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| April 1, 2003 | Volume 2, Edition 11 |
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BC Wood Japan Office Announcements
I am pleased to announce that after a comprehensive search, Tetsuya Furuta has been chosen as the Japan Market Representative for BC Wood in Tokyo, effective April 1, 2003. Tetsuya Furuta was chosen from a strong group of short-listed candidates (over 40 applicants in total).
Furuta-san is keen to meet BC Wood members and will be coming to BC later this April for a two-week orientation. As part of this orientation, I will be bringing Furuta-san to meet BC Wood member companies that are active in the Japanese market. Please send an e-mail to me at mjahraus@bcwood.com if you are interested in meeting Furuta-san in the coming weeks.
An Update on the BC Wood Office in Japan
Final Note 
Regional Representation A big thanks to the regional liaisons who were in contact with many of the members over the last 8 months.
Roy Ostling – Vancouver Island The contracts for the liaisons ended on March 31, 2003. Regional representation is contingent on government funding, which should be announced by the end of April, 2003. Stayed tuned for further updates.
Updated Tentative BC Wood Trade Event Schedule for 2003/2004
Bella Italia, High End Furniture in Cologne and Housing in France
The recent world economy and world politics significantly changed our plans in March with very short notice. TEAM Canada was expected in the Netherlands, the UK and Italy, but this was postponed to the fall for the above reasons. We also expected Premier Campbell, together with representatives from FPAC, but they could not make it. What remained was a short, yet strong version of the entire program. Representatives from FPAC, Sylvain Labbé from QWEB, David Morel from the BC Ministry of Forestry, and I traveled to Italy to attend meetings with national importers associations and some major importers. In late April I will be coming to BC for a visit, before attending the INTERZUM tradeshow in Cologne in May. This show is dedicated to the suppliers industry for furniture manufacturers, making it a MUST for any BC value-added manufacturer. Furniture production remains strong in Italy and is growing in Spain. Even if this show is taking place in Cologne, Germany, it is a European show, addressing the entire European industry. After a weak tradeshow year in 2002, both exhibitor and visitor figures have started to increase and show evidence of the market’s increasing expectations. For those of you interested in the housing sector, we recommend the SALON MAISON DU BOIS in Angers, France in early October (unfortunately this partly overlaps with our AGM). The housing market represents some good potential in this market, as wood frame houses are starting to be accepted. While on the topic of tradeshows: I could do a better job for you if I had some feedback on the inquiries I send you after the shows. When you reply to an inquiry by email, would it be possible to copy me on the email, just to let me know which inquiries generate the best response? This would also help me focus on certain customer groups at future shows. Thanks everyone for your help, and I hope to hear from you soon!
You Asked For It! Introducing Activesearch.net Job Board
In response to an overwhelming request from members on our recent survey regarding Employment/Placement Services, BC Wood is happy to welcome our newest associate member Activesearch Job Board, a privately owned, online employee recruitment service with no placement fees. As an introduction, BC Wood Members and Associate Members can take advantage of this service through a special promotional offering. A "Service Sampler" can be purchased for $1/day in 30, 60, or 90-day increments. Create any length of job description needed to capture applicant interest. Included in this offer is one job category and location, with job posting and editing handled by BC Wood. An ad is placed in the Vancouver Sun Employment Classified section and Careerclick.com to generate applicant response. There is also a 30, 60 or 90-day replacement guarantee. If you would like to take advantage of this exceptional offer, you should contact the BC Wood office at 1-877-422-9663 for further details. At Activesearch.net there are essentially four levels of Job Board Membership: Basic, Priority Levels 1 & 2 and Exclusive, with varying degrees of member privileges extended. Members of Activesearch can recruit from all business fields, occupations, and careers and maintain full control of posting and editing of jobs. Newspaper advertising directs potential employees to the website and a full description of your job offering. Employers conduct their own recruitment using a known website resource and system that, in effect, filters applicant responses to ensure you do not receive unwanted resumes and contacts. From Basic to Exclusive, every member is granted a "key" that unlocks unlimited services. All recruitment is employer-conducted, and job posting and editing is entirely member-controlled. Special Offer for BC Wood Members and Associate Members Susanne Scott, a well-known recruitment consultant with 28 years of experience in Vancouver and creator of the Activesearch Job Board, would also like to extend some additional offers to BC Wood Members and Associate Members. If you apply for a yearly Membership @ $365 before April 30, 2003 you will receive a Lifetime Basic Membership (renewal fee will be waived), plus 1 year at Priority Level 1 Member status (competing non-Priority Member job listing can be suspended; your job listing noted by title in the newspaper ad, and more) an extra $900 value. If you apply for Membership after April 30 but before June 30, 2003, you will still receive Lifetime Membership which entitles you to unlimited job postings, recruitment and hires; all of which are covered by newspaper ads that attract qualified candidates. Lifetime Membership applies for as long as you remain a Member of BC Wood. For more information, you can visit the Activesearch Job Board at www.activesearch.net or contact Susanne Scott directly at 604-685-5145.
