WinonaRail's Wood Yard

I scrounged the plum at the dump last year thinking it was apple. Just random chunks. I had a bag full of them and noticed it seemed heavier than apple so I posted a thread here and FHC IDed it as plum. I had it in one big feed bag. I texted my customer and he took it.

Mystree Fruitwood?

I get cranky doing one bundle!!!

Made 30 up today and delivered 60 in town to a regular. Mostly sugar, Norway & red maple plus tulip poplar Im expecting an order of 50 very soon from a new account earlier this year.

 

Perfect bundles...what does the store charge per bundle?

 

Not sure. I think some mark them up 100% and others just a couple bucks over cost.

 

I wondered if you "planned" to run out or if you tried to always have enough on hand. I usually end up scrounging at some point through the winter to come up with more dry wood.

 

I was curious if the customer could decide how you delivered or if that was up to you. Have you ever had problems getting totes back from customers? Do you charge extra for leaving totes?

 

Must be a good friend. 60 miles it a pretty big trip! Hopefully you got some Benjamins out of the deal.

 

I always like a good mystree! I'll be making bundles tonight. 6 of them. They're easy to make so I really don't know why I don't want to do it. Congrats on the sale!

 

I did another 15 today. 45 wrapped. Ill do another 15 tomorrow as I'm expecting a 50 order any day now. I need to stay ahead of the game this season. I actually pulled maybe 50 nicer splits out of the half cord I delivered yesterday to save for bundles. With yesterdays 60 I'm around 1700 sold for the year not counting smoker bundles

 

We don't "plan" on running out, could have had more inventory. But in late winter, with all the premium logs we were getting from Hurricane Helene jobs, we decided to process some for ourselves that was still green and in good shape. Our "retirement sheds", so to speak...
Some of the white oak we were processing... a few logs in the front we had awhile
Some of the rounds...
And a pile of splits
Full shed, holds about 9.5 cords. White oak on left, hickory on right
We need to keep this, it can sit there 5-6 yrs is fine with me...
It would have been nice to keep the other shed too, but...

 

We usually decide, normally just throw off or stack for a few customers. Only have 1 customer in town (10 miles) that we left a tote with. They are opening the new BBQ restaurant, he didn't really have a rack to store wood in yet, so we took tractor and tote to town, set it close to his cook building and left roof on it.

 

We charged a little xtra, we needed to go to that town anyway for a Sam's Club run.

 

That's great, Brad

 

My goodness that's a lot of bundles! My hat is off to you sir. How many did you have planned at the beginning of the year? I know you picked up some new stores.

 

There's no stack as pretty as a T.Jeff Veal stack! Or should I say a Miz Carol stack?

 

That's a good service to offer to a new customer. He doesn't need to build/buy a rack when you deliver in a tote. And hopefully it helps you keep his business.

 

I was guessing 2000 sold prior to the two new stores. (I'd be well below without the two new) I recently lost one of the eight as I see he had different wood in mesh bags. He was a poor communicator as I'd text asking what he has on hand and never replies. A drive by confirmed this. Not worried as he was my lowest volume customer. His store had been closed for some time as new tanks were installed and I only sold him 30 this year.

One of my stacked cords yields roughly 175 bundles and I have maybe five drying right now. Im fearing dipping into other general cordage for bundle wood. I have some smoker wood (cherry and sugar maple) that more than likely will get "sacrificed" this Winter.

Wish I wasn't so picky about the quality of splits that go into bundles. It'd make my life a little easier!

 

Both, I think.
Thanks for the compliment, my friend.

 

Hopefully the new customers are better to work with than the one you lost. Try to be strong and hang on to the smoker wood! That's a line I don't cross. I make quite a bit more on that (although the bundles are still lucrative). I'll scrounge to come up with more bundle wood when needed.

 

Wrapped another 15 today. 80 on hand ready to go.

I get a call this afternoon. Turns out its another store/station I gave my number to a couple years ago. Lady wanted a bunch of bundles, but I explained I'm rationing my current inventory. Gave her a price and she agreed. Ill bring 30 next week. She also wanted bulk wood for her fireplace. Half cord going next week. I had contacted one of my newer regulars who buys BL and general cordage last week and never heard back. Their loss.

Here's the kicker...the new store is the closest one to wood storage (3.6 miles) I don't sell to. No complaints here. She liked the free delivery too. So I'm back up to eight accounts. If the other guy I "lost" calls for wood I'll quote him higher.

 

The only smoker wood I'll use for general bundles would be sugar maple and maybe cherry. SM ranks fifth in sales of the seven I sell and I have plenty of heartwood splits I'll part with. Apple, cherry, hickory and oak ahead of it.

In your case I don't blame you and I'd do the same.