
As told by COO Josh Brown: “I went to school in Madison and I was on my way back to New York deciding what kind of lawyer I was gonna be. But then, I had made some friends in Milwaukee and I came here to stay for what I thought was maybe six months or a year to kind of figure out what I wanted to do. In the meantime, I needed a job. So I opened up the newspaper (which most people today don't understand why you would look at a newspaper for a job,) and I saw a help wanted ad from a lumber yard.
I knew a guy from Brooklyn who owned a lumber yard. So I called him up and I said, ‘hey, I'm gonna write on my resume that I work for you because I need to get this job at the lumber yard for $9 an hour so that I can survive for a little bit.' I rode my bike over to the lumber yard, came in all sweaty for my interview.
I remember a question by Eli’s uncle, the president of the company at the time. He asked me if I was building a bird house, what kind of nail would I use? I was barely able to know
the difference between a hammer and a nail. So I said: ‘I don't know, sir. But if you tell me once, you'll never have to tell me again.’ (The answer he was looking for was a four-penny galvanized finish nail.)
And, 23 years later, I'm still here.”
6 Elite community-centricity
Across Bliffert Lumber, each location is connected to its community in different ways. One example is the Morgan Avenue location, which since 2020 has outfitted a delivery truck in all pink to bring awareness and support to breast cancer research. For every mile the pink truck drives, 20 cents is donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
There’s also an enterprise-wide effort to support Habitat for Humanity, and Revitalize Milwaukee. Eli explains: “We need good neighborhoods, especially in the cities,” he said. Habitat for Humanity “helps the city, helps us, helps everybody.
“Each of our locations is really connected to its community," he added. "Our managers know their areas best, so they get to choose who to donate to locally. It's a way for us to give back in a meaningful way."
7 It even smells great
Milwaukee Magazine ranked Bliffert as one of the best smelling hardware stores in the city. From the article: “Every corner of the store has an individual, but refined smell. The wood has a strong, but velvety aroma and the fertilizer near the front is distinct with its acidic scent. Bliffert represents the new modern hardware store, a place that has everything for anyone, but still retains its personality.”
Bliffert also traditionally offers free six packs with a purchase of any grill. Cheers!
Designers at the counter of the Sturtevant Design Center: Bailey Balog, Jessa Miehle and Haley Jones.
In the Sturtevant location, more than 400 mouldings are on display.
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Product Central
Roundup of new and noteworthy building supply items
HBSDealer’s editorial team is always on the lookout for products that appeal to homeowners, help the contractor or potentially bolster business for the hardware and building supply dealer.
Below you can nd a handful of items that may help boost sales or make life (and work) a bit easier for customers. For more handy products to peruse, subscribe to the HBSDealer Daily newsletter, featuring Product Central every day.
Timberline UHDZ Shingles
GAF's Timberline UHDZ Shingles feature the company's patent-pending Dual Shadow Line and come with a 30-year StainGuard Plus PRO limited warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Additionally, GAF Master Elite contractors can offer 30 years of workmanship coverage when they install a qualifying GAF roo ng system with Timberline UHDZ shingles.
When installed with a combination of four qualifying GAF accessories, GAF shingles with LayerLock technology qualify for GAF's WindProven Limited Wind Warranty, which includes no maximum wind speed limitation. gaf.com
DeWalt’s Toughsystem storage lineup
DeWalt, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, has rolled out the Toughsystem 2.0 DXL, which it describes as the industry's rst 30-in. modular storage system with a functional workstation that is easily transported and built to withstand tough jobsite conditions.
The newly released lineup includes four 30-in. products: a Worktop, Deep Drawer Unit, 2-Drawer Unit and Dolly. All pieces can be easily customized, are compatible with existing Toughsystem 2.0 products, and t under most truck covers allowing users to comfortably work from their truck beds. Toughsystem 2.0 modules can be connected and stacked from the top or bottom of Toughsystem 2.0 DXL drawers using patented auto-connect front latches.
Each piece is available independently or bundled in the Toughsystem 2.0 DXL 5-in-1 Tower or Toughsystem 2.0 DXL 4-in-1 Tower. The 4-in-1 Tower includes one of each product, while the 5-in-1 Tower contains two 30-in. Deep Drawer units.
