Having been in the lumber business for over two hundred years, J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber is confident that knowledge is an important ingredient in our success. Former customers like Presidents Adams and Jefferson and job sites like the White House and the Smithsonian Institute let you know how rich and successful our lumber dynasty has been. Yet we’re still learning and growing in this ever-changing industry. As a lumber customer and builder, we want to encourage you to do the same. We’ll even tell you how.
Start with Curiosity
People who have powerful amounts of knowledge and wisdom have curious minds. Instead of lazily dismissing the “I wonder if” notions that occur to them, they ask others or try to figure it out themselves. The scientific process starts with curiosity and then moves to a conjecture, or hypothesis, and then research and experimentation.
Some of our own discoveries have started the very same way. Sometimes we start a little more practical, as in,” I wonder what species we can recommend if Mahogany prices continue to rise?” or “How much money would our customers save if we showed them how to design with shorter lumber?”
Keep Digging
Sometimes the kinds of solutions we’ve discovered have changed. With all the influences on lumber pricing and availability, the industry will always be that way — which is part of what makes it so intriguing. We can guess what the future will hold and how we can weather upcoming changes, but we might be completely off.
As we discuss current trends and look to history to help us make educated guesses about the future, we continue to learn and grow. Even if we’re wrong. Sometimes we need to dig in a variety of different directions — for instance, focusing on those who harvest the lumber to understand the challenges facing supply, while also being in tune with our customers and the trends in building needs.
Offer Ideas
As you grow in your understanding of lumber products and the lumber industry, you’ll be better equipped to think outside the box of the status quo. You may find your mind meandering around phrases like “I wonder if it would work to try this?” or “What would happen if I changed the way I do that?”
If you think your lumber supplier would get annoyed, think again — at least if J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber is your supplier! We love helping our customers grow in their understanding of the lumber industry and value their input and challenging questions directed toward us, as well.
Here at J. Gibson McIlvain, we truly believe knowledge is a good thing. And we’re here to help provide it as well as encourage it in our customers.
J. Gibson McIlvain Company
Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.
As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.
Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling toll free (800) 638-9100.
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