The Evolution of Red Book Lumber Data

The origins of Red Book Lumber Data trace back to a pivotal moment in the lumber and building materials industry. In 2007, the long-standing Lumbermen’s Red Book—the trusted directory and credit resource for generations of lumber professionals—shut down, leaving a critical gap in the marketplace. Without it, many in the industry lost a key source for evaluating credit risk, assessing business partners, and accessing reliable company listings.

Recognizing this need, the North American Wholesale Lumber Association ("NAWLA") and other industry leaders approached Blue Book Services, a company with over a century of experience providing credit and business information in the fresh produce and related markets. Rising to the challenge, Blue Book extended its expertise into the lumber and forest products sector.

In 2009, Lumber Blue Book officially launched, quickly gaining traction. Within the first few months, more than 10,000 companies were listed in the database, and the platform rapidly became the go-to resource for industry professionals. Over time, it grew to include more than 22,000 North American lumber companies, offering real-time data, credit ratings and scores, business reports, and tools to help members identify trustworthy partners, suppliers, and buyers.

What began as an effort to fill a void has since evolved into an indispensable platform for the lumber and building materials industry. Now operating as Red Book Lumber Data under 526 Media Group, Inc., the service continues its mission of delivering accurate, timely, and actionable business intelligence—supporting connections, building trust, and driving growth across the industry.