Selling old or slow-moving inventory is a challenge all businesses face. We see it all the time in the hardwood lumber industry. Sometimes it is from certain color sorted products, other times it coul...

Businesses need competitive advantages to thrive in the marketplace. Generally, the strategic approach to competition focuses on one or more of the following: price, product quality, feature availabil...

The hardwood lumber industry is often described as a highly competitive industry. With hundreds, (if not thousands), of hardwood manufacturers across the country, hardwood buyers have many options to ...

We all know that selecting suitable materials for product manufacturing and project development is important. Whether you're manufacturing cabinets, making hardwood flooring, outfitting commercial pro...

As we approach the final quarter of the year we continue to see positive signs in the imported tropical hardwood lumber market. While the summer months experienced the traditional slow down, we are cu...

Locating and acquiring new customers is typically a major focus for any business. But as most of us know, new customer acquisition is not easy and is not an exact science. Especially in the hardwood l...

These days, regardless if you are a hardwood lumber manufacturer or not, companies are hard-pressed to find the right candidates for their open positions. An equally imposing challenge is paving the w...

Given all the talk these days about artificial intelligence, (AI), it’s natural to wonder: How can AI work to our advantage in the hardwood lumber industry? To be honest, we’re not 100% sure. But it s...

We certainly are not experts when it comes to social media. But we do understand the importance it has, and the role it plays in today’s hardwood lumber industry. We see interaction and engagement fro...

For virtually every type of business, employee productivity goes hand-in-hand with employee engagement.  That’s why we are committed to the principle of continuous improvement when it comes to the ide...

One definition of a fragmented marketplace is when there is no one company that can exert enough influence to move the industry in a particular direction. It is a market that consists of several small...

Baillie Lumber, and other members of the Baillie Group, have been exporting North American hardwood lumber countries all around the world for decades. Whether it be white oak to Europe or ash and red ...

For many business leaders, it can seem like they’re the only ones who can get important things done. Sooner or later these individuals come to realize there are only so many hours in the day and that ...

Like other businesses in the hardwood lumber industry, hiring new top-performing employees is critical. Whether that be foresters, sawmill managers, lumber sales people or hardwood lumber buyers, attr...

For those of us in the hardwood lumber industry we know high-performing employees generally aren’t the type of individuals who are content to stay with their current position forever. Talented, produc...

Within the portfolio of tropical hardwood lumber we provide, we find that Sapele is one of most commonly requested species. We source Sapele from trusted suppliers in West Africa, primarily...

To succeed, every business depends upon the quality of its employees. In the hardwood lumber industry it is no different. People make the difference! We know firsthand how challenging it can be to at...

I suspect that almost all of us have products made from hardwood lumber in our home. Whether you are seeking a rustic charm feel or a more modern flair, hardwoods probably play a role inside your hous...

From our experiences marketing in the hardwood lumber industry, ensuring you cover the basics, and avoid common marketing mistakes can really make a difference! Whether we are trying to reach hardwoo...

It’s becoming increasingly clear among business leaders that empowered employees are more loyal and productive.  We find that when we successfully empower our employees, across all positions, (foreste...

How familiar are you with the species African Mahogany? While not as popular as its big brother Sapele, ("entandrophragma cylindricum"), there is still a long history of hardwood distributors and manu...

Sooner or later, every business will experience a crisis of some sort. It may be a cyberattack or natural disaster or power blackout, to name a few. But, when a crisis strikes, are you prepared to ove...

Those of us in the hardwood lumber industry know how important employee safety is. We are constantly trying to find ways to keep our teammates safe and secure in our sawmills and concentration yards. ...

Many times, one of the first steps when manufacturing with hardwoods is to convert the random width boards to the exact widths required in production.  Manufacturers either do this in their own produ...

These past 12 months were tough ones for the hardwood lumber industry. I would suspect that many of us are looking forward to the new year! Like in years past, I would bet many business leaders will ...

The holidays are here! It is a joyous time. There is an abundance of family get-togethers, religious observances, parties and travel. For us in the hardwood lumber busine...

I would venture to say that almost all of us in the hardwood lumber industry have a company website. And all of us have probably been trying really hard to improve the frequency of when we appear ...

In a year where the hardwood lumber industry as a whole had significant challenges, the imported tropical hardwoods segment turned out to be a more “normal” then we saw for the last 24 months. Lo...

Do you maintain a regularly published employee newsletter?  Many companies embark upon the creation of an employee newsletter, only to realize finding good, consistent, appealing content is a chal...

Selling in the hardwood lumber industry is a daily activity. We all know how important it is and how vital it is to success! It has been said that your sales team can be considered the “spearhead” f...

Is leadership an innate quality or something that can be taught and learned? The answer is probably a mixed one. From our experience in the hardwood lumber industry we find some individuals seem...

Have you ever thought about how a piece of hardwood lumber is manufactured?  Have you ever thought about all the different stages it goes through to get into a sell-able form? It can be quite interest...

In the fast-paced world of business today, the speed at which you act can make all the difference. With the abundance of online resources, people are more informed than ever ...

