Prosales articles from August 2006

Prosales archives from August 2006

Varying degrees: core business improvement coupled with diversification offers market-swing protection to the savvy and prepared pro dealer.(Editor's Notes)
August 1, 2006... Red hot. That was the only way to describe this year's Pacific Coast Builder's Conference (PCBC), held June 20-23 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. With the City by the Bay basking in unseasonably warm temperatures in the mid to upper...

Calendar.(Returns)(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... True value Fall Market / Sept. 12-15 / Las Vegas / Contact: 773.695.5000; www.truevaluecompany. com... JLC Live! / Sept. 12-15 / Minneapolis / Contact Hanley Wood: 800.261.7769; www.jlclive. corn... Lumbermens Merchandising Corp. Building...

Commercial developments: non-residential building supply is a steady side business for many pro dealers. How to increase those sales, though, is something a lot of companies are still trying to figure out.(ProWatch)
August 1, 2006... Dartmouth Building Supply, a pro dealer in Dartmouth, Mass., got its start in 1984 selling Sheetrock to drywall contractors. As those contractors expanded their businesses into commercial construction and renovation, Dartmouth went along for...

Eye in the sky: National Lumber's Reliable Truss division pushes the envelope to find new and unique uses for its video camera monitoring system.(ProWatch: Tech Trends)
August 1, 2006... On the night of Saturday, June 3, Dave Saunders was jolted awake by a distressing phone call: An alarm at National Lumber's Reliable Truss facility in New Bedford, Mass., had just been tripped. As Reliable's vice president of operations,...

DOW Building & Construction.(Editor's Product Pick)
August 1, 2006... DOW has entered the composite decking category with its Symmatrix line. Made from a blend of wood and polymer, Symmatrix decking planks are reversible, with a wood-grain texture on one side and a brushed surface on the other. Symmatrix decking...

Strober to open new facility.(ProWatch: Yard Notables)
August 1, 2006... The Strober Organization has purchased land and facilities in Nichols, S.C., for a new 377,000-square-foot roof truss, floor truss, and wall panel manufacturing operation. The facility, which is expected to open in early 2007, will feature a...

Roper Bros. acquires Taylor Bros.(ProWatch: Yard Notables)
August 1, 2006... Roper Bros. Lumber Co. announced June 27 it will acquire Taylor Bros. Lumber Co., a $33 million operation with locations in Lynchburg and Bedford, Va. The addition will bring Petersburg, Va.-based Roper Bros.' annual revenues to more than $190...

South Bend Supply Co.
August 1, 2006... South Bend, Ind.-based South Bend Supply Co. is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The single-unit supplier, now owned by Ferguson, was founded in 1906 by F.W. Long to sell pipe valves and fittings, steam pumps, and boiler equipment.

Builders FirstSource.
August 1, 2006... Craig Steinke has been elected to the board of directors for Dallas-based pro supplier Builders FirstSource. Steinke, who also will be a member of the company's Audit Committee, is president and CEO of Eagle Family Foods.

Wolseley rings closing bell at NYSE.(ProWatch: Yard Notables)
August 1, 2006... On July 5, Charlie Banks, group CEO of the Wolseley Group, parent company of Stock Building Supply and Ferguson, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. The event commemorated Banks' July 31 retirement and Wolseley's five-year...

The Home Depot.
August 1, 2006... Atlanta-based The Home Depot announced June 26 it has appointed Mark Holifield as senior vice president, supply chain. Holifield will manage the home improvement retailer's inventory management, transportation, domestic distribution, and...

Huttig Building Products.
August 1, 2006... On June 13, St. Louis-based distributor Huttig Building Products celebrated the grand opening of a new distribution center in Hauppauge, N.Y. The 125,000-square-foot Long island facility includes three pre-hung door assembly lines and offers...

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Hager Group announced June 7 that its LBM distribution arm, Hager Distribution, has acquired Townsend Bros., a cut-to-size lumber specialist in Clayton, Mich.
August 1, 2006... Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Hager Group announced June 7 that its LBM distribution arm, Hager Distribution, has acquired Townsend Bros., a cut-to-size lumber specialist in Clayton, Mich. The acquisition brings Hager Distribution's unit count to...

