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.
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.
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.
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...
Build customer loyalty through in-store classes
As building material retailers, we spend a good part of our winter and early spring making sure our employees are up to speed on...
Make sure your deck components and accessories are quality-compatible
In the previous months' columns, we’ve talked about getting all of our inventory organized, and the planning of the new decking season that most...
Preseason prep for lumberyards
It's that time again—I’ve used this analogy in these columns before, but it’s worth repeating: Lumberyards need to treat the slow days of March...
Timing and distributor relationships matter when selecting new products
I mentioned in last month's column that I’m skipping this year’s local home and garden winter shows. I have a number of reasons for doing so,...