Hardwood has long been a cornerstone product of choice in architectural and design aesthetics, offering a timeless blend of durability and beauty. From classic homes to contemporary commercial buildin...

We are constantly in search of new leads. Whether that be for hardwood landowners, new green lumber suppliers or hardwood lumber buyers, improving and increasing the amount o...

If the past few tumultuous years have taught us anything, it’s that issues around supply chain management can wreak havoc with hardwood lumber supply. Like in most industries, disruptions in one’s sup...

In the world of interior design, raw materials play a pivotal role in determining the final product's quality, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Hardwoods have long stood out as a premier choice for c...

There is no doubt it has been a challenging year for the North American hardwood lumber industry. However, when it comes to imported tropical hardwoods, it seems business has been steady. From our pe...

I had the opportunity last week to spend a few days working with two of our newer employees. Both of these individuals are new to the hardwood lumber industry.  During one of our long car rides betw...

Succeeding in business is hard. Everyone knows that. No matter how responsive a business is, or how much it strives to produce high-quality products or services, some customers will choose to do busin...

The Baillie Group is a cohesive, unified group of hardwood producers working cooperatively together with each retaining their distinctive and valued cultural identities to support the needs of the har...

Most people know that one of the beauties of the hardwood lumber industry is that every aspect of a log that is sawn is used in one way or another! Grade lumber, the lumber that typically goes into ...

A skilled and experienced sawyer has a tremendous impact on the success of a hardwood sawmill. In general, the role of a sawyer is not just to convert a log into boards, but rather, to extract the m...

How do you quickly summarize what your company does? Do you have the proverbial “elevator pitch”? Is it relevant? Is it effective? We have found it important for all employees to know and understand ...

Many times, success in business depends to a large degree on the quality and frequency of customer communications. Effective communications help build customer loyalty sinc...

North American hardwood lumber has been used for truck flooring for decades.  Whether it be for the base of a flatbed truck, shipping containers, lowboy trucks or even utility trailers, the indu...

In today's world, where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global conversation, making eco-friendly and sustainable choices has become paramount. Building and manufacturing indus...

We all know hardwood lumber is typically sold in random widths and lengths.  However, If you are not still buying your hardwoods in random widths and lengths, chances are you purchasing it...

Besides being one of the most popular hardwood lumber species, Hard Maple also has a large variety of uses. From furniture, to cabinets, to stairs, paneling, interior d...

When was the last time you added a new or upgraded product to your product portfolio? In our industry, the hardwood lumber industry, we don’t normally emphasize new product development. ...

White Oak, "Quercus Alba", is one of the most commonly used North American hardwood lumber species today. It can be found in cabinets, flooring, furniture, doors, barrels, millwork, moulding...

Hickory is widely known and a very popular North American hardwood species.  It is found throughout the hardwood forests of the eastern United States and is used in various different pro...

In the hardwood lumber industry one of the common activities to do when considering a new supplier is to tour their sawmill and see what their capabilities and approaches are. ...

One of the fundamental concepts of marketing is to understand and address the needs, wants and demands of your target market. For us trying to market and sell in the hardwood lumber industry it is n...

Anyone familiar with the hardwood lumber industry knows that the standard way to sell hardwood lumber is in random width and length bundles. However, quite often manufacturer...

Sapele, "entandrophragma cylindricum",  has taken over as the primary mahogany species used in the US market. In the past it was Genuine Mahogany and African Mahogany before the big change o...

If you are in the hardwood lumber industry you understand supply and availability fluctuates. From time to time market demands shift, supply become tight and companies find themselves tr...

When it comes to premium North American hardwood lumber, walnut (Juglans nigra) stands out as a top choice for manufacturers seeking to produce quality and stunning products!  For those of us within ...

I was speaking to a person new to the hardwood industry the other day. This was a new contact with one of our hardwood distribution customers. It was a great conversation an...

In most modern woodworking facilities, all rough sawn hardwood will find its way through a planer, a ripsaw, and a moulder, (amongst other processes), as it is converted from a board to a saleab...

The hardwood lumber industry is a crowded market. With hundreds of sawmills and hardwood suppliers for buyers to choose from you must be able to stand out in one way or another to be successful. F...

Professional hardwood lumber buyers in the furniture and cabinetry industries would tell you that soft maple is one of the most versatile lumber species they use. It typically offers straight gr...

Caribbean Walnut may not be as well known as a hardwood species in the North American markets, but it is something you will see all over Central America, it’s native area. With an apparent shortage o...

It seems we hear it from all our employees. Our foresters, sawmill managers, hardwood lumber traders and sales assistants are all pressed for time. No matter what your role within an organization...

Of all the species of hardwoods found in the forests of North America, maple trees are one of the most common. Within all the different variations of the maple species, they are primarily separated ...

One of the more popular tropical hardwood lumber species we provide customers is Spanish Cedar, (Cedrella Odorata). But don't be miss led by the name! What we refer to as Spanish Cedar is not from Spa...

