General Advice:


  Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille: It’s Just Not Fun Any More - Chaille Brindley explores the things that make running a small business a hassle and how to simply the office and do new things to make everyone happier, including the boss.   (11/1/2009)

  Rising Costs Are Too Big to Ignore:Health Care Legislation May Significantly Impact Small Businesses - Since most pallet companies offer some form of health insurance, the current reforms considered by Congress are too big to ignore. How will reform legislation impact your business and employees?  (11/1/2009)

  Forecasting Pallet Usage for JIT Delivery - Forecasting Pallet Usage: Andrew Mosqueda writes about forecasting pallet usage in order to keep pace with ‘just-in-time’ delivery services.  (8/1/2009)

  Letter from Ed: Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone – Just One! - Are you taking a more active role in our society as well as your company? I want to encourage you to step out, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone. Think about what you can do. Make a list of options if needed.  (8/1/2009)

  Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille: 7 Key Trends to Watch for Lumber & Pallet Markets - This column covers a number of interesting trends that you might miss if you focus only on the daily grind at your company.  (7/1/2009)

  Letter from Ed: From “Tweet Tweet!” to RSS - Unlike Twitter, RSS makes sense because it saves time and effort. RSS delivers content directly to a reader’s desktop using a general Web browser or small program called a news aggregator.   (6/1/2009)

  Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille: The New Face of Guerrilla Marketing - The presence of two major players touting different pallet materials is reigniting the age-old plastic vs. wood pallet debate. And it looks like white wood pallet companies may be caught in the middle  (5/1/2009)

  Letter from Ed: So, You Think You Know Your Costs? - When trying to calculate costs, you have to look at the details. Every time your people touch a pallet, it adds cost.  (4/1/2009)

  Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille: The Stress of Ownership - Stress is becoming a more common challenge for employees and bosses alike. The American Psychological Association (APA) recently conducted a survey that found that 80% of Americans say the bad economy is a significant source of stress in their lives.  (3/1/2009)

  News Story of the Year: Economic Roller Coaster Impacts Industry - The economy had a significant impact on the November election as the country elected a new president and appears to be turning more toward government intervention in major sectors of the U.S. economy.  (1/1/2009)

  Sell Out vs. Selling Up -- Best Practices for Selling and Determining the Value of Your Business - What Is Your Business Worth? Learning how to value and prepare your business for sale is worthwhile even for companies that won’t be placed on the market. This primer covers standard models and approaches for determining the value of your business.  (12/1/2008)

  New Ownership Transition Insights -- BC Wood Products Changes Hands - BC Wood Products: New father-son owners use their manufacturing experience to build on and expand Virginia-based pallet manufacturing company; they offer a former outsiders perspective on the pallet business.  (12/1/2008)

  Options Abound for Choosing Health Insurance for Your Company’s Budget - Health Care Options: Health insurance is a burden for small businesses, but there are various plans and cost sharing options to make it effective and affordable for employers and workers.  (10/1/2008)

  Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille: Asking the Right Questions Leads to Finding the Best Answers - Taking a look at critical business questions and innovation can get dropped if you let it. Smart managers have to learn to schedule time to think about something more than just the latest office fire.  (9/1/2008)

  Letter to the Editor - Asher Tourison of Acme Pallet in Michigan shares some insights on surviving during difficult economic times.  (8/1/2008)

  Surviving and Thriving During a Recession - Surviving a Recession: Dr. Brindley supplies ideas for surviving and even thriving in today’s economic environment; several industry people contributed ideas to bring industry suggestions to this perspective.  (7/1/2008)

  Creating a Climate for Good Communication - Family Matters: A family business makes a very powerful statement to its members and employees when it commits itself to improving communication in a rigorous, disciplined manner.  (5/1/2008)

  Deadbeat Customers and Debt Collection: Money before Trust - Overdue Collections: Checking credit references of a potential customer and implementing a thorough collections program can help reduce past due accounts, keep receivables timely.  (2/1/2008)

