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Happy New Year! We hope you had a fun, safe, and happy holiday break!
If you have not been featured in our Spotlight section and would like to be, please email me at rmann@bcwood.com or call 604-882-7100. You must be a value-added wood manufacturer in BC; however, you do not have to be a member of BC Wood, or any other association to participate and it is free of charge.
If you are using Microsoft Outlook to view this email, you may not be able to see all of the images. In this case, you can view the webpage version of this email by clicking on the link at the top of this email "Having trouble viewing this email? Click here" or visit our Wood Connections archives and click on 'Wood Connections - January 13, 2016' F eel free to send me news stories that you think our readers would be interested in. You can email them to rmann@bcwood.com
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| Industry News |
New BC Wood showroom and office launched in Tokyo
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations News Releases
The BC Wood Specialties Group (BC Wood), which promotes the use of British Columbian wood products internationally, has a brand-new office and showroom in the heart of Tokyo to highlight the quality of value-added wood products from British Columbia.
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson officially opened the facility during the 2015 Forestry Asia Trade Mission. The new showroom illustrates the ongoing commitment by the B.C. government, the Canadian government and the forest industry to supply the Japanese market with value-added wood products. It will also allow the country's builders and developers to learn more about the advantages of using B.C. timber.
Please click here to read the entire article
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| Industry News | Forestry Outlook 2016: Forecast is for stability
Business Vancouver
Some time in the new year, the new federal Liberal government will begin consulting Canadians on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) - a 12-nation trade agreement that is supported by the B.C. forest industry.
It will also have to try to fill the vacuum that the expiration of the softwood lumber agreement has left - a vacuum that exposes Canadian lumber producers to potential anti-dumping duties in the U.S.
In the meantime, production and exports of B.C. lumber are expected to pick up slightly in 2016, despite a drop in demand for wood in China. After the American housing market began crashing around 2009, China emerged as a life-saving new market for low-value lumber, used in construction. B.C. happened to have an abundance of it, thanks to a mountain pine beetle infestation that killed roughly half of the province's harvestable timber.
Click here to read the entire article
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| Industry News | |
Learn about the European Union Timber Regulation and How it Affects you as an Exporter of Wood Products to Europe
The seminar will focus on an operational interpretation the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR).
As an attendee to the seminar, you will come away with a working knowledge of the key pieces of EUTR legislation, their applicability, and intent. Attendees will understand the obligations of "operators", the requirements of a Due Diligence System, and what BC suppliers can do to illustrate compliance with the EUTR.
The workshop will be led by Jason Zimmermann, RPF; president of Zimmfor Management Services Ltd. Zimmfor has been provide consulting support services to resource based companies since 1998. These services include over 75 companies operating throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Details:
Date: Thursday, January 14, 9:00am to 12:30pm
Location: Langley, BC
Register Now
THIS WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL IN THE WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY INCLUDING NON BC WOOD MEMBERS.
For more information or to register for this workshop, click here or contact Rumin Mann at 604-882-7100 or email rmann@bcwood.com if you have any questions. |
| Industry News |
Exporting to the USA Seminar - Feb 3rd and 4th!
With the low Canadian dollar and the strong US market, there are many opportunities for BC's value-added wood industry in the US.
This seminar is broken into two parts. The first part on February 3rd will discuss the basics of Canadian export and US import compliance, the Softwood Lumber Agreement, Canadians traveling for work in the US, and current opportunities in the US market for BC value-added wood products.
The second part on February 4th will discuss participating government agency requirements, NAFTA, classification and valuation, logistics and distribution, US tax and accounting, and benefits of working with a trade commissioner. All really good information for new to the market exporters!
Details:
Part One
Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 9:30am to 12:00pm
Location: Langley, BC
Part Two
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2016, 9:30am to 12:00pm
Location: Langley, BC
Register Now
THIS WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL IN THE WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY INCLUDING NON BC WOOD MEMBERS.
For more information or to register for this workshop, click here or contact Rumin Mann at 604-882-7100 or email rmann@bcwood.com if you have any questions.
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| Industry News | Two New Marketing and Social Media Workshops are Scheduled in February/March in Victoria and Kelowna!
