Late last month, members of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association (SCMA), along with promotion sponsors, gathered for the association’s 2024 Annual Meeting at The Charleston Place in Charleston, South Carolina. The event was held in conjunction with the Hardwood Manufacturers Association’s 2024 National Conference and Expo held at the luxury hotel. Attendees were briefed on cypress promotion activities, previewed upcoming projects, elected officers, and enjoyed a networking reception and dinner.
Here’s a rundown.
New Home, Same Address
Last spring, the SCMA launched its completely revamped home on the web at CypressInfo.org. The modern website offers a fresh, clean look; an improved user experience; and a growing library of content and photography. There’s something for everyone—from homeowners looking for home reno inspo to architecture, design, and construction professionals looking for specification and technical data. Check it out.
Hits and Clicks
The SCMA is used to making headlines and the past year was no exception. Two new editorial features were published, each receiving placements spanning from coast to coast—including the top 10 media markets in the country. The topics? Incorporating coastal design cues in your home with cypress beams, millwork, paneling, and cabinetry, as well as bringing nature indoors with cypress décor and furniture items.
Combined, the two advertorials generated nearly 2,200 placements, reached more than 328 million potential readers, earned $838,000 in advertising value, and helped drive website traffic through an impressive number of clicks. Now that’s something to talk about.
A Guide to DIY
The SCMA worked with Pittsburgh-based woodworking duo Siroh & Ivy to produce a video to each DIYers how to build a modern coffee table out of cypress boards—from start to finish. The video walks viewers through diagramming, filling voids with resin, planning, joining boards, mitering ends, sanding, assembling, and finishing. The video is hosted on CypressInfo.org and YouTube.
Sonically Speaking…
As I’m writing this column, the SCMA is partnering with a Nashville-based videographer and woodworker on a home office project that will produce video and photo content. The project involves installing beautiful, select-grade cypress slats with a felt backing to improve the studio’s acoustics. Music to our ears!
Welcoming New Members
The SCMA welcomed two new members recently, Jones Lumber Co. out of Natchez, Mississippi, and Roy’s Wood Products based in Lugoff, South Carolina.
As a reminder, SCMA membership is limited to companies engaged in the manufacture, processing, or distribution of cypress products. And if that describes your company, it’s time to considering joining. Learn more at www.CypressInfo.org or by emailing member-services@cypressinfo.org. And be sure to follow the SCMA on Instagram and Twitter at @cypress_info, and on Facebook at @southerncypress.
Ian Faight
Managing Director
Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association
Warrendale, PA
