BPD December 2025

•

Delivering the elements that elevate your business

Built on industry-leading delivery performance, Weyerhaeuser is the distribution partner you can count on to get you the best building materials available.

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

Patrick Adams padams@526mediagroup.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Shelly Smith Adams sadams@526mediagroup.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Alan Oakes

MANAGING EDITOR

David Koenig • dkoenig@526mediagroup.com

SENIOR EDITOR

Sara Graves • sgraves@526mediagroup.com COLUMNISTS

James Olsen, Kim Drew, Dave Kahle CONTRIBUTORS

Hakan Ekstrom, Lance Grimm, Glen O’Kelly, Paige McAllister

ADVERTISING SALES

(714) 486-2735

Chuck Casey • ccasey@526mediagroup.com

Nick Kosan • nkosan@526mediagroup.com

John Haugh • jhaugh@526mediagroup.com

DIGITAL SUPPORT

Katherine Williams kwilliams@526mediagroup.com

CIRCULATION/SUPPORT info@526mediagroup.com

A PUBLICATION OF 526 MEDIA GROUP, INC.

151 Kalmus Dr., Ste. J3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Phone (714) 486-2735

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send address label from recent issue, new address, and 9-digit zip to address below. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Building Products Digest, 151 Kalmus Dr., Ste. J3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Building Products Digest (USPS 225) is published monthly at 151 Kalmus Dr., Ste. J3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 by 526 Media Group, Inc. Periodicals Postage paid at Santa Ana, CA, and additional post offices. It is an independently-owned publication for building products retailers and wholesale distributors in 37 states East of the Rockies. Copyright®2025 by 526 Media Group, Inc. Cover and entire contents are fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. All Rights Reserved. We reserve the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter, and assumes no liability for materials furnished to it. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted and not necessarily those of 526 Media Group, Inc. Articles are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or business management advice, nor an endorsement of any company, product, service or individual referenced. Volume 44 • Number 12

Update your subscription

THE BEST IS ALWAYS IN DEMA ND.

YellaWood® brand pressure treated pine stands unrivaled in providing the best available protection against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. Enjoy the uncompromising beauty of a backyard made with high quality natural wood products from YellaWood ® brand pressure treated pine. Visit yellawood.com for more information.

ROSEBURG LUMBER IS MADE IN THE USA.

Dillard, OR - Douglas-fir Studs

Weldon, NC - Southern Pine Dimensional Lumber

We’re proud to offer Made in the USA lumber: grown, manufactured, and shipped to you from right here in the USA. This means you get high-quality, dependable products sourced from sustainable forests with shorter lead times - because your work deserves nothing less.

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM?

------------ BY PATRICK ADAMS

RECENTLY, ON THE WAY to drop my daughter off at high school (which still feels impossible to say), we were listening to an interview with a young country singer. She talked about how, since she was eight years old, she had dreamed—relentlessly—of singing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. And now, she finally had.

I glanced at my daughter and asked, “Do you have a dream?”

She thought for a second. “What is a dream? Is it like a goal?”

I told her that in my opinion, a dream is much bigger than a goal. A dream is something so large it usually takes dozens—maybe hundreds—of goals to get there.

I should’ve seen it coming. She turned to me and asked, “Daddy… did you have a dream?”

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve spent a single minute of my adult life considering that question. Yet the second she asked it, the answer hit me instantly. A flood of emotion washed over me. Nothing in a very long time has rattled me like that question.

“Yes, sweetheart,” I said quietly. “I did have a dream.”

As I’ve shared before, my childhood was far from ideal. We were poor. My parents carried demons that shaped far too much of our lives. I grew up in a rough area, in a time very different from today’s world of helicopter parents and protective laws. All I dreamed of back then was escaping that life. I wanted to stop feeling scared. I wanted a home filled with people I love, who love me back. I wanted stability, peace and the simple things most people take for granted. I wanted to break the cycle and someday give my own kids the kind of life I could only imagine.

But it wasn’t the memories or the emotions that hit me hardest—it was the realization that, without even recogniz-

ing it, I’ve spent my entire life pursuing that dream. And at some point, quietly, without announcement or celebration, I achieved it.

There was no single moment when it happened. No finish line. It didn’t look like a promotion, a bank balance, or a passport filled with stamps. It just… happened. Slowly. Silently. And I never realized it until that moment in the car.

Looking back, that dream has guided nearly every decision I’ve ever made. It’s why I’m driven. Why I fight for what’s right. Why I protect the people I love so fiercely. Why I refuse to compromise on right and wrong. Why I try to be kind and generous—because we rarely know what storms someone else is navigating.

My daughter was still waiting for my answer. I held back the emotion, steadied myself, and said, “Yes, sweetheart. I had a dream. And that dream was to have the life I have today—our life. You, your brother, your mother, our home, our laughter, our blessings, and all the love we share.”

She seemed satisfied, because her response—perfectly timed—was, “Oh! Can you turn this up? I love this song.”

As we enter this holiday season, I hope you take a moment to think about your childhood dream. I hope, like mine, it has quietly come true. And if it hasn’t yet, remember—it’s never too late.

It is my greatest honor to serve this incredible industry and each of you. Your kindness and support remind me every day that there are still so many good people in this crazy world. From all of us, may you have the happiest of holidays.

PATRICK S. ADAMS, Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com

REDWOOD

Like the foods we buy, when it comes to decking, we want natural and real. Redwood is always available in abundance of options. So stock the shelves! Unlike mass-produced and inferior products, Redwood is strong, reliable and possesses many qualities not found in artificial products. They maintain temperatures that are comfortable in all climates.

Redwood Empire stocks several grades and sizing options of Redwood.

SOFTWOOD LUMBER UPDATE TARIFFS, TURBULENCE AND NEW TRADE FLOWS

------------ BY GLEN O’KELLY & HÅKAN EKSTRÖM

GLOBAL SOFTWOOD lumber markets are entering a period of significant change. After years of weak demand and high volatility, the 2025–2030 outlook points to a gradual recovery—driven by economic improvement in Europe and China, supply constraints across North America, and new trade flows emerging from tariffs and policy shifts, according to the new report Softwood Lumber – Tariffs, Turbulence, and New Trade Flows

Slow Growth, Major Shifts

Softwood lumber remains a $80 billion global industry, growing only 1.8% per year in nominal terms since 2000. Beneath this modest headline, demand and trade are transforming. Consumption has shifted toward Asia, while North America and Europe remain the backbone of global supply. Construction dominates in developed markets, while furniture and packaging are key in emerging economies. Per-capita use has plateaued at 0.2–0.4 m3 in mature markets but remains below 0.1 m3 in developing regions— leaving room for growth, particularly in mid-income Southeast Asia and MENA. Regional policies, tariffs and forest resource limits will shape how demand is met.

U.S.: Tightening Supply, Rising Prices

The U.S. accounts for 27% of global softwood lumber demand but only 20% of supply. After steady post-recession growth, U.S. consumption dipped in 2022, but is expected to rebound later this decade as housing starts recover. The recent implementation of new import tariffs will restrict supply and push lumber prices in the U.S. higher. While southern mills are expanding, growth is constrained by labor shortages and log costs in other regions of the country. Sawmill expansion in the South appears to be slowing in 2025–27. However, there could be significant expansion not yet announced due to higher lumber prices in the coming years. Imports will increasingly need to come from Europe toward the end of the five-year period.

Canada & Europe: Adjusting to Constraints

Canada’s lumber sector faces a structural downturn.

Higher U.S. duties (from 14% to 45% for most producers) and limited log supply in British Columbia will accelerate mill closures and shift investment toward the U.S. South. Efforts to diversify exports to Asia and Europe are slow and costly due to distance and differing standards. Canada’s overall production will likely contract further. As B.C. sawmills become less competitive in the U.S., there are opportunities to expand domestic sales and production of value-added products through government incentives. Europe, which accounts for one-third of global supply, is poised for modest growth as construction confidence improves. But production in Northern and Central Europe is near its sustainable ceiling, and beetle-related harvests in Central Europe are declining. Expansion will depend on Eastern Europe and the Baltics.

China & Beyond: A Gradual Rebound

China’s lumber demand, down 34% since 2017, is expected to recover modestly after 2027 as the property market stabilizes. Russia will remain its dominant supplier, with marginal increases from Canada. Demand in MENA and mid-income Asia (e.g., Vietnam, India) will also grow. Limited by local forest resources, they will predominantly rely on imports.

A Fragmented Global Market

Overall, global lumber demand is projected to grow 1.2% annually from 2024 to 2030, reaching 335 million m3. Seventy percent of this increase will come from the U.S., Europe and China. Meeting that demand will require roughly 22 million m3 of new supply—mostly from the U.S. South, Eastern Europe, and Russia’s Far East.

The decade ahead will be defined not by strong growth but by redistribution—as tariffs, trade barriers, and forest policy reshape traditional supply chains. The winners will be those who adapt fastest to this new geography of wood. BPD

– Glen O’Kelly is CEO of O’Kelly Acumen, Stockholm, Sweden, and Håkan Ekström president of Global Wood Trends, Seattle, Wa. Their full report is available at www.okelly.se/shop/lumber2025.

Introducing the HDUE™ holdown and SABR™ anchor bolt solution from Simpson Strong-Tie. Now you can give customers a stronger, faster way to secure shearwall end studs to concrete foundations in residential and light-frame commercial projects. Engineered for higher loads, our new HDUE is ideal for modern structures with more windows and smaller areas for shearwalls. As a direct replacement to our HDU holdown, the HDUE comes packaged with fasteners and washers. Builders attach it to the foundation with our new SABR anchor bolt. The SABR, a cast-in-place bolt also made for higher loads, replaces our SB and SSTB anchor bolts. With just one diameter for each length, the SABR is simpler to order and stock. The HDUE holdown and SABR anchor bolt are code listed, widely available in several sizes, and backed by our expert service and support. To learn more, contact your representative or visit go.strongtie.com/hdue-sabr

CULTURE, METRICS & MINDSET

BUILDING A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS

------------ BY LANCE GRIMM

IN TODAY’S COMPETITIVE building products marketplace, companies are under constant pressure to do more with less—delivering exceptional service, optimizing operations and preserving margins. While some leaders respond to these challenges with sweeping cost-cutting measures, a more sustainable strategy has emerged: embracing a continuous improvement (CI) mindset.

CI isn’t just a process; it’s a way of thinking. Rooted in manufacturing and quality control principles like Lean and Six Sigma, CI emphasizes incremental improvements across systems, processes and activities to achieve better outcomes over time. In the distribution world—where success often depends on efficiency, accuracy and customer experience—CI can be the difference between a company that merely survives and one that thrives.

Why Continuous Improvement Matters

Value creation is the end goal for any business, but how you get there matters. Traditional approaches to growth, such as cost-cutting after an acquisition, might deliver short-term gains but often erode culture and destabilize operations. Continuous improvement, on the other hand, promotes incremental, measurable changes that compound over time—building operational resilience, boosting margins and empowering employees.

Adopting a CI mindset means treating improvement as an ongoing strategic priority, not a one-off initiative. Each

improvement sparks curiosity for what comes next, creating a regenerative cycle of progress. For building products distributors, this approach can significantly improve metrics such as on-time and in-full (OTIF) rates, order accuracy and operational efficiency.

The ABS Example: Metrics as a Catalyst for Growth

One recent example from Kodiak Building Partners underscores the power of CI in action. At American Builders Supply (ABS), a standardized set of metrics was implemented across the company along with a daily management process to check and adjust as necessary to meet established targets. Teams used Pareto charts to identify the highest-impact issues behind missed targets and where to focus collaborative efforts to address them.

The results were significant: profitability improved substantially as the organization aligned around clear goals and used data to guide decisions. This structured approach to problem-solving didn’t just fix isolated issues—it created a foundation for ongoing improvement and margin growth. Now, these principles are being extended to Kodiak’s door shop companies, piloting a similar system to drive consistency and value across the network.

