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rkang
Registered Users
Posts:17
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| 06/27/2001 10:28 AM |
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Hey folks,
This is Rick over at BuildCentral.
Recently, a company called BuildNet announced they were being sold for ~$30 MM. (For the full article, http://www.builderonline.com/frmArtFront/0,1071,'1~2~2~3627~1',00.html) This might not sound too bad, but when you consider that BuildNet was considered the leader in the ecommerce space for the residential construction industry, received ~$140 MM in capital and was seeking valuations near $2-$3 BILLION about a year ago for its IPO... this is stuff worth noting.
What I remember about BuildNet is that these guys had a pretty complex product/service. I sat through their presentation at the NAHB show, which seemed like nothing but spreadsheet after spreadsheet, and came out confused. I think most others did as well.
We all know that technology and the Internet can benefit our business. Not some time in the distant future, but NOW. What we’d like to know from you are:
1)What tools or web sites are you using?
2)How are you using it?
3)What would you like to see from ICFweb.com? (Have we confused you as well with our services?)
We are targeting the area of training/education and a service that connects ICF buyers with qualified ICF installers. What are your thoughts in this area?
Lastly, thank you for your continued support. Like all “Internet” companies, we have had our ups and downs in the past year, but we’re looking forward to a bright future. Always feel free to drop me a line at rkang@buildcentral.com
Rick |
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markross
Registered Users
Posts:1035
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| 06/27/2001 11:21 AM |
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Rick:
In reference to the ICF training, you may want to give Rick Stacey a call, Formtech is making great strides in this area, and are supporting the whole industry, I have also been in touch with Reward Walls, a Mr. John Moyland, and they are again, supportive of the industry as a whole, and are willing to work with the industry.
I am sure you will find both of these companies quite approachable. We are working with them here, and train using thier blocks and installation techniques, and have been very impressed with thier support.
Mark Ross
"Le Canuck" |
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enermizermuskoka
Registered Users
Posts:272
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| 06/28/2001 11:01 AM |
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Good-day to all. Yes Rick- the Buildnet thing is Quite the "basket weave"with their
operation's. -Only have to raise 30 million
in a month?Easy,right. It's even difficult
to see what is owned between what is owed.
I try my best at your questions. First off
- Is there ANY OTHER SITE like this? Not really. I guess you could add other services
such as perhaps, a estimation type calculator
for concrete volume, turning a persons plan
dimensions ( 20' x 30' etc.)into lineal footage & wall total Sq.ft, or something like
that. But let me remind you that buying the
various system programs costs big dough, not
to forget that Systems Analyst's earnings are
pretty darn good as well. It all depends on
the extent of extrapolation on the services you wish to offer. Sorry, all that doesn't
seem to help much-does it? I think you all
are doing a fine job over there, and the growth is surely happening. One day at a time my friend, Take-care. Sincerely,C.Kerr |
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markross
Registered Users
Posts:1035
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| 06/28/2001 1:33 PM |
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Chris:
There are systems out there for this. We are working on one for the industry, via a programmer out west, and it is due late fall.
Mark Ross
"Le Canuck" |
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enermizermuskoka
Registered Users
Posts:272
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| 06/29/2001 7:08 PM |
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Right on Sir Markus, I have a homemade type
thing I use. Can you tell me if yours will
spit out the Gross cubic square centimeters
of a wall or the estimated volume of concrete
required in cubic meters? Or are you buying
batches by the yard? All I was saying is it
may be easier to provide a link to someplace
already using, rather than incurring the expense of building and supporting a new one.
Happy Canada Day my Friend! have a great weekend. Take-care. Sincerely, C.Kerr
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markross
Registered Users
Posts:1035
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| 06/30/2001 6:38 PM |
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Actually it takes it off to the last screw, nail, brace, pail of stucco, peel and stick roll, reinforcing steel, lineal feet of bucking, pump rental, labour, concrete, even the shipping and enerfoam cans.
Mark Ross
"Le Canuck" |
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enermizermuskoka
Registered Users
Posts:272
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| 06/30/2001 9:15 PM |
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Mark-and how did I know you were gon'na say
that? Take-care my friend,Sincerely. C.Kerr
P.S. Hat's off to ya',Keep it up! |
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markross
Registered Users
Posts:1035
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| 07/08/2001 1:42 PM |
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Chris:
do you have a copy of the excell programming for all the job costing from us yet?
Mark Ross
"Le Canuck" |
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enermizermuskoka
Registered Users
Posts:272
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| 07/09/2001 10:40 AM |
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Good-day Sir Markuss, I do hope all is well with you & yours. Too answer your question- no
-What I have is the access program named Demo 6124, basically a spread sheet with the U.S.prices listed. It doesn't do anything for
me, But thanks anyhow. Mark my friend, may I ask if your in Ohio? It seems I may be there
soon, So I wouldn't mind dropping by to say
hello to you & Nick. Take-care, have a great
day! Sincerely, C.Kerr
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markross
Registered Users
Posts:1035
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| 07/09/2001 11:23 PM |
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Chris:
Heck no, Stop in. I have something quite interesting to show you. We are building a bit of a unique building, which I think you will be able to appreciate. I will also give you a copy of the estimating software, complete with the Amvic block take offs, and show you how to use it. I believe you have the numbers here, if not, 1-513-732-1010.
Mark Ross
"Le Canuck" |
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enermizermuskoka
Registered Users
Posts:272
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| 07/10/2001 5:45 AM |
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Thank's my friend, I look forward too it.