 We all know people are spending so much more time on their phones and tablets these day - but why isn't it helping you improve your sales and bottom line results?
The answer lies in Content Marketing - The process of using text, video, and audio communication in an effort to establish your company as the best and most helpful teacher in the world at what you do. A successful Content Marketing Strategy is what you need to stand ahead of your competition!
This workshop will teach you how to identify your target audience and how to market to them using digital media.
We'll show the very latest ways to maximize your exposure and engagement of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Your mobile device is now the most powerful tool in your marketing toolbox - we'll show you how to create custom graphics and short video. We'll also cover Houzz and #Hashtags and everything in between!
This will be an interactive, full-day workshop with great take aways and some one-on-one time to review where your business is at and how to take it into 2016!
Details:
Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Location: Kelowna, BC
Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Location: Victoria, BC
Register Now
THIS WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL IN THE WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY INCLUDING NON BC WOOD MEMBERS.
For more information or to register for this workshop, contact Rumin Mann at 604-882-7100 or email rmann@bcwood.com if you have any questions.
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Industry News - FPInnovations Update
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 How can you be more successful and save time and money?
Joins us at one of our two events coming up
Continuous Improvement Best Practice Seminar - February 2, 2016 at the River Rock Casino Resort - Richmond, BC
For more information about this Seminar, for more information and to register, CLICK HERE
Value Stream Mapping Workshop - February 23, 2016 at the Holiday Inn Express, Langley, BC
For more information about this Workshop, or more information and to register, CLICK HERE
Companies that apply these methods have experienced success in productivity improvements, cost savings, quality improvements and standardized processes.
Come join us and learn valuable best practices to enhance your business.
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Industry News - CAWP Update
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CAWP Open House - January 28 at 12:30pm 
On January 28th, the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing will again open its doors for our annual Open House. Starting at 12.30pm with a light lunch, we will be presenting some of the projects and research that have happened over the past year between 1pm and 3pm, then our manufacturing spaces will be open for demonstrations, tours, and discussions from 3pm to 5pm. During the same evening, our co-op students in the B.Sc. Wood Products Processing program and other Forestry programs will be presenting short reports on their work terms in industry. Pizza will be available at 5pm for those staying on for the evening event, which normally runs from 6pm to 9pm.
If you are interested in finding out more about the services that CAWP provides to industry, our undergraduate and graduate programs, or our research, please join us on the 28th. Our featured presentations this year will include one on a project we are just completing for Metro Vancouver looking at ways to re-use recycled wood to create new products, as well as one on the use of robotics in wood products manufacturing plants. Student projects will also be on display. Participation is free - we simply ask that you RSVP to camp@cawp.ubc.ca to confirm your attendance.
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Industry News
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Annual Global Forest, Paper & Packaging Industry Conference
Registration now open for the 29th Annual Conference on May 4, 2016 in Vancouver, BC
Join us for the 29th Annual Global Forest, Paper & Packaging Industry Conference on May 4, 2016. With a theme of Transformation through innovation - opportunities for people, products and processes, several hundred CEOs, senior executives and PwC leaders will discuss how companies are managing change, innovation and people to create competitive advantage and find growth in emerging markets.
PwC's Conference is part of the Global Forest Products Leadership Summit 2016, a five-day series of conferences focused on global pulp, paper, wood products and fibre-based packaging industries. In addition to the PwC conference, other confirmed events include International Pulp week (May 1-4) and the Annual Global Softwood Log & Lumber Conference (May 5-6). For more information, visit www.forestproductssummit.com. To register, click here
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Tradeshow Tips/Advice
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3 Tips to Choosing the Right Exhibiting Events
Skyline Tradeshow Tips
 Choosing to exhibit at the right events or trade shows is a large contributor to your ROI and success. The right events will have the target market you're looking for and can also help you see the competition that you face in your industry. Many regions will offer lists of the top trade shows, organized both by location as well as by industry. Don't rule out exhibiting locally, and don't rule out travelling as an option either. Keep your options open so that you can find the right show for your objectives and your trade show budget.
Consider the following tips when choosing your next exhibiting event:
Budget Exhibiting isn't cheap, so it's important to understand what you can afford and what you need to be able to afford to make the event worthwhile and meet your goals. Budgeting for a trade show entails multiple facets, so plan ahead and understand what you need for marketing, promotions, staffing, giveaways, event fees, and of course, your exhibit.
