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
Tough Call: When different isn’t better
The new manager's new ways are creating conflict and hurting your store's performance. What would you do?
As the owner of a four-location LBM dealer,...
Tough Call: The case of the non-effective employee
A long-time employee's performance declines as the years go on. What would you do?
When you took over as general manager of your company three...
Real Issues. Real Answers: Transitioning to a new ERP/business software
Knowledge is power. That’s especially true in the wildly competitive LBM distribution market, where accurate, up-to-date insights into sales, margins, deliveries, inventory positions and...
Winding down and ramping up
By virtually all accounts, 2018 has been a solid year for most companies in the construction supply industry. I’ve talked with many dealers who’ve...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Advertising: what works best?
Some things never change. Like the need to attract customers, grow our sales and build our brands. That straight-forward business challenge has grown much...
Editor’s Note: Hearing voices
Just back in the office after the LBM Strategies Conference 2018, there is so much that I want to share—but I’ve managed to pare...
Tough Call: Fighting over clients
As your company adds outside salespeople, there’s more conflict over customers. What would you do?
As you’ve learned from running an independent building material company,...
Editor’s Note: Never stop learning
A lot has changed since I joined this industry back in 1990. Back then, it was estimated that there were more than 6,000 separate...
Tough Call: The wooden ceiling
A longtime builder customer switched suppliers when the daughter took over the family lumberyard.
Speaking from experience, you know that there are worse things than...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Fair profit vs. price gouging
As in any business that sells a product or service at a profit, even one known for delivering razor-thin margins, the question of what...