In addition, DeWalt has released several storage kits designed for use with Toughsystem 2.0 DXL modules and the Metal Workshop Storage System including a Power Tool Storage Kit, Workshop Storage Kit, and Jobsite Storage Kit. dewalt.com
Makita’s X-Lock Quick Change System
The Makita X-Lock Quick Change System promises faster wheel changes.
The innovative, no-tool-required quick-change locking mechanism allows accessory changes that are ve times faster than a locknut, the company says.
Available accessories include diamond blades, cut-off wheels, grinding wheels, multi discs and wire brushes. Also available for corded or cordless tools. makitatools.com
Simpson Strong-Tie’s new fastener
Simpson Strong-Tie extended its line of structural fasteners with the launch of the Strong-Drive SWD Double-Threaded screw. The SWD woodto-wood screw can replace some interior and exterior connectors, potentially reducing installation times and labor costs, the company says.
The SWD Double-Threaded screw is a low-pro le structural screw with a compact, cap-style head to reduce its visibility. The screw’s unique double-thread design with differentiated thread geometries and smooth mid-shank holds wood members together tightly. It features a black exterior double-barrier coating for corrosion resistance and a chisel tip for fast starts, easy driving at any angle and reduced splitting.
The new screw is suitable for applications including beam-to-post, beam-to-joist, purlin-to-truss, guardrail-to-post and roof-to-wall connections; multi-ply assemblies; knee bracing; cap connector replacements; and post-frame connections.
Code-approved, the SWD Double-Threaded screw is available in various lengths, from 2 1/2" to 10 3/4".
DuPont’s Great Stu Wide Spray foam sealant
DuPont Performance Building Solutions has introduced its Great Stuff Wide Spray Foam Sealant, a new broad-coverage spray foam ideal for air sealing seams, joints, large gaps, irregular surfaces and hard-to-reach spaces.
This one-component foam sealant expands up to one inch, creating a durable, airtight and weather-resistant seal, per the company. Designed for fast application, it adheres to both vertical and horizontal surfaces without sagging. With a formula that requires no complex setup, mixing, coveralls or respirators, Great Stuff Wide Spray can streamline the process.
The fan spray is ideal for top plates, corner bottom plate junctions, California corners and HVAC junctions, while the cone spray is ideal for picture framing, rim joints and attic can lights, per the company. greatstuff.dupont.com/wide-spray.html
The Level.Up Adjustable Deck Pedestal
Bison Innovative Products, in collaboration with DAP Global Inc., launched the Level.Up Adjustable Deck Pedestal Joist Support System to transform how ground-level decks are built. The Level.Up Adjustable Pedestal system eliminates the need to dig, pour and level concrete footers and posts, delivering a quick solution for building ground-level decks.
The Level.Up Adjustable Deck Pedestals attach to wood joists to build plank decks. They can be installed over existing stable concrete slabs or pavers, without the need to demolish and remove them, as well as over compact soil or gravel.
The Level.Up Pedestal System consists of four components that stack and nest together to support the deck's joist substructure. The telescoping adjustable pedestal can be easily raised or lowered by twisting by hand to adjust for height. Each deck pedestal can adjust from 2 ½-inches to 5 ½-inches in height.
The Level.Up Adjustable Deck Pedestal Joist Support System (other than Flexible Shims) is backed by a 10-year limited warranty. level-updecking.com
Variform Vortex Extreme siding
Variform Vortex Extreme siding features Weather Warrior Technology—a combination of design features that “ ght back against nature’s worst,” according to the company.
The product is available in 12” and 16’8” lengths, and the extra-thick panels are designed to withstand “hurricane winds.”
Color-enhancing coating on the siding helps ght sun fading and heat buildup. plygem.com/siding/
Scotts hits up Google, and AI
Traditionally, ScottsMiracle-Gro sales associates have relied on a 450-page training document for product information. But a relationship with Google and its embrace of artificial intelligence is bringing ease of use to the enterprise, the company says.
