Bob Heidenreich
Robert Heidenreich is a talented and creative deck designer and construction craftsman of more than 30 years. He is the founder and owner of several retail and construction businesses in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.
His thriving businesses include; The Deck & Door Company established in the 1980’s providing installation, of quality residential and commercial decks. Additionally, The Deck Store established in 1999, is an independently owned retail hardware and lumberyard focusing on professional quality decking materials and outdoor living environment products to consumers and local tradesman.
Robert’s companies and some of his professionally completed projects have been featured in numerous consumer publications including; The Family Handyman, Sunset Books, Deck Builder, Deck Contractor, HGTV “Sweat Equity” as well as various local publications.
Mr. Heidenreich is now in his third year as a nationally published columnist to one of the building material industries leading trade publications; LBM Journal, where he provides insightful business and construction management tips in a straightforward and encouraging monthly column geared to help retailers, builders and contractors improve their own businesses.
Robert has perfected the design/sales process with the development of his unique View, Proportion, and Focus concept. He also has an extensive knowledge of the residential building and sales process, its customers and the composite and treated materials used in the decking industry.
Some of his marquee accomplishments include creating custom deck displays and educating attendees at the 2007 International Builders Show, Tokyo, Japan. More recently, he created the largest real wood deck display using Eco-Life by Viance, and instructed at the Show Village School House for, at the 2009 International Builders Show, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Specialties: Robert has perfected the design/sales process with the development of his unique View, Proportion, and Focus concept. He also has an extensive knowledge of the residential building and sales process, its customers and the composite and treated materials used in the decking industry.
Latest Articles
Sales & Operations
A focus on e-commerce can strengthen your business during uncertain times
As lumberyards are adjusting to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are pivoting to online retail as a means of continuing to serve their local markets while practicing all of the safety guidelines established for essential service businesses.
Sales & Operations
How to staff your company for online sales
When I meet other lumberyard operators who know that I do a significant amount of my retail business over the internet, one of the first things they ask is how they can best hire the staff to get themselves set up for a similar operation.
Sales & Operations
Beginning tools for e-commerce
Many of us in the LBM industry are either former builders or are familiar enough with the building trades to know that you can’t build anything worthwhile without the proper tools.
Sales & Operations
Is online retail right for you?
While I have been writing a column for LBM Journal on decking for the past several years, this month’s column begins a new focus.
Selling the Deck Project
Beware of credit card disputes when selling online
Usually, there aren’t many problems when customers use credit cards. But, in this month’s column, I want to talk about credit card disputes.
Why I don’t offer store credit
One of the reasons I first founded The Deck Store years ago is because local lumberyards wanted me to use their in-house credit lines, and I preferred not to.
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Selling the Deck Project
How manufacturers and dealers can partner in online retail
I think our industry is missing out on an opportunity for manufacturers in online retail, with product pickup at independent lumberyards.
Selling the Deck Project
Customer agreements can prevent negative online reviews
As the retail experience continues to evolve, so do customer expectations.
Product release schedules cause problems for dealers
While dealers are on the front lines selling products, the manufacturers and distributors are not in the same season as we are.
Selling the Deck Project
Get creative when faced with inventory shortages
I think a lot of decking materials dealers saw it coming, at least here in the upper Midwest. The economic outlook, the housing and...
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