  Part II: Forest Economist Explores Trends and Biz Opportunities - Economic Outlook: Al Schuler, research economist for U.S. Forest Service, discusses certified forests and lumber products, other changes in the forest products industry; conclusion of two-part interview.  (2/1/2008)

  The Burdening Cost for Small Businesses’ Health Care Insurance Is Far From Healthy - Health Care Cost Burden: Small and large businesses alike struggle to keep up with double digit health insurance premium increases; what are the options and what does the future hold?  (8/1/2007)

  Banks Not the Only Source of Funds For Emerging, Growing Companies - Capital Ideas: It is often difficult for new companies to obtain financing to get their businesses up and running; however, there are other alternative sources of capital for small businesses.  (6/1/2007)

  A Waste of Time: Best Practices For Productive Business Meetings - A Waste of Time: Learn best practics for turning your company meetings into fruitful exchanges for growing your business and increasing production. It can be easy to let meetings turn into business disasters. Find out how to save your company from meeting hell.   (4/1/2007)

  Letter from Ed: What You Are Hearing Is Not What I Am Saying - In today’s society all of us need to watch what we say and, more importantly, how we hear things. Unless we are careful on both the giving and receiving fronts, there will be a great deal of room for spin when communicating.  (10/1/2006)

  Mold, Fungi Still Pose Threats to Pallet Businesses - Mold & Fungi on Wood — Causes & Remedies: Explores why mold and fungi tend to grow on pallets in the summer and what companies can do to fix the problem.  (8/1/2006)

  Post-Disaster Business Continuity: There’s No Such Thing as Luck - Disaster Recovery: There is no such thing as luck when it comes to the ability of your business to recover from a disaster and continue operations; planning and preparation are the keys.  (8/1/2006)

  Markets in Transition: Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best; Flu Pandemic Planning in Spotlight - Flu pandemic planning is rapidly becoming a requirement for many larger customers, pushed down to the distribution center or plant level by corporate headquarters. Many large customers are preparing contingency plans for a H5N1 flu outbreak.  (8/1/2006)

  ERP 101 -- The Instrument Panel and Navigation System For Your Business: New Technology Unites Business Management Functions - ERP 101: IT expert from AMS explains why ERP software may be what you need to take your company to the next level.  (7/1/2006)

  Family Businesses and Succession Planning: Driver’s Ed. All Over Again -- Pallet & Lumber Companies Share Their Succession Experiences - Succession Planning: How do you plan to pass the reins of the company to another, younger family member when the head of the family business wants to retire?  (5/1/2006)

  Setting a Value on Business Now Will Help You Sell It in the Future - What You Are Worth: The time to think about your company’s value is not when you want to sell it, but while you are building it; valuation process can benefit your business now and in the future.  (4/1/2006)

  Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille: Managing for the Next Quarter vs. Ten Years down the Road - After a number of accounting scandals, the new reporting laws that followed and a flat stock market, many companies are wishing that they had never gone public.   (2/1/2006)

  Risk Control Techniques For Pallet Operations - How far does a business have to go to protect itself against liability losses and guard against the rising cost of liability insurance?   (11/1/2005)

  Violent Brainstorming: Mining Eureka Moments From Your Employees - Brainstorming: If you are not listening to your managers and staff, how do you know what is really going on in your business? Brainstorming with employees can produce good ideas.  (9/1/2005)

  Letter from Ed: The New Pallet Board: Users Will Discover Its Benefits in Time - Many of you know that we recently changed the software that manages the Pallet Board. Some have questioned why we changed software and why we selected the one we installed.  (9/1/2005)

  So You Want to Get in The Pallet Business? - What would it take to make an entry into the pallet industry and start a business manufacturing new pallets? Article examines what is required for start-up operations.  (8/1/2005)

  Deductible Buy Down Option to Control Costs - With the ever rising costs of health insurance, employers in every industry have begun scrambling to find ways to reduce their premium costs while still maintaining employee participation in their plans.   (8/1/2005)

