New South Construction Supply eNews - February 2007

Dear Friends:

As I write this letter, we have just returned from our first President’s Club trip with over 100 customers, guests, and suppliers going with us on a five-day Western Caribbean cruise. The expectations for this trip were high, but I’m pleased to announce that almost everyone I spoke to told me that the trip exceeded their expectations by a wide margin. We had a great time, and we enjoyed a lot of fellowship and camaraderie. If you missed the trip this year, you might want to sign up for next year’s trip.

Our 2007 President’s Club promotion will culminate with a trip to Puerto Vallarta on the west coast of Mexico, March 5 - 9, 2008. If you would like signup information, please call or e-mail me, and I’ll make sure you get the sign-up packet. We would like to take an even larger group on next year’s trip.

On another note, the pricing outlook for the near term is below. I am glad to hear that many of you use this in formulating bidding strategies, and I have even heard from some customers that they use our newsletter to show their clients why the prices of products have gone up since they were first quoted. I am glad to hear that the newsletter is a benefit to you in that regard and will strive to continue to give you quality pricing information every month.

Nucor and other domestic rebar manufacturers announced a $20 per ton increase effective March 1 st. As the price of import rebar has been high for the past couple of months, most importers have not ordered and there is relatively little imported rebar scheduled to land in U.S. ports in the next 30 to 60 days. Although U.S. demand is weak, with relatively little import bar in the pipeline, most domestic mills are expected to raise prices between $10 and $15/ton the first of April so you should buy rebar for the next 90 days’ needs now.

Welded wire mesh manufacturers will increase prices the first week in March. The increase will range between 8-10%. Wire rod that is used to manufacture welded wire mesh has steadily increased since the first of the year, and rod manufacturers have announced another increase in March. As with rebar, demand is weak, but with the increasing price of wire rod, mesh manufacturers are forced to increase prices.

Masonry reinforcement prices are currently holding steady. Although the price of wire rod has increased, demand is such that manufacturers have not increased prices. It’s expected that the industry may try to raise prices in late March or early April, but any increase will depend on if demand increases.

Polyethylene remains flat. Although polyethylene resin has increased twice this year, weak demand has forced manufacturers to hold the line on prices. Demand is expected to pick up in March or April, so expect polyethylene prices to increase in early to mid April.

With the worldwide price of copper continuing to decline, the price for copper thru wall flashing has begun to soften. Most flashing manufacturers have lowered their prices 1 to 2% since the first of the year. It’s expected that prices will decline another 2 to 3% by April .

Also, attached are links to three documents you may want to also review and/or print. The AGC Building Barometer is the AGC’s forecast for commercial construction in the Carolinas for 2007. You will note that it is the second most positive forecast for commercial construction in the Carolinas in the nine years this survey has existed. Secondly, there is a link to the Producer Price Index (PPI), which will show you how prices have moved up over a wide variety of building products. This might also be helpful to share with your clients. Thirdly, there is also a link to the AGC’s 2007 forecast for commercial construction for the entire United States. This slide program is something that would be good for you to review with your key people and perhaps to give to your clients as well.

This month we are featuring the following suppliers:

  • CIM is one of the largest producers of water containment products used to line fountains, water tanks, and a variety of other uses. The product is easy to apply and works well, so if you have a need for this type of product on an upcoming job, please call your nearest New South branch.
  • WR Meadows is an industry leader in construction chemicals, as well as expansion joints and waterproofing products. For more information or a price quote, please call your local New South branch.
  • Hanes Geo Components (formerly known as Webtec) is one of the largest suppliers of filter fabric, geo synthetics, and other erosion control products. Their products are available at any of our branches.

This month’s management article is titled, “Traits of Strong Leadership”. As leadership is what sets most companies apart, I hope that you will find this article as beneficial as I did.

In closing, I want to thank all of the customers who went on the Caribbean cruise with us, and I look forward to seeing more of you on next year’s trip.

Sincerely,

Jim Sobeck
President
(864) 325-6518
jim.sobeck@newsouthsupply.com



This month we are featuring the following suppliers:

 

For over 30 years C.I.M. Industries Inc. has been keeping liquids where they belong with a product line that delivers long-term solutions to virtually every containment and waterproofing need. CIM’s two component urethane products bond aggressively to a wide variety of substrates including asphalt, concrete, steel and wood. CIM is applied by spray, squeegee or roller, curing quickly to form a resilient flexible coating that is UV stable, voc compliant, ANSI/NSF61 approved for potable water contact, and designed for constant immersion in aqueous solutions.