Click here to read the entire article
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Spotlight: Daizen Joinery
| Rumin Mann
Daizen Joinery is guided and managed through the leadership of company founder, Dai Yoshito Ona, whose experience in timber frame home building spans two continents and more than two decades. This knowledge is complimented by a keen understanding of materials, engineering and building design. Daizen was established in 1990 as a hand-crafted log home manufacturing company in Parksville, BC, catering to the timber frame manufacturing and export market to Japan. Daizen expanded its production capabilities with the addition of CNC technology in 2001, and turned its focus to the North American timber frame market, where opportunities for the craft were growing. Since then, Daizen has evolved to become one of the most successful and innovative timber frame operations in the BC Interior with clients extending throughout Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, California and Hawaii. Now located in beautiful Kamloops, BC, in an expansive 20,000-square-foot shop on the shores of the South Thompson River, Daizen works with a team of more than a dozen timber frame, joinery and woodworking experts, as well as partner organizations with extensive experience in the design and manufacture of timber frame buildings and homes. Together, the team offers distinctive techniques inspired by traditional Japanese workmanship, which are delivered through a combination of precision technology and handcrafting of wood.
What has not changed in more than 20 years is the company's focus on quality, innovation, client expectations, and competitiveness. Daizen is production-focused with the continuous goal of product improvement, earning the company many awards in Japan for hand-crafted homes, and more recently a first-place award during a log building competition from the International Log Building Association in 2005.
For more information on Daizen Joinery, click here
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Specifiers Program Update
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 We are updating our Wood Products Specifiers Guide and are offering space for new companies. This guide is distributed to architects, designers, and contractors throughout BC, Alberta, and Western US. Since 2010, this guide has been distributed to over 2500 specifiers. We are in the process of updating the Specifiers Guide and are giving an opportunity for all BC value-added wood companies to add in two pages on their company. If you would like to participate, please send us your content and images by February 15th to Rumin at rmann@bcwood.com. For a one-time fee of $995, your company will be listed in this guide for each and every hardcopy reprint in the future as well as a digital copy online and on a USB that is also distributed. If you are already listed and would like to update your listing, please contact Rumin at rmann@bcwood.com or 604-882-7100. |
2015 Global Buyers Mission™ (GBM) Video
| Randi Walker
Check out the 2015 GBM and 2015 Wood First Forum Videos!
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| | 2015 Global Buyers Mission |
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2015 Wood First Forum at the GBM
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Next GBM scheduled for Whistler, September 8th to 10th, 2016. |
| USA Market Update | Dave Farley
A few comments, suggestions, and ideas that may be of interest to the industry...
January is expected to be an extremely busy time for BC Wood and member companies in the US market. We have two key trade events that take place back-to-back at the end of the month. First up is the International Builders Show (IBS) from January 19 to 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The IBS is now part of the larger US Construction week which combines IBS, KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Show), and Surfaces (flooring show) together in one location, the aforementioned Sin City. Show organizers are projecting over 110,000 attendees walking the show floors over the 3 day duration of the event. Those numbers have not being experienced since the pre-recession days of 2005-06. For any members walking the show, please feel free to stop by the coordinated BC Wood products pavilion located in the central hall C 7313.
 Directly following IBS, BC Wood and member companies will participate in the annual BIA Hawaii trade event and mission in Honolulu, Hawaii from January 22 to24. The Hawaii market continues to be very strong in the high-end residential and light commercial/hospitality sectors. In fact, construction activity is up over 18% across the state from this time last year. Manufacturers of heavy timber and Western Red Cedar products continue to see significant opportunity in Hawaii and our participation at BIA helps connect our members to buyers in this market. Following the show, members will participate in a 3 day mission to the Big Island, meeting with builders, developers, and distributors and developing important contacts on the Island.
 With a strong market and low Canadian dollar, the market opportunity for BC's Industry in the United States remains high. As the US economy continues to grow, events such as IBS and BIA Hawaii become increasingly important in connecting BC industry to buyers from across the United States. For information on exporting into the US and on current market trends and opportunities, attend the Exporting to US Seminars on Feb 3rd & 4th in Langley, BC. You can contact Rumin in the BC Wood office to register at rmann@bcwood.com. As always, for more information on these events or expanding your sales into the US please feel free to contact me at dfarley@bcwood.com.
