Midwest Business Trends

Midwest Business Trends Uncertainty Despite A Steady Wave In The Midwest By Chris FehrMarketing Consultant / Editor Softwood activity across the Midwest has shown modest improvement compared to the prior year, with sources reporting steady demand and typical seasonal momentum. While periods of stronger activity have occurred, markets have generally leveled off in many areas, […]

SCMA Hosts Annual Meeting

SCMA Hosts Annual Meeting Members of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association (SCMA), along with promotion sponsors, gathered for the association’s 2026 Annual Meeting at Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville, FL. The event was held in conjunction with the Hardwood Manufacturers Association’s 2026 National Conference and Expo. Approximately 20 people were in attendance. Cypress promotion projects […]

West Coast Business Trends

West Coast Business Trends Hope Prevails On The West Coast Despite Turbulence By Zach Miller At the time of this writing, North American lumber prices have seen a 1.5 percent year-over-year increase with moderate spring activity. West Coast manufacturers are dealing with a myriad of issues including fiber supply, logistical disruptions and uncertainty over the […]

NAWLA Members Convene During MWC

NAWLA Members Convene During MWC In conjunction with the recent Montreal Wood Convention, held at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) hosted a regional meeting. The afternoon included networking opportunities among lumber industry professionals as well as a panel discussion titled “The Evolution of Prefabricated Housing Construction.” Panelists […]

Southeast Business Trends

Southeast Business Trends Southern Yellow Pine Is A Bestseller While Some Prices Are Problematic By Lara StearsmanAssociate Editor While fuel prices and the Iran war are popular discussions, issues such as finding quality labor (especially truck drivers), logistics disruptions, insurance pricing and the potential overstock of products by early buyers, don’t lie too far beneath […]

Real Quality Is Experienced, Not Manufactured

Real Quality Is Experienced, Not Manufactured By Brad Kirkbride, Managing Director, Western Red Cedar Lumber Association In a world increasingly shaped by synthetics and imitations, authentic materials like Western Red Cedar ground us in something real, offering a tangible connection to nature that speaks to our senses, our well-being, and our innate need for honesty […]

How The SLB Will Capture 2.9 BBF Of New Demand By 2035

How The SLB Will Capture 2.9 BBF Of New Demand By 2035 Janicki Industries Building 10 | Photo Credit: Vaagen Media Since its founding, the Softwood Lumber Board has generated 16.7 BBF of incremental lumber demand. Now, the SLB is setting its sights higher: a new strategic plan targets 2.9 BBF of additional annual demand […]

NAR Report: Baby Boomers Remain Largest Share Of Home Buyers As First-Time Buying Falls To Record Low

NAR Report: Baby Boomers Remain Largest Share Of Home Buyers As First-Time Buying Falls To Record Low Only about one in five buyers were first-time purchasers Baby Boomers remained the largest generational group of home buyers this year, while the share of first-time buyers fell to the lowest level on record, according to the 2026 […]

A New Standard for Leadership: Inside NAWLA’s T-100

A New Standard for Leadership: Inside NAWLA’s T-100 T-100 attendees connect during an evening reception. NAWLA’s inaugural T-100 took place March 16-18 and brought together senior leaders from across the lumber and building materials distribution channel for a highly focused, executive-level experience centered on connection, perspective, and the future of the industry. Set in Dana […]

Industry News

Industry News Gorman Group Announces CEO Succession Ashlee Cribb The owners of West Kelowna, BC-based, Gorman Group recently announced that Ashlee Cribb has joined Gorman Group and will assume the role of chief executive officer on July 1, 2026, following a three-month transition period working closely with previous CEO Nick Arkle. “Cribb will also work […]