Timber merchants are business people who work in the lumber and timber industry, cultivating, preparing, and selling various types of lumber and timber. The merchant may specialize in a particular aspect of the timber industry, such as securing and selling reclaimed wood, or be more involved in timber harvesting and preparation before selling the product to a third party who distributes it to individual clients. In most cases, a successful timber merchant has a combination of experience, expertise, and formal training that allows them to deal with all aspects of the timber business.
For almost all timber merchants, understanding the science of forestry and forestry studies is a must. This is especially true if the merchant cultivates forest tracts for harvesting and replanting on a regular basis. The merchant will know how long it takes for new plantings to mature, what needs to be done to ensure proper care during the growth period, and how best to harvest the timber.
Timber merchants who own and operate their own growing tracts are more likely to own and operate facilities to prepare the harvested lumber for sale. While many people believe that the lumberjack’s job and the basic sawmill are no longer in use, both are very much alive and well in the world of timber. Lumberjacks are part of the crews that harvest and transport logs to mills, where they are shaped into planking and other shapes as specified in customer orders. The timber is shipped to retail outlets, buyers, or other third parties who broker the timber after it has been successfully prepared.
Timber merchants may also concentrate on acquiring high-quality planks and timber that can be salvaged from buildings that are about to be demolished. Typically, the merchant has specific requirements for the reclaimed wood. However, it is frequently possible to buy reclaimed lumber for a reasonable price and then resell it for a significant profit. The timber merchant does not have to deal with harvesting and preparing new timber in this scenario. Instead, any tasks associated with preparing reclaimed lumber for sale can be outsourced to a third party, who will then ship the lumber directly to buyers.
Timber merchants, like any other type of business, must follow local laws and regulations in order to operate. This could include obtaining the necessary business licenses, carrying the necessary insurance and bonding, and ensuring that the company’s financial records meet the standards set local and national authorities. If the merchant conducts business on an international scale, additional regulations may apply.