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Message
from the CEO
Bill Downing
Here's
Your Chance to have a say in BC Wood's Marketing Programs
for Next Year
Over
the next six to eight weeks, we will develop BC Wood’s
2007-2008 marketing programs and you have the opportunity
to add your two cents. Here is your chance to participate
in setting the program priorities for next year and allocating
the available government funding.
Open meetings will be held for members beginning Tuesday December
12th and running through to Wednesday December 20th. The marketing
program for individual sectors will be reviewed by the attendees
and priorities will be established for next year.
Cabinet
9:30 AM Tuesday, December 12th BC Wood Office, Langley Randi
Walker
Remanufactured
& Engineered Wood Products
10:00 AM Thursday, December 14th BC Wood Office, Langley Brian
Hawrysh
Pre-built
Housing
1:00 PM Thursday, December 14th BC Wood Office, Langley Dave
Farley
Millwork
10:00AM Monday, December 18th BC Wood Office, Langley Dave
Farley
Furniture
10:00 AM Wednesday, December 20th BC Wood Office, Langley
Dave Farley
Log
Home and Timber Frame
Wednesday, December 20th TBA, Kamloops Daryl Holmes
Contact
your sector representative to confirm the location and time
date of your sector advisory committee meeting. Do not miss
this chance to have a say in how your marketing dollars are
leveraged to your best advantage!
Japan
Program Update
Jim
Ivanoff
NAGOYA
BUZZING, OSAKA DOZING
With four shows in two months, October and November are our
busiest months for trade shows in Japan this year. The first
show during this period was the Nagoya Architectural Show
and it was actually the first time BC Wood participated in
this show. Joining us at the show was BHI Materials, promoting
their WRC garage doors. Also, the Canadian Consulate in Nagoya
and a distributor of Canadian building products had booths
beside us, making a unified Canadian pavilion.
While
the show was not as big as national shows such as the Japan
Home Show (125 exhibitors and 40,000 visitors), there was
an energy and positive outlook underscoring the strength of
the local economy. Builders and architects were looking for
new products to impress their clients, including many well-paid
Toyota Group employees. As Toyota keeps bringing in new workers,
builders are optimistic that the strong market for higher-end
homes will continue. BC Wood is planning to attend this show
again next year, and will bring more Nagoya based companies
to Whistler for next year’s Global Buyers Mission.
The
show in Nagoya was followed by the Osaka Home Show, which
is similar in size, but a world apart in terms of energy.
Despite a gradual improvement in the local economy, the housing
market in the Kansai area seems to still be moving in slow
motion. Unless there appears to be a marked turnaround, we
may choose a different activity in the area to participate
in next year.
PREMIER
ATTENDS JAPAN HOME SHOW
After the Osaka Home Show, we had a couple of weeks to regroup
for the main event, the Japan Home Show. This year’s
JHS was the biggest we had experienced to date, with the launch
of a brand new Canada Wood pavilion, opened by Premier Gordon
Campbell.
The
new pavilion is a departure from the previous one in that
instead of displaying various “parts or building products
components”, it has 6 themed rooms that present Canadian
building products in ways they would actually be used in Japanese
homes. This was designed specifically for the market using
Japanese architects familiar with Canadian products. The end
result impressed both the Japanese visitors, as well as the
18 Canadian companies that provided materials for the pavilion.
In addition to officially opening the new pavilion to the
public, the Premier also made time to visit each of the eight
BC Wood members’ booths and take pictures with them and
their Japanese clients. He then toured the new Canada Wood
pavilion and seemed to be impressed by the wide variety of
value-added products on display. In order to thank our Japanese
customers for their continued support, the Premier closed
the afternoon’s program by hosting a reception at the
Canada Terrace, within the Canada Wood pavilion.
Both
the launch of the new pavilion and the Premier’s visit
had the intended effect of getting clients to our booths and
also creating an impact in the market. Many Japanese clients
who came to the Premier’s reception stated how impressed
they were that Canada, and in particular BC, was placing such
an emphasis on the Japanese market. Showing such commitment
to this market is key to long-term success in Japan.
