Material Takeoffs: Necessary Evil or Powerful Sales Tool?
Over recent years, the construction industry has evolved at a rapid pace. Projects have become much more complicated and technical. Thirty years ago, entire developments were shipped and built with very little thought into what materials would be required. Units of dimensional lumber and plywood were delivered and used as needed. There were very few […]
Inventory Management: A Game Changer for Hardware Retail
For lumberyards and hardware retailers, an effective inventory management system can transform their business. As a retailer that sells to professional contractors, as well as consumers, your customers depend on you for the right tools and equipment they need to get their work done. It’s your responsibility—and your opportunity—to meet these expectations efficiently. Inventory management […]
AI-Powered Personalization in Marketing
In the zip-paced world of marketing, one of the most transformative advancements of late has been the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance personalization strategies. AI-powered personalization in marketing represents a sea change in how brands engage with their audiences, offering tailored experiences that not only captivate consumers but also drive conversion rates and […]
Telematics: There’s More To It Than You Think!
When many of us think of employee safety, our minds shift toward incidents that occur in the workplace. It’s easy to forget that the main exposure for fatal incidents for workers does not occur at the workplace, but when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation […]
COLD CUTS: Taking Customers on a Window Plant Tour
Window manufacturers treat you right when you visit their plant. Ours had a unique “limo” for us! I’m not sure how it came to be this way, but it seems that if you sell a nation-wide brand of windows, tradition dictates that you will make pilgrimages to their manufacturing plant with a group of builders. […]
What Color Do You See? Harnessing the Power of a Diverse Palette of Perspectives
On the topic surrounding business leadership, success often hinges on one’s ability to navigate through myriad perspectives, much like interpreting colors in a diverse palette. In this article, I discuss the subject of perception and color and how they can be seamlessly applied to everyday business collaboration, where embracing varied viewpoints is not just beneficial […]
Winter Worries: Keep Your Business Safe from Snow, Wind, and Hail
Winter weather is here, and while lumber businesses may be looking forward to a temporary reprieve from hurricane season, weather events in cold climates can be similarly threatening. This past winter, we saw a sizeable increase in wind, hail, and storm damage to businesses across the industry. As we work through another winter season, we […]
Implementing the Air Raid Offense for Sales with Bradley Hartmann
On Thursday, Dec. 7, LBM Expo attendees gathered for breakfast with Bradley Hartmann to hear an engaging, interactive presentation about how making three small practical changes to your sales leadership can drive new sales regardless of market conditions. Hartmann started by providing a historical perspective, highlighting the first football game, which took place in 1869 […]
THE BOMB SQUAD: “How Do Savvy Managers React When Sales People Aren’t Having a Nice Day?”
It’s a manager’s job to pick up on the ‘subtle hints’ salespeople drop when they’re upset, and Jim was clearly feeling troubled. “Do I have the word “sap’ tattooed on my forehead?” he exploded as he marched unannounced into my office. Getting back into the groove after a vacation is never easy, but Jim was […]
How to Keep Your Gen-X Employees
In a Harvard Business Review article, right before the pandemic unleashed workforce upheaval, the director of the Center for Analytics and Behavioral Research (CABER) at leadership consulting firm DDI wrote that 66% of Gen X leaders had received only one promotion or none in the previous five years. The author said the findings were surprising, […]