Dave Farley | dfarley@bcwood.com
A few comments, suggestions and ideas…
It’s the dog days of summer, and as such I was doing a little reflecting on the crazy times we are in and giving some thought to the things I know – or at least thought I knew.
“The older I get the less I seem to know” …. At least that’s the way I have felt since the beginning of this Pandemic. In March, the world seemed to come to a screeching halt and the way we conducted business changed overnight. I had plenty of ideas and a few predictions on how things were going to turn out, none of which, it seems are correct.
“Get to know thy neighbour” … Our neighbours to the South are a complicated bunch, constantly preoccupied with partisan politics, where the simple act of wearing a mask has become a major political statement. Yet through all this division and political posturing, their economy has rebounded impressively, housing starts are up, and the residential construction sector is experiencing a mini boom. I don’t think anyone predicted that.
“Exercising an idle mind” … I guess one of the only things I sort of got right was that the quarantine we experienced across many parts of the world and especially in North America has led to a huge pent up demand in the renovation and DIY sectors. This in turn, has led to a surge in softwood lumber prices not seen in years. It seems that all the time we spent at home, gave folks plenty of opportunity to think about how to improve their living experience.
So as stated, just when you think you know something, along comes a Pandemic that humbles you and puts you back in your place. As we all continue to work through the pandemic together, BC Wood is there to support BC industry in navigating the complex US market and taking advantage of the opportunities such dramatic change creates. For more information on the US market, please feel free to contact me at dfarley@bcwood.com.