BC
FURNITURE WOWS THE INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR IN TOYKO (IFFT)
For the first time in many years, BC Wood participated in
the annual IFFT show in Tokyo, with a bang! While Canada is
well known at the Japan Home Show for flying as many maple
leafs as possible, BC Wood had some of the province’s
most contemporary furniture companies participating in this
year’s IFFT. We went with a chic look that had most visitors
guessing we were from Italy or France. When people realized
that we were from Canada, they couldn’t believe that
such high-end, design oriented furniture could come from North
America. With a large design conscious, wealthy segment, Tokyo
has the potential to be a lucrative market for our high-end
furniture manufacturers. By taking part in the IFFT, BC Wood
members were also able to learn about the market first hand
and the kind of competition they are up against. We plan to
use this knowledge in other furniture projects targeting the
Japanese market.
If
you have any questions about the Japan program, please contact
Jim Ivanoff at ivanoff@canadawood.jp
Mexico
Lumber Mission 2007
David Pao
BC
Wood is preparing for our first cost-shared trade mission
to explore opportunities in the Mexican market. This is a
one-week event that will take place from February 11-17th,
2007. Many of you would have met interested members from the
visiting Mexican delegations at the Global Buyers Mission,
led by the Trade Commissioner from the Consulate in Guadalajara.
This mission will include trips to both Mexico City and Guadalajara.
Using the Consulate's extensive contacts in both cities, BC
Wood will be hosting networking receptions and seminars that
will connect participating members with key importers of wood
products. We will also be organizing site visits and tours
of Mexican manufacturing companies, interested in sourcing
Canadian wood products.
The
Mexican market continues to increase the amount of imported
wood products from other countries such as the United States
and Canada. With a booming construction industry that demands
close to 1 million new homes a year, there is a strong opportunity
for Canadian manufacturers of softwood and hardwood products.
The key sectors include the construction, furniture, and packaging
manufacturing industries.
Space
is limited and the deadline to participate in the 2007
Mexico trade mission is December 22nd, 2006.
Please contact David Pao at dpao@bcwood.com
or 604-882-7100 if are interested or would like more information
on this activity.
European
Market Update 2006
Ludger
Spohr
The
summer is gone and temperatures have cooled down, but our
activities in Europe have continued to keep us busy. After
the GBM, I did a follow up and visit with most of the European
buyers who attended. I also went to see many who could not
come for various reasons and have started recruiting for next
year's event, to insure that we will have a strong group again.
Not
long after Whistler, we went to Angers for the "Salon
Maison Bois". For the past four years B.C. Wood has attended
trade events in France with great success in building strong
business relationships with local industry professionals.
The Salon Maison du Bois is the largest event solely dedicated
to wood-frame housing construction in Southern Europe. Over
40,000 attendees from all over Europe came to the show in
France to see the latest developments in wood design and building.
BC Wood secured premium show space allowing four member companies
to showcase their product. Members that participated included:
Sperlich Log Construction, Lake Country Log Homes, J.C. Logworks,
and Linwood Homes. Our BC Wood members enriched the Canadian
pavilion, which is the largest exhibit at that tradeshow,
with strong support from industry associations, the Embassy
and other organisations such as CMHC.
This
activity included the four-day exhibition and a two-day trade
mission of meetings and site visits with key developers, and
architects. As a follow up, I met with the British investors
behind the project and the architect who designs their parks.
.
Based
upon feedback from members and market intelligence gathered
both at the show and in the field, the following market facts
exist:
- High
level of market opportunity for Canadian manufacturers exists
in the French market for Log Home, Timber Frame and Pre-built
housing.
- Qualified
sales opportunities exist within the French market for B.C.
Wood member companies
The
demand is evident in this market, however closing the sales
loop has proven to be an exercise in patience and perseverance
on behalf of industry members due to:
- Highly
competitive marketplace
- B.C.'s
manufacturers are competing with the rest of Europe for
market share
- Scandinavian
companies are prominent in this market and
- Geographic
proximity of competitors is prominent feature in sales discussions
Non-Tariff
barriers that include:
- Planning
permissions
- Insurance
- Local
Building regulations
- Project
management
- Product
acceptance
- Technical
standards, C.E. Certification, Phyto sanitary regulations
etc.
BC
Wood is working on identifying other barriers and finding
solutions for members. We are currently producing a document
that members can use as an export resource guide into France.
