At the start of the year, I sold a 2'x6' wire rack at the Carter Lumber Show to the new T50 Carter Lumber in Athens. The PO totaled roughly $3,000 and included VersaLOK, MVP, FrameFAST, NLB, and DFC, adding 12 new SKUs. Although the Carter show isn’t traditionally a buying event, I had been developing this opportunity since last year’s show, where I first connected with James. This year, I was able to convert that relationship into a new stocking dealer and T50 yard.

Built on my success at Carter Lumber Warren from last year. Jeff was considering MVP to replace his GRK R4 inventory, so I pitched a rolling wire rack featuring MVP, VersaLOK, FlatLOK, TimberLOK, and DFC. The order, submitted through PD, totaled $5,313 and added 24 SKUs while replacing the R4 inventory with MVP. The PO also included FrameFAST and additional LedgerLOK and HeadLOK SKUs. Over two years, I grew Carter Warren from 0' of space in 2023, to 4' in 2024, and now an 8' full stocking dealer in 2025.

Held a training session at Hartville Hardware with Palmer Donavin, generating strong interest in FrameFAST and DFC—key targets I had been pursuing at the yard. After the session, my rep Chris Dunn and I pitched Cody on adding a rolling rack upstairs for a few SKUs. Not only did we get approval, but we also landed a PO for FrameFAST and four masters of DFC, along with a LedgerLOK, HeadLOK, and TimberLOK wire rack for upstairs customers. This was my best training of the year and showcased the value of collaborating closely with distribution reps to drive sales.

Completed a standout reset at the Hartville Hardware flagship store in Middlefield, a T3 account. After extensive planning and persistence, I expanded our space to 16', securing a DFC stocking position for the first time. The new-store order totaled approximately $17,000. The signage on the reset highlights our partnership with TimberTech and Hartville’s commitment to Cortex, reinforcing our role as a key partner for the lumberyard for years to come.

Facilitated a buy-back deal with Palmer Donavin and Ambridge Lumber to remove all Starborn and Trex plug inventory in exchange for Trex Cortex and TrapEase3 stocking positions. Ambridge had approximately $3,500 of Trex plug inventory brought in at the start of the year. The conversion resulted in an $8,000 PO for Trex Collated Cortex, TrapEase3, and TrapEase Fascia, resulting in 26 SKUs added.

Completed a long-overdue reset at Lodi Lumber, a long-standing FastenMaster partner that had never previously received a full reset from any rep. Expanded the set to 6', delivering a cleaner, more impactful layout for both staff and customers. The reset secured new TT Cortex Fascia, Prime+ Collated Cortex, and NLB stocking positions, further strengthening and demonstrating our commitment to the partnership at Lodi Lumber.

Held an impact event at YBC State College and left with a greenlight for a 20' reset at their #1 yard. The reset secured new DFC, FrameFAST, and Collated Cortex stocking positions, giving us both sides of a full aisle and making us the only structural and decking screw in the yard. Following the reset, we added YBC State College to the T50, further strengthening our presence and relationship with YBC in Central PA.

I was invited to film a YBC “What’s New” video, showcasing DFC, HeadLOK 2.0, FrameFAST, and Pam Cortex. This was a prime opportunity to introduce our new products to all 20 YBC stores across Pennsylvania, with the video played on a continuous loop in every location. I received the company’s first-ever PamFAST Cortex (FM-branded) PO—less than 24 hours after the announcement—showing instant buy-in and excitement from YBC.