Indianapolis -- A number of innovations, events and product deals helped draw thousands of member-owners to the 2013 Do it Best May Market. 

“From the strong member response at the Sneak Peek, to the solid attendance at our many seminars and training events and continuing out to the bustle on the market floor, we’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm among our members this weekend,” said Do it Best Corp. President and CEO Bob Taylor.

The Rhode Island Builders Association and Builders Helping Heroes in partnership with Homes for Our Troops are planning a May 18 groundbreaking for the home of an injured veteran.

The specially adapted-home project for Corporal Kevin Dubois will break ground in Burrillville, R.I.

The event is requesting community support for volunteers, tents, tables, chairs, podium and sound system, according to Doreen Lewis, community outreach coordinator. She can be reached at dlewis@homesforourtroops.org.

For stock market advice, I always turn to my dad. He's not a stockbroker. But he has watched almost every episode of "Wall Street Week" since the mid-1970s. Now that he's retired, he sometimes watches the same episode of "Mad Money" twice in the same day. (The hands-down superiority of Louis Rukeyser over Jim Cramer will be discussed in a future editorial.)

Here's what my dad said about newly public Boise Cascade: "I like companies with tangible products — like building materials."

Technology provider to the residential construction community HomeSphere Inc. announced a partnership with Lebhar-Friedman’s soon-to-launch digital magazine Residential Building Products and Technology.

By Brad Farnsworth 

A recent study conducted by The Farnsworth Group, research and insight specialists for the building material and home improvement industries, found roughly 50% of builders and remodelers purchasing products online.

Two federal agencies have teamed up with the Ad Council to launch the third and final phase of the Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Public Service Advertising (PSA) campaign. Both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will promote the Making Home Affordable Program for homeowners who face foreclosure.

Dallas-based Builders FirstSource unveiled its new company web site, at www.bldr.com.

Among the improvements are an “improved end-user experience,” along with location-specific information on products and services. 

“The new website will provide an enhanced user experience and will give our customers much better information about our locations and the products and services we offer,” said Morris Tolly, Builders FirstSource senior VP of operations. 

Wayne, Pa.-based Lumbermens Merchandising Corp. (LMC) launched a new Billion Dollar Buying Power branding strategy, highlighting the collective purchasing power of LMC Dealers. 

Weyerhaeuser has added the capability to manufacture specialty oriented strand board (OSB) using high-performance MDI adhesives at its OSB plant in Arcadia, La. The mill can now produce Weyerhaeuser Edge Gold floor panels, a subfloor product designed to resist edge swell for smooth, even floors. The MDI capabilities also enable potential production of furniture grade OSB and rimboard. 

On Jan. 13, 1975, National Home Center News published its very first issue, which was described on the masthead as “A newspaper for retailers serving homeowners and contractors.”

Competing for attention on page one were a handful of stories of varying degrees of historical value — from the activities of 84 Lumber’s most recent corporate Christmas party (logrolling, tobacco spitting) to a profile of Dart Home Center’s help-yourself warehouse approach in Charlottesville, Va.