Who buys CCA treated lumber?

wHO is the retail customer for CCA treated lumber prod-

This is a question which has never been completely answered despite the wood preserving industry being one of the most dynamic segments of the U.S. lumber industry with the use of treated lumber growing rapidly.

Story at a Glance

Few statistics presently available on pressure treated lumber buyers. Virginia Tech researchers to analyze market results will help retailers.

Figures in 1984 showed that residential remodeling accounted for nearly half of the pressure treated lumber market with 240/o used in new residential construction. Over 800/o of all treated lumber moved through retailers to the end user at that time. The end consumer was the homeowner for as much as 700/o of the treated lumber sold with about 400/o of this being used by do-it-yourselfers.

Because consumer level market research is almost non-existent in the area of treated lumber retail sales, two faculty members at Virginia Tech University plan to fill the gap. Paul M. Smith, a graduate research assistant, and Steven A. Sinclair, Ph.D. and association professor forest product marketing, Department of Forest Products, at the university plan a study titled, "An Analysis product appearance, point of purchase literature and safety issues.

Of The

Retail Customer of CCA Pressure Treated Lumber, Timbers and Plywood."

This study will be based on surveys of two major retail customer segments. The researchers plan to gather data from two scientifically selected samples composed of 3000 professional contractors and remodelers and 3000 do-it-yourself homeowners located throughout the 50 states.

"Data collected will be used to better define customers in the maturing CCA pressure treated market to enable retailers to better target their promotional activities," Sinclair said. The customer's knowledge of and satisfaction with currently available CCA treated products will be determined along with opportunities for new high margin specialty products.

The most important product attributes will be developed for each group, according to Sinclair. Such attributes include product color, price versus quality, brand names,

A potentially huge permanent wood foundation market for CCA treated products also will be examined. Information will be available to assist managers in planning their merchandising and promotional activities as well as in the development of long range plans.