Keys to a Successful CI Initiative

Implementing CI effectively requires more than enthusiasm—it demands discipline and structure. Here are three critical components:

(1) Define the Problem, Identify the Systemic Root Cause

Start with clarity and inspiration. A vague problem statement leads to vague solutions and uninspired team members. Whether addressing production delays, inventory inaccuracies or order entry bottlenecks, take the time to diagnose the systemic root cause. It’s critical to engage the people who perform the work at the location where the work is done. For instance, a recent analysis revealed that inefficient equipment layout—not a labor shortage—was the culprit behind missed production deadlines. Correcting the layout generated annual savings of $180,000.

(2) Tailor the Tactics

There’s no one-size-fits-all fix. The people who do the work should be the ones solving the problem. Also, pilot potential solutions that address the systemic root cause before rolling them out broadly, and tailor strategies to the unique root causes of each business. For example, a company dealing with repetitive order entry errors on purchase orders might benefit from text recognition technology (also known as optical character recognition, or OCR) to automate order entry, dramatically reducing these errors and freeing employees to focus on higher-value tasks.

(3) Measure the Results

Continuous improvement projects don’t end at implementation. The intended results need to be validated against the metrics within the defined problem and then standardized to check and adjust hourly, daily, weekly and monthly until ready for the next improvement to keep raising the bar on performance. In distribution, metrics such as OTIF, cycle times and order accuracy provide a clear lens into whether improvements are sticking, and where to check and adjust efforts.

Culture: The Real Differentiator

While process and data are essential, culture ultimately determines whether CI endures. Companies that build a culture of trust, curiosity and collaboration see the strongest results. When employees at every level, from executives to shop floor teams, feel empowered to problem-solve, CI becomes a shared mission rather than a topdown directive.

When building a CI culture, keep in mind data inspires more than mandates and data will set each of us free to innovate. Each person needs to be given the chance to understand the why, believe in the why, and become willing to support and engage in the why, paired with proof of its impact to accelerate adoption. Combine that with peer-

to-peer benchmarking and knowledge sharing, and CI becomes part of daily operations—transforming improvement from isolated projects into a continuous, company-wide practice. This is exactly what Kodiak’s Building Up Individuals for Locally Driven (BUILD) Excellence CI development program is all about—creating a united team throughout the company of deeply rooted and inspired problem-solvers. In building up these leaders to speak a common CI language, they bring focus to seeing opportunities for improvement through a collaborative lens in every area of the business.

The Bottom Line

Continuous improvement is more than a tool—it’s a mindset that transforms obstacles into opportunities for growth. For building products distributors navigating tight margins, labor shortages and evolving customer demands, CI offers a path to sustainable success. When done right, it’s not about cutting costs—it’s about creating value for employees, customers and stakeholders alike. BPD

LANCE GRIMM

TOOLS WITH JUICE

THE LATEST TRENDS IN POWER TOOLS

IN A MARKET where innovation is powering forward at full speed, power tools retailers must stay ahead of a rapidly shifting landscape if they’re to capitalize on the next phase of growth. The power-tools sector is now being reshaped by the surge of lithium-ion batteries, cordless equipment, and collaborative platforms that allow an entire family of tools to use the same battery, voltage and charger.

With the professional and DIY segments converging, dealers should align their assortment, merchandising and sales strategies. BPD asked two experts at Milwaukee Tool—group manager of product marketing Zafir Farooque and senior product manager Bryan Bunner—to share their insight into the trends promising to deliver the biggest impact.

Better Batteries

Farooque: The biggest trend in battery advancements is the push for greater energy and power density. These innovations enable more runtime, increased power for demanding applications, and faster performance—all within the same or smaller battery sizes. One breakthrough is tabless lithium-ion cell technology, recently adopted by some power tool companies. An example of this innovation is Milwaukee Tool’s M18 RedLithium Forge XC8.0 and HD12.0 batteries, which leverage these advanced technologies to unlock enhanced power and runtime. As a result, cordless solutions are now capable of replacing—and even outperforming—corded, pneumatic, and gas-powered options.

The growing demand for batteries that deliver more power, longer runtime, and faster application speeds—without increasing size—drives this shift. Advances in energy density and power output have enabled smaller, lighter, yet more capable batteries. This progress allows cordless solutions to surpass traditional technologies, offering

professionals greater efficiency and performance while eliminating the constraints of cords, gas and air hoses.

More Cordless/Electric Tools

Bunner: As the construction industry continues to embrace cordless innovation, solutions like cordless nailers are going to continue leading the charge in redefining traditional processes and workflows. Their ability to combine advanced technology with practical benefits like portability, safety, versatility and ease of use makes them an ideal choice for professionals striving to meet the demands of the modern jobsite. Investing in manufacturers who are committed to innovation and reliability ensures users have a solution that supports both immediate needs and future growth. As technology continues to advance, cordless nailers are poised to become an indispensable asset across a wide range of industries.

Tool

Platforms/Shared Batteries

Bunner: When evaluating a brand, it is important to look beyond individual solutions and consider their broader approach to innovation. Manufacturers that invest in disruptive technology and system-wide advancements demonstrate a strong commitment to their users and to insights grounded in real-world jobsite experience. This growth mindset often leads to advanced features, enhanced performance, and durable solutions capable of delivering a wide range of professional demands.

Additionally, a manufacturer’s ongoing dedication to innovation is a strong indicator of their long-term reliability and value. By consistently introducing new solutions and updating their existing lineup of products, these brands ensure their ecosystems stay ahead of the ever-changing demands of the industry, making them a dependable choice for professional users BPD

MOST INNOVATIVE TOOLS & FASTENERS OF THE YEAR

THE 13TH ANNUAL Pro Tool Innovation Awards recognized the industry’s most innovative power tools, hand tools, fasteners and accessories. This year’s awards proved that manufacturers are charging full speed ahead, inventing bold new categories that stretch the boundaries of software, tech, and battery-powered solutions. The winners included:

Accessories & Fasteners

Circular Saw Blades: CMT 7-1/4" Zero Gravity Fiber Cement Blade

Reciprocating Saw Blades: Milwaukee AX w/NITRUS Carbide Teeth SAWZALL Blade for Wood with Nails

Table Saw Blades: CMT 8" x 24T Locked Precision Dado

Metal Drill Bits: Drill America GSC Series Gold Stepped Point Cobalt Drill Bits

Wood Drill Bits: Fisch FSA-367208 16-piece Black Shark Forstner Bit Set

Drill Guides: Fisch Tools Heavy Duty Tilting Drill Guide

Drilling: DeWalt Black & Gold Countersinks

Drills/Driver Attachments: SiteH3ro Modular Platform

Driver Bits, Holders/Extenders: DeWalt Keyring Bit Holder Set

Impact-Rated Driver Bits: GripEdge Tools 12-piece Impact Triple Square Driver Set

Nut Driver Bits: Ryobi MaxView Lag Driver Set

Specialty Driver Bits: GripEdge Tools 1/4" Drive LowProfile Dual Action Driver Bit Set

Hole Saws: Milwaukee Quik-Lok Arbor Set

Pocket Joinery: Kreg 20V Ionic Drive Rebel Pocket-Hole Joiner Kit

Router Bits: CMT Super-Duty Flush Trim Bit 3/4"x2"

Sanding: Gator Reptilion Ceramic Sanding Discs

Stands, Tables & Bases: Bora Tool PM-3310 Jobhorse Brackets

Step Bits: Toolant Four Spiral Step Drill Bits

Adhesives–General: DAP Weldwood 2-in-1 Wood Glue & Filler

Adhesives–Tape: Hillman Power Pro Joist Tape

Hidden Fastening System: Deckorators StealthLock Universal Deck Clip

Wood Screws: SPAX PowerTrim finishing-composite-PVC Screws

Specialty Fasteners: SCRAIL Chipboard fasteners Hand Tools

Utility Knives: Klein Tools FlickBlade 2-in-1 Utility Knife/ Scraper with Blade Storage

Landscaping: WorkPro Crack Weeder, 12.5" Stainless Steel Crevice Weeding Tool

Levels: LevTech Mag Dog 8 Conduit Bending Level

Marking: Tracer ProScribe APST2

Tape Measures & Rulers: Crescent ShockForce Nite Eye

25' Tape Measure

Nut Drivers: Klein Tools 32914HD 14-in-1 Impact-rated

Flip Socket Set

Pliers: Knipex 87 51 180 Cobra ES Pliers

Screwdrivers: MetMo Pocket Driver

Precision Screwdrivers: Craftsman CMHT68011 50-piece

Precision LED Multi-Bit Screwdriver

Squares: The Morgan Square

Tie Down/Strap: Keeper Products Retractable Ratchet

Tie-Down

Vises: MetMo Fractal Vise

Cordless Power Tools

Batteries: Greenworks Optimus CORE400 5.5 Ah Battery

Battery Accessories: DeWalt FlexVolt to PowerShift

Adapter

Battery Chargers: Kress Commercial KAC843 4-port

Extended Charging Case

Drills/Drivers: DeWalt DCD801B 20V MAX XR Brushless

Cordless 1/2" Drill

Multi-Head Drill/Drivers: DeWalt DCD803B 20V MAX

Atomic Multi-Head Drill

Cordless Screwdrivers: Craftsman CMHT66720 4V

Precision Screwdriver

Specialty Drills/Drivers: SKIL DL6300D-12 12/20V Flip Drill

Impact Drivers: Makita XDT20 18V LXT Brushless

Quick-Shift Mode 4-speed Impact Driver

Circular Saws: Makita GSH06Z 40V max XGT Brushless 16-5/16" Circular Saw

Reciprocating Saws: Ryobi PBLRS02 18V ONE+ HP

Brushless Reciprocating Saw

Pneumatic Tools & Nailers

Electric Air Compressors: FNA Compressors DeWalt Xtreme Quiet Compressor DXCMS13513US

Cap Nailers/Staplers: Senco CS61H1 1-1/2" Cap Stapler

Cordless Finish Nailers: Metabo HPT NT1865DSA 18V 16GA Straight Finish Nailer

Framing Nailers: Beck Fastening LignoLoc F33 System

Cordless Framing Nailers: Metabo HPT NR1890DRA 21° Plastic Strip Framing Nailer

Roofing/Siding Nailers: Senco RoofPro 445XP Coil Roofing Nailer

Cordless Roofing/Siding Nailers: Metabo HPT NV1845DA 18V Coil Roofing Nailer

Cordless Staplers: Worx WX844L Nitro 20V 18GA Narrow Crown Stapler

Door Hardware

Hardware–Doors: Wright Products Ventana Mortise Leverset

Hardware–Commercial Doors: Hampton Products All-inOne Closer with FlexPlate BPD

SELLING IN A DOWN MARKET

DOWN MARKETS can be difficult to sell in. Let’s call them contracting markets, because that’s what markets do; they expand and contract. We are in a contracting market right now. What is the solution? Get back to the basics:

Cast a wider net. If we are to grow our business in contracting markets, we will have to call more customers, not just the same customers more often. Many of us who have established connections haven’t prospected in a while. This won’t play in a contracting market. The good news is we are going to be better prospectors than we think we are. We have experience. We must use it. An experienced seller will have a much better chance to break into accounts and break into them quicker than a rookie salesperson. Prospect, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Go to customer need. As salespeople, we need to get off the “Wow, this is a terrible market” conversations and start talking about customer need. So many sellers join in the negative conversations started by customers. Don’t be one of them. Negative, down market conversations do not lead to sales. Get off the negative and talk about customer need. We will have to dig. If we find out that the person we are talking to doesn’t have an immediate need, let’s find out when they will have a need, end the conversation, and move on.

Start positive. This may seem very simple, but is often overlooked by salespeople. We need to go into conversations with a positive first sentence. “John, I’ve got something that I know will make you money.” “Judy, I’ve got

------------ BY JAMES OLSEN

exactly what you’ve been looking for.” Even with negative customers, we have control of our first sentence; we need to make it a positive one.

Treat contracting markets as opportunities. “Yes, some people have lost faith in this market. Isn’t it great, Mr. Customer? This is a great opportunity for us to make great deals. Speaking of great deals...”

Pick something and promote it. Going to customers in any market and asking them, “Do you need anything?” is the worst salesperson’s opening of all time. The “What are you needing?” opening is even worse in down markets. We must promote something to our customers. Even if customers deny our initial promotion, they will open up to us, and tell us what they do need. Push for volume. When we reach agreement with customers on a price that works, we must push for volume. Tying customers down to a price can be difficult. In contracting markets it can seem impossible, so when we do get our customers to agree on a price, we must push for one more, two more or a contract at the given price. The rookie mistake is to be overly thankful or satisfied with the single order. The professional seller pushes for volume on any agreement.