Ace Hardware.
August 1, 2006... Oak Brook, Ill.-based hardware co-op Ace Hardware celebrated the grand opening of a new retail support center in Moxee, Wash., on June 10. The 788,000-square-foot facility, which replaces a smaller support center 10 miles away in Yakima, Wash.,...

Do It Best Corp.
August 1, 2006... The board of directors of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op Do it Best Corp. has elected to promote Daniel B. Starr to vice president of human resources and general counsel. Starr has served as director of human resources and general counsel since...

Troy, Ala.-based synthetic and wood porch product manufacturer HB&G announced June 13 it has acquired Turnkey Millwork, a Raleigh, N.C.-based manufacturer of cellular PVC millwork products.
August 1, 2006... Troy, Ala.-based synthetic and wood porch product manufacturer HB&G announced June 13 it has acquired Turnkey Millwork, a Raleigh, N.C.-based manufacturer of cellular PVC millwork products. HB&G said the purchase will increase cellular PVC...

MI Windows and Doors will acquire a 210,000-square-foot window fabrication facility in Lebanon, Ind., from CertainTeed.
August 1, 2006... MI Windows and Doors will acquire a 210,000-square-foot window fabrication facility in Lebanon, Ind., from CertainTeed. Gratz, Pa.-based MI said the agreement will grant MI exclusive rights to fabricate CertainTeed vinyl window and patio door...

GAF Materials Corp.
August 1, 2006... Wayne, N.J.-based GAF Materials Corp. announced June 6 it will open a 185,000-square-foot facility in Gainesville, Texas, that will produce EverGuard TPO roofing membranes. The facility will be fully operational by third quarter 2007.

Simonton Windows.
August 1, 2006... Simonton Windows will complete construction of a 120,000-square-foot addition to its Lyons, Ga., manufacturing facility this month. According to the Parkersburg, W.Va.-based manufacturer, the second building will more than double the space at...

Simpson Strong-Tie.
August 1, 2006... In May, Pleasanton, Calif.-based structural building products manufacturer Simpson Strong-Tie celebrated the grand opening of a 56,000-square-foot distribution plant and training center in Eagan, Minn., which will help the manufacturer better...

MillTech.
August 1, 2006... Aurora, Colo.-based millwork manufacturer MillTech received OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award in July. The award recognizes "employers that operate an exemplary safety and health management system,"...

Group effort: new institute focuses on research and learning in LBM industry.(NLBMDA Briefings)
August 1, 2006... As part of the many initiatives developed by the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) this year, one of the most significant is the creation of the Lumber and Building Materials Institute (LBMI). NLBMDA...

Legislative update: as two NLBMDA priority bills stall in Congress, member involvement in political advocacy is more important than ever.(NLBMDA Briefings)
August 1, 2006... Earlier this year, two priority bills for small and family-owned businesses in the building supply industry reached the Senate floor for debate. NLBMDA-endorsed Small Business Health Plan legislation (S. 1955) and reform of the estate tax were...

New contracts program: minimizing your risks.(NLBMDA Briefings)
August 1, 2006... NLBMDA has recently introduced a new contracts program manual and CD, Risk Management Best Practices: Six Principles to Minimize Legal Liability. The program is designed to help dealers address the growing problem of customers, primarily...

Facing reality: big box competition and market downturns are looming over the independent landscape. Prepared yards have thought ahead.(New Dimensions)
August 1, 2006... In May, PROSALES' Web site reported that The Home Depot Supply bought Cox Lumber in Florida. In case you missed it, or the subsequent articles relating to that purchase, Cox Lumber is a 31-unit pro chain serving more than 80 percent of Florida....

Beg, borrow, and steal: when want ads won't do, consider creative ways to acquire employees who have already proven their worth.(Firing Line)
August 1, 2006... Lately it seems that when hiring employees we should never "hire" them. Instead, they must be inherited, acquired, or stolen. Let me give you some examples. Margaret's application for the office position we were tilling looked great. It...

