Decking Insights from Midwest Fastener
The team at Midwest Fastener, the Kalamazoo, Mich.-based company that distributes its products coast-to-coast and beyond, has surveyed the field, felt the pulse of the industry, and recognized an unambiguous conclusion about the market.
That conclusion: Value reigned in 2023. Value will continue to reign in 2024.
“That’s been the big one,” said Nick Thies, category manager for construction fasteners and a 12-year veteran of Midwest Fastener. “That story hasn’t changed very much for us since about a year ago.”
That’s when Midwest Fastener launched its BuildRight Contractor Pack line of deck screws – promoted as a screw that has everything a deck builder needs, and nothing he doesn’t.
“The market really seemed to demand value,” Thies said. “They just wanted more, and we were able to give that to them. And we've seen that line really take off in 13 months, and we’re continuing to watch that trend.”
And while value is often in the eye of the beholder, Midwest Fastener is finding ways to deliver on multiple fronts.
“There is a real demand on the job site for products that bring the same level of performance, but offer much more efficient installation,” Thies said. “That's been an interesting trend to watch, and will continue to be.”
The decking business is a “crucial, really important” part of Midwest Fastener. And Thies explains here how the company plans to increase its market share in the decking business heading into the heart of the 2024 deck season.
“So, taking our structural line, which would be our SaberDrive Platinum brand, tying that into our deck screw line.. Because very often those go together when you're remodeling your deck, you need some structural fasteners to fasten your ledger board. You need to put your multi-ply beams together with something.
“So bringing those products together that have kind of lived side by side for a while, tie them into a sort of packaged solution for the dealer and —through the dealer — for the end user. That’s been a real focus."
Midwest is also bringing new products into the mix. The company expanded its 316 stainless deck screw line – a line that performs well in tough, coastal areas. “It’s great for saltwater environments, and it has maximum corrosion resistance,” he said. The line expansion is expected to bolster its already robust corrosion-resistance offering as extreme weather plays out in increased frequency.
“We're definitely your holistic fastener solution, I would say for a deck or really for any other project," Thies said. "That's definitely the message that we're trying to get across coming into show season this year.”
