Is there a market for softwood???

[owen bell]

hi everyone,

 

Just looking for a bit of advice on selling softwood. i have been selling my hardwood logs from my tree surgery business and another few local tree surgery businesses for about a year now. my supply is gone, and i am finding it impossible to get artic loads of hardwood delivered to south wales.

 

i am thinking about buying in artic loads of softwood to process into firewood and trying to sell mainly softwood.

 

just like to know:

1- if anyone knew the average price for an artic load delivered roughly 20 mile max?

2- if you think there is a market out there in the south wales area for softwood, seen as theres so little hardwood woodlands here in wales.

 

any info would be much appriciated.

regards

owen:001_smile:

[jaime bray]

if you have enough work to get on with doing the tree care side of things, then why worry about buying in more firewood, just tell any customers you not got any wood, then ring them when you have. I must admit i do not understand the firewood thing if theres tree work to be done, unless firewood is the business.

 

just my thoughts anyway

[sandbach-sticks]

softwood will have to be accepted as there will not be enough hard wood. I am selling larch for the first time this year and having no probs shifting it. Softwood is fine in a log burner so target that market!

[Dean O]

just sell mixed loads

 

unfortunately - ive found few people want softwood alone and can often be sniffy about mixed loads.

As long as you are honest about the product you sell and it is dry they will come back for more.

[AJR68]

We sell 95% softwood with no problems, we keep the price reflective and the wood nice and dry - customers keep comimg back. We took a load today and the new customer had a load of "seasoned" sycamore delivered - that would have needed a ton of coal to burn it!!

[timberbear]

Owen,

 

Where in South Wales are you, it's a pretty big area!

[firewoodman]

He's in Caerphilly !!!

[timberbear]

Cheers Firewood man! He's a little to close for my softwood pile!

Edited October 27, 2011 by timberbear

[firewoodman]

Ha ha, where did you find a small man and dog ???��

[owen bell]

hi guys,

thanks for all your comments. think im going to give the softwood a try. me and my business partner are getting a £7000 grant for our business to buy a log processor so i need a constant supply of timber dont think im going to get a constant supply of hardwood. just need a softwood supplier now.