Our new CIM 2000 material is 100% solids containing no voc’s and has recently passed ASTM E108/UL 790 spread of flame testing and ANSI/NSF 61 Potable Water Testing. CIM 2000 like the rest of the product line is designed for constant immersion applications and exhibits excellent chemical resistance to acids and bases.

CIM materials have been successfully used for coating and lining applications for many markets, including, water and wastewater facilities, primary and secondary chemical containment, waterproofing, pond and fountains, and cooling tower restoration.

For more information, contact any New South Construction Supply branch or visit the CIM website at www.cimindustries.com to view their entire product line ranging from their CIM 1000 asphalt modified urethane to their new 100% solids CIM 2000 urethane materials.


W. R. MEADOWS

Moisture is your enemy. W. R. MEADOWS is your guardian. Turn to us for the protection you need on every front, from below grade to rooftop. You’ll find vapor barriers, vapor retarders, waterproofing membranes (available in rolls, sheets or liquid form for most applications), drainage systems, air barriers and flashings.

And, you can use W. R. MEADOWS products with confidence, because we’ve been winning the battle against moisture and providing the building team with the only complete solution for over 75 years.

For detailed information, call your nearest New South Supply branch or visit W. R. MEADOWS’ comprehensive website: www.wrmeadows.com, or phone 1-800-342-5976. Now you can get your hands on Controlling Moisture Movement in Buildings: The Complete Approach, a complete guide to building envelope protection from W. R. MEADOWS. Click on New Literature under the What’s New tab at www.wrmeadows.com to request the brochure today.


Hanes Geo Components

Supplying the construction industry with, ground stabilization, erosion control, seed and chemicals, and Geotextiles. A proud partner with New South Construction Supply.

Site Work Materials & Supplies | Geotextiles | Grass Seed | Turf & Ornamental Chemicals | Fertilizer | Landscape Fabrics | Erosion Control

For more information call 888-239-4539 or visit us at www.hanesgeo.com.


Traits of strong leadership
by Bill Gaw 

There is clearly a link between management and leadership. Management is task and process oriented, whereas leadership deals with getting people to do what needs to be done. Managers are task oriented.

This becomes increasingly difficult when the rules keep changing. The customer's expectations, the competitive pressure, the demands of the owners, technological progress, new governmental regulations all increase managerial stress. It takes leadership to survive under these circumstances. Leadership is coping with change, whereas management is coping with complexity. The capable leader is one who can lead others through difficult situations where significant changes are taking place.

It is possible to analyze the behavior of competent leaders and characterize their traits. The following traits are identifiable and can be learned.

Physical Characteristics
Most people would acknowledge that many leaders have "the look." They tend to have a lean, attractive appearance. Most business leaders work hard on maintaining an image of health and robustness.

They work out, jog, diet and take care of personal grooming and wardrobe. They feel that being attractive is part of their charisma, and since attractiveness is influence, and influence is power, that they increase their ability to lead. Attractiveness does hold significant initial influence over others, but by itself, is not a critical trait. To name some famous leaders who were not acknowledged to possess high physical attractiveness: Mahatma Gandhi, Golda Meir, and Yasser Arafat.

Drive
Leaders seem to have an enthusiasm that infects others. They make the task seem attainable and desirable to others. They are ambitious, persistent, and energetic, and above all, take the initiative for change.

Motivation
They want to be the leader, and are uncomfortable in non-leadership roles. Julius Caesar indicated that he would rather be the No. 1 person in a small town than No. 2 person in Rome.

Self-confidence
This is perhaps the most important trait. Leaders who are confident of their abilities to attain a positive outcome, convince others that they should follow their lead. Self-confidence is also infectious and imparts a degree of enthusiasm and optimism into the situation.

Knowledge
Leaders have to know their jobs, their business and the environment that they are working in. One cannot lead without direction and vision of where they are going.

Stress tolerance
Since leadership is most critical in rapidly changing situations, and since change causes stress, it follows that capable leaders possess a high level of stress tolerance, to keep cool under fire, to keep one's head when, all about, others are losing theirs. Capable leaders are able to maintain focus under strenuous conditions.

