In the Woods

ESOP to Benefit Employees

March 26, 2008

In The Woods. Initiates ESOP to Benefit Employees and Customers

Employees now own 49% of Americas Log Home Company

Rachel Wells
919 Marketing Company
Strategic Marketing & PR Services
919.557.7890
919.557.0041 Fax
rwells@919marketing.com
www.919marketing.com

Rocky Mount, NC — In The Woods., one of the nation’s top companies providing affordable, custom log home packages to consumers across the U.S. and abroad, today announced that it is now employee owned. Called an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), the program involves the selling of 49% of the company, via shares of stock, to its employees, as part of their retirement benefits. The ESOP became effective at the beginning of the year.

“The ESOP conveys a greater stake in our growth to each employee. Everyone’s work and innovative ideas contribute to their own equity in the company,” commented John Barth, President and CEO of In The Woods “Furthermore, accrual of wealth through an ESOP is tangible evidence that employees are successful, and therefore satisfied, in their work. Employees gain a sense of ownership and personal accountability. If worker-owners perform extraordinarily well, company performance is more likely to be extraordinary, and that translates into high stock value for the employees,” Barth added.

In The Woods built its solid reputation by providing a high level of customer support and service, along with superior log home products. The establishment of the ESOP lets employees expand upon that by allowing them to take true ownership of their positions. Barth says “The employees’ jobs are part of an investment in their future, and that’s reflected in their communications with customers who benefit from increased incentive for employees to provide the best possible service. The ESOP truly represents the spirit behind our company.”

Another customer benefit resulting from the ESOP is that it sets up a succession plan for the organization. Many of today’s large, multi-national corporations become larger by acquiring small companies. Plants are often closed, and production is moved offshore. The knowledge and talent of those employees is lost as they find jobs in other industries. In The Woods wanted to avoid that possibility and at the same time, ensure continued success for the company, and its employees.

With over 5,000 customers across the U.S. and abroad, and a strong award winning product line of beautiful, durable and energy-efficient, hand-crafted custom log homes, In The Woods is clearly positioned to meet the unique lifestyle and tastes of each individual customer.

For employees, the ESOP represents an expansion of their current retirement program, which already includes optional 401(k) plans. They will now be rewarded with ESOP retirement benefits as a direct result of their on-the-job efforts.

About In The Woods:
In The Woods, “America's Log Home Company,” has been producing quality log home packages since 1982 for customers in both the USA and abroad. As an industry leader, In The Woods has acquired a 94% customer satisfaction rating and to date, they have sold over 5,000 log homes. They have sales centers in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and New York. In The Woods is the parent company behind their national signature product line, In The Woods, a brand of log home packages for the residential and commercial markets. In The Woods. is headquartered right outside of Rocky Mount in Battleboro, NC. For more information, please visit: www.In The Woods.com.

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