  Key to Start-Up Recycling Operation Is Developing Reliable Supply of Cores - One of the keys to starting a pallet recycling business in the current market is developing a reliable supply of cores; teaming with existing pallet recyclers can help get a new business going.  (8/1/2005)

  Strategies for Healthy Families Building Successful Companies - Much of the success of a family business depends on relationships and the skills of the family running the show.  (5/2/2005)

  The Pallet Business – Is It Changing? - Letter from Ed  (5/2/2005)

  Growing Companies Face Challenges of Managing Multiple Plant Locations - Managers offer ideas on dealing with growing pains.  (4/1/2005)

  Past Provides Valuable Pallet Management Tips - Column: Markets in Transition  (2/2/2005)

  Government Grants Provide Great Source for Capital Improvements, Expansion Funding - Highlights from 2004 Articles  (1/3/2005)

  Anticipating the Next Move – Managing Customer Expectations - Highlights from 2004 Articles  (1/3/2005)

  Lean Manufacturing Offers Manufacturing Efficiencies, Improvements - Highlights from 2004 Articles  (1/3/2005)

  Out with the Old, in with the New - Letter From Ed  (1/3/2005)

  Companies ‘Winterize’ to Stay Efficient - Winter Preparations Are Standard for Pallet Companies and Sawmills in both the Northern U.S. and Canada  (12/1/2004)

  Avoid the Cash Flow Crunch - Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille   (10/5/2004)

  Understanding, Managing Hispanic Workers Goes Beyond Language Barrier - For those in the pallet and sawmill industries, as with other businesses, they have proven indispensable in getting the job done  (9/1/2004)

  Health Savings Accounts May Help Tame the Health Insurance Monster - Health Insurance Savings Accounts Provide a New Option  (9/1/2004)

  Can’t We All Just Get Along? - Markets in Transition  (8/1/2004)

  Where’s the Pain? - Letter From Ed  (5/3/2004)

  Don’t Believe Everything You Read - Economic Statistics May Be Spun This Way, That – or Just Plain Wrong  (4/5/2004)

  Searching for the Secret Formula - Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille   (4/1/2004)

  The Pallet Business Is a People Business - It''s still pallets, but pallet recycling is a poeple business.  (2/3/2004)

  Do You Know Your True Costs? - Reader Forum Special  (2/3/2004)

  N.C. Recycler Makes Innovative Use of Information Technology - Microsoft Recognizes East Industries for Application of Its Software Products  (2/2/2004)

  Happy New Year with a Bang! - Issues Facing Pallet Industry in 2004  (1/5/2004)

  Workers Comp: Put a Lid on Costs - The cost of workers compensation insurance is escalating  (12/2/2003)

  Tax Law Increases Depreciation, Expensing - Federal law provides several new tax benefits for businesses  (12/1/2003)

  Bonds an Attractive Source of Funds for Capital Improvement Projects - Government-authorized bonds may be an option for financing capital improvements  (11/3/2003)

  Miracles Don’t Happen By Accident! - Millwood’s Pillars & People Are the Key to Its Amazing Success  (10/1/2003)

  Managing the Whole Person - Letter from Chaille: Thinking Ahead  (10/1/2003)

  What You Always Wanted to Know About Pallets! - Your Own References — At Your Fingertips  (9/2/2003)

  Filling the Information Void - IRI Adds to Pallet Publications   (9/2/2003)

  Who's Telling the Truth? - Dr. Ed Brindley explores the issue of whom to believe in the debate over forest health public policy and the bias against the industry in the ''mainstream'' press.   (6/1/2003)

  Rev Up Business By Thinking Over The Wall - Ed Brindley explains how benchmarking from others can lead to improved plant efficiency and company profitability.  (5/1/2003)

  McPallet: Supersize™ Your Business! - A Pallet Company Owner Should Not Be Running His Plant from a Forklift.  (3/3/2003)