The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company and Google Cloud have forged a new collaboration to help transform the lawn and garden company's customer experience using generative AI (gen AI). As part of the partnership, Scotts introduced an AI agent built on Google Cloud Vertex AI that functions as a "gardening sommelier" to provide tailored gardening advice and product recommendations.
"At ScottsMiracle-Gro, we want to offer our retail partners and consumers the best lawn and garden products coupled with the best advice. Google's
powerful gen AI solutions provide us with an incredible opportunity to reinvent how people engage with our brands and learn about our products," said Emily Wahl, vice president of information technology for Scotts. "In short, Google Cloud delivers a real competitive advantage for us."
Scotts is currently testing the app in an internal pilot program and plans to roll it out to its team of more than 1,000 field sales associates in advance of peak lawn and garden season. Upon further development
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and testing with the sales team, the company intends to eventually introduce the app directly to consumers.
The new AI-powered agent is accessible on a mobile device and allows associates to access product information in real time.
Users ask questions in natural language prompts and receive detailed product knowledge and advice that they can then share directly to in-store retail partners or consumers. For example, an associate can ask questions about which products are most appropriate based on the season and a consumer's unique growing environment.
As a result, Scotts claims that sales associates are now empowered to provide customers with more meaningful product recommendations and advice to improve the overall customer experience. Offer limited to
Hi-tech training, no laptop required
When it comes to training employees, it's hard to beat hands-on experience. However, virtual reality offers an opportunity to help workers get up to speed in a lifelike, low-stakes environment.
That is the concept behind a virtual reality training program sponsored by Owens Corning. It is aimed at insulation contractors and distributors who want to give new and existing employees an on-the-job, immersive experience. The nine training modules cover safety, general insulation jobsite practices and specialized spray foam installation guidance.
“This visually enhanced experience requires no laptop, just Wi-Fi and a headset,” said Derek Fowler, marketing & contractor training manager at Owens Corning. “What employer wouldn’t want to place his or her employees in a risk-free setting for learning on a virtual job?”
For example, employees can actually experience working in a spray foam rig as well as go inside a house to dial in proper foam ratios, diagnose off-ratio foam, and make temperature and pressure adjustments. Also, workers can experience operating and troubleshooting a loose-fill insulation truck and blowing machine,
along with air sealing instruction. Another big factor for contractor trainees is safety, proper gear and equipment usage, which is also covered in the modules.
According to studies on labor management, Owens Corning says VR is supported by the numbers. For instance, 82 percent of companies say VR training "met or exceeded" expectations, and 94 percent of workers asked for more VR training.
Fowler says Owens Corning's VR training is a way to push the industry forward and support customers in achieving the company's quality and safety goals. “The VR training concept is geared to bring on new employees more quickly and efficiently, with this advanced form of training,” he said. “It can also help mitigate issues around labor and retention, which existed even years before the pandemic.
Owens Corning is finding value in virtual reality.
Costs and lawsuits at the POS
SEPTEMBER SAW SIGNIFICANT MOVES IN THE ‘SWIPE-FEE’ DEBATE
New data released by payments consulting rm CMSPI showed that “swipe fees” charged to merchants to process credit and debit card transactions totaled $224 billion last year, nearly a third more than previously believed. “This report shows that the cost of swipe fees is much higher than previously known and that the impact on small businesses and consumers is far more severe,” MPC Executive Committee member and FMI – The Food Industry Association Chief Public Policy Of cer Jennifer Hatcher said. “This underscores the need for Congress to bring competition to the broken payments market as soon as possible. These fees are rising more rapidly than anyone knew before and have to be brought under control. They dramatically drive up prices for almost everything anyone buys, and American families cannot afford for these fees to go any higher.”
The U.S. government is taking aim at “swipe fees.”
interchange fees, which go to card-issuing banks; network fees, which go to card networks like Visa or Mastercard; and processing fees, which go either to a merchant’s “acquirer” bank or a third-party processor. Interchange, the largest of the fees, accounts for $143 billion of CMSPI’s 2023 total.
