ADVERTISERS fndex I

For nrore iniormation orr ;rdvertisrrs, caNl {hcm directly or visit thcir r'r,cbsitcs Iin brackols]. Advantage

Norman Distribution Inc. [www.normandist.com] .............................39

OrePac Building Products [www,orepac.com]........,,,,,......,,,,,.,,,.......17

Osmose [www.osmose.com].................... ........Cover I

Pacific Wood Preserving Cos. [www.pacificwood.com] ...................36

Quality Borate Co. [www.qualityborate,com].,,...........,,,......,,,...........43

Redwood Empire [www.redwoodemp.com]

Roseburg Forest Products [www.rfpco.com]

Royal Pacifi c Industries..........

Screw Products [www.screw-products.com] ..31

Simpson Strong-Tie [www.strongtie.com].....,..........,,,......21, Cover lV

Siskiyou Forest Products [www.siskiyouforestproducts.com]........1 1

Sunbelt [www.sunbe|tracks.com]......,,,.,............,.........,,,,........,...,,,....40

Superior Wood Treating [www.superiorwoodtreating.com].....,,,,,...49

Swanson Group Sales Co. [www.swansongroupinc.com] ........,,,......3

Taiga Building Products...........

Thunderbolt Wood Treating [thunderboltwoodtreating.com]...........44

Utah Wood Preserving Co...................... ...................46

Van Arsdale-Harris Lumber Go. [www.vanarsdaleharris.net]...........53

Western Red Cedar Lumber Association [www.realcedar.org]...26-27

GRK Fasteners [www.grkfasteners.com] ................29

Huff Lumber Co .....................,.........25

Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance [www.ilmgroup.com].........34

Jones Wholesale Lumber [wwwjoneswholesale,com].....................30

J.H. Baxter [www.jhbaxter.com] .................... ...........39

Keller Lumber Co.

Krauter Solutions [www.krauter-storage.com]

LP Building Products [www.lpcorp.com]

IDEA File

Hardware with a l-leaping of Hospitality

SeaCOaSt Ace Hardware, Portsmouth, N.H., faces big box competition every day. Yet the small store has prospered-recently hiring two new employees-by focusing on customer service and sustainability.

"We're very different in the sense that we try and forge a stronger relationship with our customers than many of our competitors do," says John Ozberak, who owns and operates the business with his wife, Mel. "If we don't have what someone is looking for, we'll send them where they can find it. That might sound crazy, but when they see that honesty, that makes them want to come back."

The couple bought the store in 2006, after years in the hospitality industry. "When we ran hotels and motels, we would learn the names of everyone that came in, learn their kids' names, because we wanted them to come back," says John. "Opening this store, we wanted to stay true to that sense of community."

Seacoast encourages sustainability by stocking an array of green products: low- or no-VOC paints and stains, recycled plastic buckets, CFL light bulbs, enviro friendly wood finishes, biomass pellets for woodstoves, and all natural pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

Just as impressive is the couple's commitment to reducing onsite waste. The store serves as a registered drop-off point for CFL bulbs, customers are asked if they want purchases bagged, and plastic bags are not used-even to hold tiny nuts and bolts. When paint is mixed incorrectly-a rare occurrencemistakes are donated to local organizations.

"In the end," says John, "the tie-breaker between us and the other guys is customer service."