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| Mexico Market Update | |
Last Chance to Register for the Mexico Trade Mission & Expo Cihac Occidente Trade Show - March 6-12, 2016 in Guadalajara, Mexico
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
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You are invited to participate with BC Wood in the Mexico Trade Mission and EXPO CIHAC OCCIDENTE Trade Show, March 6-12, 2016 in GUADALAJARA. The Trade Mission will take participants to meet to meet pre-qualified distributors, importers, manufacturers, and industry associations. The Trade Show will expose participants to construction industry professionals in the Guadalajara Jalisco area.
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PROPOSED SCHEDULE:
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March 6, Sun
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Travel to Guadalajara
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March 7, Mon
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Trade Mission all day
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March 8, Tues
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Trade mission and Trade show Expo CIHAC Occidente
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March 9, Wed
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Trade mission and Trade show Expo CIHAC Occidente
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March 10, Thurs
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Trade mission and Trade show Expo CIHAC Occidente
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March 11, Fri
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Trade mission full day
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March 12, Sat
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Travel home
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DETAILS
Your fee includes:
Trade mission:
- all meeting appointments and driver transportation
- all site visits and driver transportation
- mission coordinator/interpreter
- hotel booking coordination
Trade show:
- company counter within the BC Wood booth
- company signage
- booth interpreters
- common meeting area
- shipment of literature
Not included in the participation fee - hotels, airfare, and meals.
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REGISTRATION:
There is limited space available!
To register or for more information, please contact:
Ken Hori
BC Wood
604-882-7100
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| Japan Market Update | |
Japan Home and Building Show 2015
Jim Ivanoff
From November 18 to 20, BC Wood organized and managed the Canadian Pavilion at the Japan Home & Building Show on behalf of the Canadian wood products industry. We were once again joined by our Canada Wood partners at the AFPA and CFPA in addition to seven BC Wood members representing products ranging from SPF and WRC to log homes, furniture, and kitchen cabinetry.
There were high expectations for this year's JH&BS. This combined with the sellout of the show last year encouraged the organizers to increase the floorspace to cover five of Tokyo Big Sight's six East Halls, compared to only three last year. This made it the largest Japan Home Show since the Lehman Shock. The increased floorspace greatly improved the flow of traffic with wider aisles and well defined zones. The domestic wood industry took a lot more space this year and created impressive new displays. The other international exhibitors such as the USA, Germany, Italy, Finland, China, etc also improved on their displays from past years.
 For our pavilion, we kept the same basic simple and modern design as in past years but with a new and enhanced "Canadian forest experience" display designed by the famous Japanese designer Hiroyuki Takamura of Unplugged Design Laboratory that we began using in 2014. The new WRC wall and ceiling treatment attracted a lot of attention to our space and as a result, we had the highest volume of traffic in our booth in many, many years.
All of the participating members reported developing very good sales leads from the show and also commented that this was the best JH&BS in many years. We hope that the organizers will again put on the same scale of show for 2016. The Japan Home Show still remains the best show for international suppliers looking to enter the Japanese market.
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Marketplace
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In this section, you can post for free anything from job listings (for employees looking for work, and employers looking for new staff), to machinery for sale/wanted, to a request for a particular type of wood or service. If you would like to include a posting in our Marketplace section, please email me at rmann@bcwood.com or call 604-882-7100 and ask for Rumin.
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| Upcoming Events |
January 14-17, 2016: Housing Brand Fair, Seoul, Korea January 19-21, 2016: International Builders Show (IBS), Las Vegas, USA January 22-24, 2016: BIA - Hawaii Expo & Mission, Honolulu, USA February 24-25, 2016: Buildex, Vancouver, Canada March 6-12, 2016: Expo CIHAC Occidente, Guadalajara, MexicoMarch 8-11, 2016: Nikkei Show, Tokyo, Japan March 24-26, 2016: Interzum, Guangzhou, China For a list of all trade and industry events, please visit our |
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Sincerely,
Rumin Mann
BC Wood |
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