Give and take: join us at the NLBMDA/ProSales Industry Summit in October and discover how much you have to share with your industry--and how much you can gain in return.(Outlook)
August 1, 2006... I hope that every lumber dealer who reads this article will choose to join me at the NLBMDA/ProSales Industry Summit Oct. 26-28 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz. This event has grown dramatically in recent years and...

Covering ground: closing is not the end of the sale, but rather a series of small steps along the entire process of building profitable business relationships.(Sell Sheet)
August 1, 2006... If you have ever felt that closing is an accidental process that is mysteriously out of your control, you are not alone; a surprising number of salespeople candidly admit to me that they feel the same way. Unfortunately, salespeople are taught...

Goodwill ambassadors: ProSales honors 2006 Public Service Leaders Rand Thomas and Steve Kelly.(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... In a pro dealer universe that is becoming replete with multi-billion-dollar corporations, national geographic footprints, and deep corporate coffers, it may seem surprising that 2006 PROSALES Public Service Leaders Rand Thomas and Steve Kelly,...

Cut your losses: strategies and tools to deter and reduce theft.
August 1, 2006... Allen Hathaway had had enough. After a slew of break-ins at his Palm Desert, Calif., lumberyard, the Hathaway & Sons owner opted to fortify his security system. "I spent about $3,000 on razor wire and another $27,000 on cameras for the yard and...

Future plans: home builders are the next big target for house plan publishers, and dealers appear to be a logical conduit.(Market Matters)
August 1, 2006... Type "house plans" into any popular Internet search engine, such as Google or Yahoo, and in less that three seconds you'll be inundated with more than 300 million active links to a variety of online publishers, providers, portals, design firms,...

Winds of change: as regulations continue to dictate product makeup, keeping up with the changing adhesives, caulks, and sealants category will be a challenge.(Product Monitor)
August 1, 2006... Performance and price point used to be the most important factors in deciding which adhesive, caulk, or sealant to use for any given application. But now, contractors in many states also have to consider product formulations to ensure they...

Pickup and go.(Product Monitor)
August 1, 2006... The latest releases in delivery and pickup trucks offer greater style, more interior comfort, and increased accessibility for drivers without skimping on maneuverability, hauling capacities, or powerful drivetrains. The Class 3 2007 Dodge...

Trex Co.(Hot Finds: Decking)
August 1, 2006... A Trex Co. The low-gloss, lightly textured surface of Trex Artisan Series railings creates the look and feel of painted wood, the manufacturer says. Artisan railings are constructed of Trex's composite wood material with a co-extruded vinyl...

Fiber composites.(Hot Finds: Decking)
August 1, 2006... B Fiber Composites Designed to resemble tropical wood planks, the Fiberon Tropics line of composite decking utilizes a proprietary process that creates more varied colorations for a natural appearance. The two species look-alike colors, jatoba...

Tamko.(Hot Finds: Decking)
August 1, 2006... C Tamko Elements Grain composite decking comes in reversible boards with a natural wood-grain texture on each side that exceeds the slip-resistance recommendations of the Americans With Disabilities Act's accessibility guidelines. The extruded...

Elk composite building products.(Hot Finds: Decking)
August 1, 2006... D Elk Composite Building Products Designed to complement the company's CrossTimbers line of composite decking, CrossTimbers Signature Railings come in sandalwood, pewter grey, weatheredwood, and new cedar colors. Available as a complete pre-cut...

TimberTech.(Hot Finds: Decking)
August 1, 2006... E TimberTech The RadianceRail railing system is constructed from the maker's TimberTech wood composite material and capped with white vinyl for durability. The railings, available in 6-foot and 8-foot kits, offer a clean look without any...

Clawing back: a responsible and proactive stance can protect industry supply chains, even when outside pressures force the discontinuation of entire product lines.(Viewpoint)
August 1, 2006... I've got three early recollections of heading out into the wide world of retail with my parents: the smell of fresh-cut wood at the lumber and hardware store, the push-button bell that brought the butcher from behind his chopping block and out...