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BUSINESS TIPS • SALES/MARKETING • REMODELING • SUSTAINABILITY •
AUGUST, 2013
•
PAGE 13
HBA
News
HOME BUILDING
HBA
PDX
.
ORG
New construction tips
from NW Natural
Minimize wasted trip fees,
conduit pick-up and correct
footage measurement.
—See page 15
Green at the Street of Dreams
The energy code has come a long
way over the years and this year’s
SOD exemplifies best practices.
—See page 18
By Jon Bell
For the HBA
About 10 years ago, an idea
struck Curt Nelson.
Why not host an event for
some local builders, architects,
remodelers and designers; some-
thing informal and free from pes-
tering subs, a chance for peers to
get together and maybe talk a lit-
tle shop but also have a little fun.
Along with another associate,
Nelson decided to do it. They
threw a football party at Mac-
adam’s Bar & Grill. Forty people
showed up.
“And it was great,” said Nelson,
custom sales manager for Lewis
Audio Video,
Since that first event, the orga-
nizing group has grown. Though
there are now 10 members, the
group is called the Divine 9, since
for years it consisted of nine
members. The group, which is
independent of and not affili-
ated with the HBA, hosts regular
events throughout the year, in-
cluding golf outings, occasional
industry lectures, a chili cook-off
that raises money for the HBA’s
PRO remodeling organization
and, of course, the annual foot-
ball party at Macadam’s. These
days, that event draws more
than 200 people during the NFL’s
A.F.C.-N.F.C. championship game.
Though the D-9’s events are
meant to be fun, they also serve
as a way for local industry pro-
fessionals to work together, to
support each other and to do
business.
“We are an independent group
of vendors and suppliers who
cross-market and network with
builders, remodelers, design-
ers, architects, etc…,” said Steve
Frazier, Director of Marketing for
Contract Furnishings Mart, one of
the D-9 members.
“They are a well-branded orga-
nization of companies that net-
work with builders and remodel-
ers to develop business for their
companies,” said Nate Bond, vice
president of Pacific Crest Cabi-
nets, which joined the organiza-
tion earlier this year. “They have
events that are fun and mean-
ingful and relevant to builder
customers.”
Bond said that not only has he
had fun with the D-9 so far, but
he’s also generated some busi-
ness. By attending this year’s
football party, Bond made a con-
nection with a builder who’s now
using Pacific Crest cabinets in a
home on the NW Natural Street
of Dreams.
Lakeside Lumber has also been
with the D-9 for years, according
toMarketingDirector LukeMorley.
He said Lakeside’s association
with the group has been hugely
beneficial and that he appreci-
ates how all of the D-9 members
share the costs of the events
equally.
“The primary benefit in my
view has been the ability to pro-
duce high quality, targeted net-
working events during this tough
economy,” Morley said. “Our
shared cost at these events (a
fraction of the whole cost) has
been a godsend.”
The D-9 may be one of the
most organized ways that local
industry professionals — HBA
members and non-members
alike — support each other and
the local scene, but it’s not the
only way. Simply being an HBA
member is one simple way, ac-
cording to Karen Linder, principal
designer at Karen Linder Interior
Designs.
“One of the great things about
the HBA and PRO is that, as a
member, you’re really working
with local people that you know,
and so you trust them and their
services,” she said. “A lot of it
comes with the relationships you
build there. It’s where you find
everybody.”
Linder said she likes to support
local businesses as much as pos-
sible through her work, whether
that’s sourcing furniture or cabi-
nets from a local manufacturer
or going with a paint line from
locally-produced Miller Paint. Cli-
ents don’t always request locally-
produced goods, but Linder does
her part to make the case.
“When you educate them and
let them know that this is coming
from a locally owned company,
that you’re going to get better
service and support for years to
come, then they understand the
value,” she said.
Bond noted that going local
also helps his company better
compete against some of the
larger national companies. For
example, by switching from a
California-based company for
some of its cabinet doors to a
business based in Molalla, Pacific
Crest was able to save money
in both shipping and packag-
ing costs, which helps it keep
prices competitive with national
brands.
“It really helps create efficien-
cies in our local economy,” Bond
said. “We should all be buying lo-
cally when we can, and I actually
think it’s happening more. There
is a paradigm shift going on.”
Morley said local also means
being a part of and giving back
to the community. Lakeside, for
example, is involved with the
Home Builders Foundation and
also supports local high school
sports teams and Eagle Scout
projects.
“It establishes a tone that we
are all in this together,” he said.
“We are not just a vendor or
supplier. We are invested in our
community.”
America has always been a
country of entrepreneurs, build-
ers, and creators. As we work to
restore our economy, it is impor-
tant to stand behind the Ameri-
can companies that produce
quality products, sustain U.S. em-
ployment, and earn the loyalty of
their workers and the communi-
ties in which they invest. It’s eas-
ier to buy American-made than
most people might think, and un-
less we are committed to strong
brand loyalty in a particular area,
any brand will do at about the
same price. So let’s vote with our
dollars and ‘Buy American’ where
we can and when we can, so we
can keep jobs, profits, and tax
revenue within our nation and
local communities. We hope this
inspires your daily purchasing
decisions when buying goods
and materials. Ask yourself, “Why
wouldn’t you?”
A short time ago, the Build-
ing a Better America Council
(BBAC) came together commit-
ted to increasing the creation of
American jobs and strengthen-
ing the American economy. The
BBAC established itself as a NFP
to encourage and promote the
manufacturing, purchase and use
of American made products in
the construction industry. It is our
goal to connect manufacturers
of American made products with
consumers, builders, retailers
and distributors throughout the
country.
We knew this type of dedi-
cated focus is exactly what the
construction industry needs. This
idea of building a home from
American-made materials em-
bodies the spirit of the America
Dream and is so vital in helping
our economy grow while reduc-
ing the building industry’s car-
bon footprint leading to a more
sustainable environment. Less
than 70 percent of current con-
struction projects utilize prod-
ucts manufactured, finished or
assembled in the United States.
By increasing that number
as little as five percent, Boston
Consulting Group calculations
show approximately $4 billion of
incremental value is added, sup-
porting 60,000 to 65,000 direct
manufacturing jobs. According
to their research, for every one
direct job created, three incre-
mental secondary jobs created.
Most homes are currently built
using less than 70 percent Ameri-
can made products. Calculations
Membership with the HBA gives professionals
lots of ways to support the local scene
The Divine 9 embody the spirit of locally sourcing.
Here’s how the D-9 and other HBA members define
“buy local” and put that edict to work in their daily
business practices.
By Christina Bloom,
Director of Development,
Building a Better America Council
See BIZ TIPS / page 15
Spread The Word
To register for this event, visit HBApdx.org or call Jessica at 503-684-1880 to sign up!
August 22 is “Forum Day”
Come network with your peers and share your best practices
Associates Forum
Associate members: Join us on
August 22 at 12:00pm
for this forum of HBA associates, including vendors,
suppliers, trade and subcontractor members. Gather
with your peers to discuss issues ranging from sales
and marketing, to contracts, lien laws and more.
Please
register online at hbapdx.org/calendar.
Remodelers Round Table
Remodeler members: Join us on
Thursday, August 22
at 7:30am
for our quarterly
Remodelers Round Table
breakfast.
This event is a forum for PRO remodeler
members to gather and share ideas and experiences
to solve problems and overcome challenges facing the
remodeling industry in Portland.
RSVP required to attend –
open to PRO remodeler members only. Contact Jessica M.
to register at (503) 684-1880 or jessicam@hbapdx.org
BIZ
TIPS
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