Last week I attended the annual NWFA convention in Long Beach, CA. Having been in the industry for 30 years, this certainly wasn't my first rodeo. Truth be told, I didn't go with the expectation of enjoying myself.
My primary reason for attending was out of the necessity of maintaining contacts. In spite of my initially bad attitude, this year's meeting turned out to be both fun and very productive for me personally. Maybe it's a part of getting older. With life passing by at a seemingly faster pace, the need to rush somehow dissipates. The major topic of discussion was the general decrease in business. Having ridden out a few down cycles in this industry, I was reminded of some lessons I have been taught along the way.
The best time to buy is when prices are low.
A number of great people within our industry have ended up without jobs through no fault of their own. There are good people available who would normally be gainfully employed. These highly qualified and accomplished professionals know the ins and outs of our industry. Their learning curve would be practically non-existent.
This presents a great opportunity for lumber and construction businesses. Prices always rebound and usually with a vengeance. I can't tell you when or how fast things will turn around, but it will get busy again. Really great people are not going to stay on the market forever. They could go to work for one of your competitors, start their own competing business, or move to another industry. Keep your eyes open, ears to the ground, and snap them up!
When you visit the doctor would you rather see the intern fresh out of med school or the practitioner with skill and experience?
For those of you currently out of work, there is always something that you can do to improve yourself while searching for your next gig. If you plan to stay in the wood flooring industry, do us all a big favor: go out and learn how to install, sand, and finish wood floors. This is the best way to become the go-to person at any company that sells or distributes wood flooring, adhesives, finishes, sandpaper, and sundries. Nothing earns respect more than a professional who can actually answer a question without faking it.
Keep yourself busy while you're sending out resumes. Find a good wood flooring contractor and volunteer to work for slave wages (or less). Get ready to have a genuine hard working experience, and you can probably cancel that fancy gym membership while you are really working for a living. For inspectors who find yourselves with a lot of time on your hands please read the previous paragraph. There is always something to learn or a new way to apply the information you have already mastered.