Real Issues. Real Answers. Training Programs
Conversations about employee training raise all kinds of questions: “What if we train them and they leave?” “What if we don’t and they stay?”...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Contractor Discounts
Offering purchase discounts to pro customers is an accepted, long-standing strategy that many lumberyards use to encourage loyalty from pro customers. But given the...
Real Issues. Real Answers. margins vs. market share
Today’s strong housing and remodeling markets are a golden opportunity for all companies in the residential construction business. When a company decides to grow...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Cell phones at work
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend has definitely reached the LBM world. With the vast majority of Americans owning cell phones (95%, according...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Sharing financial information
Should we or shouldn’t we? That is one of the questions companies wrestle with when determining what financial information—if any—to share with employees. On...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Sexual harassment policies
Today’s headlines are dominated by allegations of sexual harassment, often reaching the highest levels of government and business. Companies across all industries are taking...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Managing business peaks and valleys
The old saw, “You got to dance with them what brung you,” is a nice sentiment, but how valid is it in our business?...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Attracting, hiring and keeping quality people
Staffing our companies with quality people has become one of the most serious challenges facing many LBM dealers. Whether that’s due to the mass...
Real Issues. Real Answers. Smart Bonus Plans
In an industry where many companies are struggling to attract and hire quality candidates, the first order of business should be making sure the...
Real Issues. Real Answers: Material Takeoffs: Good or Bad?
At what point does a value-added service effectively work against us? One prime example is material takeoffs, which most LBM dealers provide to their...