Timber pricing

[Rob D]

Every job i go to see i am as keen to impress as when i first started being self employed. I think if you are reasonably priced, give a good service, the product is of good quality and you can show a customer how passionate you are it pretty much sells itself over the competition.

 

 

I think that is an excellent ethos - but not one I have been able to maintain selling wood. You just get beaten down by the time wasters and those that like to talk wood rather than buy it.

 

Added to this are the many customers who wish to use wood but have no starting knowledge of how wood works...

 

 

There is def a market out there - people love wood! It's how you can deliver a product to them in a way that does not cost you a lot of time is the key. That way you can do it for a better price and still make a margin.

 

 

 

[farmerjohn]

I totally understand where you are coming from rob.

 

The main of my jobs are of a value starting about 8k but mostly over 40k so I am more than happy spending a day or two with a potential client. (Obviously I have to make a judgment if the client will be going ahead with the project) if they do, most builders in my area charge similar labour costs and there are not that many supplies so materials costs are pretty much the same too. So most of the time it comes down to service and quality.

 

If I had to sell timber in my area I would look at doing the following:

 

For planked and dried timber take a few days and visit all joinery shops, cabinet makers and workshops in your area. By workshops opposed to joinery shops I mean around us we have Hartley’s Brewery that has its own maintance team for their pubs, also places like national park depots who have their own skilled team but most likely will buy in all materials (some areas do have their own mills)Most joinery manufactures will work in iroko, maranti sapele etc but will need other hardwoods from time to time, that’s what I find anyway, obviously depends on the clients requirements / specification

 

Also speak to architects and builders (maybe initially by email as this might be fruitless as you cant tell just from yellow pages or web directory if they will use hardwoods or not.) both for supplying planked timber and beams.

with architects prob best with small practices 1 or 2 man bands, you will find they keep a close nit group of regular contact for trades and materials they will specify or recommend that they can rely on to give a good service etc. if you show some of them how much character and visual enhancement a nice piece of timber can add to a room, sometimes the architects need a new way of looking at what the end feel of a room is going to be like, inspire them. (I always show photos of our finishes’ with our chainsaw adzed oak beams and timber window boards / skirting’s we make they always seem to impress.) One thing is most builders might not be able to plane the timber, can you do this, or get it done for them.

 

I think it will be difficult at first as most people will already have their suppliers but of someone sounds keen but cannot place an order keep in contact with them, maybe make up a email flyer you can send out every month or so jog peoples memory you are there. At some point they will not be able to get exactly what they need so if you are there to step into the breach and help them out they will almost certainly come back to you, its just getting that initial order (assuming the product is up to scratch.)

 

PS if anyone does know where you can buy 1” thick rough sawn dired oak of about £20/cuft please let me know as it would be handy for my skirtings and architraves, to keep competitive I can only make it work using imported timbers of this as that’s what all competitors will be costing with.

 

IMHO

[Rob D]

Appreciate the advice John - I have been milling and selling timber in this area for the last 7 years. Have called round all the local joinery shops, carpenters and any others that would likely require timber.

 

There was very little interest all round...

 

Also am a member of the New Forest Marque and am pretty well known in the area both with the local council and local businesses. I have done a lot of the local shows in the area.

 

One of the main problems I encountered early on is customers coming with a specific list of timbers and sizes they were after. I could maybe supply half their list but not usually all. Secondly the type of timber I was/am milling is not of the very straight/no knots type! Tends to be more rustic and interesting type!

 

Presently I have found the best place to sell timber is good old ebay! Lot 5075 CEDAR Wood Timber Plank 100 x 19 x 4cm items in chainsawbars alaskanmill and treet store on eBay! as this gives you a UK wide market.

 

Works well as an advert as well as direct sales.