Thursday, June 13, 2019
ASSOCIATION NEWS
WMA Seeking Articles for 2019 Millwork & More
Share your experience or perspective on industry related trends or best practices in millwork. WMA is seeking articles on subject matter ranging from finance to housing, industry trends, advances in millwork technology, education resources and other topics related to manufacturers and distributors focused on the millwork industry. Please email outreach@worldmillworkalliance.com for questions or more information.
Promote Your Company
Feature your latest products and innovations in Millwork & More with a full page or half page promotion. Full page Advertorial also available providing excellent opportunity to introduce your business to the millwork industry.
Update Your WMA Membership Profile
Updating your WMA company and individual WMA profile in the Membership Portal will ensure you continue to receive the most value from your membership. Don’t miss out on all of the millwork industry resources including the membership directory, online collaboration, member only content and the membership dashboard.
Company Administrators also have the ability to update the company logo, contact information and product lists as well as manage the company personnel associated with your organization’s membership. Please email mail@wordmillworkallaince.com with login questions.
MEMBER NEWS
Weston Wood Solutions Acquires Fiberstick Manufacturing
Officials for Weston Wood Solutions recently announced a plan to acquire Fiberstick Manufacturing, an Ontario-based manufacturer of primed, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) moldings, flat jambs and components. Read more
Quanex Building Products Announces Chief Financial Officer Transition
Quanex Building Products Corp. has named Scott M. Zuehlke, its current vice president of investor relations, the interim chief financial officer (CFO). He is replacing Brent L. Korb, effective immediately. An executive search is underway by Quanex to identify a permanent CFO, until which time Zuehlke will remain as interim CFO. Read more at DWM
INDUSTRY NEWS
Average price for US lumber imported from Canada decline 24.2%
In April 2019, the average price for lumber supplied from Canada to U.S. fell 24.2% y-o-y to $142 per m3, while imports increased 8.75% to 3.1 million m3, according to USDA data. Total lumber imports to U.S. expanded 7.93% to 3.5 million m3 with import value dropped 14.1% to $573.9 million.
Lumber exports from Germany to U.S. soared 47.1% to 115.5 thousand m3, export value jumped 17.4% to $30.0 million.Courtesy of Lesprom
Harvard Study: Remodeling Growth to Slow in Most Major Metros
Annual gains in homeowner spending on improvements are expected to moderate across more than half of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas in 2019, according to new projections by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Read more at LBM Journal
Industrial Distribution’s 72nd Annual Survey of Distributor Operations
The 2019 Survey of Distributor Operations gives readers insight into what other distributors across the U.S. are thinking about the state of the business. Beyond that, the Industrial Distribution survey shares information on the use of technology; the state of supplier relations; how distributors view their place in the supply chain; how they are faring in employment; and much more. Read more at Industrial Distribution
ECONOMIC NEWS
Jobs Report Shows Cooling Economy
Only 75,000 jobs were added in May, the Labor Department reported, giving the Fed more reason to cut rates. Total non-farm payroll employment edged up in May (+75,000), and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The gain was far smaller than that reported for the previous two months, providing fresh evidence that the economy is cooling and giving the Federal Reserve another reason to cut its benchmark interest rate this month. Read more at Builder
GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Trump Threatens More Tariffs on Mexico Over Part of Immigration Deal
President Donald Trump on Monday hinted more details were to come about a migration pact the United States signed with Mexico last week, saying another portion of the deal with Mexico would need to be ratified by Mexican lawmakers. Read more at Reuters
Could the Federal Gas Tax be Phased Out?
U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla. says, “Built in the ’50s under the Eisenhower administration, and I think it’s an appropriate role for the federal government to tie the states together in a responsible way. We really need help here, and what I’m hoping to see is for us to move away from the gas tax and towards a system of user fees based on vehicle miles of travel.” Read more at WFTV
CODES AND STANDARDS NEWS
Research Finds Consumer Overconfidence Regarding Building Codes in Disaster-Exposed Communities
Dallas, McKinney Urge Gov. Greg Abbott to Veto Bill Limiting Cities’ Construction Regulations
Dallas and McKinney are among cities urging Gov. Greg Abbott to veto a bill that would limit cities’ ability to regulate construction of housing and commercial buildings. Read more at Dallas News
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
The Death of the Keyboard in the Online Order
The transition away from keyboards is already underway and it has big implications for distributors. Increasingly, customers are going to use voice, image recognition and machine to machine (M2M) connections to place orders. Coming someday: using your thoughts to control computers (no joke; keep reading). Read more at Modern Distribution Management
SAFETY NEWS
Safety at Your Fingertips
Mobile devices and predictive analytics are making it possible for workers to literally wear safety on their sleeves. Read more at EHS Today
National Safety Month: Time to Protect Your Facility
These tips will help you provide the best protection for your facility and employees. Facility and building regulations vary across industries, but all facility managers are responsible for prioritizing safety for building occupants and assets. Although security plans should be evaluated and addressed regularly throughout the year, National Safety Month in June is a great time to reassess your building’s safety strategy. Read more at EHS Today
GREEN NEWS
The Art of LEED Certification
As businesses continue to become more environmentally conscious, many of their efforts are done with their carbon footprint in mind. In the multifamily industry, a large part of that green mission is rooted in the way communities are developed.
Lowering carbon emissions and conserving water are making green buildings increasingly more attractive to residents and local communities. Read more at Multi-Housing News
The Pioneering Sustainable Building That Still Inspires Pilgrimages
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The Exciting Leadership Results of Trying Something New
When someone brings together a group of people and helps them do something new together—something that has a chance to create better results—we call that “leadership.” To lead your team to something new, you’ve got to go there first. And when you do, amazing things happen. Read more at Lets Grow Leaders
Is Your Distribution Supply Chain Future-Proof?
If you’re not using data and insights to figure out what your customers need before they need it, it’s time to start thinking about how to get up to speed and start shaping the supply chain of the future. Read more at TED Magazine
3 Steps to Help You Brainstorm for Breakthrough Innovations
Innovating the distributor business model requires identifying and considering options that are a break with the past, and a move toward offering new and different customer experiences, reinvented supplier partnerships or breakthrough operational productivity. Read more at NAW
PODCASTS AND WEBINARS
Podcast: The Chief Problem Giver, Mark Scherer, COO of Scherer Bros. Lumber
“As you grow into a leadership role, you should be solving fewer problems. That goes back to hiring good people, allowing them to do their job, encouraging them to take risks for the betterment of the organization, and acknowledging that failure is an option,” Mark Scherer. Listen to at Behind Your Back Sales