This document will outline the steps required for BC manufacturers
to access the marketplace including; developing partnerships
with local architects, general contractors and project managers,
as well as utilizing our in-market representative to aid in
the delivery of your product into this market. Partnering
with B.C. Wood and participating in activities in the marketplace
will help secure these connections. There is no better way
to develop sales than to invest time and marketing dollars
directly into the market.
For
more information on this marketplace contact Ludger Spohr,
our Director EU-Programs at lspohr@bcwood.com, or Daryl Holmes
at dholmes@bcwood.com
or 604-882-7100.
If
you need assistance to follow up with any of the European
buyers you met at the GBM, please contact me at lspohr@bcwood.com.
Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Wood
Supply Network (WSN)
BC
Wood's Wood Supply Network (WSN) is an online inquiry system
that matches buyers with member companies. Buyers input their
requirements through our system and the inquiry is qualified
and distributed to suitable manufacturers. Members can always
see current and complete inquiry information by visiting the
members-only part of the BC Wood website. Here is a brief
summary of some of the recent inquiries processed through
our system:
Inquiry
#7647
Market - Local
Inquiry Type - Remanufactured Products, Furniture & Fixtures
Product Description/Details:
Looking for outdoor wood furniture and wood products for deck
and garden use.
Quantity - container 40ft
Inquiry
#7648
Market - Quebec
Inquiry Type - Remanufactured Products, Furniture & Fixtures
Product Description/Details:
Western Red Cedar T&G used for Saunas
Inquiry
#7653
Market - Ontario
Inquiry Type - Remanufactured Products
Product Description/Details:
Kiln Dried Pine, SPF, Spruce in S4S #2 and better.
Quantity - 30 Containers 40 ft
Inquiry #7654
Market - Japan
Inquiry Type - Remanufactured Products
Product Description/Details:
Looking for Western Red Cedar half log siding with T&G
notch in knotty or clear.
Inquiry
#7658
Market - Korea
Inquiry Type - Engineered Building Products, Remanufactured
Products
Product Description/Details:
Kiln Dried Douglas-Fir 1"Boards, S4S #2COM
Quantity - Container 40 ft
For
more information on the WSN, please visit www.bcwood.com
or contact David Pao at dpao@bcwood.com
or 604-882-7100.
Welcome
New Members
North
Enderby Timber
North
Enderby Timber aims to be a leading marketer and manufacturer
of the highest quality cedar products.
Phone: 1-250-838-9668
Email: sales@netimber.ca
Rielly
Industrial Lumber
Rielly
Industrial Lumber is a producer of high grade kiln-dried and
green Western Red Cedar products. Rielly offers a wide range
of products sized from 1x2 to 6x6 in grades STK and ABTR clear.
Phone: 604-925-2425
Website: http://www.riellylumber.com
Training
Course for Industrial Wood
In
January 2007 the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing at UBC
will offer an innovative 150-hour training program in industrial
wood finishing. The program begins with 100 hours of web-based
self-study, followed by a six-day intensive practical session
at CAWP's manufacturing lab on the UBC Vancouver campus. The
course allows busy
professionals to fit training around their own work and personal
schedules, while interacting through a stimulating web-based
study environment that includes extensive use of text, diagrams,
photos, videos and animated simulations.
Registration
is currently underway - for more details please contact Coral
Voss at 604-822-2634 or email Coral.Voss@ubc.ca
. A course outline, registration form and fee information
is included in the attached PDF document here.
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BC
Wood Open House
Randi Walker
Last
year’s gathering was such a success, that we’d like
you to join the BC Wood staff and members in celebrating the
2006 festive season.
Thursday,
December 14th
Refreshments
Served: 3:00 - 6:00 PMGift Draws at 5:00 PM
BC
Wood Head Office
Suite 200, 9292 - 200th Street, Langley, BC
•please
bring any non-perishable items for the food bank and earn
an extra draw ticket!
Olympic
Specifiers Book Update
Dave Farley
The
final layout is complete and the Olympic specifiers book has
been sent to print and binding. A release date is slated for
mid January to the architect and design community from across
Western North America. The quality of the book, including
the crisp layout and the beautiful leather bound wood covers,
are sure to impress both the members and our target audience.
