My experience growing a real world, brick and mortar business

[BukNaked36]

Good read that brings up lotsa questions.

With the low barriers to entry, don't you think of starting your own company?

How much of an impact has the China product had on your market?

What percent of your sales currently come from China product?

You've already stated the low barrier to entry, but doesn't the China product make this even worse?

How have China's long lead times affected your turns and business in general?

Do you have any info. on how fast China is burning through their wood supply? Are they in any danger of shortage within the next 3,5,10 years?

How can you maintain 10 turns when it sounds like you are filling orders on very short lead times? Don't you have to have substantial inventory to respond?

Can you tell, I'm interested in the China product? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I am in a wood related business. Relationships with mills, and machining equipment used to be important. Chinese wood has changed this. Now anyone can buy completely machined, and packaged wood products and compete as long as they have some volume to work with.