Rick Schumacher
Rick Schumacher is the editor and publisher of LBM Journal, and has more than 25 years experience covering the industry. Rick@LBMJournal.com
Real Issues. Real Answers. The boomer brain drain
It’s a fact that our industry has an aging workforce, and as our most senior team members retire, their experience and institutional knowledge retires...
Tough Call: The poaching problem
A big builder customer has poached two of your top people to work for him. What would you do?
Playing to win
There’s a reason that sports analogies are so common in business—they’re two sides of the same coin.
Epicor reports robust growth at 2019 LBM User Conference
Resiliency was the theme of opening remarks. The increasing frequency of weather-related disasters—especially hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires—have cost billions of dollars in government disaster aid.
Real Issues. Real Answers. Vendor reps on the route…again
This month's Real Issues survey question was suggested by a reader who is frustrated with purposeless visits by vendor reps.
Building connections
As I write this, LBM Strategies Conference 2019 is in the rearview mirror. Many of our industry’s leading thinkers—and doers—were there to share their stories, to learn from other industry pros, and to connect with others who do what they do.
Tough Call: Politics in the workplace
Your two top salespeople are passionate and vocal about their political beliefs, which is costing you customers. What would you do?
Tough Call: Enforcing a handshake agreement
After years of an exclusive with a product line you helped build on a handshake agreement, the vendor is now selling it to your biggest competitor. What would you do?
Winter is coming
It's true. Summer’s over, kids are back at school, and football season is underway, so yes, winter is coming.
Real Issues. Real Answers. Restocking fees
For years, many LBM companies charged restocking fees on returned material. Why not? It takes time to return products to inventory, and time is money.