Category : Bob Heidenreich
Educate customers on the cost of treated lumber
I want to talk about something that happens at our store all the time, and I bet it happens at yours too. It plays out like this: A customer calls … Read More
Lighting and stairs training for deck contractors
Last year around this time, I wrote about how The Deck Store hosts a Contractor College each spring before the deck season. It’s an opportunity for us to spend a … Read More
Have contracts in place when selling installed decks
If you’re a retailer who is thinking of going into the installed sales side of decks, there are really two ways you can do it. You can hire your own … Read More
Train your customers for deck season
Over the winter months, you’ve no doubt spent a significant amount of time determining which decking products your lumberyard will carry. You’ve reviewed your vendors and you’ve gotten rid of … Read More
Exclusivity and buybacks are keys to winter buy deals
As dealers are working on winter buys, it’s important to keep in mind that the lowest price from a manufacturer doesn’t always equal the highest profit potential for your lumberyard. … Read More
Winter is a good time for vendor reviews
It seems that the only time you notice major issues with a vendor is when you’re just too busy to deal with it. That’s why I recommend taking some time … Read More
How national trade shows grow your business
I think that too often LBM dealers get comfortable in their own region and miss out on trade shows that are outside of their local market. Some of the best … Read More
Five steps to start selling online
At the LBM Strategies Conference last month, I sat on a panel discussion centered around e-commerce and how lumber dealers can get started selling online. Since then, I’ve fielded a … Read More
The most important rule of selling composite decking
If you’re anything like me, for a lot of things in life, you tackle a project head on right away and if all else fails, you read the instructions. This … Read More
How to Protect Your Business From Credit Card Fraud
One recurring theme I hear when lumber dealers ask me about getting into the online retail business is how to deal with credit card fraud. Due to recent changes in … Read More
