Prosales articles from November 2003

Prosales archives from November 2003

By the numbers.
November 1, 2003... $2.42 Billion Fiscal year sales for Do it Best Corp. in 2003. 1,080 Vendors with no-adder programs. 20 Average years of experience for a Do it Best Corp. lumber trader. 1.77% Do it Best Corp. operating...

United front: it's time to speak out and champion a cause.(Editor's Notes)
November 1, 2003... Even with a reasonably good outlook for the economy mad continuing positive momentum in home building, the construction industry still faces a significant number of issues that could potentially set in motion a reversal of fortune for even the...

Extended coverage: as an installer, you have an obligation to make sure subcontractors are insured and responsible for their workers.(New Dimensions)
November 1, 2003... "Hello, is this Bill's father? I'm sorry, but I have some bad news to share with you." Receiving a phone call that starts with these dreaded words probably is a parent's greatest fear, and unfortunately that is just how a conversation...

Beat the clock: good customers deserve extra time, even if the clock is ticking.(Firing Line)
November 1, 2003... Our new phone system is up and running, and we're still learning its excess of features, from forwarding to caller ID to automated rolodex. It seems like every day someone finds something new, such as the morning one rep found the call clock, a...

First class: executed correctly, exclusive travel incentive programs can be your one-way ticket to building stronger long-term relationships.(Pro Watch)
November 1, 2003... What if you could find the perfect hook to capture new accounts, icrease loyalty and sales with current customers, motivate your sales force, and enjoy a pina colada on the beach all at the same time? It may sound too good to be true, but pro...

Vertical horizon: with the acquisition of one of its largest customers, Seigles's aims to take construction services to the highest possible level in Chicago.(Pro Watch)
November 1, 2003... Things are moving so fast in the pro dealer universe that for many suppliers, installed sales is a concept that is past its prime. They now dub it "turnkey" or call it "construction services," and it's definitely not business as usual as these...

New leadership at Andersen.(Yard Notables)
November 1, 2003... Andersen Corp. announced on September 2 that James E. Humphrey has been named CEO in addition to his existing role as president. Humphrey has been with the window rod door manufacturer since April 1999 and has served as president since...

Sturtevant Millwork opens new facility.(Yard Notables)
November 1, 2003... Sturtevant Millwork Corp., a Deer Park, N.Y.-based distributor of millwork products and building materials, has opened a door assembly plant in Pine Brook, N.J. According to the company, the 121,000-square-foot facility, acquired from 3M, will...

Promotions at Ward Lumber.(Yard Notables)
November 1, 2003... Tim Lacey and Jim Rock have taken new positions at Jay, N.Y based Ward Lumber. Lacey, who has been with the company for 18 years, will move from Jay store manager to manager of the Plattsburgh, N.Y., store, replacing the departing Scott...

New hire at Glen Oak.(Yard Notables)
November 1, 2003... Glen Oak Lumber & Milling has hired Larry C. Cox as manager of its Southeastern U.S. distribution center in Ball Ground, Ga. Cox comes from Atlanta-based building materials distributor Georgia-Pacific, where he served for 25 years, most...

84 opens components plant.(Yard Notables)
November 1, 2003... Eighty-Four, Pa.-based 84 Lumber opened a new components plant in Pottstown, Pa., on August 13. Scott Beckley, who has more than 15 years of experience in the building supply industry, will manage the facility. "Our goal is to be the...

Best in class.(2003 Prosales Excellence Awards)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... What does it take to catapult from average to outstanding in LBM supply? For the winners of the second annual PROSALES Excellence Awards, it requires a commitment to quality, a strong focus on customer service, and an unwavering drive to invest...

Talk of the town: National Lumber's new kitchen views showroom is creating a buzz around boston showcasing unique designs alongside high-end windows and millwork.(Excellence awards: showroom design)
November 1, 2003... National Lumber may be an old timer in file Boston-area markets it serves, but the company's new Kitchen Views showroom is anything but stodgy. Showcasing classic and modern kitchen designs alongside high-end windows and millwork, the...

Combined forces: TW Perry has created a formidable marketing juggernaut by positioning its web site and e-commerce initiatives in alignment with a comprehensive customer support program.(Excellence awards: marketing/customer service program IT / E-commerce initiative)
November 1, 2003... Flashy and functional, dean and comprehensive, TW Perry's Web site and e-commerce platform are a virtual gateway to the Gaithersburg, Md.-based pro dealer's very real world--a realm where the focus is on marketing, the emphasis is on customer...