The new data comes as Congress is considering the Credit Card Competition Act (H.R.3881/S.1838), which is aimed at reducing swipe fees. Visa and Mastercard currently price- x swipe fees charged by banks that issue cards under their brands, and also block transactions from being processed over other networks that could do the job with lower fees and better security. The legislation would require banks with at least $100 billion in assets to enable cards they issue to be processed over at least two unaf liated networks — Visa or Mastercard plus a competitor like NYCE, Star or Shazam. That would make networks compete over fees, security and service, and is expected to save merchants and their customers $16 billion a year.
Also last month, the U.S. Department of Justice led a lawsuit against Visa, alleging that some of its debit card practices are anticompetitive and violate federal antitrust law.
Industry groups representing retailers welcomed the news.
Among those groups is the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, which has been an active member and leader of the Merchant Payments Coalition, a robust group of organizations working together to ght excessive swipe fees.
The data released by CMSPI shows that credit and debit card swipe fees totaled $224 billion in 2023. That compares with $172 billion reported this spring by the Nilson Report, a trade publication that follows the card industry and is the most widely quoted source of data on swipe fees. In addition, CMSPI said Visa and Mastercard credit card swipe fees averaged 2.94% of the transaction amount last year, compared with a 2.26% reported by Nilson.
While Nilson does not specify what swipe fee components are included in its numbers, CMSPI said its gures include
NLBMDA has been a erce advocate of recent legislation that would prevent rising credit card swipe fees on LBM dealers. NLBMDA is lobbying Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act, which it describes as landmark banking reform that will limit big banks from increasing credit card swipe fees on LBM dealers by allowing retailers to access more credit card payment network options outside of Visa and Mastercard.
“Over the last decade, LBM dealers across the country have been hit with exorbitant increases in credit card swipe fees that serve as a direct tax on their bottom line,” said NLBMDA President & CEO Jonathan Paine. “NLBMDA applauds this key legislation, which will signi cantly improve conditions for the LBM industry and the small business community.”
Home Depot takes a stand on packaging
As innovation around sustainable packaging evolves and recycling infrastructure expands, Atlanta-based Home Depot is working to meet customers’ expectations for packaging that’s also good for the environment. By eliminating certain harmful materials and reducing the overall amount of packaging used, the company is striving to help reduce landfill waste and lower packaging-related greenhouse gas emissions.
“We believe that by embedding sustainability into our business strategy, we can create long-term success for our associates, customers, communities, and shareholders. Our efforts to promote operational efficiencies, minimize waste, and drive product innovation will help us move our industry forward,” said Candace Rodriguez, senior director of sustainability at The Home Depot.
HD's packaging team partners with its private-brand product suppliers to apply
science to create better packaging options. From 2017 through 2023, HD redesigned more than 1,280 packages to reduce size and materials.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam is a lightweight, rigid packaging material, while Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) film is a thinner, more flexible protective filler. They are both made from synthetic substances and can take more than a century to biodegrade.
HD has eliminated EPS foam and PVC film in new packaging for its private-brand products sold in the U.S., Canada and online. In 2023 alone, the company eliminated approximately 6.0 million cubic feet of EPS—equal to approximately 67 Olympic-sized swimming pools—and more than 39 million square feet of PVC film—enough to cover more than 513 soccer fields—from its private-brand packaging. The company also reduced its shipping costs with right-sized packages.
Moving forward, HD is pledging to continue partnering with its suppliers to keep these materials out of future packaging. The company's packaging team has expanded its commitment by working toward its new packaging goal for all new private-brand fiber packaging to be compostable, recyclable or from recycled content across its U.S. and Canada stores by fiscal 2027.
Trex points to recycling drop-off zones
Amid increasing concern regarding plastic bag and film recycling, Trex Company is making it easier for Americans to responsibly dispose of plastic film waste.
The manufacturer of composite decking and railing has launched the NexTrex - Plastic Recycling Drop-Off Directory, an online searchable platform dedicated to connecting eco-minded Americans with Trex recycling partners in their local communities. With locations in all 50 states, the nationwide directory aims to help individuals divert plastic bag and film waste from landfills and waterways.
code to find NexTrex recycling partners in their area. The directory currently includes approximately 10,000 drop-off locations across all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. New locations will be added as more retailers join the NexTrex program. The directory site also invites visitors to suggest alternate locations and provide feedback for program improvements.