Member Spotlight: Still Creek Forest Products
When his business began over 27 years ago, Harry Erskine did not imagine that his
company would grow to be the size it is today. As President, Harry
started with the vision of a small company supplying the industry with
Western Red Cedar products. Today, Still Creek Forest Products carries
over 650 items in their Coquitlam, BC warehouse including remanufactured
What makes Still Creek so successful is their competitive advantage. "The fact that we specialize in Western Red Cedar means that we know the species and how to work with it very well." comments Harry Erskine. In addition, there is limited competition as the Western Red Cedar species is grown primarily in BC.
Their first successful lead from the WWIS came early in 2002, from a manufacturer in Australia. Still Creek shipped the first container to them in November and are currently working on their fifth, each worth approximately $50,000. After Harry contacted the customer directly, he invited them to BC, where they stayed for two weeks at Harry’s house. Now, they talk to each other at least twice a week.
This strategy has proven very successful for Harry. Instead of
contacting all the leads that are sent his way, he concentrates on a few
that he has qualified. "You must commit a lot of effort and time if you
want a repeat customer. These
In the future, Harry would like to attend a mission with BC Wood, perhaps to China. "I believe that if you visit your client's home country, you can learn about their culture and this will help with future business relationships."
Associate Member Profile: UPS Supply Chain Solutions Tell me about UPS Supply Chain Solutions UPS Supply Chain Solutions is a relatively new addition to the United Parcel Business Group. UPS is more than a small package delivery company. With UPS Supply Chain Solutions, it has expanded product capabilities to deliver business solutions to customers, locally and globally. We have strong competencies in managing product movement, regardless of size or destination from manufacturer to end-user. How can BC Wood Members benefit from your service?
Services that would best suit BC Wood Members are: Logisitics information - we can aid members in the shipment of goods, locally and globally, through the choice of the most feasible conveyance with competitive rates administered by trained personnel.
What is your competitive advantage in the industry?
Who should BC Wood Members contact if they are interested in your service?
Bill Murphy 604-290-1983
Do you have a website that BC Wood Members can go to for more information? Why did you become an Associate Member of BC Wood? For many products, BC Wood is a spokesperson for the secondary wood industry. We have a large client base that belongs to BC Wood. We have a tradition of client service and if this is to continue, we need to be on the cutting edge of wood related issues and seek out members with cross border exporting problems, thus enabling us to better serve the needs of members and our clients.
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BC Wood's AGM and International Market Access Conference will be held in conjunction with the annual Forintek Conference for 2003. This year it will be held at the Sheraton Wall Center Hotel and Conference Center in Vancouver from October 1st to 3rd. "Exploring New Paths - Connecting for Profit" is the theme of this years event. Check the BC Wood website regularly for updates on our program, sponsorship opportunities and registration details. If you have any comments or suggestions for this year's event, please contact Randi Walker, Manager of Member Services at rwalker@bcwood.com, or call our office toll free at 1-877-422-9663.
We are pleased to welcome the following new BC Wood Members who have joined us since March 1, 2003: G.T.B. Holdings Inc., Creston - Millwork & Finished Products Owl Ridge Timber Framing, Chase - Factory Build & Pre-fabricated Housing SKD Enterprises Inc., Prince George - Millwork & Finished Products Prime Cut Forest Products, Chilliwack - Remanufactured Products (semi-finished) Country Cabin Log Homes, Vernon - Factory Build & Pre-fabricated Housing Michael Trayler & Co. Ltd., Richmond - Furniture and Fixtures
Attention All BC Wood Members BC Wood is asking all members to send 20 copies of their company brochure to the BC Wood office. We keep these on file, as well as distribute them from our new display shelves at the Abbotsford office. Please send your brochures to: #1-31088 Peardonville Road
New Associate Members We are pleased to welcome the following Associate Members who have joined us since the last issue of BC Wood News On-line. If you are interested in learning about the benefits of becoming a BC Wood Associate Member, please contact Randi Walker at 604-556-3373 or toll-free at 1-877-422-9663.
Russel Robertson
New Additions to the BC Wood Website The BC Wood website has seen some changes in the last few months. The biggest change has been the new home page at www.bcwood.com. From the new home page it is now easier to access member service information, product inquiries, the BC Wood Japanese website, and marketing information. Some other changes to the site include a new "BC Wood Events" page, a "What’s New" and a "Media" page. We have created and reorganized these pages to make it easier for our members to find current information. The BC Wood Events page provides links to tradeshows, seminars and workshops, special events, and a new link to a calendar of events. The calendar of events shows all the events that BC Wood is cost-sharing, sponsoring, and presenting on a monthly calendar. If you select a specific event, you will be linked to more information on that event. The What’s New page lists the newest BC Wood Members and Associate Members and the Media page provides links to BC Wood News On-line, BC Wood News Releases, and Industry News Releases.
In the February and March editions of News On-line, we featured Exhibitree and the first six tips for Selecting the Right Shows.
These first six tips are: The last four tips in this series are:
1. Consider location - Take geographical location into
consideration. Usually 40-60% of attendees come from a 200-mile radius
of the show location. Consider your distribution area and target audience.