Take all offers. When markets are good we may fight for a better price. This is good salesmanship. When markets are contracting, we must take the offers we get and work them to death. When we can’t meet the terms of our customers’ offers, it is imperative that we come back to our customers talking about the positives. Three mistakes

made by sellers when coming back on an offer to a customer whose specifications haven’t been met:

(1) Starting with the negative. “Well, John, we couldn’t get the price done ...” It doesn’t matter what we say next. We’ve started negative and have given our customer permission not to buy. Instead of starting negative, let’s start positive: “John, great news, we got the tally you wanted, the shipment you wanted and we got very close to the price we are looking for…”

(2) Acting embarrassed. We are not embarrassed if the specifications aren’t met. We accentuate the positive and keep selling (with our heads high).

(3) Stop asking for offers. Many sellers will be embarrassed when they don’t meet their customers’ offers and will stop asking for offers. This is a mistake. Contracting markets call for offers. Keep asking for them and keep working them. Not all of them will work out, but some of them will.

Champion sellers will continue to sell in the face of negativity. The rest will let the market dictate their success. Which kind of seller are we? Contracting markets will tell us. BPD

JAMES OLSEN

James Olsen is principal of Reality Sales Training, Portland, Or., and creator of SellingLumber.com. Call him at (503) 5443572 or email james@realitysalestraining.com.

CHANGES COMING TO STATE PAID LEAVE AND TIME-OFF LAWS

------------

BY PAIGE McALLISTER

PAID TIME OFF is a common benefit offered by many companies to their employees as part of their total compensation package. While federal law does not require any such paid time off, many states have regulations that require employers to offer employees paid time off and/or paid leaves of absence in some form.

We know it can be challenging to track what is required, so we have compiled state sick and family/medical leave below. We are also including highlights of recent or upcoming changes within those categories to help you make necessary adjustments.

Sick time: While federal law does not mandate sick time, some states do require employers to provide certain employees paid sick time to use for covered reasons, such as for their own or a family member’s diagnosis or treatment of a health condition or preventative care. Those states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C. In addition, Illinois, Maine and Nevada offer similar time-off policies that employees can use for any purpose.

Recent or Upcoming Changes

Alaska: New Paid Sick Time (effective July 1, 2025) All employers must provide all employees (including fulltime, part-time, temporary, and seasonal) with paid sick time, accrued at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Sick time can be capped based on the company’s total number of employees. The cap for employers with 14 or fewer employees is 40 hours, and for those with 15 or more employees, the cap is 56 hours. Any unused sick time must carry over into the next benefit year with no cap or loss of benefit. Employees can use this sick time for covered reasons and cannot be required to provide documentation for absences shorter than three days.

Maine: Increases to Paid Time Amounts (effective Sept. 24, 2025) Currently, employees can accrue up to 40

hours of paid time off in a benefit year and can carry over up to 40 hours of unused paid time off into the following benefit year; however, employers can cap an employee’s total balance to only 40 hours. Under the new changes, employees will be able to accrue up to 40 hours on top of carrying over up to 40 hours, which means they could have a balance of up to 80 hours after two years of accrual with no use.

Missouri: Sick Leave Law Rescinded (effective Aug. 28, 2025) The new law, which went into effect May 1, 2025, was rescinded as of Aug. 28, 2025. Any sick time accrued during this period must be provided, but no additional time must be accrued or provided.

Nebraska: New Sick Leave Law (effective Oct. 1, 2025) Under the Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplace Act (HFWA) employers with 11 to 19 employees must provide up to 40 hours of sick time to all employees who work at least 80 hours for their company, and employers with 20 or more employees must provide up to 56 hours of paid sick time each year. (Employers with 10 or fewer employees are currently exempt from providing sick time.) Accrual starts after the employee completes 80 hours of employment. Employees must be allowed to carry over all unused sick time into the next benefit year.

Oregon: Sick Leave Expanded to Blood Donation (effective Jan. 1, 2026) Employees can use paid leave for time off to donate blood.

Washington: Sick Leave Reasons for Use Expanded (effective July 27, 2025) Employees can use mandated sick leave to prepare for or participate in any judicial or administrative immigration proceeding for the employee or their family member.

(Effective Jan. 1, 2026) Employees can use available paid sick time for time taken due to them or a family member being a victim of a hate crime.

Medical or family leave: Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), federal law requires all employers with

50 or more employees to offer job- and benefit-protected leave to eligible employees for covered reasons. This time is not paid.

In addition to FMLA, several states mandate additional paid and/or unpaid leave for employees taking covered reasons. These states include Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C.

Changes to Established Paid Leave Laws

Colorado: FAMLI Revisions (effective Jan. 1, 2026) Employees will be allowed to take an additional 12 weeks in addition to the 12 weeks of bonding time (so 24 weeks total of FAMLI) if their newborn child is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Washington: Updates to PFML (effective Jan. 1, 2026) Several changes including:

• Job restoration protections for all employees in PFML who have worked 180 days are being phased in as follows:

o Current: Employers with 50 or more employees;

Q. We allow employees to decorate their workstations, cubicles, and desks with personal items to help them feel more comfortable at work. However, a couple of people take it to extremes, especially during the holidays. They bring in scented candles, which irritate a co-worker with allergies, and have so many knickknacks across their work surface that they don't have room to work. Is there anything we can do to get this under control without completely prohibiting personal decorations?

A . This sounds like a classic situation: there are always one or two employees who need to push the limits of any perk or flex. As with most of those, you can set limits for personal decorations.

Consider limiting the number of items a person can have in their workspace. You can also limit the size and type to whatever you think would allow them to express their personality while also giving them the room to work without being distracting to others. For example, allow one or two small pictures and/or any diplomas. If they want to decorate for the holidays, allow one or two small pieces of decor. When they want to bring something new in, they need to remove something else.

You should strictly prohibit any discriminatory items, harassment, or sexual harassment (no more swimsuit or fireman calendars), as well as anything that would create a health or safety risk for any or all employees. You can also prohibit other items that impact the environment, such as those with scents, that make noise, that have flashing lights, or that are just distracting.

You shouldn't blame another coworker's needs for your decision (i.e., “You can't bring in anything scented because of Susie’s allergies”) but instead make it a general statement about making the workplace more comfortable for all.

If employees still cannot control their workspace, you can start disciplinary action or institute a strict prohibition on everything.

o Jan. 1, 2026: Employers with 25 or more employees;

o Jan. 1, 2027: Employers with 15 or more employees; and

o Jan. 1, 2028: Employers with 8 or more employees.

• Employers can count time taken under FMLA toward the PFML job restoration protections if they notify the employee of this intention within five days of receiving a request, even if the employee is not receiving PFML benefits.

• Health benefits must be continued for the entirety of PFML regardless of any FMLA protection.

• Employees can take PFML in increments of at least four consecutive hours.

New or Upcoming Paid Leave Laws

Delaware: New Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) Payroll deductions started Jan. 1, 2025; claim submissions begin May 1, 2026.

Employees who work at least 60% of their time in Delaware and have worked for their employer for 12 months or longer and have at least 1,250 hours of employment in the past 12 months are eligible for up to 12 weeks a year of paid leave. Employees can use a combination of up to 12 weeks in a lump-sum or intermittently to care for a new child (the full 12 weeks) and up to six weeks for their own serious medical condition or injury, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or to take time when a family member is overseas on a military deployment. Employees must file through the state’s LaborFirst Claimant Portal for paid benefits, but must also provide their employer with advanced notice when possible.

Maine: New Paid Family and Medical Leave Payroll deductions started Jan. 1, 2025; claim submissions begin Jan. 1, 2026.

Employees who work in or whose operations are based in Maine are eligible to up to 12 weeks a year of paid leave for family leave, medical leave, safe leave, or military family leave. Leave can be taken in a lump sum or intermittently with job protection if they were employed for more than 120 days prior to going on leave. Employees must file through the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Authority and provide their employer with advanced notice when possible.

Delayed Paid Leave Law

Maryland: Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program Payroll deductions delayed until Jan. 1, 2027; benefits delayed until Jan. 3, 2028.

When implemented, FAMLI will provide eligible employees with job protection and pay replacement of up to $1,000 per week for up to 12 weeks for covered leave. BPD

PAIGE McALLISTER

is vice president for compliance with The Workplace Advisors, Inc. Reach her at (877) 660-6400 or paige@theworkplaceadvisors.com.

HOW GREEN ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS?

IT SEEMS AS IF thousands of new building products hit the market each year, and many of them make claims about how green they are. The option to choose green products is increasingly important to both consumer perception and business resilience in the lumber retail world. How much of these green claims are true, and how do you best choose and promote products your customers want that meet their environmental demands?

On the forest products side, choosing lumber harvested under sustainable forestry practices is gaining ground. From a retail perspective, stocking lumber products with sustainable storylines that include knowing the stops in the supply chain is one way to differentiate your yard from others.

Green Credentials

In lumber retail, green credentials refer to the verified environmental responsibility of your products and operations. These signal to your customers that the lumber you sell comes from responsibly managed forests, has a low environmental impact (think: sourcing, milling, transport), and supports sustainable forestry and biodiversity.

On the consumer side, homeowners, architects and builders increasingly ask for proof of sustainable sourcing. Offering traceable lumber shows credibility and aligns with growing client wants, needs, and values.

It’s common for lumberyards to compete on price and availability. Taking it a step further, green credentials create a story, a value proposition beyond the normal “here’s what we have in stock.” By promoting your focus on environmental products, you’re selling purpose as well as product.

When builders and developers must meet green-building standards, offering regionally grown wood can help them earn sustainability points. Municipalities, schools, corporations and the like often have sustainability requirements for their projects and products. Stocking regionally grown lumber can help them meet their environmental goals.

Big picture: lumberyards that commit to regionally grown, regionally sourced, regionally procured lumber have the opportunity to earn reputation benefits that can potentially outlast the ups and downs of market cycles.

Why Regionally Grown Lumber

Lower carbon footprint. Regionally grown lumber requires less transportation, dramatically reducing emissions. The “low-miles lumber” message resonates with sustainably focused customers.

Resource efficiency. Maximizing regional species supports natural forest cycles and reduces dependency on long-haul lumber species that, while being trucked across the country, carry higher environmental costs.

Climate resilience. Regionally managed forests often follow stricter reforestation and stewardship standards tailored to their exact ecosystem. This can include protecting water quality, wildlife and soil health. And for the record: across the U.S., the standard is planting three to five trees for every one harvested. Which totally explains why our forests are stronger and heartier than they were 100 years ago.

Buy local/regional, support local/regional. Purchasing from regional mills sustains local jobs, reinforces tax bases, and sustains rural communities. What a great story to share with your customers.

Buy local/regional, receive local/regional! Regionally sourced lumber is less vulnerable to international tariffs, currency fluctuations, global shipping delays, and more, offering increasingly critical advantages.

Authentic storytelling. Lumberyards that promote regional wood can quite literally sell the story. For example: “This eastern white pine came from a family-managed forest right here in Maine, it was harvested (and replanted!) sustainably, and it was milled right down the road at a family-owned lumber mill.”

Telling Your Green Story: Next Steps

Wondering how to leverage these points in your retail strategy? Here are just a few ideas.

Do This The Impact

Label and promote sustainably sourced or regional lumber clearly Create signage/digital content with local origin stories Educate your sales team

Highlight these stories in marketing

Why It All Matters

Customers can make informed choices and your yard is viewed as an expert resource

Adds perceived value and meets customer green product desires

When staff can speak to the “why” of green and regional lumber, it builds trust and differentiates service

Reinforces credibility, appeals to ecoconscious contractors and homeowners

Choosing regionally grown lumber isn’t just a sustainability statement, it’s a smart business move. Supporting local businesses, local mills, local foresters—all of this keeps rural economies strong. Supply-chain resilience is realized by the availability of regionally sourced wood that isn’t affected by national and international demands.

