Why Knot Show That All Hardwood Matters?
Struggles in the hardwood industry aren’t the fault of any one issue—they’re the result of everything hitting at once. So, I pose this question:
Do all our product lines matter equally?
What’s more critical—flooring or furniture? Pallets or rail ties? Cabinets or millwork? Logs or lumber? Exports or imports? Biomass or boards? Structural or appearance grades?
It’s easy to say they all matter equally in conversation. But when you’re sitting in a management meeting, losing money, and trying to justify production decisions—priorities become a lot harder to define.
We all know the 80/20 rule: 80 percent of production comes from 20 percent of product lines. Likewise, 80 percent of problems often come from 20 percent of customers. But here’s the real question: Does it still make sense to produce that 20 percent of products and serve those customers that cause the most headaches and the least profit?
That’s not for me to answer. What I can say is that NHLA fights every day for every product line you service. That’s the strength of belonging to an association—we can advocate for the entire hardwood industry, not just the most profitable slice of it.
Markets shift constantly, and flexibility is key. NHLA helps maintain that flexibility so that when markets change, you have options to keep your mills running at full capacity.
Most mills want to simplify and focus on fewer SKUs, while many concentration yards succeed by offering a wide range of unique ones. The fact that remanufacturing hardwood lumber adds value in so many ways proves that every product line matters.
Think about it:
• Flooring gains value through defect elimination and random-length sales—made possible by NHLA grading rules.
• Furniture benefits from turning lower grades into export opportunities—supported by NHLA’s regulatory advocacy and AHEC partnerships.
• Pallets rely on hardwood’s superior strength—enhanced by NHLA’s work on structural values.
• Rail ties gain value through plating and treatment—supported by NHLA’s collaboration with RTA and tie-grading training.
• Cabinets depend on marketing—driven by NHLA’s work with the Real American Hardwood Coalition.
• Millwork expands through innovation—thanks to NHLA Wood Innovation Grants from the USFS.
• Logs and lumber add value through processing, veneer production, and grading.
• Exports thrive under NHLA’s Kiln Dry Certification—streamlining shipments without costly phytosanitary delays.
• Imports benefit from NHLA’s partnership with the Hardwood Federation and support of the Lacey Act.
• Biomass, while low-value, still finds opportunity through NHLA’s work promoting cogeneration and alternative uses.
• Structural and appearance lumber gain new potential through ongoing NHLA efforts to develop strength-based rules and support thermal modification technology.
The point is simple: If we don’t know what challenges you face with each of your product lines, we can’t help you defend them.
NHLA holds a vast network of knowledge, connections, and programs designed to support every corner of the industry. We’re building content and tools to help you promote your products, justify your operations, and stay profitable.
Why knot show all hardwood matters?
