Guitar wood supplier predicts sound future

Tasmanian tonewood merchant Robert MacMillan has been in the media lately telling a good news story about the forest industry – a very rare thing these days. His business is on the verge of great things, attracting high-profile international customers such as Fender, Martin and others who as yet don’t want to be named. In the music industry these names are iconic. And they are beating a quiet path to Tasmania.

The question is do we want their business and how do we develop a profitable long-term relationship, because we are not just talking about Bobs tonewood business here. This story has the potential to benefit hundreds of landowners, transport operators, etc. Does Tasmania want to develop an iconic industry growing sustainable, profitable premium tonewoods to supply international markets?

The timber that these companies want the most is blackwood. There is a lot of blackwood growing on private land in Tasmania that could and is supplying the tonewood market. That’s where Bob gets his wood. But most of it is unmanaged farm trees, and if we are to get this industry on a sustainable basis we need to put focus and effort into teaching farmers how to grow and manage blackwood. Bob is covering the timber harvesting and sales, but no one is covering the farmer training, support, (re)planting, and management.

Blackwood is not an easy tree to grow for wood production as many farmers who have attempted it have discovered. It requires knowledge and a dedicated focus and commitment. A growers coop is the best way to achieve this.

Bob is doing a great job building his business and attracting these major customers. But more is needed to ensure the ongoing sustainable supply of these tonewoods to the market.

So what needs to happen? Here’s my thoughts:

1. Promotion. Some of these guitar companies just want to do business without things getting too complicated. Others have been here before and had bad experiences, and so are cautious in re-establishing relationships. Some of these companies are actively involved in where and how they obtain their timber. But without profile and promotion this opportunity won’t last.

2. Money talks! I’ve spoken to Bob a few times about this. Farmers are used to understanding the commercial profile and value of the things they grow and sell, be it carrots, sheep, apples or milk. But few farmers are fluent in the language of trees, logs and timber (one of the great failures of the forest industry in my opinion). Each tree contains a range of logs of different size, quality and price (including firewood and just plain waste wood). This information needs to be more widely known so farmers can begin to understand the commercial value and potential in growing timber. Bob has this information and needs to appreciate how it can work for his benefit if it is more widely shared.

3. TFA Bill 2012. The Legislative Council needs to pass the TFA Bill 2012 so we can get Federal money and help fund the blackwood growers coop.

4. Cooperative. Get the Blackwood Growers Cooperative funded and up and running. Get farmers better informed and interested in their blackwood, how to better manage it and grow more.

This is a fantastic commercial opportunity just waiting to be fully developed based on a Tasmanian icon. A high value, quality-based niche industry that suites Tasmania perfectly. Many of the people and processes are already in place but it is not yet the full business model. The forest industry is not just about selling trees and timber; it is about profitably growing them as well.

Gordon Bradbury
www.blackwoodgrowers.com.au

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-05/guitar-wood-supplier-sees-sustainable-future/4500696?section=tas