“Plastic film is a tricky material that cannot be recycled in curbside bins with other recyclable materials, such as paper, cardboard and glass,” explained Stephanie Hicks, materials and recycling programs
manager for Trex. “The NexTrex program offers a simple way for people to dispose of flexible plastic waste responsibly and confidently. When you drop off plastic bags and film at a NexTrex recycling location, you know exactly where those materials are going and how they will be used.”
Through the new NexTrex Plastic Recycling Drop-off Directory, people can simply type in their city, state or ZIP
“This directory reinforces Trex’s involvement in the entire recycling process, from the collection and processing of plastic film to the creation of sustainable outdoor living products,” noted Dave Heglas, senior director, recycled materials for Trex. “Unlike other retail recycling programs, we actively manage the process from start to finish to ensure the plastics that are dropped off at our partner locations successfully.”
From 2017 through 2023, Home Depot redesigned more than 1,280 packages.
A directory currently contains 10,000 dropoff locations.
Hammond Lumber Company
A CLASSIC MAINE FAMILY BUSINESS MAKES A DESIGN STATEMENT
In 2023, Hammond Lumber Company’s store in Portland, Maine, underwent an expansion, enhancing its capacity to better cater to customers' needs in a large market. The expansion included increased sales oor space, additional employee workspaces, a new showroom display area, and additional customer meeting spaces.
“There was a need for a larger footprint to accommodate growing operations,” Sadie Hammond, Hammond Lumber's director of organizational development, told HBSDealer.
The Portland store—one of 22 Hammond locations in Maine and New Hampshire—is led by a dedicated team of 60 employees, including 18 account managers, 3 kitchen & bath designers, and 3 drafting designers.
Overall, the Belgrade, Maine-based company has 930 employees.
Hammond Lumber Company is a full-line lumber and building materials dealer with a pro-customer focus, serving residential, commercial, and multi-family building needs.
“Visiting Hammond Lumber Company's showroom offers the bene t of exploring high quality, up-to-date products and designs in a visually appealing environment,” Sadie Hammond notes. “Customers can explore various options for their home improvement projects and receive assistance and guidance from our knowledgeable staff.”
Hammond Lumber Company offers design services through its Kitchen, Bath & Flooring Design Centers. These include drafting and estimating services through its “Home Planning Center” featuring thousands of stock drawings for customers to choose from.
The company is a window and door specialty dealer featuring Marvin and Andersen. Across its locations, Hammond Lumber Company also hosts Marvin design galleries and Andersen Circle of Excellence showrooms. Additionally, the prodealer is an Andersen Diamond dealer.
The Portland showroom features an array of product displays, including windows and doors, decking and railing, siding, kitchen and bath, and
The New England prodealer steadily updates displays to align with trends and customer preferences.
more. AZEK and Trex are the dealer’s largest decking brands.
Behind the dealer’s recent Portland expansion was the goal of creating a sophisticated showroom environment, appealing to professional builders, homeowners, and architects.
“We also offer custom drawings, free of charge with the purchase of materials,” Sadie Hammond says. “Engineered wood product design is included and offered through our drafting and estimating services.”
Founded in 1953 and an LMC dealer since 1983, Hammond Lumber Company remains family-owned and operated and is now in its fourth generation. Hammond Lumber Company is also the second-largest family-owned business in Maine, behind L.L. Bean.
The Maine and New Hampshire dealer continuously updates its displays to align with evolving trends and customer preferences. The process includes staying informed about industry developments, attending trade shows for new ideas, and collaborating with manufacturers to bring new products to customers.
Looking ahead, Hammond Lumber Company is investing in its showrooms across six key locations, including its headquarters in Belgrade. The move will provide customers with an enhanced experience.
“By investing in our showrooms, we aim to not only attract new clientele but also cultivate loyalty among existing customers,” Hammond says.
If you have a Top Showroom to share, contact news@HBSDealer.com.
Each of Hammond’s 22 locations hosts a showroom. (Photos courtesy of Dave Dostie Photography.)
Changing of the guard at BFS
Builders FirstSource reports that as part of a planned succession, its board of directors has named Peter Jackson, chief nancial of cer, as the company’s next president and CEO, effective November 6, 2024.