When coupled with education and executed correctly, the green story behind “regional” can become a powerful selling tool. Customers appreciate that their lumber products are from close to home, and lumber origin stories service to build customer loyalty that’s rooted in authenticity and sustainability BPD

LEARNING IS THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS SKILL FOR OUR GENERATION

------------

BY DAVE KAHLE

THE PACE OF CHANGE

has increased, the growth in complexity has multiplied, and information has proliferated at an unprecedented pace. We are in extraordinary times. And unprecedented times call for unique and disciplined approaches if we are to survive and thrive.

The only sure way to deal with this pace of change is to nurture the skill of changing ourselves as rapidly as the world is changing around us. And that makes learning the ultimate success skill for our generation.

When most of us hear the word “learning,” we often associate it with formal school, or perhaps seminars and company-sponsored training programs. While these are all means of facilitating learning, they don’t capture the essence of what I’m talking about.

Instant Training for Selling Lumber

Product knowledge is the decisive advantage that turns a good salesperson into a trusted advisor. Among the best resources are:

1. NAWLA Academy. Online courses tailored to LBM wholesalers, covering product categories, best sales practices, negotiations, inventory management, marketplace trends, and more.

2. SellingLumber.com. Selling Lumber: The Virtual Sales Manager packages a full program of sales materials from James Olsen of Reality Sales Training, including 46 video lessons, quizzes, two downloadable ebooks, plus 200 short videos.

3. Dealer associations. All the state and regional dealer associations, including NRLA, BMSA, LAT, FBMA, CSA and BLD Connection, present periodic courses and webinars on sales, estimating and operations, and several host an online repository of past seminars.

4. NELMAtv. YouTube channel with a treasure trove of tips to help sell wood, including DIY videos, installation videos, trends pieces, and Maine Cabin Masters spots.

The kind of teaching/learning that is done in academia revolves around the transfer of information. The focus is on what you know, and the measurement is the score on an exam.

For adults, on the job, the focus is different. Here it is all about behavior change. I often tell salespeople in my seminars, “I don’t care what you know. You are not paid for what you know. You are paid for what you do.”

Learning is the ability, on the part of the individual, or the organization, to absorb new information about the world or oneself, and to change one’s behavior in positive ways in response to it. The key is behavior change. Learning without action is impotent. Knowledge that doesn’t result in changed action is of little value.

The key is behavior change. Learning without action is impotent. Knowledge that doesn’t result in changed action is of little value.

Let’s say, for example, that you invest in a new software program. You bring in the trainers and dedicate time to training your staff on the new program. The trainer gives a final exam, and everyone passes with 100%. The next day, no one uses the new software. They learned it intellectually, but never made the leap to changed behavior. For adults, on the job, knowledge that doesn’t result in changed action is worthless.

So, changed behavior is synonymous with learning. Whenever we speak of learning, we are talking about changing behavior.

This kind of learning, which I call Professional Learning, manifests itself as both a personal discipline, as well as a strategic piece of an organization’s culture.

Professional describes both the mind-set of the learners and the approach to the challenge. It’s like golf. Everyone can golf just like everyone can learn. Eventually the ball will go into the hole.

However, if you were going to make your living at golf, you would take on a whole different approach. You would seriously devote time, energy and money to the process

of improving your golf game. Rather than being an occasional event, golf would become a key focus in your life. You’d invest in the best clubs, hire the best coaches, practice regularly, and create the necessary disciplines and habits. Improving your golf game would be a necessary avenue to financial survival and success.

So, it is with learning in our frenetic world. Like golf, one can do it occasionally, or decide to be a professional. A professional learner understands that learning is the key to survival and success. He/she decides to make it a key focus in life, investing time, money and energy in the routines, habits and tools that will enable greater and more rapid learning.

A professional golfer engages with some aspect of the game every day. So, too, a professional learner is occupied with the attitudes, disciplines and tools of learning.

This kind of learning is intentional.

Intentional means that the learner, or the learning organization, decides to learn. It doesn’t happen by osmosis. Just like one doesn’t accidentally become a tournament level golfer, so too one doesn’t unconsciously stumble into becoming a professional learner. It is easy to understand the decision to learn a specific skill—say a new software program—as something that circumstances require occasionally. Occasional requirements to keep up with company dictates is not what I’m talking about.

That’s a watered-down version of the kind of commitment to which I’m referring. This kind of commitment is to a lifetime of continuous growth. The intentional learner understands that the need to continually learn is the ultimate skill for success and survival in our hyper-frenetic age. So, he/she makes an intentional commitment to the life-long pursuit of continuous growth, deciding to build in habits, attitudes and skills that will enable continuous and life-long behavior change.

This kind of learning is proactive. It’s one thing to react to an employer’s requirement to learn a new software program, and it’s

quite another to decide to develop the skill necessary for a potential promotion. The pro-active learner narrows in on a goal to be accomplished or an interest to be developed and takes the steps to acquire the skills and competencies necessary.

Just like professional golfers are continuously focusing on one aspect of the game at a time, so professional learners keep a list of things to be learned. The list is dynamic, continuously evolving. Items on the list come from multiple sources: introspection, goal setting, and the stimulant of regularly engaging with new information.

In a world that is changing as rapidly as ours is, the ability of every individual to learn and grow, at least

as rapidly as the world is changing around us, is the fundamental skill we must master if we are going to survive and prosper in these turbulent times. BPD

DAVE KAHLE

Dave Kahle is a leading sales authority, having presented in 47 states and 11 countries and written 12 books including How to Sell Anything to Anyone Anytime and The Good Book on Business. For more information, visit davekahle.com.

Patrick

Over 100 Years in Business

WEST FRASER CLOSING SOUTHEAST MILLS

West Fraser Timber will permanently close its lumber mill in Augusta, Ga., as well as its facility in 100 Mile House, B.C., by the end of 2025 following an orderly wind-down. This decision is the result of timber supply challenges and soft lumber markets.

West Fraser is also announcing that the 2024 indefinite curtailment of its lumber mills in Huttig, Ar., and Lake Butler, Fl., will now be permanent, and the mills will be dismantled and the sites sold. The replacement mill in Henderson, Tx., has commenced start up and the adjacent mill has ceased operations.

The closure of the Augusta lumber mill is a result of challenging lumber demand, and the loss of economically viable residual outlets, which combined has compromised the mill’s long-term viability. The closure will impact approximately 130 employees at the site and reduce

West Fraser’s capacity by 140 million bd. ft.

The 100 Mile House lumber mill is no longer able to reliably access an adequate volume of economically viable timber. Challenging softwood lumber demand, higher duties and additional tariffs have compounded this situation. The mill closure will impact approximately 165 employees at the site and reduce West Fraser’s capacity by 160 million bd. ft.

West Fraser expects to mitigate the impact on affected employees by providing work opportunities at other company operations, where available.

The company said the closures should better position it to compete in this challenging environment. The company expects to record restructuring and impairment charges in the fourth quarter of 2025 as a result of the moves.

DO IT BEST/TRUE VALUE OPENS DFW TECH CENTER

Do it Best and True Value have opened a new regional technology center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, reinforcing its commitment to digital transformation, attracting top-tier talent, and delivering long-term growth for its Do it Best and True Value store owners.

The new tech center is part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its capabilities and drive operational excellence across its significantly larger enterprise. Located at the Cypress Waters campus near the DFW airport, the facility provides a flexible, modern space where new team members can onboard effectively, collaborate in person, and immerse themselves in the company’s culture.

“Building for the future requires both vision and action,” said CEO Dan Starr. “By opening this tech center in Dallas-Fort Worth, we’re expanding our IT capabilities, accelerating critical initiatives, and ensuring all our dealers have the innovation and operational strength they need to succeed in today’s competitive retail marketplace.”

“The Dallas/Fort Worth region was chosen for its unmatched advantages. In addition to being home to

more than 100 of Do it Best Group’s technology and vendor partners, along with two distribution centers in Corsicana and Waco, the area offers one of the strongest IT and retail technology labor markets in the country,” said CIO Ken Widner. “This allows the company to recruit top talent while maintaining close proximity to key partners and resources.”

Do it Best and True Value are immediately recruiting for IT positions, with a goal to build out the team over the next year. These roles include software engineers, analysts, and leadership positions.

Leaders from the company will guide the new hub’s development, instilling its values, culture and growth mindset as the team comes online. The hub will play a critical role in advancing technology initiatives, improving efficiencies, and creating momentum across the enterprise.

“This expansion demonstrates our transformational thinking and our confidence in the future of the Do it Best Group,” added Starr. “Our store owners can be assured that we are making the right investments in technology and talent to help guide everyone’s businesses forward with strength, stability and innovation.”

Mead Lumber held a Dec. 2 grand opening celebration at its new lumberyard in Sioux Falls, S.D.—its 54th location overall.

Home Depot plans to begin construction next year on a new home center in Huntsville, Al.

Sayers Hardware, Independence, Ks., has been placed up for sale with the coming retirement of fourth-generation owners Steve and Vava Sayer.

Stoughton True Value, Stoughton, Ma., is liquidating.

Hometown Hardware is set to break ground this month on a 20,000-sq. ft. Ace store in Brookshire (Houston), Tx.

Ace Hardware is nearing completion of new stores in Traverse City, Mi., and Cedar Knolls, N.J.

Gavin’s Ace Hardware held a grand opening celebration Nov. 13 at its new branch in Fort Myers Beach, Fl.

Sullivan Ace Hardware, Sullivan, Mo., is rebranding as R&R Ace, three years after the store was purchased by the Parks family, owner of R&R Ace, St. Clair, Mo.

Hendersonville Ace Hardware, Hendersonville, Tn., owner Greg Yandell has leased space to open a branch in Tullahoma, Tn.

Toccoa Hardware & Power Equipment, Toccoa, Ga., will convert to an Ace Hardware location early next year.

Harris Ace Hardware, Brevard, N.C., is closing after 53 years. The store was acquired two years ago by McNeely Companies, which operates another location in town.

Anderson Hardware, Anderson, Mo., has opened.

Lakeview Ace Hardware, Lakeview, Oh., opened store #3 in Cortland, Oh.

Windows & More opened a new showroom Nov. 11 in New Bern, N.C.

Matt’s Cash & Carry Building Materials, Palmview, Tx., was voted Best Building Supply Store by CommunityVotes Mission 2025.

Holston Hardware, Bristol, Tn., is celebrating its 90th anniversary.

AS 2025 COMES TO A CLOSE, WE WANT TO THANK OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED TRUST AND PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT 2025. DESPITE FACING INDUSTRY CHALLENGES, YOUR SUPPORT HAS REMAINED THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SUCCESS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN OPTIMISTIC 2026 AND ARE HERE TO SERVE YOUR NEEDS IN COMMODITY PLYWOOD, SIDING, SANDED PANELS, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, STUDS, CONCRETE FORMING, SIGN-MAKING PANELS, VENEER, AND BY-PRODUCTS

WISHING YOU A JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR!

BUILDERS FIRSTSOURCE ADDS TEXAS YARD

Builders FirstSource has acquired the assets of Lengefeld Lumber, Temple, Tx.

A fourth-generation, family-owned business serving Central Texas since 1951, Lengefeld is known for its integrity, teamwork, and dedication to helping customers and partners.

70-YEAR-OLD OHIO LUMBERYARD LIQUIDATES

Rentner Lumber & Supply Co., Holland, Oh., is closing after more than 70 years and liquidating its assets with the coming retirement of longtime owner John Rentner.

Pamela Rose Auction Co. accepted bids on a range of stock, including delivery trucks, forklift, pallet racking, woodworking tools, saws, hardware and lumber. Bidding ended Dec. 1.

Rentner has served as president since 1988. The business was founded in the mid-1950s in Sylvania, Oh.

PROTEC ACQUIRES MICHIGAN DEALER

ProTec Panel & Truss, Bremen, In., acquired Barry County Lumber/Brown’s Carpet One, Hastings, Mi., Nov. 1.

Since 1945, Barry County Lumber has been a cornerstone in its community, known for quality products and trusted relationships.

The addition will enable ProTec to:

• Serve builders directly in North-Central Indiana, Southwest Michigan, and the commercial market

• Continue its two-step partnership model with lumberyards across Northwest Indiana, the Lafayette area, and Eastern Michigan

• Strengthen purchasing, logistics, and service across every region it serves

Barry County Lumber will retain its current name and personnel, but now backed by the manufacturing power and customer focus of ProTec.

