Spend time on the road with drivers, as ProSales did recently, and you'll get a new perspective on what's happening with dealers today.
Five Star Group of East Hanover, N.J., distributes paint and accessories in a 13-state area to a customer list that includes such pro dealers as Builders General, Somerville Lumber, and Riverhead Building Supply. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. Some of these dealers generate "several...
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For as long as there's been a supply chain that connects those who make products with those who use them, there have been factions within the home-improvement and home-building sectors that have regarded two-step distributors as one link too many. Weyerhaeuser's recent decision to sell all 16 of...
For the past three years, building products distributor BlueLinx has relied on onboard computers to track the whereabouts of two-fifths of its 850 delivery vehicles that handle 70% of its shipments. At first, the purpose of the Qualcomm-supplied GPS devices was to improve driver safety by...
Best-in-class tactics for supply chain optimization--from leveraging technology to outsourcing logistics to reinventing entire product channels--can be gleaned from corporate examples found far beyond the lumber and building materials arena.
With strong sales and a firm foundation with new-home builders, Universal Supply Co. could simply sit back and float on the wave of current market opportunities. Instead, the New Jersey
As big builders expand across the country, they need suppliers that can deliver consistent market-to-market products and service. Pro dealers fit that bill locally, and some are tapping into builders' regional needs. But at what cost?
When Ply Mart entered into an inventory pilot program earlier this year with building materials distributor BlueLinx, which became the primary supplier of lumber and panels for three of the dealer's 27 yards,
With strong construction activity across many sectors, including national production building, custom homes, and remodeling, dealers and distributors that are focused on customer service, precision, and fulfillment are looking upstream to their building product manufacturers and vendors for...
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While most attempts to introduce standardized disciplines to the distribution process have foundered, technology does have the potential to connect the dots along the supply chain -- if dealers can gain clearer insight into builders' long-range materials needs and tap into their data banks.
Industry pundits weigh in on Harvard's recent LBM supply channel study and offer a glimpse into how dealers can stack the deck in their favor to ensure viability and profitability in the future.
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For traditional pro dealers, dabbling in two-step distribution means walking a fine line between filling a need and supporting your competition. Here's how to profit from selling to other dealers without losing your pro focus.
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From contractors to subcontractors to commercial and production builders, a diverse customer base has specialty distributors perfecting service and inventory.
The clout of the nation's largest builders continues to grow across the country, and according to the recent big builder study, pro dealers looking to supply them must be willing to act as a central liaison with manufacturers and provide critical support at the local level.