Below
are sample layouts of members included in the book. For participating
companies who wish to have the book sent to specific clients
or customers please forward your request to Cindy Esgen by
email at cesgen@bcwood.com.
Opportunities
in Korea
David Pao
JC
Lee, BC Wood's new in-market rep for Korea, has just finished
a two-week visit to over 20 member companies, learning more
about their products and discussing opportunities related
to the Korean market. JC met with many companies that have
indicated an interest in the Korean market - and produce products
that have potential for successful business opportunities.
This
site visits included tours of several sawmills and remanufacturing
plants in the Lower Mainland and in the interior of BC. We
also visited members that produce Western Red Cedar products
and pressure-treated lumber, used for a variety of outdoor
applications. Other products of interest to the Korean market
include engineered wood products, finished building materials,
and pre-built structures.
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With
the Korean economy and demand for wood products increasing,
BC Wood members are continuing to see opportunities arising
from this market. In February 2007, BC Wood will be coordinating
the participation of a group of members to exhibit at the
Housing Brand Fair in Seoul. BC Wood will be part of a larger,
high profile Canadian pavilion that will be the focus of several
national news networks in Korea. This trade show will be an
excellent and cost effective way for members interested in
doing business in Korea, to meet with key importers, distributors,
and manufacturers in the market.
For
more information about the Korean market, contact Brian Hawrysh
at bhawrysh@bcwood.com
or 604-882-7100 or JC Lee at bcwoodkorea@hanmail.net
What's
Happening in Ireland?
Daryl
Holmes
Market
opportunity for BC Wood members has not quite reached the
level of Guinness consumption within this island nation however,
this niche marketplace continues to grow for our manufacturers
of Log Home, Timber Frame structures and WRC manufacturers.
Four
BC Wood member companies participated in the Plan Expo trade
show in Dublin, Ireland last month. This is one of Ireland's
most successful construction shows and is endorsed by the
Construction Industry Federation of Ireland and the Royal
Institute of Architects of Ireland.
Attendees from all over Ireland and the U.K. visited our showcase
display and were able to meet with members to directly discuss
building projects and local development opportunities.
What
is currently selling into Ireland?
Over the past few years we have seen an increase in the sales
of Western Red Cedar products into Ireland and also an increase
in sales and opportunity for log and timber-frame structures.
These products are primarily where BC Wood manufacturers have
the most competitive advantage in the marketplace.
What
are the barriers to delivery of product into this market?
As with many of our offshore markets, there are local barriers
that must be addressed in order to successfully export to
Ireland. The main issues encountered in this market include:
- Product
Education and Acceptance
The status quo for building in Ireland remains brick and
concrete construction; however, as we continue to educate
the market on the advantages of wood construction, we will
see an increase in demand. You would be surprised at how
many "well it rains here in Ireland a lot" comments
we get in this market and it is not until we provide some
annual rainfall figures from here in BC that the understanding
of wood construction and it's suitability for the climate
begins to sink in. Using wood as an exterior cladding has
gained momentum and, with continued investment into this
market, members will secure future sales and growth in the
conservative Irish market.
- Planning
Permissions
While demand for product is increasing, the main thorn in
the side of a member looking to land log and timber frame
structures into Ireland remains the securing of planning
permission from the local county authorities within the
country. Throughout the country, there does not seem to
be a policy on wood structures that has any transferability
from one area to another. Gaining permission to build a
wooden structure, or any structure, lies in the hands of
individual local authority, reinforcing the need for local
partnership.
- Local
partnerships
The ability to partner with the local development community
is essential to delivery of product. Without local partnership
with architects, specifiers, and builders, the prospect
of delivering product becomes daunting. However, there is
still opportunity to sell directly to the landowner, provided
the planning permission issue has been resolved. Given the
lack of knowledge from a general public perception on wood
construction, partnerships with key decision makers in the
building industry becomes of utmost importance if the demand
for wood structures is to increase. BC Wood has already
made inroads to securing partnerships with the Royal Institute
of Architects of Ireland and will continue efforts to connect
and engage members with this community.
In
the end, Ireland is a market worthy of interest for many of
our members. Members who have invested time and resources
in this market are already reaping the benefits, and market
indicators suggest that sales of our products will continue
to grow in accordance with the demand for wood construction.