Separately, one week later, the first trusses rolled off the line at ProTec’s new $3-million facility in Battle Creek, Mi. The new capability allows the company to serve the Hastings market with a fully integrated solution that combines local lumber supply with ProTec-built trusses, wall panels, and engineered wood.

GREAT LAKES BUYS MACOMB ACE OF DETROIT

Great Lakes Ace Hardware agreed to buy Macomb Ace Hardware, Macomb Township, Mi. The transaction is expected to close on January 11, 2026.

Founded in 2007 by Greg Oman following a successful corporate career, Macomb Ace Hardware has served as a trusted resource for Macomb Township and neighboring communities for more than 18 years.

Oman said, “Our goal was to be a difference maker and trusted neighbor in our community by providing real value through knowledgeable service, quality products, and convenient access to home improvement solutions. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve built. Most of all, I’m grateful to our team members who brought that vision to life each day by delivering on the Ace Helpful Promise.”

Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mi., Great Lakes Ace currently owns and operates more than 75 stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Great

ABC Supply opened a new location in San Antonio, Tx. (Joseph Martinez, branch mgr.).

CMPC is investing $30 million into Powell Valley Millwork’s facilities in Clay City and Jeffersonville, Ky., which are anticipated to double their production capabilities.

Southern Forest Industries temporarily idled its sawmill in Smarr, Ga., after its tenant and largest customer, PalletOne, discontinued pallet manufacturing at the site.

RSS Millworks, Prospect, Ct., will relocate to a larger, 30,660-sq. ft. facility it acquired in Cheshire, Ct.

Southern Veneer Specialty Products, Fitzgerald, Ga., plans to shutter its plywood and veneer mill in Moncure, N.C., on Dec. 5. It acquired the facility from Boise Cascade in 2019.

Lawrence Lumber Co. has placed its 29-acre hardwood lumber concentration yard in Newton, N.C., up for sale.

Walton Lumber, Millington, Mi., has acquired Wallick Post & Lumber, Peru, In., and is combining the companies as Legacy Post & Supply. Former owners Randy Wallick and Ruby Martin are retiring.

Irving Forest Products’ sawmill in Dixfield, Me., suffered extensive damage from a Nov. 1 fire.

Hampton Lumber broke ground Nov. 5 on its $225-million, 375,000-sq. ft. lumber mill in Allendale County, S.C.

Pleasant River Lumber’s mill in Dover, Me., is adding a second Automated Lineal Grading System from USNR as part of a project to replace an older Autolog grader.

BlueLinx has expanded its distribution of RDI Railing and MoistureShield decking from eight to 16 locations. MoistureShield is new to Long Island, N.Y., while RDI coverage now includes Long Island and Buffalo, N.Y.; Akron and Cincinnati, Oh.; and Pittsburgh, Pa.

Weekes Forest Products is now stocking Trex decking and railing at its St. Paul and Moorhead, Mn., branches, expanding its distribution of the products into Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota.

Specialty Building Products has expanded its distribution of Trex decking and railing products in Michigan through its Amerhart distribution centers in Jackson and Traverse City, Mi.

Boise Cascade has expanded its distribution of AZEK Exteriors and TimberTech decking and railing products to Pittsburgh, Pa.; Baltimore, Md.; and Washington, D.C.

Lakes Ace is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ace Retail Holdings. A division of Ace Hardware Corp., Ace Retail Holdings currently owns and operates more than 250 Ace Hardware stores nationwide under the Breed & Co., Buikema’s Ace, Dennis Company Ace, Great Lakes Ace, Westlake Ace, and Outer Banks Ace brands.

Re Reddwwood i ood is o

It thrives in some of the most productive timberlands in the world. Redwood is known for its timeless durability without the use of chemicals. Due to its flawless formation, there has never been a Redwood recall. There is a grade of Redwood for every application, every budget, and every customer.

“Growing beyond measure.”

Call or visit us today. Our family of Redwood timberland owners will continue to be your reputable and reliable source of Redwood.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Scott Poole has been appointed CEO of RoyOMartin, Alexandria, La. , effective Jan. 1, 2026, marking the first time a non-Martin family member will lead the company in its century-long history. He succeeds Dr. Roy O. Martin III, who will continue to serve as chairman of the board and assume additional responsibilities as chief investment officer.

Elizabeth Grant, ex-L&W Supply, has joined Hoover Treated Wood Products, Fairfield, Tx., as regional business mgr. for Texas.

Tony Sheffield, chief financial officer, The Westervelt Co., Tuscaloosa, Al., will add the title of president, effective Jan. 1, 2026. He succeeds Cade Warner, who will expand his role as CEO to place greater emphasis on long-term value creation across the organization. Ray Colvin has been named VP, real estate & resource investments, and Mike Williams, VP, corporate strategy, improvements & development.

Corey Johns, ex-Weyerhaeuser, has moved to Rex Lumber, Brookhaven, Ms., as purchasing mgr.

Buddy Stewart, ex-Nation’s Best, has been named store mgr. of Cain Hardware & Lumber, Carthage, Tx.

Justin Smith, ex-LBM Advantage, was appointed VP of purchasing for Guys Lumber & Hardware, Centerville, Tx.

Amanda Conklin, ex-ABC Supply, is now in outside sales with Carter Lumber, La Vergne, Tn. In Columbia, S.C., Thomas Ashley has been promoted to purchasing/ inventory mgr., and Heath Cundey, ex-Harbin Lumber, is new to outside sales.

Todd Durost, ex-Home Depot, is now with Raymond Building Supply, Kissimmee, Fl., as a central Florida territory mgr.

Jennifer Turner-Ozimek, ex-LP, has been named VP of sales for Allura USA, Houston, Tx.

Jenlian Chadwick will be promoted to president of Seaboard International Forest Products, Nashua, N.H., effective Feb. 1, 2026. She will replace Jim Dermody, who is retiring after 32 years with SIFP, the last 16 years as president. He will continue as a senior advisor. Ricky Leclerc will step into the role of VP of trading.

Andrew Choquette, ex-National Vinyl, has been named general mgr. of Suffield Lumber, West Suffield, Ct.

Michael Isaacs has joined the outside sales force at Totem Lumber & Supply, Wood Dale, Il.

Dwayne Wilson has been promoted to branch mgr. of Tri-State Forest Products, Hubbard, Oh. Ed Atwell, ex-Richland Laminated Columns, is now in outside sales with Tri-State.

Kaci Nichols, ex-Snavely Forest Products, is new to Boise Cascade, Hondo, Tx., as millwork account mgr.

Pierson Duce, ex-Manning Building Supplies, has moved to outside sales at Tibbetts Lumber, Jacksonville, Fl.

Jason Ringblom, president, LP Building Solutions, Nashville, Tn., will succeed Brad Southern as CEO when Southern retires on Feb. 19, 2026. Alex Walter, ex-Cameron Ashley Building Products, is now with LP, as Columbia, S.C.-based territory sales mgr. Parry Healy at LP in Columbus, Oh., is transitioning to territory sales mgr. after a decade on the marketing side.

Will Bierwirth has joined the sales team at Longleaf Lumber, Cambridge, Ma.

Troy Stoike, ex-Bloedorn, is now director of branch operations for Carhart Lumber Co., Wayne, Ne.

Tristan Mullen is now co-mgr. of 84 Lumber, Asheville, N.C. Ethan Lewis, ex-Builders FirstSource, has moved to outside sales at 84 in Austin, Tx.

Joe Burlison, ex-LBM Advantage, has been named president of Southland Lumber Co., Conroe, Tx.

Ryan A. DeBee, ex-Simpson Strong-Tie, has joined the sales team at Walker Lumber & Supply, Nashville, Tn.

Bruce Baker has retired after 42 years in eastern North Carolina sales with National Gypsum.

Connor Foley, ex-Sherwin-Williams, has moved to inside sales at Suburban Lumber Co., Cedar Rapids, Ia.

Caitlin Smith has been promoted to siding & trim product mgr. at BlueLinx, Dallas, Tx. Logan Bevis is a new national accounts rep with BlueLinx in Marietta, Ga. Lou Anne Liles, territory mgr. for BlueLinx in Butner, N.C., has retired; she started in the industry in 1930 with Carolina Builders.

Trent Larch, ex-Dock Supply Co., is the new branch mgr. at Decks & Docks, Chattanooga, Tn. Robbie Shoe has transferred as branch mgr. from Des Moines, Ia., to Rogers, Ar. Ian Pontious, ex-Huston Lumber & Supply, is now branch mgr. for Decks & Docks in Butler, N.J. New to inside sales are: Denny Pennycuff, Indianapolis, In., and Jakob Schmidt, Downington, Pa.

Sierra Tommas has joined Sterling Doors & Windows, Englewood, Fl., as strategic account mgr.

David Kraus is now in outside sales with Overseas Hardwoods Co., Mobile, Al.

Ryan Steed, ex-Bienville Lumber, has been named inside sales coordinator for Mid-States Wood Preservers, Simsboro, La.

Charles Johns has been promoted to director of special wood products for LMC, Wayne, Pa. He succeeds Ron Thompson, who retired after 25 years with the company. Lauren Brady is now director of corporate meetings.

Casey Morgan has been promoted to store mgr. of Ace Hardware, Port Royal, S.C.

Matthew Guertin, ex-Vicwest, joined Atlas Building Products as territory sales mgr. in the Southeast.

Addie Atkins, ex-Boral, has joined Benjamin Obdyke, Horsham, Pa., as market development mgr. for eastern Massachusetts.

Jim O'Donnell, ex-SRS Distribution, has joined the sales force at ABC Supply, Pottstown, Pa. Also new to sales for ABC: David Etley, Dallas, Tx.; Paul Seegott, Atlanta, Ga.; and Thomas Madden, Memphis, Tn.

Aaron McClain has been promoted to mill mgr. at Church & Church Lumber Co., Wilkesboro, N.C.

Judy Haney, Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, Boise, Id., was elected chair of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association. She is joined on the executive committee by 1st vice chair Warren Reeves, Wholesale Wood Products, Dothan, Al.; 2nd vice chair Grant Phillips, Wildwood Trading Group, Tualatin, Or.; secretary/treasurer Derek Cone, Capital Lumber Co., Phoenix, Az.; at-large member Thomas Mende, Binderholz Timber, Atlanta, Ga.; and immediate past chair Kyle Little, Sherwood Lumber, Melville, N.Y. The board consists of Kent Beveridge, Skana Forest Products; Brian Boyd, Manufacturers Reserve Supply; Bobby Byrd, RoyOMartin; Tracey Crow, UFP Industries; Harris Gant, Claymark USA; Gavy Gosal, Terminal Forest Products; KayCee Hallstrom, Zip-O-Log Mills; Paul Odomirok, Great Lakes Forest Products & Lamination; Aaron Sulzer, Sierra Pacific Industries; Matt Vaughan, Buckeye Pacific; Morgan Wellens, Nicholson & Cates; Mike Wilson, BlueLinx; Chelsea Zuccato, Patrick Lumber; and Steve Rustja, Cedar Mills Investments.

Brian Pertman is the new president of Top Notch Distributors, Honesdale, Pa.

Jane May is new to outside sales at Lansing Building Products, Tampa.

Jaymien Kelly is new to PrimeSource Building Products, Atlanta, Ga., as national account mgr.-Home Depot. Brendan Johnson is a new territory rep in Tampa, Fl. Skye Svenningsen has been named VP channel marketing & e-commerce.

Jade Verville-Peloquin was named store mgr. at Ace Hardware, Charlevoix, Mi.

Brandon Nicholson is new to outside sales at QXO, Columbia, S.C.

Devin Brady has come onboard to Tando Composites as VP of sales, national accounts.

Eric Murphy, purchasing mgr., East Coast Lumber, East Hampstead, N.H., was elected president of the New Hampshire Retail Lumber Association.

Shanda Lear is new to the lighting department at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

When Griffin Lumber set out to double their impact at their new Georgia facility, they partnered with CT Darnell to turn their bold ambition into reality.

The result? A state-of-the-art facility— combining a full-service lumberyard and a comprehensive 54,400 SF truss manufacturing plant—delivered through a seamless design-build process.

