Category : Bob Heidenreich
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
How Much Weight Can My Deck Hold?
What to look for when calculating deck load. As homeowners enter the summer months, many are looking into DIY projects that will allow them to upgrade their outdoor living space. … Read More
The Importance of Establishing Customer Expectations
Most anyone sho was trained in this business was taught at one point or another that, “the customer is always right.” Can’t you just hear it now, one of your … Read More