International Wood International Wood 2006 | Page 43

According to Capital purchasing manager Randy Miller, the demand for beech began in the southern California market. While domestic beech didn’t hit the mark in terms of look and tightness of grain, the European beech had great appeal – just what customers wanted. The popularity has grown beyond the California market, gaining momentum in the Las Vegas area as well. “In less than a year, beech is representing 30 percent or our sales,” Miller reports. “It began at just 3 to 4 percent.” Miller states that the company had anticipated the addition of beech to cannibalize the sales of red oak. Instead, the beech has equally pulled from sales of red oak and maple, proving it to be a strong alternative to both species. The beech is used in doors, cabinet facings, mouldings, frames, and accessories. Though cabinetmakers know wood from the inside out, in terms of cabinet construction and performance, clients still focus on the overall beauty of the fi nished installation. The unique looks of imported wood – the styles, fi nishes, and details – are ultimately what drives clients to not only make selections but to be satisfi ed with their cabinets in the long term and make those all-important referrals to friends and family. As more consumers go custom in the kitchen, the popularity of wood countertops is also a trend on the rise in kitchens, receiving pos- itive word-of-mouth praise from a burgeoning legion of satisfi ed hom- eowners. Today, wood is extending beyond the traditional butcher block to be used throughout the kitchen – especially islands and eating areas – in the form of high-end custom countertops. S I N C E 1 9 4 7 Serving the hardwood plywood, softwood plywood, and furniture industries with globally sourced wood products from well managed natural and plantation forests. Clarke Veneers and plywood is known for its variety and quality in wood products. n VENEER n PLYWOOD n LUMBER n ENGINEERED WOOD n INDUSTRIAL COMPONENTS Fine Wood Products E N V I R O N M E N TA L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y CLARKE VENEERS AND PLYWOOD P.O.BOX 4876 PHONE: • JACKSON, MS 39296 601-366-0331 E-MAIL: • FAX : [phone] [email protected] www.clarkeveneers.com imported wood 43