Universal Forest Products Inc., a holding company that provides capital, management, and administrative resources to subsidiaries that supply wood, wood composite, and other products, has climbed to number 610 on the Fortune 1000, the publication’s list of the largest companies in the United States based on annual revenue, the company[Read More…]
Past Issues
The Wood Shed Life
Alan and Alice Bradshaw are known in the Meridian, Idaho, community. What are they known for? Sheds. So much so that people can get confused about the name. “Someone actually thought Alan’s last name was Woodsheds,” relates Alice. It’s an understandable mistake since the shed-building business the couple runs is[Read More…]
Customer Reserve Accounts
Rent-to-own agreements provide a great value for customers by allowing them the flexibility of a monthly contract, which can be terminated at any time by returning the rental property. The entry into a rental agreement is typically fairly low, with no credit checks being a common practice, and low monthly[Read More…]
High Prices Likely Here to Stay
The lumber market has continued to make new highs, and the industry has come to the realization that high prices are here to stay. With little evidence that dealers and distributors have built a 90-day inventory, the capacity for future gains looks inevitable. Why are lumber prices making history?[Read More…]
Cook Cares Donates to St. Jude
Cook Cares, a division of Cook Portable Warehouses based in Georgia that is dedicated solely to giving back to their community across 14 states, recently donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Jonathan Bevis, marketing director, recently attended the St. Jude’s Partner Summit, May 16-17, in Memphis, Tennessee, to[Read More…]
Univest Reaches Students Through Financial Literacy Programs
Univest, headquartered in Souderton, Pennsylvania, educated 5,406 students through its financial literacy initiatives during the 2017-2018 academic year, the company reports. Two dozen employees visited more than 15 local schools and youth organizations to teach age-appropriate lessons about saving money and making smart financial choices. “Our communities need increased financial[Read More…]
Builder Donates Playhouse for Charity Auction
Ulrich Barns, located in Cleburne, Texas, donated one of its structures for an auction to benefit Bikes For Angels in early June. Bikes For Angels is a nonprofit organization in Joshua, Texas, that provides bicycles for kids from low-income families that couldn’t afford a bike. The organization hosts an annual[Read More…]
‘Bombs Bursting in Air’
I love the Fourth of July! Grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, playing volleyball with my friends and family, and then enjoying the beautiful fireworks display that my hometown of Pauls Valley puts on every year is something to look forward to annually. Also, Independence Day is one of my paid[Read More…]
‘I’m Sorry’
The shed industry has a lot of moving parts and can be complex at times with sales, scheduling deliveries, shed manufacturing, and marketing, just to name a few. All of these factors can have a profound impact on whether the end result is a happy customer or an unhappy one.[Read More…]
Managing Your Dealers
The Pareto Principle, sometimes referred to as the 80/20 rule, tells us that 20 percent of the items on your to-do list will bring 80 percent of your results. Or 80 percent of your profits come from 20 percent of your products. Or 80 percent of your total sales[Read More…]