CT Darnell’s LBM expertise and creative design meant smarter storage, efficient SKU management, and optimized facility flow.

LBM DEALERS FLOCK TO PHILADELPHIA FOR LMC EXPO

THE 2025 LMC EXPO ignited a powerful gathering in Philadelphia, Pa., uniting the champions of the LBM industry, dealers, suppliers, and the LMC team, to set the stage for a breakthrough year in 2026. Over three impactful days, LMC dealers picked up exclusive market insights from forest product leaders, boosted their purchasing strategies with LMC contracts and programs, and connected with top dealers from coast to coast.

The Expo also delivered expert insights on the latest building innovations and product trends, helping members stay ahead of the curve. The event kicked off with a Component Alliance roundtable, Supplier Forum, Business Continuity Panel, and a session on Futures. Additionally, the LMC Kitchen and Bath department hosted a focused, design-sales training tailored specifically for kitchen & bath professionals.

When the show floor opened, the atmosphere was electric. Dealers, suppliers and staff filled the Pennsylvania Convention Center, turning every booth into a busy hub of conversation as they gathered to shape their 2026 purchasing strategies.

Joe Miles, president of rk Miles, West Hatfield, Ma., and LMC chairman of the board, said “The LMC Expo is where our network comes alive. It’s more than buying power, it’s about people connecting and sharing ideas. The tools and opportunities here set us up for real growth in 2026, but it’s the relationships that move our industry forward.”

The convention floor buzzed with direct access to top suppliers, many senior leaders, setting the Expo apart from other events. The LMC team actively supported dealers in leveraging exclusive programs and contracts to build stability in an ever-evolving marketplace.

The Expo concluded with LMC CEO and president Paul Ryan sharing key insights, accomplishments and plans for 2026.

He was followed by a keynote from Jesse Wade, CBE, economist and director of tax and trade policy analysis for NAHB. Wade discussed trends shaping the industry, including the impact of state and federal tax policies, international trade dynamics, and the future of building materials.

Sean Tighe, LMC’s senior vice president of purchasing, remarked, “The LMC Expo prepares dealers for the next year by bringing them face-to-face with all members of the network. When dealers share their challenges and solutions in real time, they realize the strength they gain from being part of LMC. The relationships formed at the Expo are the backbone of our competitive advantage. Helping our dealers buy better and connect deeper makes us stronger together.”

As one of the final celebrations of LMC’s 90th anniversary, the Expo marked both a milestone and a launchpad. Attendees left not only with plans for the future, but also with the tools to execute them.

LMC looks forward to welcoming members to the 2026 LMC Annual in Chicago, March 10–12.

LMC is the longest-standing forest products and building materials buying group in the U.S., serving independent lumber and building material dealers since 1935. In addition to its core dealer base, the organization has long supported component manufacturers and has expanded to serve millwork shops, gypsum specialists, commercial packaging companies, and post-frame building manufacturers, and—added most recently— modular manufacturers. BPD

CAMERON ASHLEY OPENS JACKSONVILLE DC

Cameron Ashley Building Products, Greenville, S.C., has opened a new distribution center in Jacksonville, Fl., strengthening its service capabilities across North Florida and Georgia’s coastal markets.

The expansion gives customers faster, more reliable access to a full suite of residential and light commercial building products. The Jacksonville facility is a core market location, stocking roofing, gypsum, insulation and related accessories.

“This new Jacksonville facility enhances our statewide network, allowing us to deliver faster and more reliably across Florida,” said John Gambone, regional vice president. “By stocking our Core 3 products, we’re giving customers the tools they need to compete and win—backed by same-day or next-day delivery and the product knowledge and service they expect from Cameron Ashley.”

The new facility will be led by distribution center manager Mark Mixon, a veteran professional in the roofing and insulation industries.

Cameron Ashley operates more than 70 distribution centers nationwide.

RAYONIER MERGING WITH POTLATCHDELTIC

Rayonier, Wildlight, Fl., and PotlatchDeltic, Spokane, Wa., have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger of equals, creating a leading domestic land resources owner and top-tier lumber manufacturer.

The combined company will operate under a new name, to be announced prior to closing.

Based on the companies’ most recent stock prices, the deal is worth roughly $8 billion, creating the second-largest publicly traded timber and wood products company in North America. Rayonier shareholders will own approximately 54% and PotlatchDeltic shareholders will own approximately 46% of the combined company.

Together, the combined company will have a diverse, productive timberland portfolio comprising 4.2 million acres, including 3.2 million acres in the U.S. South and 931,000 acres in the U.S. Northwest. In addition, it will

operate seven wood products manufacturing facilities, including six lumber mills with total capacity of 1.2 billion bd. ft. and one industrial plywood mill.

The executive leadership team of the combined company will comprise roughly equal representation of top talent from both Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic. Upon closing of the transaction, Mark McHugh, president and CEO of Rayonier, will continue to serve as president and CEO as well as a member of the board of directors of the combined company. Wayne Wasechek, currently CFO of PotlatchDeltic, will serve as CFO of the combined company; Rhett Rogers, currently senior VP, portfolio management of Rayonier, will serve as executive VP, land resources; and Ashlee Cribb, currently VP, wood products of PotlatchDeltic, will serve as executive VP, wood products.

Eric Cremers, currently president and CEO of PotlatchDeltic, will be executive chair of the board of directors of the combined company for 24 months after closing. The board will be comprised of five existing directors from Rayonier (including McHugh) and five existing directors from PotlatchDeltic (including Cremers). Rayonier will designate the lead independent director.

Corporate headquarters of the combined company will be located in Atlanta, Ga., with significant regional offices maintained in Spokane and Wildlight.

The transaction is expected to close in late first quarter or early second quarter of 2026.

IWF TO DEBUT WESTERN SHOW IN 2027

The International Woodworking Fair Atlanta will produce an all-new trade show and conference built to extend and expand IWF’s long-running Atlanta franchise.

IWF West will debut Aug. 25-27, 2027, in San Antonio, Tx., in a three-day trade show built to serve both the burgeoning southwestern U.S. marketplace and IWF’s large national customer base. The new show, which will include a broad selection of educational and social/ networking events echoing the Atlanta Conference programming, will bring the best of the Atlanta product mix together with manufacturers making their IWF debut. But the San Antonio event will also deliver its own unique blend of features and focus, separate and apart from Atlanta.

IWF West is created largely in response to growing exhibitor and attendee customer demand for a new trade show experience timed between the biennial IWF Atlanta stagings and sited in a major southwestern city central to Sunbelt business. To meet those and related customer requirements, IWF West will deliver:

• A concentrated three-day show scheduled for convenience, efficiency and impact.

• A carefully curated mix of manufacturers representing the best of IWF Atlanta plus new first-time exhibitors making their IWF debut.

• A perfectly scaled show floor providing buyers quick and easy access to an extensive mix of machinery, machinery-related products and services, components, supplies and non-machinery related products.

• A more relaxed show environment, in pace and scale, allowing buyers time to explore the products and services they might have missed at IWF Atlanta... and to make more productive connections with new exhibitors.

Enhanced networking opportunities in a show en-

vironment created to help buyers find new ideas, new solutions and new ways to grow their business.

And customized business-building learning and professional development opportunities featuring wood products technology and design experts in an intimate setting geared toward education.

The new IWF West and IWF Atlanta are sponsored by the Wood Industry Association (WIA). Both IWF Atlanta and IWF West are produced and managed by Atlantabased IWF.

Initial reactions to IWF West have been strong, based on extensive independent research conducted among IWF exhibitor and attendee customers. Both groups expressed positive reactions to the idea of a Western show, especially one located in the state of Texas.

In quantitative research conducted among current IWF Atlanta exhibitors, 56% liked the IWF West show concept with 64% liking its key attributes such as the San Antonio location, accessibility for buyers and show duration. In parallel research conducted among attendees, appeal was even stronger with 63% of buyers attending IWF 2024—the most recent Atlanta show— strongly endorsing the IWF West show idea.

IWF West will be held at the Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio’s premier exhibition space nestled in the heart of the city’s historic district. San Antonio is ideally located for easy access from throughout Texas as well as key western states like Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California.

AWFS FAIR TO CUT BACK TO THREE DAYS

Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers is changing from a four-day to a three-day schedule for its next biennial event. The 2027 AWFS Fair will now run from Tuesday through Thursday, July 13-15, 2027, in Las Vegas, Nv.

According to Angelo Gangone, executive vice president, AWFS, “This decision came as a result of changes we’ve seen in buyer behavior over the course of several shows. Attendees have more tools at their disposal to research products and plan their events than ever before. Buyers are conducting their business with greater efficiency and returning home to their shops and families with little downtime in between. Eliminating a show day also brings down the overall cost of exhibiting. Based on the research we conducted immediately following the 2025 Fair, we expect this move to be well received by exhibitors, many of whom expressed their opinions on this subject and others. As a result, this is just the first of several exciting changes AWFS Fair will be introducing in the very near term and into 2026.”

Michael Cassell, president of the board, AWFS, “For over 113 years, AWFS has worked hard to adjust to industry trends, and there have probably been more changes in the last 10 years than in all of the remaining 103. The adjustment to the length of the show was a very important topic with the exhibitors and attendees alike. In-person discussions, surveys, and the numerous focus group meetings all support the change. This is why the AWFS board of directors fully approves and supports this adjustment, because our industry asked for it and AWFS has responded.

The AWFS Fair is the largest woodworking industry event in the West and a leading international market-

place for innovation, education, and collaboration. The Fair brings together manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of machinery, hardware, lumber, construction materials, and related products that serve furniture, cabinet, and custom woodworking professionals worldwide.

HOUCHENS BUYS INDIANA’S KABELIN ACE

Eight-unit Northern Indiana dealer Kabelin Ace Hardware has been acquired by Houchens Food Group, which operates more than 40 Ace locations and 400+ grocery stores across the country.

Houchens said the acquisition will help it expand product selections and present opportunities to open new stores in adjacent market.

All employees are expected to continue, including president Mackenzie Kabelin Watkins, who will serve as director of operations of the Kabelin Ace division of Houchens, focusing on strategic growth of the division.

Kabelin Ace operates hardware stores in South Bend, Walkerton, Granger, New Carlisle, LaPorte and two in Michigan, In., plus a rental center in La Porte.

“While we’re proud of the business our family has built, it has become increasingly difficult to operate as a small independent retailer in this day and age,” said Watkins said. “We knew we wanted to continue the Kabelin legacy, but we wanted to do it from a position of strength while also giving back to our employees. By partnering with Houchens, we believe we’re securing the future of our company while also ensuring the longevity of our stores and serving the people that matter most—our employees and our communities.”

LAVALLEY BUILDING SUPPLY EXPANDS NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOWROOM

LaValley Building Supply, a trusted name in the Northeast since 1962, opened the doors to its newly expanded kitchen design center at its West Lebanon, N.H., location.

The 5,000-sq. ft. space is dedicated entirely to kitchen displays, offering customers a hands-on experience with 25 unique kitchen vignettes representing five trusted brands. Located beside the flooring and bath areas, the company’s new flagship design center offers a convenient flow for customers planning their projects.

“We’ve been selling kitchens at our company for a long, long time—and at this particular location, since the early 1980s,” said Bryan Huot of LaValley Building Supply. “This expansion was an effort for us to create a true destination for both our customers and our team—a dedicated design center that really provides ideas for every imagination with a price point for everyone. We’re grateful to have worked with so many great suppliers and carpenters to make it all happen to provide such an inspirational environment and shopping experience”

Strategically located near the intersection of two major interstates, the West Lebanon store serves as a central hub for LaValley’s 13 locations across New

Hampshire and Vermont. The company continues to offer a “one-stop shop” experience, from contractorretail lumberyards, modular home divisions and more. LaValley welcomes builders, homeowners, and community members to visit its new flagship design center and explore the latest in kitchen design. With a proud legacy of reliable service, and dealing, the third-generation family business remains committed to helping customers bring their visions to life.

The official opening took place on Oct. 17.

ORGILL HONORS TOP VENDORS

As part of its recent annual Vendor Partnership Conference, Orgill invited its top supply partners to get a firsthand look at the distributor’s newly unveiled Innovation Center and honored several manufacturers with Excellence Awards, recognizing their collaboration, partnership and dedication to innovation.