2. Consider timing - What other events are scheduled for the
same time as the show and will they impact attendance? 3. Evaluate opportunities - What other marketing possibilities
could the show offer? Are there opportunities for sponsorship, showcasing
new offerings or participation in the educational seminars? 4. Play it safe - Be cautious about participating in a first
time show. Promotional material may be extremely persuasive, but a show
without prior history is a risky venture. 5. Choose your space wisely - Every show is unique and there
are many variables affecting direction, volume and quality of traffic past
your display. Be familiar with the floor plan. Consider how close you want
to be to the main attractions, industry leaders, competitors, restrooms,
food stations, entrances, exits, escalators/elevators/lifts, windows or
seminar sites. Avoid obstructing columns, low ceilings, dead-end aisles,
loading docks and freight doors, dark/poorly lit spaces, ceiling water
pipes, late set-up areas or "black spots" on the floor plan.
Stayed tuned next month for a new set of tradeshow tips!
2003 ILBA Conference
Supervisory Training 
Canscott Management Services Ltd. is holding a three day training session on "The Industrial Supervisor - Module One" from April 28-30, 2003 in Abbotsford. Topics include the fundamentals and skills of effective supervision and leadership, understanding employee motivation, effective communication and documentation, new issues in the changing workplace, and more. For more information, please call 604-533-8222 or visit the website at www.canscott.com.
Natural Resources Canada - Industrial Energy Audit Incentive Manufacturing companies across Canada should be profiting more from a great opportunity to participate in an exciting program to help cut their energy costs and improve profitability. The program is offered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and is called the Industrial Energy Audit Incentive. Under this program, companies receive an incentive from NRCan to offset the cost of hiring a firm of their choice to conduct an energy audit of their manufacturing facility. Funding is available for 50% of the audit cost, to a maximum of $5,000. Energy audits are proven "tools" that enable companies to benchmark their energy usage, and identify high ROI opportunities for energy savings. More than 100 energy audits have been completed through the NRCan program. On average, each audit is identifying several opportunities to reduce a company's total annual energy costs by 10 to 15 percent. The return on investment on these opportunities has been more than interesting. Most companies take immediate action after the audits. Improved operational efficiency is a great starting point to improved performance and profitability. For more information contact the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) to learn how to participate in this energy audit program.
For more information, contact Viive Sawler
at 1-866-277-4780 or read the program guide.
Consultants & Marketing Services
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to contribute to BC Wood News On-line, please contact BC Wood
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Furuta-san holds a BA in Economics from California State University and
has completed his first year in an e-learning MBA from the University of
Southern California. Furuta-san brings with him a strong background and
solid contacts in the Japanese building products industry. He built this
knowledge base from the ground up by working first-hand in the family
business, a building materials distribution company. However,
Furuta-san’s passion and specialty is international marketing. He recently
worked for the Norwegian Trade Council, under the Royal Norwegian Embassy
in Tokyo, and was responsible for assisting Norwegian companies (primarily
window, door, glulam, moulding, flooring and panel manufacturers) in
entering the Japanese market. He is very familiar with the distribution
system, trade promotions and tradeshows in Japan and the entry strategies
of successful foreign building product companies.
products, millwork, garden furniture and fixtures. Some specific products
include; outdoor garden furniture, mouldings and trim, panelling, flooring,
decking, fencing, siding, and shingles. Almost all of their products are
manufactured using Western Red Cedar, with the small remaining portion
made from pine and spruce. Currently, their distribution center stocks
over $9 million in inventory.
Their main market today is Canada, shipping to over 200 lumberyards in BC,
but they also sell their products worldwide. In the last three months
they have shipped containers of product to Ireland, England, Holland,
France, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Turkey, China, Japan, Korea,
and the United States.
As yet, Still Creek Forest Products has not taken advantage of BC Wood’s tradeshow
or trade mission program, as they are just too busy. "We have so many people
coming to see us, that we don’t have the time to attend
tradeshows," claims Harry. Word of mouth, and being a BC Wood member,
has definitely helped to promote Still Creek’s name to the industry
worldwide. Harry does take advantage of the contacts that are gathered
by BC Wood at related trade events. "What we do is find one good lead and
then visit them in their country," comments Harry. This one-on-one
contact has proven to be successful for Still Creek over the years.
One of the greatest benefits of being a BC Wood member is receiving leads
from the Worldwide Inquiry System. To date, Still Creek has made at
least three or four new customers from these WWIS leads. Of all
the leads they receive, Harry considers about 25% of them to be serious
and qualified. "One thing you have to be careful of is your competition
submitting inquiries to see what you can provide", warns Harry.
deals won’t happen overnight" comments
Harry. The cornerstone of Harry’s business is more than just providing
quality wood products. "We sell service, not lumber" claims Harry.
"I also consider every customer of mine, a friend of mine. There is
mutual trust and we work together to form a mutually beneficial
relationship."
Forest Industrial Relations Limited
| April 1, 2003 | Volume 2, Edition 11 |
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| Copyright 2003. BC Wood, All Rights Reserved. | |
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