Integrity
A vital ingredient in a leader's ability to lead is the confidence, or trust, on the part of those being led, that the result of their efforts is in their best interests. The leader must possess the integrity to be trustworthy and not betray or exploit them.

Communication skills
The skillful leader has the ability to make his or her intentions known in a clear and unambiguous manner.

They are able to direct others concisely so as to leave no room for misinterpretation or doubt. They direct in a supportive, non-threatening way, focusing on the job to be done and their confidence in doing it.

Most capable leaders are also recognized as excellent public speakers.

Attention to task
A leader cannot lead without knowing where to lead. They have a priority on getting the job done in such a way as to protect their resources and preserve their role as leaders. Whereas a non-leader type might chew up resources, including people, in getting a job done, a leader is able to innovate activity that solves the task problem and conserves resources.

Team preservation
A leader regards group members as valuable friends, each of whom has important skills that need to be utilized and added to. A great deal of attention is given to the well being and concern for those group members, including their individual needs and satisfaction, as well as how they get along with other team members. It is important to preserve the harmony and stability of the group in order for the leader to maintain his or her position.

Role playing
Leaders have learned to play different roles in different situations. Perhaps this skill is based on childhood activities and games but it is certainly a learned skill. They may take the role of teacher, coach or dictator. This allows them to deal with different group members, peers or superiors in different ways.

If leaders possess certain skills, and role playing is one of those skills, then anyone who can role play can learn to be a leader. While it may be difficult for an individual to change their personality, it is possible for them to learn and practice each of the above traits.

As they become more proficient and gain confidence in playing the role of leader, their personality gradually changes, and they become more comfortable in the leadership role.

 

New South Construction Supply Locations

 

Main Office
Shipping:
951 Harbor Road
West Columbia, SC 29169

Mail:
PO Box 512
Columbia, SC 29202

Phone: (803) 791-8700
WATS:(800) 849-6768
Fax: (803) 796-0713

Concrete/Masonry Products Sales
Phone: (803) 791-8700
Accounting Dept. (803) 791-8724
WATS: (800) 849-6768
Main Fax: (803) 791-8191
President- Jim Sobeck (864) 325-6518
EVP/CFO- Kurt Herwald (864) 268-3970

VP-Operations & Purchasing- David Hodgin
(704)-358-9797
Operations Manager- Donald Whately
Sales Manager- Jon Black
Controller- Dave Lewis


Other Locations

2829 White Horse Road
Greenville, SC 29611
Phone: (864) 269-7007
WATS: (800) 849-4454
Fax: (864) 269-6004
Operations Manager- Rob Hovanec
Sales Managers- Russ Lott & Lance Perry

1427 Mechanical Blvd.
Garner, NC (Raleigh) 27529
Phone: (919) 662-9012
WATS: (800) 849-4677
Fax: (919) 662-9412
Operations Manager- Vic Murray
Sales Manager- Bud Driggers

 

Other Locations

4987 Banco Road
N. Charleston SC 29418
Phone: (843)760-0780
WATS: (888)224-3140
Fax: (843) 760-6127
Operations Manager- David Starr
Sales Manager- Trip Moore

9050 D W. Market St.
Colfax (Greensboro) NC 27235
Phone: (336) 992-0237
WATS: (800) 609-0889
Fax: (336) 992-0839
Operations Manager- David Perkins
Sales Manager- Kearns Cheek

180 Rodeo Drive
Myrtle Beach SC 29579
Phone: (843) 236-6447
WATS: (800) 821-2676
Fax: (843) 236-6521
Operations Manger- George Acerbi
Sales Manager- Clint Paul

649-51 Anderson St.
Charlotte NC 28205
Phone: (704) 358-9797
WATS: (866) 375-9660
Fax: (704) 358-9646
Acting Operations Manager: David Hodgin
Sales Managers: Jim Harris & Dave Strawser

9156 Speedway Boulevard
Hardeeville (Hilton Head) SC 29927
Phone: (843) 784-1580
WATS: (866) 326-8802
Fax: (843) 784-1581
Acting Operations Manager- Dave Davis
Sales Manager- Steve Melton

17251 Highway 53
Gulfport MS 39503
Phone: (228) 539-2519
WATS: (866) 506-7257
Fax: (228) 539-2771
Operations Manager- John Jalanivich
Sales Manager- Greg Cairns