tomorrow begins the first week of Spring Break in Texas....we have 10 cords bagged and our trailers are full...that will get us through the first week....game on!
What will get you through the first week? Full trailers or 10 cords or both? How much more do you have that isn’t bagged?
10 cords gets us through the week for the parks that I service.....I have guys in east, west and far south Texas that will do the same (total.. not each)....The first week is always the wildest but we are bagging another 4 cords now and will pick up and bag about 5 cords (full 128 cuft) each week......It does not slow down all too much until after July 4th and lets us get ready for the Mid September through New Years day second season
Are your bags the typical .75 cubic foot size commonly seen in front of stores and gas stations here in CT?
Your seasons amaze me.. Our season is memorial to labor day. Every year they put out warnings on Memorial Day because cold water can induce shock. The Lakes generally 45 degrees at that point.
We primarily use 2 Cu Ft by volume mesh bags......at 18" you can fit about 1.4 Cuft of firewood......they outsell the traditional .75 bundles by about 8 to 1....we call them "lady bundles" or for the "token" fire....during Spring break we go to all bags to keep ahead of the demand. That is our newest Solar machine way down in Corpus Christi. And our newest "wrap" will be completed today....the park planners wanted a more "woodsie" camping friendly color scheme
The campground near me just got sold to a RE developer. Putting in McMansions. Maybe they'll buy cherry in small bundles to cook their salmon on .
Hey Woodshax , how about an update.. Things going as forecasted? Ahead? Behind? Are you able to keep up with demand and get your WoodShax restocked? Inquiring minds want to know!!!
Sorry for the delay in my response.....It was pretty crazy. The week started slow due to rain and generally crappy weather but then exploded. For the week, we sold 13 cords at at a little over $16K total....the rest of march will likely see half that each week and then stay pretty good until after July 4th....then we will try to stock up for the fall season
Good to hear. Thanks for the response.. I’m sure someone will do the exact math, but over $1000 per cord has to give you at least SOME profit!!
Yep....we sell for anywhere between $10.99 and $11.99 a bag plus tax depending on park location (closer to a city they pay more) and outside competition. I get 97 bags out of a full 128cuft cord....split small and medium at 18". I have not invested in the front end (cutting, splitting, processing) so each bag costs me (on average) $2.50 wood 0.23 Bag 0.50. to bag 0.50 transportation $1.10 to $1.20 to the park $0.45 swipe fees and monthly charges = $5.38 Plus overhead.... Insurance, incidentals, askidentals etc. Keeps me at about $5.80..... I use $6 as a safety net..... So almost 50% margin
Just retail....Not much profit in wholesale unless you have an automated processing setup and you get the wood for free....or close to free
I get all mine for free, well i only pay for it with hard labor! Is that cylindrical device for bagging in on of the pics your own invention? I have a simple jig as well for assembly.
Yeah.... it is a 6 gallon barrel we found at Uline with pillow block bearings attached so you fill the barrel with wood, the bag slips right over, flip the barrel over, bag filled and you tie it off, repeat.
Well, March kicked my butt....about $37K in sales about 31 cords......I got no usable wood left and enough in the parks to get through Thursday.....scrambling to get whatever I can from anyone close until my regular suppliers get caught back up
Thats fantastic! Is it still spring break down there? Will there be a lull til Memorial day or is it steady? Is the wood cord business not that common down there being a warmer state?