Those familiar with the purchasing of hardwood lumber directly from a sawmill know that unless specified, kiln dried hardwood lumber is typically provided rough.  However, many customers prefer to rec...

Everyone understands that an “exit interview” is a standard process taking place when an employee departs from his or her organization. As we talk to those in the hardwood lumber industry, we still f...

When the hardwood lumber measurement standard was established by the National Hardwood Lumber Association, (NHLA), they based in on board feet. But why? The way we understand it, unlike sof...

Red Oak and White Oak are both beautiful hardwoods with both having their respective places for a large variety of uses and products. But how can you tell the difference? Which spe...

The other day a customer of ours who is relatively new to the industry asked “what is wormy soft maple anyways?” For those us who have been in the hardwood lumber industry for a while it is an e...

If you have been in the hardwood lumber industry long enough there is no doubt you have heard about Rustic grade hardwoods, even Rustic White Oak. But have you heard about Center Cut White Oak? It i...

North American hardwood forests offer an abundant variety and supply of hardwood species. From White Oak, Hard Maple, and Cherry to Walnut, hardwood forests are a sustainable source of beauty and reso...

In the hardwood lumber industry, perhaps like many others, customer service is critical to your success. We operate in an industry where seemingly everyone knows everyone else.  Competing sawmil...

There is not just one way to saw hardwood lumber logs. Actually, we find that there are four common techniques used on a regular basis depending on the results a sawmil...

The randomness that hardwood lumber is sold in certainly creates some interesting scenarios for manufactures and craftsman.  Unlike softwoods, where the board is graded b...

Companies need new revenue to survive the demands of business today. In most business-to-business sales environments an experienced, knowledgeable, professional sales team is critical to achieving suc...

American Beech, (Fagus grandifolia), is not requested as often as other North American hardwood lumber species like Red Oak, Cherry or Walnut, but should it be?  American Beech,...

In the forests of North America, poplar is one of the most commonly found hardwoods.  It grows widely throughout the eastern part of the United States and is regularly one of the...

One of the things we can say about the hardwood lumber industry is we know how to get the most out of a log!  Even after the process of cutting the round log into boards, we’ll...

It has been said that American hardwood lumber offers manufacturers numerous options when it comes to materials that can impact design.  The amount of species that grow in Americ...

In an industry like the hardwood lumber industry, relationships are key. Yes, there are times when a single one-time sale to a new customer takes place, but in most cases, relationship selling is what...

The imported hardwood lumber market remains steady. In the United States demand seems to be consistent. Buyers still seem to be seeking species such as African Mahogany, Jatoba, Red Grandis and Sapele...

Many people familiar with hardwood lumber know that the most popular rift & quartered programs are in white oak. But that is not the only species sawn that way. In our New York sawmills...

Many of our customers in the United States have been speaking with us about suitable alternatives to Rosewood. At a Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora ...

For generations, woodworkers and craftsmen have chosen Cherry as their lumber of choice for quality manufacturing. Cherry, (Prunus serotina), is frequently used in everything from cabinets t...

If you have been around the hardwood lumber industry for any amount of time you have probably already learned that not all red oak is the same. Some people categorize or label r...

As consumers become more conscious of the origins of the products they are purchasing, it is becoming even important to know where the hardwood lumber you buy comes from. If you have spent a ...

From time to time companies have to deal with a buildup in some slow moving items or stagnant inventory. The goal is to find ways to turn that inventory into cash in one way or another. For us...

How often do you hear about manufacturers using sycamore in their production?  Not much if you are like most, but sycamore can be an excellent species choice in the right situation. ...

For years we have been talking about the diminishing volumes of North American White ash (Fraxinus Americana)  lumber. The impact the Emerald Ash Borer has had on the availability of trees to harvest ...

I recently finished the book The Innovators by Walter Isaacson.  The book traces the development of the computer and the internet from the early 1900s to the present.  Isaacson is a great writer.  H...

About a year ago I read the book Covert Cows & Chick-fil-A by Steve Robinson.  Steve was the long time director of marketing for Chick-fil-A, and was part of the leadership team that drove the a...

“Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” “I’m beginning to think decisiveness is overrated…but I reserve the right to change my mind.” ...

In most organizations, employee productivity is a key area of focus.  Not only for us in the hardwood lumber industry but in all industries, businesses rely upon their workforce to keep producing go...

There’s a lot of talk these days about the value of branding. Of course, having prospective customers come to your business already familiar with what you offer is a great thing. Even better, from a l...

  It is no surprise that one of the most popular hardwoods used in manufacturing is red oak, (Quercus rubra, spp).  One reason is that in North American it is one of the most abundant hardwood spec...

For most consumer products built from hardwoods, the lumber needs to be dried prior to use.  When a sawmill cuts logs into boards they are considered to be green (i.e. inclusive of moisture)...

These days, many employees (and prospective employees) expect employers to provide a workplace environment that’s comfortable, transparent and relatively free of stress. All of these fact...

Basswood, also known as Tilia Americana, is a popular choice of wood among manufacturers for various reasons. This lightweight, yet strong and flexible wood is easy to work with and can be used for a ...