Country Woods Durban

October 2008

 

Dear Fellow Wood lovers, 

 

Spring has sprung and brought with it some much needed rain across Natal.  Everything is turning green and there’s an expectation in the air that the year end rush is finally arriving.  Business at Country Woods has certainly picked up and the general feeling is that the “drought” over the past few months is breaking and we’re going to be in for a bit of a “soaking” towards the Christmas build up.

 

Fortunately we are well placed for the busy run and have good inventories of most species to last us through to close down, which incidentally will be on the 19th of December this year.  

 

As usual we have found that the African species have continued to gain in popularity this year and sales of Kiaat, Rosewood, Rhodesian Teak and African mahogany have risen substantially.  On the downside the slip of the Rand against the US dollar has lead to significant price increases across the board as 80% of our stock is imported.  All we can advise is to quote carefully and put short validities on your quotes until the Rand settles at a more stable figure.  This being said, we still have plenty of good white oak comsel 25mm that we are “giving” away at old prices.  Be quick to secure your bundles while stocks last.

 

This year our Christmas party will be held at the “Natal Deep Sea Rod and Reel Club” again. We have booked the venue for Friday the 21st of November.  Invitations will be sent out shortly.

 

News in the office is that Goodman Mzizi will be leaving us to go to our Johannesburg branch until the end of the year.  Please forward all your enquiries and orders to either Thembinkosi or Michael on the counter.  Goodman will be back for opening on the 12th of January 2009.

 

On the timber front, we have just landed a box of “Plantation Teak” (Tectona Grandis) due to the many requests that we’ve had for the product.  The Teak is currently in stick and should be dry by the time we open in January.  Also we have some Sneezewood on the way for the New Year.  This will be the first time Country Woods has stocked this species and we look forward to your favourable response.  According to the book it’s extremely hard and durable (said to outlast iron) and has a beautiful rich red colour.  It’s good for turning and furniture and repels moths.  Something different for those of you that appreciate the rarer, more valuable woods that Country Woods is famous for stocking.

 

GOING GREEN

 

There has been a growing concern world wide and now specifically in South Africa about “reducing our carbon footprints and going green”.  Users of timber products are wanting to know if the wood they are buying is sustainable, traceable and legal.  Our sister company, “Exotic Lumber” in America has recently attained FSC status (see www.fsc.org ) which means that we can now source FSC products of most species of American lumber.  Locally we have also starting stocking indigenous South African trees that are for sale at our Durban Warehouse.  So customers now have the opportunity to “give something back” to the environment and plant a tree for every one that’s being taken out.  We currently have stocks of Red Ivory, Wild Olive and Tamboti which we have planted on our verge and are looking into getting Stinkwood, Yellowwood and Natal Mahogany.  

 

That’s it for now, short and sweet and there’ll be another update on the happenings at Country Woods Durban before the year is out. For now it’s over and out.

 

From the team at Country Woods

Happy Woodworking….until next time.

 

Hans Schneemann

(Sales Manager)