  You Can’t Fire Me — I’m Your Father! -   (1/6/2003)

  Weathering the Economic Doldrums - Pallet Companies Offer Advice for Tough Economic Times  (12/2/2002)

  Insurance Nightmares Abound - Over the last 18 months, insurance costs have steadily risen.  (12/2/2002)

  Pallet Maker Cultivated ‘People Person Mentality’ - Tommy Orr helped build WNC Pallet & Forest Products   (12/2/2002)

  9-11 Anniversary — Time to Reflect - How can we pull together as an industry to face the future?  (9/3/2002)

  The Dash in the Middle Makes the Difference - A Pallet Salute to Bill Nelson  (6/4/2002)

  The Economy Recovering? - While economists may have characterized the recession as mild, many pallet professionals held a different opinion.   (4/1/2002)

  Getting Third-Party Valuation of Business Has Pros, Cons - Second Article in a Two-Part Series on Business Valuation for Pallet Companies  (4/1/2002)

  Determining Your Company’s Value May Be an Adventure - Proceed with caution when it comes to spending your hard earned money on a valuation of your business.  (3/1/2002)

  ‘Quote of the Week’ in Pallet Profile Becomes Fan Favorite; - Quips from Pallet People Are a Big Hit in Weekly Pallet Industry Newsletter   (12/1/2001)

  What Makes the Difference During Difficult Times? - Virginia Tech associate professor examines the tough economic climate that sawmills face and offers suggestions for how they can weather it  (10/1/2001)

  Canadian Lumber Duty Determined - Letter from Ed  (8/31/2001)

  Changes Shape Tomorrow - Letter from Ed: by Dr. Ed Brindley, Jr., Publisher - 'Changes Shape Tomorrow'  (6/1/2001)

  Liking the Look of Used - Rick LeBlanc takes a look at the recycling industry.  (5/1/2001)

  Contingency Plan Can Help Your Business Survive a Fire or Other Catastrophic Event - Eye on Safety: by Don Rung - Contingency Plan Can Help Your Business Survive a Fire or Other Catastrophe  (3/1/2001)

  Letter from Ed - Be Prepared - Opinion piece on the Boy Scouts Supreme Court case.  (12/1/2000)

  Letter to Ed - Death to the Death Tax! - The Senate just voted 59 to 39 to pass the death elimination bill; nine Democrats joined most Republicans in voting for the repeal.   (8/1/2000)

  Integrity of Unit Loads Gaining in Importance - Automated storage will continue to take hold, but it is more sensitive than ever to pallet or unit load failure.  (8/1/2000)

  Letter From Ed- Friends in Low Places - Establishing relationships beyond the local plant may help you retain customers when upper management calls the shots. Dr. Brindley explores how customer relationships are changing in the pallet industry.   (6/1/2000)

  Letter from Ed - Going, Going, Gone! - Online Auctions - PE publisher explores the impact of online auctions for pallets.  (5/1/2000)

  ‘Brand Trilogy’ Can Give Your Company A Competitive Edge - The ‘Brand Trilogy' can help you create a competitive advantage while realizing greater market share and margins.  (4/1/2000)

  Talk to Higher Level in Organization To Move the Sale Away from Price - Selling to higher level in an organization enables you to close more strategic business opportunities: long-term deals, big ticket sales. Article based on presentation at NWPCA annual meeting.  (4/1/2000)

  Change Shook Pallet Industry in '99 - Year in Review: The pallet industry faced a number of changes in 1999. One of the most significant is the continued rise of pallet rental, fueled by the growth of industry giant Chep.  (12/1/1999)

  Letter from Ed - Here Comes Y2K! - PE publisher explores the Y2K issue and makes a few predictions about its impact on the industry.   (4/1/1999)

  Brokers Fill Valuable Role for Some Pallet Companies - Pallet Brokers: Pallet brokers, wholesalers, and distributors serve a valuable function for some pallet manufacturers and recyclers.  (2/1/1999)