Have a great day. Take-care, Sincerely.
C.Kerr
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rkang
Registered Users
Posts:17
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| 08/09/2001 9:48 AM |
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Below is an update on my original post. On a more brigher note, we're in the middle of doing two things to better serve the ICF industry. One is a revision of this web site. We know when we goofed, so we're revising the site to make navigation and our services more user-friendly. The second is an a monthly trade publications (newsletter) titled the ICF Monitor. The premier edition will be distributed along with the 9/15th issue of PBF magazine. More information will be included in the new site which should go up pretty soon.
RK
---------------------
BuildNet Files Ch. 11 to Settle $50M to $100M Debt
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- BuildNet, a
provider of online business software, technology,
and management tools to the homebuilding sector,
filed for Ch.11 bankruptcy at the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
on Wednesday. Earlier this week VentureWire reported
that the company was considering either Chapter
7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The company said it filed after a $35-million
acquisition bid from HomeSphere, a Golden, Colo.-based
provider of homebuilding products and services,
fell through due to BuildNet's inability to settle
its debt.
BuildNet's filing includes its six subsidiaries
-- FAST Management Group, BuildNet Corp, Contractors
Software Group, Rim Data Systems, BuildNet Financial,
and Unilink -- and is expected to be resolved in
roughly 30 days. The debt in question ranges between
$50 million and $100 million, based on equity BuildNet
issued during acquisitions.
BuildNet's wholly owned subsidiary NxTrend,
a provider of supply-chain management software,
is not included in the filing.
BuildNet has raised approximately $140 million
from BancBoston Capital, Barnard & Co., Encore Venture
Partners, GE Capital, Global Technology Investors
Fund, Halifax BUILDNET Investors, J. & W. Seligman,
John Hancock Global Technology Fund, Piedmont Venture
Partners, SG Capital Partners, Societe Generale
Group, Southeast Interactive Technology Funds, and
The CIT Group. |
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markross
Registered Users
Posts:1035
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| 08/09/2001 6:07 PM |
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Rick:
Please clarify:
I do not understand how this is to help buyers connect with installers. (not being malicious, just confused)
Mark Ross
"Le Canuck" |
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rkang
Registered Users
Posts:17
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| 08/09/2001 11:12 PM |
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Mark,
I'll try to clarify. The launch of the ICF Monitor reflects our focus on providing education services to the ICF industry. Although there are several pubs that touch on the area of concrete residential construction, there does not exist an autoritative/timely publication that provides information to the people of the ICF industry. ICFweb.com is probably the closest to it, but it lack the focus on content that a publication requires. Some might suggest that a publication of a newsletter is a step backward from what the Internet is supposed to be about. There are two reasons:
1) Majority of the people in the industry still do not use the Internet
2) There are some inherent distribution advantages of a publication(you can take it to the job site and read it on your break)
This is the first of many steps that we will be taking to provide education services to the industry. Down the line, as you see us rolling our additional services, your question about how this relates to matching ICF installers and buyers will be revealed. It takes a while for a company to firmly establish a presence in a market, and we're here for the long-term.
RK |
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icfdesign
Registered Users
Posts:195
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| 08/09/2001 11:57 PM |
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How in the world can these Internet Companies "take" 30-50 million dollars
(thats US dollars to those of you in loma linda) from investors and spend it like they have done, and not be in "lockup" somewhere in a Federal Prison? It amazes me and many others how in the world these CEO/CFO's get away with "taking" this kind of money and squandering it away, with little more than nothing to show for it?
When the internet started to "boom", everyone thought it was the "new economy" and a wash with "profits for all".
Seems to me, a thirty to fifty million dollar boonswagel should put many of weary investors into the catagory of VICTIMS, not investors....
Imagine this happening in the eighties, I think maybe it might make Ivan Boskey look like a poster child, wow, these idiots were "ballzy" and got away with "taking" millions.
If I was an investor, I'd want to see how in the hell these folks spent the millions, and asking a hell of alot of questions!
Fifty million bucks is not anything to sneeze at, I wonder how many have "running noses" if ya know what I mean????
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markross
Registered Users
Posts:1035
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| 08/10/2001 8:58 PM |
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quote:
Mark,
I'll try to clarify. The launch of the ICF Monitor reflects our focus on providing education services to the ICF industry. Although there are several pubs that touch on the area of concrete residential construction, there does not exist an autoritative/timely publication that provides information to the people of the ICF industry. ICFweb.com is probably the closest to it, but it lack the focus on content that a publication requires. Some might suggest that a publication of a newsletter is a step backward from what the Internet is supposed to be about. There are two reasons:
1) Majority of the people in the industry still do not use the Internet
2) There are some inherent distribution advantages of a publication(you can take it to the job site and read it on your break)
This is the first of many steps that we will be taking to provide education services to the industry. Down the line, as you see us rolling our additional services, your question about how this relates to matching ICF installers and buyers will be revealed. It takes a while for a company to firmly establish a presence in a market, and we're here for the long-term.
RK
Rick, I am still confused, are you planning on sending the Buyers the newsletters? Is it tailored to the buyer, or the contractor? Sorry but I do not see how it will work that well. Should ICFweb not be trying to develope a publication such as "concrete homes" however tailored to "ICF homes"? The finished benifits and project photos are what the buyers are looking at, unless you mean the development, engineering and architectural organizations.
Mark Ross
"Le Canuck" |
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