Lumber Briefs: Lumber Market Forecast Matt Layman COVID Shipment Delays WILL RISE The global pandemic surge is further exacerbating shipment schedules, lengthening many commodity and specialty items that are weeks behind already. Some truckloads of basic commodity Canadian lumber are just now catching up on two-month delays despite prices... Read More December 2020 Issue #12257 Page 84
Lumber Briefs: Lumber Market Forecast Matt Layman 2020 Hindsight 2020 hindsight. Deduce deeper. Look farther than the end of my nose and keep asking, “What’s next?” I didn’t do that at the beginning of the pandemic. I failed to consider how men specifically would respond to the lockdown. I saw hangout at home, catch... Read More November 2020 Issue #12256 Page 94
One Size Doesn’t Have to Fit All Carl Villella No two businesses are alike. Even businesses that appear strikingly similar are facing their own unique sets of circumstances. So, with many different kinds of challenges and opportunities, shouldn’t there be different options available to implement changes and growth? Absolutely! One... Read More October 2020 Issue #12255 Page 90
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