84 Lumber Announces Builder Marketing And Promotional Incentives As Part Of The We Build American Campaign

EIGHTY FOUR, Pa., March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the housing market continues to rebound, 84 Lumber announced that, as part of its We Build American program, the company will be offering a unique assortment of promotional and marketing assistance to builders who pledge to use American building materials and products wherever possible in new home construction.

Last week, it was announced that housing starts had risen at the second fastest pace since June 2008, and new home construction permits rose to a level not seen in 4 1/2 years. With residential construction booming, 84 Lumber believes it is important for builders of all sizes to understand the value of using American made and American sourced materials and products.

The We Build American campaign is built on actual builder experience that has shown that new homes can be built using up to 95% American-made or sourced products and material at a price that is within 1% of the cost of using foreign sourced products.

"We believe that if builders properly promote their homes as part of the We Build American campaign, it will provide a huge sales advantage in their community," said Jeff Nobers, Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations at 84 Lumber.  "And if builders across the nation would just pledge to raise the American-made content of their homes by just 5 – 10%, it would create jobs and opportunity for tens of thousands of Americans in local communities throughout the country."

Incentives for builders range from simple lawn signs for builders who pledge to increase their use of American-made building materials by 5 – 10%, to a range of signage and promotional materials for builder who pledge to reach a goal of using 95% American materials and products. 84 Lumber will also offer We Build American's "95 percenters" assistance in promoting their American built homes in local media in their region.

It is estimated that current American homes contain approximately 65% American-made and sourced products. With up to nearly 40% of the $295 billion American homebuilding industry relating to product costs, even a small percentage increase in American-made products could create hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide in the years to come. This is equally true for the home remodeling industry, where it is estimated approximately $67 billion is spent annually on building materials and supplies.

84 Lumber's initiative has been joined by more than 180 companies in more than 40 states who sell American-made building materials and products, as well as builders who have discovered that American-made homes can be cost-competitive with homes built using foreign lumber, nails, fasteners or other building materials and supplies such as adhesives and caulking.

You can find more information on the We Build American initiative, vendors who are participating, and builders' experiences using American-made products, at www.webuildamerican.com.

About 84 Lumber

Founded in 1956, 84 Lumber Company is the nation's leading privately held building materials and services supplier to professional contractors and build-it-yourselfers. The company owns and operates more than 250 stores, component plants, door shops, installation centers and engineered wood product shops in 30 states. With more than 3,600 associates 84 Lumber provides industry leading one-on-one service to every customer, ensuring an efficient and satisfying purchasing experience.

SOURCE 84 Lumber Company