The Kids Are Alright
Brad Wanzenberg always thought he would be a banker. Instead, after receiving his master's degree in international economics from American University in Washington, he went to work at Deerfield Builders Supply (DBS), the business his grandfather, Edward P. Dietrich, founded in 1947. It wasn't what he had planned. While lumber was in the family on his mother's side, his father was a banker, and Wanzenberg always intended to follow in those footsteps. Read more
2007 ProSales 100
2007 ProSales 100: Weathering the Storm
It's not like you couldn't see it coming. After a 10-year stretch of smooth sailing for virtually every player in residential construction, things began to get rough last summer as the housing market foundered, commodity wood prices sank, and industry consolidation pressured everyone to respond. But anticipating a storm is one thing; navigating through it can be something altogether different, and even seasoned pro dealers who rank on the 2007 ProSales 100 admit that keeping the helm steady since mid-2006 has been a challenge in and of itself. Read more
About 5% of National Home Centers' 6,000 active accounts pay their invoices by credit card. That might not seem like much, but it's a "dramatic increase" over only a few years ago for the Springdale, Ark.?based dealer, says Brent Hanby, National's COO. He also notes that some customers put huge sums on their cards each month. Read more
Home Depot Launches Green Branding Read more
Molding & Millwork
The molding and millwork category has been experiencing some quiet but notable trends that may give cause to re-evaluate your product mix. Builders are using more decorative millwork, inside and out; manufacturers have developed systems that ease molding installation; and style offerings are expanding. Intertwined with these movements is the steady growth and acceptance of poly (plastic) molding and millwork. Read more
