Family Business: Siblings

(continued from page 43) future, and the shared purpose you have for it going forward. Your parents may have been extraordinary visionaries, but all visions have a shelf life. The sibling team must develop its own vision to unite them and provide a viable model forward for the company.

Not all siblings will be comfortable with change at the same pace. Some will feel it is too slow; others may resist any change as too fast and unsettling. The process for arriving at agreement on the nature and pace of change is an important part of becoming a cohesive sibling partnership.

- Stephanie Brun cle Pontet is a senior assoc'iutc of the FamillBusiness Consulting Group, Chic:ago, Il. Contact brundepontet@ efamilybusiness.com or (888) 421-0110. Kent Rhodes is a c'onsultant with the grottp Reach him at rhodes@ efamilybusiness .com.

Reprinted with pertrission from Tlte Fanily Business Advisor, a copyrighted publication of Family Enterprise Publishers. No portion (f this urtitle may be repro duc'ed without permission ot Fomib Enterorise Publishers

IDEA File

Workshopping Spree

Free seminars (and complimentary refreshments) are attracting new customers to Eldredge \ Lumber's design center in York. Me.

The 6,000-sq. ft. spaceknown as the Atlantic Design Center-features full-size displays of kitchens, baths, and living rooms so customers can envision their own dream projects.

On hand to help are I I design consultants, including Margareta Claesson, who also handles marketing and advertising for the center. It's her job to get new customers through the door, so they can see for themselves what products and services are available.

Claesson got the idea for the seminars after she invited Eldredge's in-house paint expert to deliver a product info talk for the designers. "He was so knowledgeable and such a good speaker that we decided he had to go public," she says. "So he was our first speaker."

Eldredge offers six to eight classes each year. In July, artist Pamela Sawin led a seminar on what she calls contemporary gilding, illustrating how to apply metal leaf to glass, pottery, wood, paper, and shells-a natural resource that's readily available in Maine.

This month, the topic is window replacement, presented by Eldredge's own Marvin Windows expert. After learning about the how's and why's of window replacement-including energy savings and the 20 I I Energy Tax Credits-attendees can schedule an inhome appointment to begin the replacement process.

Claesson says that different topics bring in different customers, but they all enjoy the free refreshments: small tea sandwiches and cookies, plus tea and coffee.

"Whenever possible, we also raise money for a good cause, such as the local food pantry or hospice," she says. "Sometimes it is a suggested donation and sometimes we have a raffle and sell tickets."

,,...,.,..,.,.,..........38.39

Anfinson Lumber [www.anfinson.com],.. ,..........19

Bear Forest Products [www.bearfp.com].,.,....,............................36

Big Creek Lumber [www.big.creek.com] ....,......32

Cal Coast Wholesale Lumber. ...................,.,..,.,..35

California Redwood Association [wwwcalredwood.org]...........26

California Redwood Co. [californiaredwoodco.com]..,.,...,Cover ll

California Timberline [www.caltimberline.com] ............................4

Capital [www.capital-lumber.com].............................................,..43

EcoVantage [www.ecovantage.com] .......,...................................,..3

Fontana Wholesale Lumber [fontanawholesalelumber.com].....41

GRK Fasteners [www.grkfasteners.com]

Huff Lumber... .............................31

Humboldt Redwood [www.getredwood.com/merchant]...,....,....30 ldaho Forest Group [www.idahoforestgroup,com] .......................5

Keller Lumber

.43

Lausmann Lumber [www.lausmannlumber,com] .......................24

LP Building Products [www.lpcorp.com],........,,......,.,..........,........7

Lumber Assn. of California & Nevada flumberassociation.orgl .28

Mary's River Lumber [www.marysriverlumber.com] ..................34

Nrwr-r Traders Market [www.nawlatradersmarket.com].............37

Norman Distribution [www.normandist.com] ..............................35

Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance [plmins.com],.,..29

Redwood Empire [www.redwoodemp.coml ............,.,.........Cover I

Roseburg Forest Products [www.rfpco.com] ..............................21

Royal Pacific Industries RoyOMartin [www.royomartin.com] ...................................C0ver lll

Simpson Strong.Tie [www.strongtie,com] ......,......,.,........Cover lV

Siskiyou Forest Products [siskiyouforestproducts.coml...........27

Sunbelt [www.sunbeltracks.com] ......... ...............33

Swanson Group Sales [www.swansongroupinc.com]................1 7

Thunderbolt Wood Treating [thunderboltwoodtreating.com] ...,45

Universal Forest Products [www.ufpi.com] ............,.,.,.,.,.,..........13

Van Arsdale-Harris Lumber Co. [www.vanarsdaleharris,net] ....45

Western Red Cedar Lu mber Association [www.wrcla.or 91...22-23

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