 G.W. Smith Lumber Co.
... Since 1905
720 West Center St, Lexington, NC, 27292
ph 336.249.4941, fx 336.249.4913 Hours: M-F 7:00-4:00
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| G.W. Smith Lumber Co. Newsletter |
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Dear Customer,
 One
of our nation's favorite holidays is Independence
Day. On July 4th Americans celebrate our independence,
history and heritage in traditional ways like making homemade ice-cream,
grilling hot dogs and lighting fireworks. Shared sacrifices
from generations of Americans make us proud of who we are
and where we are from. This pride in heritage can also
be viewed on more local levels in our own communities and
businesses.
Whether sparked by a struggling domestic economy, backlash against
big corporations or simply a desire to become more community focused,
today's consumers are trying to spend more of their shopping dollars
closer to home. Independent, locally owned businesses such as
yours and mine are the backbone of our communities and often
define these communities. Here are a few facts from independent
business organizations around the country:
The average amount of every dollar spent at a national chain
retailer that stays in the local economy is 43%. The same
statistic for a locally owned business is 67%. (Source:
Independent We Stand)
Local retailers can deliver as much as 3 to 4 times the economic
impact on a community as a national chain (including local labor
spending, taxes, donations, local purchases, etc.) (Source: Civic
Economics study)
Including in-kind donations, employees at small businesses
typically give twice as much to local charities as employees at larger
firms-$789 per employee vs. $334. (Source: NFIB)
In some form or fashion we all compete with the large national
chains. Builders can leverage their local ownership in the
follwoing ways:
Spread the Word: When advertising
mention that your business is locally owned and that the
employees are all local residents and that most of the
money earned by the business goes back into the community.
Show Off Your Involvement: Make sure your
customers know about any of your employees volunuteer work, coaching, or
charity work. Post pictures of employees helping out
at different events.
Promote Locally: Consider creative
promotions for your business built around local events like the county
fair, parade, or other annual events.
Be a Good Host: If you have space available
offer to host local meetings of groups like the Rotary or Women's
Club. This may help to familiarize people with your
business who might not otherwise know you.
Help Others: Work with other local merchants
to cross-promote your business. Offer to add them to an
advertisement in return for the same. Make it a point to do
business at a more local level yourself.
Work Together: Integrate local businesses into your promotions. Invite a local restaurateur to cater an open house.
Fly the Flag: Use
locally manufactured or USA made products on your
projects. Add a U.S. flag designation to your advertisement
or logo.
Despite the hyper-selective and demanding nature of today's
shoppers, they are still strongly driven by emotion, and not too many
things drive emotion like supporting communities and
country. Put the "shop local" initiative to work for your
business.
Sincerely,
Mark F. Smith
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Meet Your Vendor Partner
This
month's Vendor partner is Steve Hemphill of Diamond Hill Plywood
Company. Steve is our EWP (Engineered Wood Products)
representative and technician. Steve is in our store every Monday
morning, and/or by appointment, to assist both salesmen and customers
with such tasks as sizing LVL beams and I-Joists, plan assessment,
layouts of EWP floor and roof systems and troubleshooting of problems in
constructing certain layouts prescribed by an architect.
We are happy
to have Steve as a resource for you, our customers, and as a consultant
for in-house needs. Please feel free to schedule an appointment
with Steve or drop by on Monday mornings about eightish. You will find
him personable, helpful and knoweldgeable.
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To whom it may concern:
G. W. Smith Lumber Company has
been a business acquaintance of ours for the past nine years. We have
been impressed with not only the quality of their products, but the
quality and quantity of time they invest to be sure we get the best
product for the job.
We
have found them to be fair in pricing of their products, and willing to
answer any questions we may have concerning any materials purchased
from them. They have always served us with integrity, including treating
warranty work with the same importance as new work.
We
feel confident that G. W. Smith Lumber Company would be an excellent
choice for getting quality service and products for other builders.
Sincerely,
Joseph Williams, President
LMI Builders, Inc. |
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Market Update
SYP LUMBER
Market
pricing is mixed. East side producers are getting premiums for their
products while west and central producers struggle to move selected
products. Producers are very defensive on pricing unless the wood is on
the ground. However increased transportation costs have added to the
delivered price. We're beginning to see a number of mill shutdown
announcements for the week of July fourth. They range from having a four
day week end to close for two weeks
EASTERN SPRUCE
PRESSURE TREATED
Moderate activity was
witnessed yesterday to start the week. Specified tallies were circulated
as buyers relied on anyone who could fill their holes with what they
needed. Pricing is firm as lack of production due to summer shutdowns
and existing 2 week order files are not providing any additional flow in
the pipeline. Trucking remains an issue in many regions.
