Across the West Coast region sources were a mixed bag as to how their sales were doing at the time of this writing.
A lumberman in Oregon said that his sales have slightly improved and that he has seen more activity in his marketplace. “We are starting to see more quotes that are turning into orders, it wasn’t like this last year,” he added. He did note, however, that they are doing about the same as they were six months ago.
His company offers up to 50 different species of hardwood with their primary species including, Poplar, Red and White Oak, Walnut, Maple and Cherry, they offer all upper grades and some No. 1 Common and all thicknesses. “Poplar is our best seller by volume, and Walnut and White Oak are still very strong as well,” he added when asked which specie was selling the best for his company.
He sells to cabinet, fixture and furniture manufacturers. “My customers are telling me that they are doing ok, but most of their sales seem to be pretty flat right now. They would all like to be doing better though,” he added.
In California a lumber spokesperson said that for the most part his sales continue to be order to order. “Business isn’t bad, but people aren’t wanting to order anything from me until they have a firm order themselves and a deposit check,” he noted, adding that he suspects that this trend will continue over the next several months.
His company offers White Oak, Walnut and Hickory in 4/4 thickness and in grades FAS and Nos. 1 and 2 Common. “White Oak is currently our best seller,” he mentioned.
He sells to end users, distribution yards and flooring manufacturers. When asked how his customers’ sales were, he said, “They aren’t as busy as they would like to be. They are order to order, just like us.”
Another lumberman based in Oregon said that his sales were slow. “It seems like a lot of the sectors in the hardwood industry are depressed,” he stated.
He noted that his market is doing just about as well as it was six months ago. “I’m not sure if I would say that it is better, but it isn’t any worse. We have some products that are selling better, but others that are selling worse.”
His company offers Cherry in thicknesses of 4/4 through 8/4, Hard Maple in 4/4 thickness, Soft Maple in thicknesses of 4/4 and 5/4 and Red Oak in thicknesses of 4/4, 5/4 and 8/4. They offer all their species in upper grades.
He sells to furniture, flooring, cabinet and millwork manufacturers, and distribution yards and wholesalers. “A lot of my customers are in contraction mode. They are reducing their hours. I noticed that the flooring manufacturers didn’t see the uptick that they needed to at the end of the year,” he said.
He noted that his company isn’t having any issues with labor currently as all of their positions are filled, but said that this could all change quickly, especially when it comes to the entry level positions.
