How to sell more lighting with your decking
Deck lighting is a largely untapped market for many of the lumber dealers I speak with. While most dealers are selling decking of some...
Make time for trade shows and industry events
Now is the time of the year that a lumber dealer can learn the most about his business. That’s because after a busy summer...
Independent lumber dealers need loyalty from distributors
The most common question distributor reps ask is how they can help me sell more of the products they carry. Here’s the deal: There...
High lumber prices can actually be good for business
With the cost of lumber rising due to the tariffs on Canadian softwoods, every lumber dealer you talk to is spending more for inventory....
Educate customers on the cost of treated lumber
I want to talk about something that happens at our store all the time, and I bet it happens at yours too. It plays...
Lighting and stairs training for deck contractors
Last year around this time, I wrote about how The Deck Store hosts a Contractor College each spring before the deck season. It’s an...
Have contracts in place when selling installed decks
If you're a retailer who is thinking of going into the installed sales side of decks, there are really two ways you can do...
Train your customers for deck season
Over the winter months, you’ve no doubt spent a significant amount of time determining which decking products your lumberyard will carry. You’ve reviewed your...
Exclusivity and buybacks are keys to winter buy deals
As dealers are working on winter buys, it’s important to keep in mind that the lowest price from a manufacturer doesn’t always equal the...
Winter is a good time for vendor reviews
It seems that the only time you notice major issues with a vendor is when you’re just too busy to deal with it. That’s...