MLA Lumber Industry News Express
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Here's the new issue of the Mid-America Lumbermens Association online newsletter. We'll send a new issue every two weeks to let you know what's happening in the industry, at your MLA, and in the world that affects your business. We welcome your opinions and ideas. If you have information you'd like to share with other members, we'd be happy to include it in our next issue. We welcome both personal and industry-related news - members would love to hear your news and views - so don't hesitate to email us with information.
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Need Advanced Estimating Training?
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MLA will conduct an Advanced Estimating Workshop on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 11-12, in Moberly, Missouri, at Mid-Am Building Supply. In today’s highly competitive market, the success of a material supplier relies heavily on the ability to generate quick and accurate estimates. The ability to estimate the material costs of a project is an essential skill for those in the lumber business.
This class emphasizes the advanced skills needed in estimating material costs. Whether estimates are being generated by hand or by computer, there are basic principles that must be understood to produce a quality take-off. The basic math of quantity take-off methods dealing with length, area and volume and the basic business math of calculating the costs for material profit margin, add-ons, and discounts are some of these essential basics.
Click here for complete information
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Q3 Economic Index
The Q3 2017 Index reached an all-time high, driven by consumer confidence and construction spend. However, with continued elevated delinquency levels, suppliers should continue to monitor closely. Check out BlueTarp’s quarterly Index, which shows how the health of the building supply industry is trending,compared to last year, by taking a look at driving factors:
- BlueTarp proprietary contractor spend and delinquency
- Building permits
- Consumer confidence
- Construction spend
Source: The BlueTarp Team, November 21, 2017
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Have You Checked Out the MLA Online Campus?
The MLA Online Campus provides you and your employees with high-impact, "real-world" training that develops your leaders, retains your best people and increases your customer loyalty. Each employee has a unique username to access the campus, which houses more than 700 courses on customer service, sales, leadership and more. Want to try a program for yourself?
Click here
to view an example. If you like what you see, contact us for a one-week trial subscription to see the hundreds of available courses.
Learn more
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Time to Consider the MLA MEP
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MLA has offered a “group” MLA 401(k) plan for members for more than two years. It is saving participating dealers on their fees and offering a great benefit to reward their loyal employees. If you haven’t taken a serious look at this program, now would be a good time. Find out why smart dealers are making the move to the MLA program. Call the MLA Hotline at 800-747-6529, or
click here to learn more
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Member News
Delden Organizes Third Annual Ugly Sweater Garage Door Contest
Delden Manufacturing Company has proudly announced that it will be organizing its third annual Ugly Sweater Garage Door Contest. Boasting the “ugliest holiday contest ever" the event is set to lift spirits high for the third year in a row. The contest begins on Friday, December 1, 2017 and will run through Friday, December 15, 2017.
Read more
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Source: Delden Manufacturing, November 13, 2017
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Lumber News
Commerce Upholds Duties on Canadian Softwood Lumber…
Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced it is finalizing antidumping duties (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on softwood lumber imports from Canada to the U.S. The Commerce Department's decision must still be approved by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), which is scheduled to make its final determinations by December 18.
Read more
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Source: NLBMDA, November 2, 2017
As House Passes Middle-Class Tax Increase, Realtors Say Their Work is Just Getting Started…
The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1, the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” a bill National Association of Realtors® President Elizabeth Mendenhall has called an all-out assault on homeownership.
Read more
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Source: National Association of Realtors, November 16, 2017
Housing Starts Up Sharply, Near Post-Recession High in October…
Nationwide housing starts rose 13.7 percent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.29 million units after a slight upward revision to the September reading, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. This is the highest housing production reading since October 2016, when total starts hit a post-recession high of 1.33 million.
Read more
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Source: NAHB, November 17, 2017
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Prepare for Winter Driving
It shouldn’t be surprising that weather-related auto accidents account for a lot of insurance claims every year. No matter where you do business, every state, including southern states, experience periods of severe winter weather. Commuters and employees who drive as part of their job face driving risks every day, but especially in harsh weather.
This service provided courtesy of Federated Mutual Insurance Company, your association’s recommended insurer.
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The Last Word
(in honor of Black Friday)
"Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice."
- Dave Barry
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Mid-America Lumbermens Association | 800-747-6529 | 816-561-1249 (fax)| ruhler@themla.com |
Website
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