OSB
Activity
continues to be sporadic depending on the region and the weather. Most
regions are reporting increased plan activity and truckload bookings.
Commercial business has picked up again this week with much more follow
thru than previous months. Pricing is starting to trend firm to upward.
Mill leadtimes are averaging 2 weeks and trucking remains tight off the
West Coast and in the South. Please plan ahead as shipping delays are
common
ROOFING
The
roofing market continues to be eratic with product availability being
the main issue due to raw product needs, excessive storm damages and
transportation issues. Several producers announced increases
of from 11 to 15 percent for mid to late June, which are already
in effect, with additional increases announced for July.
GYPSUM
The
gypsum market is still volitile and erratic with one major supplier
announcing a 20% price increas on all products beginning August
1st. Others may follow or it may be a bluff to stimulate
orders. Bid with caution.
REBAR/METAL
Pricing
is slowly climbing higher as higher priced imports hit the market,
coupled with the announcement by Gerdau that rebar pricing will increase
$1.50/cwt. ($30.00 per ton) This translates to a $.20 per piece
increase on 1/2" rebar.
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Join Our Mailing List
If
you are receiving this newsletter by regular mail and would like
to receive it by e-mail please call Fonda Moser at 336-249-4941 or
e-mail her at fmoser@gwsmithlbr.com
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Builder Helper
Women 'Drive Housing's Future'
Orange County Register 's
Jon Lansner caught up with Reach Advisors' principal James Chung
at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco, and reports
this brainstorm on an opportunity for housing players: "There is a
bright
spot in American demographic trends. Digging deep into demographics,
single, childless women in their twenties are much more likely to
graduate from college than their male counterparts. Furthermore, these
young women now earn
108%
of their male peers. Their better educational credentials make them
thrive in the new knowledge-based economy. What this means with respect
to new housing is that more thought has to be given to making
communities more
welcoming
to young women. Safety and social connections of like-minded people are
a big issue. This also means different housing features than those
produced for the traditional nuclear family." Read more at
http://www.builderonline.com/builder-pulse/women--drive-housing-s-future---according-to-reach-advisors--james-chung.aspx?cid=NWBD110624002
The Ideal House
Keeping up with the Jones' may never again be what it once was. Still,
comparisons never cease. CNNMoney's Les Christie compiled a data analysis
whose contrarian premise is this: average is ideal. Christie writes, "Nowadays, the
real dream house is a family-friendly, four bedrooms, with two-and-a-half bath,
2,200 square-foot home. But as Coldwell Banker's 2011 Home Listing Report
shows, what you pay for these more down-to-earth dwellings can vary
dramatically depending on where you live. The report compared average prices of
the homes in 2,300 town and cities across North America. Among the findings:
At an average cost of $80,000, buying a four bedroom in Lithonia, Ga. is only a
fraction of what you'd pay for a similar-sized dwelling in Newport Beach,
California where the homes average $2.5 million." Proof again: all real estate is
local, and local where jobs are rules Read the full article at
http://www.builderonline.com/builder-pulse/four-bedrooms--2-200-squarefeet--11-markets--one-american-dream.aspx?cid=NWBD110624002
facebook Join us on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/GW-Smith-Lumber-Company/125511527487426 to keep up with GW Smith Store events, New Products, and even Closeout or Clearance building products, including panels, decking, lumber etc.. Click on the LIKE THIS icon to become a fan of GW Smith Lumber. THOTS: Some people get all they can and then can all they get so that they can then sit on their can. :-) I joined a health club last year, spent $250, haven't lost a single pound. Apparently you have to go there. The advanatage of exercising every day is that when you die everyone will say "well, he looks good, doesn't he". My wife said "what'ch doing", I said "nothing", she said that's what you said yesterday, I said "I wasn't finished." A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawnmower is broken. |
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
SOLID PVC DECKING ON SALE.... $1.99 / LNFT!!!
(while quantities last)
Gossen Weatheready 1x6 Decking
in colors Slate Gray, Goldenrod, and Sand in stock in kerfed edge for
hidden fastening or solid edge for surface fastening. 12', 16',
and 20' lengths available. |
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