This year’s honorees include:

• Outstanding Partner of the Year: Stanley Black & Decker

• Hardlines Partner of the Year: Midwest Fastener

• Seasonal Partner of the Year: The Valspar Co.

• Innovative Partner of the Year: Recteq

• Supply Chain Partner of the Year: Rust-Oleum

“It is no secret that a big part of our success is owed to the vendors we work with on a daily basis,” said Boyden Moore, Orgill president and CEO. “Without their ongoing support and collaboration, we would simply not be able to fulfill our mission to help our customers be successful. This week, this event and these awards are all designed to strengthen these relationships, reinforce our vision and celebrate the support we get from our vendor partners.”

Announcing the winners of the Orgill Excellence Awards capped off the weeklong Vendor Partnership Conference. In addition to the traditional meetings, collaboration sessions and networking, this year’s Vendor Conference offered Orgill an opportunity to highlight its ongoing investment in future-focused initiatives by hosting attendees at the newly unveiled Orgill Innovation Center.

The Innovation Center officially opened last month and sits alongside Orgill’s headquarters, creating a oneof-a-kind campus where the distributor’s collaboration with channel partners is on full display.

The 553,000-sq. ft. Innovation Center serves as a year-round facility designed to test new retail concepts, merchandising strategies, and technologies.

“The Innovation Center is a game-changer for how we collaborate with our vendors and our customers,” said David Mobley, Orgill executive vice president of sales. “It enables us to advance the level of customization we offer and provide proven solutions that enhance our customers’ competitive edge.”

Along with a sneak peek inside the new Innovation Center, manufacturers, retail service providers, and other industry partners attending the Vendor Conference took part in strategic planning sessions, performance reviews and open discussions focused on supply chain efficiency, product innovation, and customer success.

“Every year, this event gives us the opportunity to bring our vendor partners up to speed on where we

are headed as a company, reaffirm our already strong relationships and work together to discuss mutual goals and how best we can collaborate to better serve our customers,” said Alan Shore, Orgill’s purchasing department director of seasonal merchandising. “This year’s conference hit on all these high notes. Attendance exceeded expectations, and we had strong participation from both long-time partners and new suppliers eager to align with Orgill’s growth strategy.”

LOWE’S NAMES VENDORS OF THE YEAR

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced Resideo, Weber and GE Appliances as its 2025 Vendor Partners of the Year. The suppliers were recognized during the company’s annual Vendor Forum for their commitment to delivering quality products, innovation, value and service to Lowe’s customers.

Additionally, Lowe’s recognized Metrolina Greenhouses as its Sustainability Partner of the Year for demonstrating exceptional leadership through a 100% reclaimed rainwater system, biomass heating with zero fossil fuels, and a plastic recycling program with Lowe’s that has diverted millions of pounds from landfills.

Lowe’s also named Innovation Partners of the Year: Suncast, Spruce by P&G, and Lota.

Eco Water, Idaho Forest Group, Owens Corning and Larson were recognized as divisional winners in the Building Products category.

Purpose Built Brands, Metabo HPT and Central Garden & Pet were recognized as divisional winners in the hardlines category.

American Plastics, Sherwin-Williams, Karran and Johns Manville were also recognized as divisional winners in the home décor category.

HOME DEPOT NAMES INNOVATION WINNERS

Home Depot announced the winners of its 2025 Innovation Awards, recognizing groundbreaking products providing unique value, high performance and efficiency to both DIY and pro home improvement customers.

The winners of the 2025 Innovation Awards include: Overall Winner: EcoSmart Universal Select Light Bulb by Leedarson.

First Runner-Up: Concrete Anchors by Cobra Tork. Second Runner-Up: Smart Glass Door by Feather River.

Home Depot recognized several finalists as leaders in innovation:

• Frigidaire Gallery 24" Top Control Built in Tall Tub Dishwasher in Stainless Steel.

• Henry UltraTouch Insulation.

• Gorilla ToughLite Heavy Duty Garden Hose.

• Hampton Bay Moreland Ceiling Fan.

• Kidde Smoke & Combo Detector with Ring Monitoring.

• Kwikfeed Ratchet Straps/Tie Downs.

• Milwaukee Battery Powered QUIK-LOK Power Head.

• Prism Single Component Grout.

• Ryobi 40V Mower.

• Traeger Woodridge Series.

Along with the product awards, Home Depot honored Andersen Doors & Windows as Environmental Partner of the Year, Nien Made as Interconnected Partner of the

Year, and Ring/Blink as Marketing Innovation Partner of the Year.

One supplier partner in each merchandising category was also recognized as Partner of the Year, highlighting their exceptional dedication and contribution to The Home Depot:

• Appliances: Electrolux

• Bath: Delta Faucet

• Building Materials: USG

• Electrical: US Wire & Cable

• Flooring: QEP

• Hardware: PrimeSource Building Products

• Kitchen: Nien Made Enterprise Co., LTD

• Lighting: Bel Air Lighting

• Lumber: Stimson Lumber

• Millwork: Clopay

• Outdoor Living & Cleaning: Ecolab

• Outdoor Garden: Growscape

• Paint: Behr

• Plumbing: Kissler & Co

• Power Tools: Milwaukee

• Storage: Kreate

HOTTEST TRENDS IN OUTDOOR LIVING

According to a new report, 98% of experts agree that outdoor upgrades impact overall home value, and 56% of experts say homeowners are now willing to invest more in their outdoor spaces.

The 2025 Belgard and Yardzen Trend Report: 2025 Trendscapes that Wow identified several outdoor living trends:

1. Pattern Play Patio: Graphic Hardscaping Designs – Contrasting paver patterns turn hardscapes into functional artwork while guiding traffic flow through outdoor spaces. Interesting paver patterns can turn a basic patio into a stunning artscape that rivals any indoor flooring design.

2. Elevated Simplicity: Monochromatic Paver Designs – Clean lines, oversized slabs and a deliberately restricted color palette create a gallery-calm backdrop that lets outdoor furniture and plant silhouettes shine for a simple yet elegant patio design.

3. Urban Modular Lounge: Multi-Functional Outdoor Spaces – Small outdoor spaces must multitask. Using modular materials for built-in benches and planters creates defined, multi-functional spaces, while using large format pavers creates a “biggerthan-it-is” feel.

4. Material Mixing – With limited square footage, add even more appeal to a small outdoor space by mixing materials. Integrate decking for wall cladding or stone wall veneers to create visual interest and texture variation in compact areas.

5. Mountain-Modern Warmth: Natural Material Outdoor Spaces – Warm tones are making a comeback. The varied textures and earth-tone color palettes of mountain-modern warmth provide yearround visual interest and help homeowners feel connected to the natural landscape.

ALL CLAMPS ON DECK

The Deckhands Clamp System from ShadeThings delivers a smarter, cleaner way to mount umbrellas and outdoor accessories on wood, composite or metal deck railings and fences.

The stainless-steel clamps secure firmly without bulky bases or floor obstructions, freeing up valuable deck space and eliminating tripping hazards. They install in minutes using standard tools to hold umbrellas, lighting, torches, flags and more—all with a sleek, low-profile, weatherproof design that complements any railing style.

SHADETHINGS.COM

TRIPLE THE PANE

Andersen Windows is now offering triple-pane glass options for its 100 Series casement, awning and picture windows, bringing high-performance glass technology to one of its most accessibly priced product lines.

Triple-pane windows deliver improved energy efficiency, greater noise reduction, and lower utility costs.

All 100 Series products feature a clean, modern design made with Fibrex composite, which reportedly is twice as strong as vinyl.

ANDERSENWINDOWS.COM (323) 426-4261

TALL WALL DESIGN

Increase efficiency, accuracy and output with Simpson Strong-Tie’s isWall—the first standalone wall design application that allows you to model a tall wall and run gravity and wind analysis for all components.

In addition to generating design results, isWall creates material lists, layout drawings and cutting sheets. Draw right in the 3D module, specify materials, and create unique profile design libraries. isWall works as a standalone module and can also be fully integrated with isPlan and isDesign.

STRONGTIE.COM (800) 999-5099

AI ASSIST

ECI Software Solutions has launched AI Agent, a built-in AI tool within its ecommerce platform, EvolutionX, which also powers its Spruce eCommerce solution.

The AI Agent combines intelligence and real-time insights to help merchants make day-to-day work easier, connect better with customers, and uncover new revenue opportunities—all without complex setup or technical expertise.

The tool provides real-time access to sales, orders and customer behavior to uncover trends and opportunities; an intuitive chat interface; smarter product listings; and fraud detection.

ECISOLUTIONS.COM (866) 374-3221

TORCH-READY POST CAPS

Compatible with both 4" and 5" posts, BuzzCaps instantly convert any deck or fence post into a sturdy torch holder.

Made in the USA, BuzzCaps come in standard white or most any other color meeting minimum order requirements.

BUZZ-CAPS.COM (561) 254-3970

PRIVACY RAIL

Impression Privacy Screen from TimberTech is a first-of-its-kind privacy screen solution that provides both decorative screening and functional railing together in one system, offering homeowners a seamless look.

An expansion of the Impression Rail Express line, it is engineered to work together as a unified system and has been wind-load tested for durability so homeowners can have the cohesive look they want with the performance they need. Its sleek aluminum design complements a range of outdoor styles. It is non-combustible—a key consideration in wildfire-prone regions.

TIMBERTECH.COM (877) 275-2935

FIRE-RESISTANT COMPOSITE DECK

Deckorators has unveiled its first fire-resistant composite decking line, Altitude FR Decking.

Launching in Colorado and California in early 2026, Altitude features a fire-resistant core, has a Class B flame spread rating, and is ASTM E84 Standard Compliant. Colors include Sequoia (red-brown), Trailstone (gray), and Highland (brown).

The boards are available in 15/16" x 5-1/2" dimensions, in 12', 16', and 20' lengths.

DECKORATORS.COM (800) 556-8449

OIL-BASED PRIMER/SEALER

Valspar is rolling out a new high-performance primer designed to deliver outstanding stain blocking, strong adhesion, and reliable surface preparation for interior projects.

Offered in multiple sizes and formats, Valspar OilBased Primer + Sealer is a fast-drying primer ideal for a wide range of interior applications. It blocks stubborn stains and odors—including tannins, water, grease and smoke—while providing excellent adhesion and sandability for a smooth, lasting finish that effectively masks minor imperfections, helping topcoats apply evenly and perform at their best. It comes in 12-oz. aerosol cans or as a paint in quart, 1-gallon and 5-gallon containers.

VALSPAR.COM (877) 825-7727

SIMPLIFY EWP SELECTION

PWT provides designers and specifiers with superior information services to complement its products by providing software tools that do the math to ensure the right product is used.

With an easy-to-use interface for entering data and a single click to get a Pass or Fail, Exacte by PWT provides clear results. The program aims to provide users with peace of mind when it comes to making decisions about their projects.

PWTEWP.COM (888) 707-2285

FLEXIBLE OPENINGS

Marvin has engineered a bold new line of windows and doors to meet demand for design flexibility with expansive sizes and exceptional performance.

The Marvin Vivid collection features a streamlined design to suit a range of architectural styles and includes three window types (casement, awning, direct glaze) and three door types (sliding, swinging, bi-fold), with additional products to be released in 2026.

Large format sizes are offered, with heights up to 10’ and performance grades up to PG50, along with design-forward color palettes, modern hardware, robust frames, and slim profiles. The wide variety of profiles is possible thanks to a proprietary fiberglass-reinforced composite material engineered exclusively for Vivid window interiors. Exteriors are made of durable Ultrex fiberglass.

The products are available in Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, with additional availability in 2026.

MARVIN.COM/VIVID (888) 537-7828

CEDAR-LOOK SHAKES

Westlake Royal Building Products has added two new composite shake colors to its DaVinci Roofscapes brand: Timber Black and Blonde Cedar.

Timber Black features deep grays and blacks reminiscent of the rich shades of freshly burning charcoal. Part of the Nature Crafted Collection, it combines a textured shake appearance with bold hues for the authentic feel of rustic black cedar.

Warm and refined, Blonde Cedar has distinct grain patterns that replicate the depth and light, airy coloring of sun-kissed cedar.

