Lumber Briefs: Everyone Knows Why 2x4s Are $1000, Right? Matt Layman Are you feeling like we are in a great big room, pitch dark and no one can find the light switch? Well, let’s try to find one. First off, everyone knows how we got here, right? You know it’s not COVID, or the economy, or housing starts, or DIY, or interest rates, or the stock market.... Read More September 2020 Issue #12254 Page 108
The CASH Dilemma Ray Fedorko One of the most frequent responses we hear from prospects when asked how they hope to pay for their equipment is simply: I’m going to pay cash. It’s a nice feeling to pay cash. Done and paid for. No payment schedule or finance charges. And surely, if interest payments hover in the... Read More August 2020 Issue #12253 Page 71
Lumber Briefs: Why Housing is So Artificially Strong Matt Layman Just like the lumber market, housing has benefitted from the unfortunate situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. One must wonder why? The answer is simple if we just listen to the narrative provided by builders and the usually lopsided media. Folks are fleeing to the suburbs. The pandemic has... Read More August 2020 Issue #12253 Page 102
Critical Summertime Repeated Problem Areas Hindering Sales Todd Drummond Year after year, too many companies suffer needlessly with the same common problems. Even after making new equipment investments and receiving assurances that things will be different, the old issues keep rearing their heads. ! Even with the additional equipment investment, production... Read More July 2020 Issue #12252 Page 44
‘Factor In’ the Low Factor Rates This Summer Ray Fedorko The pandemic environment has affected many things. Perhaps surprisingly, one of the effects derives from the Fed’s desire to assist the economy in any way possible. In particular, interest rates which were already at historical lows are now even lower. As a result, monthly payment quotes... Read More July 2020 Issue #12252 Page 73
Lumber Briefs: Current Lumber Market is a ‘Fad’! Matt Layman Without exception, in every conversation I have had regarding the pandemic’s positive impact on the lumber market, not a single person thought this outcome was possible. On my part, I see that as a failure. My job is to detect the unexpected. When I do not, that creates the 1.4 out of... Read More July 2020 Issue #12252 Page 102
Three Conditions for Smarter Margin Application to Make Healthier Profits Todd Drummond Establishing a proper margin to maximize profits for your roof truss component sales is not as easy as most people think. Most do not have a clear understanding of how small changes make a significant impact on the company’s profitability. Making the most profits possible, no matter what... Read More June 2020 Issue #12251 Page 24
Integrated Closed Wall Panel Systems Greg Watson For many years, wood frame wall panels have been constructed on site by contractors, and, in more recent times, by component manufacturers too. The wall panels assembled by component manufacturers primarily are open panels. These consist of lumber studs at predefined centers sheathed externally... Read More June 2020 Issue #12251 Page 70
Lumber Briefs: Become a Lumber ‘Trader’ Not Just a Buyer or Seller Matt Layman Seems like every week I get more contacts regarding urgent buying strategies. I want to share two of them with you today. One was a contractor yard, preparing to requote a $3 million multi-family framing package. The member was advised by the contractor that his price was roughly 10% high,... Read More June 2020 Issue #12251 Page 102
Rethinking a Linear Saw Linked to Two Workstations Todd Drummond It seems some people are upset that I made such a public statement with my latest advertisement – “Pairing a Linear Saw with Two Workstations with Each Having Two Assemblers will Cost Your Company Millions in Lost Net Profits.” Specifically, I’m talking about linking... Read More May 2020 Issue #12250 Page 48