For
more information on this marketplace contact Daryl Homes at
dholmes@bcwood.com
or 604-882-7100.
NAWLA
Traders Market
Brian Hawrysh
November
7-9th, 2006 / Dallas Texas
BC
Wood's returned to NAWLA's 11th annual Traders Market, after
a five year absence. The Market with a tag line, "where
supply and distribution meets", delivered as promised.
There were 325 + manufacturers represented in the exhibition
hall. Over 1,800 registrants represented over 1,000 of North
America's top wholesale distributors of lumber and building
materials.
The
Trader's Market continues to be the place for manufacturers
to gain the broadest exposure to the key players in North
America's lumber and building materials distributors. In what
most are calling a down market, I was quite impressed by the
many upbeat conversations I either participated in, or overheard
in the hotel and exhibition hall.
BC
Wood had 23member companies participating in this year's Traders
Market - most have been attending this event for many consecutive
years. For me, the most gratifying aspect of BC Wood's participation
was the eight companies attending for the first time.
BC
Wood staff manned a prominently located kiosk at the entrance
to the exhibition hall to promote the 2007 GBM and the Wood
Supply Network services.
Please
contact Brian Hawrysh bhawrysh@bcwood.com
for more information and a list of buyers contacted at the
show.
Deadlines
for Reman-EWP Tradeshows and Missions
For
the Remanufactured and Engineered Wood Products, BC Wood has
three great tradeshows/missions scheduled for early in the
New Year. The schedules are set and we are now approaching
sign up deadlines for these activities.
NERLA
- Northeast Retail Lumber and Building Materials Expo
Boston, Massachusetts
January 30 -February 4, 2007
Registration Deadline:
December 22, 2006
Mexico
Lumber Mission
Guadalajara, Mexico City
February 10-17, 2007
Registration Deadline:
December 22, 2006
Woodmac/Woodbuild
2007
Shanghai, China
March 20-23, 2007
Registration Deadline:
January 29, 2007
For
more information on the up-coming Reman / EWP mission and
your opportunity to showcase your company, please contact
Brian Hawrysh or David Pao at 604-882-7100 or bhawrysh@bcwood.com
or dpao@bcwood.com
Market
Research and Market Access Projects
Based
on feedback and requests from our Sector Advisory Committees,
BC Wood has undertaken a number of market research and market
access projects for you this year. Information vital to the
success of entering and building your business in many export
markets will be available both in hard copy and on the Members-only
site at www.bcwood.com. All projects are underway now and
many will be completed and available early in the new year.
Contact BC Wood for more information on these studies and
reports.
Cabinet
& Furniture Sectors
- Transportation
Barriers in Furniture and Cabinet Sectors in the US
- Furniture
Benchmarking in the PNW
Identify New Cabinet Market Outside of I5
- LEED
Compliance for Cabinet Sector
- List
of Dealers/Arch/Designers in I5 Corridor for Furniture &
Cabinet Industry
- F****
Certification in the Japan Market
Remanufactured
and Engineered Products Sector
- Analysis
of Industrial End Users in Japan
- Analysis
of Industrial End Users in China
Millwork
& Finished Products Sector
- F****
Certification in the Japan Market
- Phase
2 Market Study for Millwork in Hawaii
Log
Home & Timber-frame Sector
- Technical
Evaluation and Guide to Delivering Log Home and Timber Structures
in the US
- Technical
Evaluation and Guide to Delivering Log Home and Timber Structures
in the European Market
- BC
Wood China Program Evaluation
All
Sectors
- VA
Strategy Measurement
- VA
Market Access Gap Analysis
These
two projects will have a huge impact on our ability to assess
the secondary manufacturing industry's growth, and potential
for growth in the future, by sector and by region. Aside from
the immediate and long-term benefit to the industry, government,
and service providers, the completion of the next and expanded
round of industry benchmarking could provide a foundation
for the development of a comprehensive secondary wood products
manufacturing industry strategy in British Columbia.
Got
Something to Say?
If
you have any questions, comments, or would like to contribute
to BC Wood News On-line, please contact David
Pao at:
BC
Wood
#200 - 9292, 200th Street
Langley, BC
Phone: (604) 882-7100
Fax: (604) 882-7300
Toll Free: 1-877-422-9663
or email dpao@bcwood.com
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