Jackson will succeed Dave Rush, who has served as CEO since November 2022 and is retiring after 25 years with the company. Rush will remain on the Builders FirstSource board of directors and continue as a special advisor "to ensure a smooth transition," per the company.
Jackson has nearly 30 years of leadership experience, including 17 years in building products and seven years with Builders FirstSource. As CFO of Builders FirstSource, Jackson has worked on capital allocation and M&A, leading digital
transformation and architecting the business intelligence platform.
Pete Beckmann, SVP of nancial planning & analysis, will succeed Jackson as chief nancial of cer. Beckmann has been with Builders FirstSource and legacy companies since 1999, serving in nance roles of increasing responsibility. In his current position, he is the lead nancial partner to operations, supporting all levels of the enterprise, including reporting and analysis, short- and longterm forecasting, strategic and annual planning and capital investment analysis.
The retiring Dave Rush commented, “It has been a true honor serving Builders FirstSource. I am most proud of the culture we have created and the opportunity for our dedicated and hardworking people to excel. My thanks to Paul and the board for their belief and trust in me. In Peter, we have a leader with deep experience and a proven track record of value creation. One of my rst priorities as CEO was to make sure we had in place a succession plan that kept the company well positioned to execute our strategies and continue to build shareholder value. I am con dent that Peter is the ideal choice to lead us in the next phase of our journey.”
Jackson added, “I am humbled and honored to be selected as the next CEO of Builders FirstSource. I look forward to building on our tremendous foundation and the strong legacy that Dave and our past leaders have established. Further, I’m thrilled that Pete is stepping into the role of CFO. He has a proven track record as a finance leader, and I look forward to continuing to partner with him to deliver exceptional results and compounding shareholder value.”
Left to right, Peter Beckmann, Dave Rush and Peter Jackson
People in the News
The Detering Company, a Houston-based building materials business established in 1926, named Carlos Detering, grandson of the company’s founder, as president and chief operating officer. Carlos joined The Detering Company in 2012. After working in the millwork business, he joined South Texas Brick & Stone following the Detering family’s acquisition of the company in 2014.
Nation's Best is welcoming two seasoned leaders, Chad Wilson and Kim Peffley, as regional vice presidents. Chad Wilson joins as the VP for the East Region, bringing a wealth of retail management expertise from companies including Best Buy and Ace Hardware. Kim Peffley brings over 30 years of home improvement industry leadership to her role. She started in her family’s True Value store, and later managed a multi-store Ace Hardware operation as general manager.
Simpson Strong-Tie promoted Ron Gaines, a 40-year veteran of the construction, to senior vice president of North American sales. In his new position, Gaines will oversee sales across the company’s five main regional branches as well as its National Retail/eBusiness, National Builder, Pro Supply, CRM and Training teams.
ODL, Inc., a Michigan-based building products supplier, has appointed Daniel Custodio to the role of VP of sales in Canada. Custodio will report to Scot Harder, ODL's VP of pro channel and custom sales. Prior to joining ODL, he held leadership positions at Cornerstone Building Brands.
LBM Advantage promoted Kathy O’Neill to director of risk management. O’Neill will lead efforts to mitigate risks for the co-op by managing member credit, overseeing reload inventory levels, assessing the financial health of prospective members, and handling critical financial trading instruments, including futures and swaps. O’Neill will report directly to CFO Rich Kennealy and will play a pivotal role in shaping LBM Advantage’s financial strategies.
Indiana-based Ambassador Supply appointed Amy Stites as the company’s new controller. Stites brings over two decades of expertise in financial management, including a proven history of overseeing projects, driving change and leading teams to success. In her new role, Stites will provide financial oversight of affiliates, lead banking relationships, prepare financial reports and lead shortand long-term strategic financial initiatives.
Detering
Gaines
Custodio
O’Neill
Stites
Wilson Peffley
Residential Construction/Sales
REDWOOD
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DOUGLAS-FIR
Joists and planks available in 3-inch and 4-inch dimensions in lengths up to 24 feet. Posts and beams available in 6-inch and larger dimensions, up to 12” x 24”, and lengths up to 24 feet.
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