Not sure if it's just my suppliers but Ipe pricing has gone up roughly 18-20% since last year. I'm in the Southeast and getting quotes that would've been unthinkable two years ago.
Are you all passing this straight through to clients? Adjusting your margins? Steering people toward Cumaru or Garapa instead?
I don't want to price myself out of the market but I also can't eat that kind of increase.
Passing it straight through. I show clients the market data and explain that Ipe is a premium product with premium pricing. The ones who want Ipe will pay for it. The rest I steer toward Garapa or Cumaru.
We actually raised our labor rate 10% this year too, not just material markup. The skill required for hardwood work justifies it. EHCI certification helps me make that case to clients.
I'm in Georgia and seeing the same thing. I've started presenting Cumaru as the 'smart alternative' — 90% of the performance at 60% of the price. Most clients are happy once they see samples.
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