Both colors are available in Select Shake, SingleWidth Shake and Multi-Width Shake. DaVinci shake products are modeled from hand-split shake for natural, non-repeating beauty but without the ongoing maintenance, repairs and replacement needs of wood.

WESTLAKEROYALBUILDINGPRODUCTS.COM (800) 521-8486

TFL-ON-PLYWOOD

Funder by Genesis Products has teamed with Garnica to launch EverPly+, an advanced TFL-onplywood solution said to redefine performance, aesthetics and sustainability in the decorative panel market. It combines Funder’s expertise in thermally fused laminate with Garnica’s renowned sustainable practices and premium plywood core technology.

Features include a void-free core for greater stability and machinability; defect-free results across any decorative TFL surface; and dimensional thickness accuracy for superior consistency and ease of fabrication.

GENESISPRODUCTSINC.COM (877) 266-8292

DECK EXPO

GREEN EXPERT FORECASTS THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

Sustainable construction is rapidly gaining momentum in the U.S., driven by demand for lower emissions, reduced waste, and smarter building practices. The U.S. commercial green construction market alone is projected to grow from $179.2 million last year to $329.3 million by 2030, reflecting both industry and investor confidence in its future.

As new technologies, materials and policies accelerate the shift to sustainable construction, Dan Pollard, Thurston Group, forecast the five biggest shifts set to transform the industry over the next decade.

1. Industrialized, tech-driven building will become the norm

The future of construction is manufacturing-led, where factories deliver faster, cleaner, smarter buildings. Robotics, automation and AI-enabled production systems will transform efficiency, reduce waste, and improve safety, while modular assembly shortens delivery timelines and cuts carbon.

2. Low-carbon materials will become the standard

As sustainable materials like green concrete, low-carbon steel, and recyclable modular components become cheaper and more readily available, they will no longer just be “options” but the default choice. These materials, paired with smart building fabrics that actively contribute to energy efficiency, will make circular construction achievable at scale.

3. Digital tools will power every phase of building

Digital twins, simulation, and factory-integrated monitoring will enable projects to be optimized before ground is broken and verified throughout their lifecycle. This digital “golden thread” will also help companies demonstrate compliance with emerging safety and carbon regulations, turning data into a competitive advantage.

4. Policy and incentives will accelerate adoption

The Federal Buy Clean Initiative and Sustainable Federal Buildings Policy are embedding low-carbon requirements into U.S. projects, while globally recognized frameworks like LEED and BREEAM raise private-sector expectations on transparency and embodied carbon. Together, these frameworks should speed adoption and reward companies with verifiable, traceable supply chains.

5. By 2040, circular, net-zero communities will be standard

Global standards are pushing the market toward designs that prioritize durability, disassembly, and material reuse, while federal policies are creating incentives for low-carbon and renewable-ready construction. Together, these frameworks point toward a future where communities are built to last, powered by clean energy, and capable of being fully recycled into new projects.

MARKETPLACE

Rates : $1.20 per word (25 word minimum).

Column inch rate: $65 per inch. Deadline: 10th of previous month. Questions? Call (714) 486-2735.

PRODUCTS FOR SALE

NORTH CAROLINA RELOAD Shaver Reload, Statesville, NC

• Norfolk Southern Mainline Served

• Easy Access to I-85, I-77 & I-40

• Company Owned Truck Fleet

• Outdoor and Indoor Storage

• 12 Acres Fenced with Security Lighting

• 25+ years Reload Experience (704) 872-3148 • Fax (704) 872-3146

Email Tom Lakeman shavers.reload@gmail.com

------------| IN MEMORIAM

Lumber Wrap & Covers made in the usa High Quality Protection • PP or PE Printed Logo or Plain • Ships in Days

Reduce exposure to tariffs and supply chain volatility www.MidwestCanvas.com

Lloyd Pullen • (704) 433-5831

manurep@bellsouth.net

WANTED TO BUY

WANTED TO BUY

TALK BACK

Joseph Anthony Lucarelli Jr., 85, longtime owner of Bellevue Builders Supply, Schenectady, N.Y., died Oct. 27.

Joe took over the company when his father died in 1966. His family sold Bellevue to Stock Building Supply in 2004. In 2009, it became one of three founding divisions of US LBM. He was also owner and founder of Traditional Builders, J. Lucarelli Land Development, and Hamel Stairs. Joe was named 1997 Lumberman of the Year by the Eastern New York Lumber Dealers Association.

Frank B. Fazzio, 83, owner of Kellett Lumber, Metairie, La., passed away on Sept. 25.

Frank served as manager then vice president of Lumber Products, Metairie, before he acquired the century-old George Kellett & Sons Lumber. From the late 1990s to early 2000s, he also served as a director and officer of the Louisiana Building Material Dealers Association.

Thomas Quintin Phillips, 81, Nebraska lumber salesman, died on Oct. 16.

A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, Tom began his lifelong career in lumber sales with Hoppe Lumber, North Platte, and later moved to North Platte Lumber.

Phillip Glenn Johnson, former owner of Johnson Lumber Co., Knob Noster, Mo., died on Nov. 1 at the age of 94. Glenn ran the mill for 34 years before retiring in 2003.

Charles F. Turner Sr., 86, former president of Turner Lumber Co., Greenville, S.C., passed away on Nov. 10. He sold the business in 1976.

Raymond G. McCabe, retired co-owner of Martindale Lumber Co., Martindale, Pa., died on Nov. 1. He was 90. He closed the mill in 2012 after working there for 41 years.

HONEST FEEDBACK

Patrick, I wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for your “Across the Board” contribution this month (“Finding the Good in the Grain,” Nov., p. 8). I always enjoy your snippets on life, hard work, and success in our business. I am fortunate enough to be the present steward and fourth-generation leader of our 154-year-old company in Indiana. We truly are so fortunate to be in this industry. It has provided many jobs to families and helped our communities to grow and thrive over the years.

Time has flown since I became involved full-time after my college graduation in 1984. I have seen so much change to our industry over the years. We have evolved with the times and rolled with the punches.

It is so easy to get caught up in these highly partisan political times. It’s actually quite alarming. Your point is spot on, however, that we have survived many different administrations and national emergencies and always come out stronger in the end.

As I was growing up, I loved Ronald Reagan. I was distraught when we moved away from his influences and was just sure we were on the precipice of disaster after some of our elections in the 21st century. I will never forget that my father in his 90’s reminded me that there were quite a few elections he was not fond of, either. But he told me to always remember that the sun did come up the next day and things work out! Those are fine words of advice I tell my children now to always remember! The sun will always come up tomorrow!

Take care and here’s to the glass always being half full! Franz Morsches, president Morsches Builders Mart, Columbia City, In.

DATE BOOK

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

BLD Connection – Dec. 2-4, Estimating 1-2-3, Best Western, Neenah, Wi.; Dec. 3, sales development workshop, Holiday Inn, Bismarck, N.D.; members.bldconnection.org.

Twin Cities Hoo-Hoo Club – Dec. 9, Lumberman of the Year Award dinner, Minneapolis, Mn.; www.hoohoo.org/clubs/12.

BLD Connection – Dec. 9, Mid-America Connection Conference, Embassy Suites Olathe, Olathe, Ks.; Dec. 11, Nebraska Connection Conference, Embassy Suites, La Vista, Ne.; members.bldconnection.org.

National Hardwood Lumber Association – Dec. 9-11, control the process to improve lumber value, Memphis, Tn.; www.nhla.com.

Northeast Retail Lumber Assn. Dec. 10-11, LBM Expo, Earth Expo & Convention Center at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Ct.; www.nrla.org.

Peak Auctions – Dec. 11-17, Midwest online auction; peakauction.com.

BLD Connection – Dec. 16-18, Estimating 1-2-3, Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, St Joseph, Mo.; members.bldconnection.org.

BLD Connection – Jan. 7-8, blueprint reading & material take-off, Fargo, N.D.; www.members.bldconnection.org.

North American Deck & Railing Association – Jan. 7-9, summit & awards gala, Clearwater Beach, Fl.; www.nadra.org.

Charleston Build, Remodel & Landscape Expo – Jan. 9-11, Charleston Area Convention Center, Charleston, S.C.; www.homeshowcenter.com.

Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club – Jan. 13, meeting, Embassy Suites, Concord, N.C.; www.lumberclub.org.

BLD Connection – Jan. 13-14, yard & delivery operations workshop, Lawrence, Ks.; Jan. 13-15, Estimating 1-2-3, Simpson Strong-Tie, Inver Grove Heights, Mn.; Jan. 14, sales development course, Sioux Falls, S.D.; www.members.bldconnection.org.

Missouri Forest Products Association – Jan. 13-14, winter meeting, Courtyard by Marriott, Jefferson City, Mo.; www.moforest.org.

Lake States Lumber Association – Jan. 14-16, annual winter meeting, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wi.; www.lsla.com.

Eastern New York Lumber Dealers Assn. – Jan. 15, annual tradeshow, Saratoga Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; www.nrla.org.

Greater Cincinnati Remodeling Expo – Jan. 16-18, Sharonville Convention Center, Sharonville, Oh.; www.homeshowcenter.com.

Greenville Remodeling Expo – Jan. 16-18, Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, S.C.; www.homeshowcenter.com.

Louisville Build, Renovate & Landscape Expo – Jan. 16-18, Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, Ky.; www. homeshowcenter.com.

Minneapolis Home Building & Remodeling Expo – Jan. 16-18, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Mn.; www.homeshowcenter.com.

BLD Connection – Jan. 19-21, BizCon North; Jan. 21, Legacy 2 roundtable, Rivers Edge Convention Center & Best Western Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, Mn.; www.members.bldconnection.org.

World of Concrete – Jan. 19-22, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nv.; www.worldofconcrete.com.

International Roofing Expo – Jan. 20-22, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nv.; www.theroofingexpo.com.

American Wood Protection Association – Jan. 21, winter executive committee meeting, Bartow, Fl.; www.awpa.com.

House Hasson Hardware – Jan. 22-24, winter market, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, Tn.; www.househasson.com.

Madison Build & Remodel Expo – Jan. 24-25, Madison, Wi.; www. buildremodelexpo.com.

National Association of Wholesale Distributors – Jan. 26-28, executive summit, Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C.; www.naw.org.

ADVERTISERS INDEX

FLASHBACK: WARTIME RATIONS

SHORTLY AFTER the United States entered World War II, the government realized it would require a large percentage of the nation’s resources—including lumber—to meet the needs of the military. In January 1942, the War Production Board issued a Limitation Order (L-335) that controlled the allocation, production and use of lumber and lumber products, to ensure that essential warneeds were served and civilian uses were managed.

Throughout the war, BPD’s sister publication, The California Lumber Merchant, tracked the ongoing amendments to the restrictions. There was always a question of who could use how much of what

Sawmills were required to submit monthly production and inventory reports and, in many cases, were instructed on what they were required to produce. Much of that production was then sold to the military, at prices dictated by the military. The mills were capped at how much they could sell at market prices for non-war applications.

Companies further down the supply chain had it even tougher, since they were powerless to receive the products that their “non-essential” customers were begging for. Many retailers and wholesalers were forced to close their doors—some permanently, others until the restrictions subsided. By the end of 1944, the industry

The December 1944 front cover highlighted Los Angeles-based wholesaler George E. Ream Co. In 1949, the firm was acquired by Harbor Plywood Corp., Hoquiam, Wa., and renamed Harbor Plywood Corp. of Southern California.

had begun anxiously counting the days until the dissolution of L-335. In the December 1944 issue of The Merchant, publisher Jack Dionne reported, with a sign of relief, “It has been officially announced by those in high authority that not only the much cussed and discussed L-335, but most other restrictions on lumber distribution will be taken off as soon as the European phase of the war ends.”

He ended his column with a poem:

The $64 Question

I’ve read L-335, oh Lord, With all its clear writ pages, The law of the War Production Board

And its bureaucratic sages. But the writings of that august board,

With legal minds so fresh, Have made me fear that I, oh Lord, Am weak in mind and flesh. In simple language, oh so clear, They amend Amendment C, While I, poor soul, have yet, I fear, To master Amendment B.

So, let me ask you this, oh Lord, It’s just a simple feeler: How does a fellow buy a board From a retail lumber dealer? BPD