Latest Articles
Sales in the Future AI Driven World
In a world filled with all things AI, what do we do in the sales business to ensure we keep the human touch? With automation and artificial intelligence playing an increasingly significant role in sales, it’s easy to see why many salespeople and business owners worry that widespread AI adoption…
The Next Big Trend In Kitchen Cabinets
Natural Materials, Uniqueness, Led By Small Shops Will Define Coming StylesOne of the key markets for distribution in North America has been the smaller 1-25 employee custom cabinet shop. These manufacturers, often self-taught or using skills handed down generation to generation, are the ones that can offer the unique details…
12 Days Into Tariffs
Lack of China Markets Could Change The Landscape for Domestic Hardwood Supply Now that we are 12+ days into the announced tariffs, several things have become apparent. First, many Eastern sawmills have depended on Red Oak log markets in China, which are no longer available. Second, China is a huge…
Tariffs Create Great Confusion in Lumber Markets
Heads Spin as “Experts” Warn Of Recession or Find A Silver Lining Six days into the tariff announcement, no viewpoint has emerged on the likely impact of the tariffs. Without question, those reliant on lumber or log exports have reacted swiftly, as export orders are being canceled or pushed back,…
Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association Wrap-Up
After attending the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association (IHLA) meeting last week in Indianapolis, I realized why I have never left the hardwood lumber industry. Despite many industry members facing unprecedented challenges, tariffs, log shortages, outright bans on Red Oak logs imported into China, substitute materials, and the usually discussed topics…
Archive
Proposed Tariffs Would Result in Homebuilder Price Increases
If the proposed tariffs are enacted, builders will have to deal with higher prices for air conditioners, lock sets, and many of the pieces in a new home. With Donald Trump's pending inauguration as the 47th President, he has made tariffs the centerpiece of his trade...
Making Alder More Convenient to Source
Remote Warehouses are Helping The Reach of Alder East and Southeast Many companies need to know that we have warehousing agreements around the USA that facilitate getting Alder into markets in less-than-truckload volumes. This has proven a great option for...
Knotty Alder – Natures Signature Style
Knotty Alder is renowned for its distinctive character, which comes from the unique knots and grain patterns. These features add depth, warmth, and personality to any space, making it the perfect choice for creating a rustic yet contemporary feel. The amount of...
Outlook is Mixed For The Impact The New Administration’s Plans Can Have On Housing in 2025
Now that President-elect Donald Trump has secured four more years in the White House, there are questions about how the housing market could be impacted. Homebuyers have complained for years about rising prices and high interest rates, making it impossible for many...
Available In Stock Starting Today: S2S 13/16” and SLR1E in Superior and Premium Grades
We're excited to announce that we now have S2S 13/16” and SLR1E available in both Superior and Premium grades for immediate shipment. Recognizing that our distributors are a vital part of our customer base, we’ve stocked these products to facilitate quick deliveries....
“Last Look”
A Metric By Which We Measure Success Like many involved in sales organizations, we are all asked to track sales, quotes, follow-ups, rate of closed deals, etc. For us here at Cascade, our crucial metric is “Last Look.” So, let’s...
Portable Mortgages Have Long Been Talked About – It’s Time to Act
Imagine what housing markets might look like in this scenario. What if consumers could take out a mortgage for 30 or even 40 years at a fixed rate and be guaranteed that the mortgage could move with them as they needed to change houses or relocate for...
IWF Follow-Up – Observations and Encouraging Trends
We recently exhibited at the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta, GA. As a team, we were surprised at the number of current customers who attended and the good number of new prospects we were able to meet with. It was a far better show for us than...
Longer Length Alder for Trim Jobs
One of the few downsides to using Alder for Mouldings is the perception that it primarily comes in 8’ and 10’ lengths. Most Cascade customers should know that we produce 12’ lengths at our Port Angeles sawmill. However, it still is an occasional surprise when we...
Why The Scale of Cascade Production Is Important
For many manufacturers, having a producer partner of sufficient scale to meet their growing needs is important. Alder manufacturers are generally different than a lot of the Eastern sawmills. Cascade is 92% Alder, 8% PC Maple, and makes nearly 19...
Alder and the Environment – Why Alder Is One Of The Most Environmentally Friendly Species Available
Alder has a great story behind it that makes it one of the best species to promote around a Green marketing message. The following Alder facts are important – Fast growing trees like Alder store the most carbon during their first decades, often a tree’s most...
Looking Ahead to IWF – What We Will Be Looking For In Atlanta
IWF is a great bi-annual show showcasing trends in machinery, materials, and manufacturing to cabinet, furniture, and millwork manufacturers across North America. After going for most of the past 38 years, the trends one has seen are both amazing and, as a...
