December, 2006

From Our Experts to Your Business

By Rick Schumacher

In July 2003, without a lot of fanfare, a magazine called LBM Journal suddenly started arriving in the mailboxes of 40,000-plus lumber/building material industry pros.

In the three-and-a-half years since then, we’ve worked hard to deliver the real-world strategic insights that you can get nowhere else. The core voices are familiar—Bill Lee,

Tom Fife, Greg Brooks. Combine their 94 years of hands-on experience with the 29-plus years that Senior Contributing Editor Craig Shutt has been covering the residential construction supply industry and you’ve got a core editorial team with more than 120 years of knowledge earned in the real world.

Not a bad start, for a new magazine. Since then, we’ve listened to what you’ve told us you want, and what you need. As a result, in just the past few months, building science expert Steve Easley (with more than 30 years of industry experience) joined the editorial lineup with his “Ask the Expert” column.

Gary Katz, a well-known finish carpentry expert best known for his writing in Fine Homebuilding and his live Katz Roadshow Carpentry Clinics, joined the fold with the cover story of our October 2006 issue. That story, titled “Make More Money on Moldings,” has generated more calls and emails than any article since Easley’s cover story on mold in the May 2006 issue. Katz continues with his monthly column, Selling Smarter: Millwork.

Readership studies show that the vast majority of you sell decking products, so in 2007 we’re introducing a column written by a deck builder. Unsatisfied with the service from existing suppliers, and believing that there were enough other unsatisfied deck builders and homeowners, Bob Heidenreich dove into the decking supply business. If you want to know how to grow your sales of decking products to deck builders and homeowners, you are in for a treat.

We’ve got more exciting things lined up for 2007. An industry-wide buyers’ guide, LBM Superbook, will mail with your January issue. And a searchable Superbook will be available online. A new concept in live education and training is in the works—watch for details on LBM University in the coming months. More original editorial and, thanks to a growing community of advertisers who want to see you succeed, more articles than ever before.

This issue is a little slimmer than normal as companies turn their attention to the holidays. But be warned: we plan to keep you busy growing and improving your business with more—and more compelling—articles come the start of the New Year.

All of us at LBM Journal wish you, your colleagues, your customers and your families a warm, safe holiday season.