Supplying Timber Issue 9 0 - Autumn 2025 - Flipbook - Page 39
———— MEMBER PROFILE ————
↓
Image: © Timber
Connection. Timber
Connection has
global relationships
that span from
North America and
Europe to Africa and
Southeast Asia.
Educating the industry
While softwoods dominate UK
imports, Timber Connection is
keen to champion the potential
that hardwoods o昀昀er. The
company's work is as much
about education as it is about
timber supply.
Keeley is passionate about
helping architects and designers
understand how speci昀椀cations
can a昀昀ect both price and
feasibility.
“Architects sometimes specify
hardwood dimensions and
length speci昀椀cations that are
increasingly challenging. They
don't realise that if they tweak
the spec – say, by accepting
narrower and or shorter boards
– they can cut costs by 20/30%
without sacri昀椀cing aesthetics.”
This is particularly true for
hardwoods like Black Walnut,
which Keeley calls “the jewel
in the crown of hardwoods”
but is also one of the most
misunderstood species.
“Grades and regional
variations aren’t widely
understood, even among
seasoned buyers. That’s why
education is so important –
both for customers and the
wider industry.”
Tackling timber challenges
The timber industry has faced a
whirlwind of challenges in recent
years: freight cost volatility,
container shortages, and
geopolitical disruptions.
“Freight is a huge factor,”
Keeley says. “If you buy timber
today, by the time it’s ready
to ship, container rates could
have doubled or halved. That
uncertainty has pushed buyers
toward more predictable
species and sources, but it
also creates opportunities for
SUPPLYING TIMBER
39
AUTUMN 2025
those willing to navigate the
challenges.”
Timber Connection’s global
relationships and vast
stockholding – from North
America and Europe to Africa
and the Far East – can help to
bu昀昀er industry challenges.
“Our connections allow
us to pivot quickly,” Keeley
says. “We can source from
di昀昀erent regions, negotiate
advantageous terms, and keep
stock 昀氀owing even when others
are struggling.”
Quiet ambition
For all its expertise and reach,
Timber Connection remains
refreshingly understated.
“We’ve always been humble,”
Keeley continues. “We’re not
shouting that we’re the biggest
or the best. But we’re serious
players: we’re solid, reliable, and
looking to the future.”
From Timber Connection’s
busy Liverpool warehouse, raw
timber becomes award-winning
furniture and architectural
features. “We’re the invisible link
in the supply chain,” Keeley says.
“No one admires a hardwood
sculpture and thinks about the
wholesaler who imported the
timber. But without us those
projects wouldn’t exist."
Keeley concludes: “We want
to share our knowledge. We
want people to understand why
hardwoods matter, how the right
speci昀椀cations can save money,
and why timber is the ultimate
sustainable material.
"We want customers to know
we’re here for the long haul:
growing our stockholding,
expanding our connections and
investing in our team. That’s
what our customers deserve,
and what we’ll keep delivering.”
www.timberconnection.co.uk
STOCKING TIMBER
the Timber Connection team.
“Sometimes we forget that what
we know has real value, and
customers value that expertise.”
