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2013 is starting out with a bang for the Specifier's Program with 9 Lunch & Learn (L&L) seminars booked for January. Seven of the nine seminars are with architect firms we have never visited before; we are continuing our efforts of expanding BC Wood's circle of influence throughout the architect community.  

The other two out of nine L&L seminars are focus sessions where BC Wood will be joined with a representative from industry who will be presenting their products in an educational format. These two sessions are will take place at an architect's firm that we have already had L&L seminars in the past. This is when relationships with specific companies are really formed, making these follow up sessions invaluable.

The Specifiers Program is close to reaching the point where, by the end of our fiscal year (March 31st), we will have visited all but a handful of the major firms throughout the province. Therefore, if all goes according to plan, by the end of our next fiscal year, BC Wood will have held at least one lunch and learn session at each architect and designer firm throughout BC.  

We are also working on group seminars. During the week of March 4th, we, along with four participating members, will be in Kamloops and Kelowna giving seminars to the specifier communities.

At the end of March, BC Wood, accompanied by participating members, will be giving our first group seminar to the contractors who are members of the Lower Mainland Chapter of the Independent Construction Builders Association (ICBA). We are also working with the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, BC's other major construction association, for a similar session. This is part of our continuing effort to expand the Specifiers Program to include the construction and engineering communities.  

I have also been asked to speak on marketing to the architects during the first weekend in February at the BC Log and Timber Building Association's upcoming conference in Chase, BC. I am very much looking forward to it, as well as the opportunity of meeting with many of their members.

If you have any questions on this article or wish more information on any aspect of the Specifier Program, please contact me at rmanion@bcwood.com or call the office. I look forward to hearing from you.

Increase Anticipation By Posting Photos Of Your Trade Show Labor Staff

If you have trade show labor staff provided by the venue, ask if you can take  some photos during the installation process and post them on your accounts.  If  the trade show labor staff has their own Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or other  social media accounts, tag them and compliment them on their hard work and dedication.  This very simple act can increase anticipation and excitement for  visitors, but it's also excellent advertising for your trade show labor company.  Chances are good that they'll jump at the opportunity.  If you don't have a  provided team putting your trade show display together, take photos of your own  employees.

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A Fine Log Building, based in Chilliwack, BC, handcrafts log home and timber frame structures. With over 23 years of experience in the wood building industry, Eric Menard started the business in 2000 building unique log home projects and completing log & timber work on many commercial buildings. His creativity lead him to explore and create new products throughout the years. Now, they have expanded to include a signature line of luxury log tables and benches that are shipped throughout Canada and the United States. Since the tables and benches are made from natural logs, each is uniquely different and last a lifetime.  

What sets A Fine Log Building apart is that they use logs that mills can not use. They take a log or stump of any size that mills discard and use it to make a one-of-a-kind product. They build anything from small character log cabins to large recreations facilities and furniture.

An interesting project they recently completed was a traditional 18th century Long House for the Sto:Lo Nation in Chilliwack, BC. The Long House was built as it would have been by their people during that time in history. The building covers an area of 40'X70'. Local Douglas Fir was used for all of the log beams & trusses and local Western Red Cedar was used for the posts. Split cedar shakes were used on the roof and rough sawn board & baton were used along the exterior walls. This building is open to the public and is currently used for educational purposes.

For more information on A Fine Log Building, visit www.finelogbuilding.com

The momentum for the 2013 Montreal Wood Convention is definitely beginning to pick up. A quick review of the registration website,  www.montrealwoodconvention.com/en, shows a good number of Eastern Canadian and US distributors have already signed up. The Montreal Wood Convention follows on the storied tradition of the Canadian Lumberman's convention. For almost 100 years, the Lumberman's Convention brought together representatives from the Canadian lumber industry and distributors from both sides of the border. The Montreal Wood Convention is expected to do the same.

BC Wood will attend the Montreal Wood Convention in support of the BC forest products industry. We are planning on hosting an Industry networking luncheon on Thursday, Feb 13th and have arranged for a discounted registration fee for BC Wood members. BC Wood must advise the convention organizers of those companies who qualify for the discounted registration fee. So, please contact me to take advantage of the discounted convention registration fee or if you have any general questions regarding the Montreal Wood Convention. I can be reached by email at  bhawrysh@bcwood.com or by phone in the BC Wood office at 604-882-7100.

A few comments, suggestions, and ideas that may of interest...

If you needed another sign that the US construction Industry is on the rebound, then you need to look no further than the Northern California market. The town of Truckee, California, which is situated nicely between the south shore of Lake Tahoe and the ski mecca of Squaw Valley, is currently experiencing a bit of a housing boom. Recent housing stats from the local town hall show that over 100 homes are currently under construction with an additional 80+ homes in the design stage. The majority of the construction starts are for secondary vacation homes with an average listed value of $2.4 million dollars.

Who is driving this market demand? The vast majority of the buyers come from the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley markets who are actively investing in real estate in the Lake Tahoe market. The short two hour commute from the Bay Area has made the town of Truckee an attractive option for many.

There are a number of developments underway with two in particular that should be of interest to BC wood product manufacturers. The first is the Martis Camp Development (image above - www.martiscamp.com), a private ski and golf resort community, is experiencing significant construction activity with over 50 homes currently under construction. Just down the road from Martis is another development, Shaffers Mill ( www.schaffersmill.com), which has seen a change of ownership and as such, is experiencing a high level of construction activity. Like Martis Camp, the Schaffers Mill project will consist of a golf course and village clubhouse surrounded by 200 high-end homes. The golf course development, designed by Ward Young Architects, prominently features contemporary wood architecture including a heavy post and beam design.

One way for BC manufacturers to benefit from this construction activity is to connect with the two key building product distributors in the region. Tahoe Truckee Lumber Company (TTLC) and Tahoe Building Supplies are responsible for supplying construction products to builders in both the Martis Camp and Schaffers Mill projects. Both offer a wide variety of wood products for both structural and finished applications including a number of BC suppliers. In discussions with managers at both building yards, they are interested in wood products from British Columbia and in particular any product that is unique, innovative, and priced well for the market.

As the US market continues to improve, we will continue to focus on providing market intelligence and key contacts to the BC Industry. We will target markets and sectors in the residential and light commercial construction sector such as the two projects listed above. For more information on these projects or any region in the US, please feel free to contact me at  dfarley@bcwood.com