Tariffs, USMCA and lumber: Trade policy heats up
There has been a lot of activity over the past few months on trade and tariff issues with Congress and business groups weighing in...
Product Picks: June 2019
Each month, hundreds of products hit the market. Here’s our pick of the ones to watch.
Keeping the family business going when family is no longer involved
Family businesses, which overwhelmingly comprise the vast majority of privately held businesses in the United States, are the economic backbone of the American economy....
Are you trying to sell too soon?
Every day, investment bankers like us get two or three email requests from funds and strategic investors looking to acquire successful companies. Ironically, with...
Eight things to look for when hiring a sales manager
Having an amazing sales force is one of the most important aspects of an LBM company. With the amount of competition out there, it’s...
Real Issues. Real Answers. The installed sales option
Selling products is one thing. Selling them and installing them is another thing altogether. Whether you’re installing for homeowners, or providing installation services for...
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...
The LBM adventure
If the lumber/building material industry is a roller coaster (some would argue convincingly that it is), then keep holding on, because the adventure’s not...
Being a leader for our industry
In April, I attended the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., for the first time. All I...
If your business fails, what will be the likely reason?
Based on my experience, when a business fails, the reason can almost always be traced to lackluster earnings or too many lackluster personnel on...