Tough Call: The challenge of moving forward
As a young, motivated college grad, you're frustrated that the LBM dealer you went to work for has no interest in change. What would...
Tough Call: The unwelcome price setter
A key vendor is marketing product—and prices—directly to a big builder customer, taking pricing control away from you and killing your margins. What would...
Tough Call: The case of the poor project manager
A large, high-margin customer expects you to come to the rescue with immediate deliveries because of his poor planning. What would you do?
Like LBM...
Tough Call: Attack of the low-cost competitor
A supplier from another market has moved into your territory and is using low pricing to capture business from your long-time customers. What would...
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...
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,...
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...
Tough Call: The hassle of the haggle
Back when you launched your lumberyard in the early 1990s, you figured the path to success was to make your company an invaluable resource....
Tough Call: The payroll secret is out
After rewarding a top employee with a healthy pay raise, they shared the news and now you are faced with disgruntled employees who want...