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Bradley Hartmann, founder of Behind Your Back Sales, shares how companies can refocus their sales efforts to transform the relationships they have with their customers and create more dynamic sales opportunities that expand the products and services customers rely on them to provide going forward.
Bradley Hartmann, founder of Behind Your Back Sales, shares how today’s market favors component manufacturers over their customers, creating an opportunity for savvy companies to leverage their expertise and unique framing solutions to improve profitability and expand future market share.
Ryan Hikel and Jason Valis know they have a good thing going. Shelter Systems is great at making roof and floor trusses. Bruce Jones Contracting is awesome at making wall panels and framing buildings. Together, their companies have learned how to leverage the expertise of the other and offer a collective solution to GCs in their market. In this episode, Hikel and Valis talk about their value proposition.
Justin Binning, Ken Timmins and John Vranizan with American International Forest Products (AIFP) provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Justin and Ken observe why the lumber market will continue to trend upward and lumber availability will get more difficult as mill order files get longer. All three also explore ongoing transportation challenges that will get worse before it gets better. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry. John has been president of AIFP since 2011 after 21 years as an award-winning trader at the company.
In this episode, we rejoin Dean Rana and Michael Miller who provide more insight into how they have convinced framers to move from sticks to panels. They discuss the evolving needs of framers and builders and how they have altered their wall panel business to keep up. Dean and Michael also talk about characteristics of framers who succeed using wall panels versus those that don’t, and share how they're approaching young framing contractors.
Dean Rana and Michael Miller have taken on the tough challenge of selling wall panel systems to Arizona framing contractors. In this episode, Rana and Miller give some insight into how they have convinced framers to move from sticks to panels and explain the value proposition they sell to the market. They also speak to how wall panels excel in a time when building material costs are rising.
Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Both experts look back at their market correction predictions from the last podcast. Ken gives a quick market lesson with a summertime cookout metaphor and Justin gives an update regarding on-going logistics challenges. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Justin thinks we are entering into a buyer’s market and a swift correction on the horizon is possible. Ken says transportation constraints and costs continue to remain high all across the country, and some users are getting creative with species substitution. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Lumber demand is still extremely high, driving new species diversification in certain regions of the country. Buying has fallen off a bit lately, Justin addresses whether a correction coming. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
Graph Referenced in the Podcast
Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Lumber production remains at full capacity (with no short-term solution), while demand continues to stay high. This means lumber continues to be available, but at a high cost. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
Steve Stroder and Shawn Overholtzer share how California TrusFrame (CTF) is partnering with their plate supplier and a framing contractor to solve the growing challenge of shear walls in large, wood-framed buildings. Steve and Shawn explain how partnering with MiTek to incorporate their cold-formed steel picture frame product into CTF’s wall panel line has proved to be a win-win solution for field installation. They argue that component manufacturers should take greater advantage of supplier products to design and manufacture even more valuable framing solutions.
Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. While lumber production appears in line with capacity, demand continues to outstrip it. Justin and Ken provide some advice on what CMs should do in the short term in this environment and what to expect in the near-future. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
This week, Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products recap the lumber market activity over the past few months and how it has affected lumber trade. Justin discusses factors that are contributing to the supply and demand of lumber and provides insight on lumber costs and how customers are reacting. Ken talks about the increase in housing starts and how procuring lumber and strategizing can help component manufacturers (CMs) navigate volatile market conditions. To that end, both Justin and Ken discuss recent events in the market and offer suggestions on how CMs can take advantage of buying opportunities by looking ahead, making informed purchasing decisions and preparing for future lumber needs.
Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
Don Groom, partner and CEO of Trussworks in Caldwell, Texas, shares how he successfully navigated the many early challenges he faced when starting his own component manufacturing operation. He explains how his friendships throughout the industry played a huge role in helping him ensure Trussworks started on a solid foundation, and he gives advice on the fundamentals to focus on to make it through tough times.
Austin Huskey, CEO of Huskey Truss and Building Supply in Franklin, Tennessee, shares what it was like growing up in a family-owned building material and component manufacturing operation. He explores what it’s like to be part of a national buying cooperative and how Huskey Truss is diversifying to stay ahead of the competition. He also discusses how their company is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week, Ken Timmins and Justin Binning with American International Forest Products look at the past week’s lumber market activity, discuss what they're hearing from component manufacturers, highlight what is going on with other lumber products, and speak to the current relationship between Canada and the United States.
Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus on Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
This week, Ken Timmins and Justin Binning with American International Forest Products look at the past week’s lumber market activity, discuss production volume and purchasing, highlight the housing market and metrics to assess, and share strategies that CMs may consider when purchasing lumber.
Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus on Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
Ken Kucera, vice president of installed sales and manufacturing for 84 Lumber, explains what has driven the company’s recent growth and how component package sales fit into their overall business strategy. 84 Lumber was founded in 1956 and operates more than 250 stores in 30 states, which are serviced by their component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, custom millwork shops, and engineered wood products (EWP) centers.
This week, Ken Timmins and Justin Binning with American International Forest Products provide an overview of the past week’s lumber market activity and the overall economy, and answer listener-submitted questions about inventories at re-load facilities, transportation issues, and if component manufacturers may see a sharp decline in lumber costs toward the end of the year, similar to the lumber market in 2018.
Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus on Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
This week, Ken Timmins and Justin Binning with American International Forest Products provide an overview of the past week’s lumber market activity, and answer listener-submitted questions about the European Lumber Market's influence in North America, if they are seeing component manufacturers change their lumber buying strategy as a result of the tight lumber market, and what a typical day looks like for a lumber trader.
Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus on Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
Margaret Whelan is the CEO and Founder of Whelan Advisory LLC, a boutique investment bank that provides tailored services to housing companies that are looking to raise capital or pursue an M&A transaction. Her firm has advised several innovative companies in the industry including Entekra, Raney, Trumark, ResiBuilt, and Innovative Construction Group. She discusses how modular framing is creating a shift in the construction industry and how this could affect component manufacturers (CMs). She also provides insight into the opportunities for CMs and her perspective on how these innovations will shape the future of framing.
Art Schmon, a partner at Forest Economic Advisers, shares his perspective on wood-framed floor systems. Art discusses how floor system framing options have evolved over the years and the market pressures that have driven those changes. He also provides insight into what he expects will happen with I-joist and floor truss market share in the near future and the opportunities he sees for component manufacturers.
Quality control and quality assurance are both important parts of the component manufacturing process, but what are they? How are they different? And how can they work together to make your manufacturing process better? Listen in as Jess Lohse and Molly Butz from SBCA staff talk through the QC and QA processes, answer the tough questions, and shed some light on the specifics of SBCA’s Digital QC and SBCRI’s Independent 3rd Party Inspection programs.
Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, explains what CLT is and how it's made. He also shares what prompted the original development of CLT and what is driving its current adoption in North America. In addition, Hardy explores how the 2021 model codes will expand CLT construction and potentially create more market opportunities for component manufacturers.
Mike Bugbee, part owner of Oregon Truss in Salem, Oregon, shares his perspectives on the evolution of the component manufacturing industry through the lens of his long career at Simpson Strong-Tie. He explains how his relationships with early pioneers in component manufacturing helped influence today’s industry, and how his sales approach can help component manufacturers expand their markets today.
Gene Frogale is the president of Annandale Millwork & Allied Systems in Winchester, Virginia, and Jeff Taake is the vice president of manufacturing and commercial sales at Mead Lumber Co. with component operations throughout the upper Midwest. Listen as Gene and Jeff relate on how their organizations have reacted to COVID-19 and their outlooks for the immediate future in the component manufacturing industry post-COVID-19.
Mike Ruede and Scott Ward discuss the various challenges the COVID-19 Coronavirus has created for their businesses and what they are doing to overcome them. Mike is the COO of A-1 Roof Trusses in Fort Pierce, Florida, and Scott is an owner at Southern Components located in Shreveport, Louisiana. Listen as they share insights, best practices and their outlook beyond this pandemic.
Joe Hikel and Steve Stroder discuss their reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they're leading their businesses through the various challenges they've faced in recent weeks. Joe is the CEO and President of Shelter Systems Limited and Steve Stroder is the CEO and President of California TrusFrame. They provide insights into how the remainder of 2020 will look and how their companies will be impacted by what they are learning today.
Dave Mitchell is the general manager and Zach Shepherd is the operations manager at Engineered Building Design (EBD) in Washington, Iowa. Dave and Zach discuss how they are evolving EBD to grow while still retaining a loyal customer base in a competitive market. They also share their insights into EBD's business model and internal culture, as well as what success will look like in five years.
Scott Arquilla, former co-owner, vice president, and COO of Best Homes, Inc., shares how his family got started in the homebuilding industry and the unique challenges they faced operating in the Chicago market. Scott discusses why he got involved in SBCA and what prompted him to join the Board of Directors in 1997. While SBCA president in 2003, his truss plant burned to the ground. He reflects on what he would have done differently to both prepare for and recover from the disaster and offers advice to component manufacturers.