Picture perfect: Raymond Building Supply's state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, lumberyard, and corporate headquarters exemplify a masterpiece of LBM supply.(Excellence awards: manufacturing / overall facility design)
November 1, 2003... Just as a masterpiece is never finished in the eyes of its artist, Raymond Building Supply Corp. is continually putting the "finishing touches" on the company's 35.5-acre headquarters facility complex in North Fort Myers, Fla. Always looking...

Power windows: by developing a start-to-finish process, California Building Specialties has become an installer of choice for builders in Southern California.(Excellence awards: installed sales)
November 1, 2003... In 1999, Escondido, Calif.-based California Building Specialties (CBS) was a wood window supplier with a service call problem. For seemingly every window the company supplied to custom and ultra-high-end production builders across Southern...

Get the word out: Standale Lumber adds value to human resources through understanding.(Excellence awards: wmployee betterment/human resources)
November 1, 2003... If a dealer was lucky enough to boast an employee turnover rate of less than 1 percent for almost half a decade, you can bet it probably wouldn't be looking for ways to reinvent human resources. But that's not the case for Standale Lumber. Even...

Outstanding achievements: tapped in the showroom design, marketing/ customer service, and human resources/employee betterment categories, respectively, Gayward Corp., Schneider Lumber, and Robert Bowden Inc. Garner honorable mentions.(Excellence awards: honorable mentions)
November 1, 2003... Completed in time for a grand opening in May 2003, the Hayward Design Center in Santa Barbara, Calif., embraces sales, functional efficiency, and environmental sensitivity. Representing an investment of more than $1 million by Hayward...

Therma-Tru salutes America's best dealers.(Prosales Excellence Awards)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... You're an excellent building materials dealer, and your customers know it. You have a broad product offering, quick turnaround on orders and customer support after the sale. And you rely on great partners like Therma-Tru Doors to help you build...

Commercial focus: to gain a foothold in the commercial market, many dealers are zeroing in on one primary aspect of the business and accommodating the special needs of general contractors and their subs.(How To Sell Commercial)
November 1, 2003... Think about what it would take to sell to commercial builders, and visions of stocking large volumes of metal framing components, drywall, concrete block, and acoustical ceiling tiles--in addition to your product inventory for residential...

Grand openings: a profusion of wood species, architectural panel styles, and glass panels dress up lackluster interior doors.(Product Info)
November 1, 2003... Homeowners and builders looking to differentiate their homes are on watch for interior fixtures that are not only functional, but also are an extension of the home's decor, and interior doors are now playing a larger part in adorning interior...

Shaping up.(Product Info)
November 1, 2003... Historically, vinyl windows have been primarily replacement or remodel products, but while the replacement/remodel market remains strong, many manufacturers are reporting increased use for new-home construction as well. In particular, builders...

Classic collection.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... Classic II vinyl windows from Republic Windows & Doors provide the appearance of wood and energy efficiency of vinyl. The windows featured a stepped-slope sill that blocks water and air infiltration, the maker says. Classic II windows come in...

Strong foundation.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... The series 650 Foundation Windows System from Superseal Window and Door Co. is designed for use in poured or block foundation walls and consists of a two-part design: a pour-in-place window frame with temporary security bars and a snap-in...

Efficient ease.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... CertainTeed's Montclaire vinyl windows feature slim lines, equal lights, and a choice of flat or sculptured grids. An integral glazing system creates a weather-tight seal and double weather-stripping blocks air, dust, and water and reduces...

Kwikset[R] Kwik-Install[TM] reduces installation time.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... Kwikset has been a leader in the lockset industry for more than 50 years featuring a long line of superior products. A product like Kwik-Install(tm) that makes short work of knob installation is the kind of revolutionary thinking that earns...

Talent pool: your company's future hinges on its ability to retain young employees and turn them into future construction supply leaders.(View From Tools of the Trade)
November 1, 2003... Even if business wanes on the sales front, there is one good thing about a slow economy: The employment scale usually seems to tip in favor of the employer rather than the employee. But in residential construction, the cry for able-bodied labor...