When I first entered the lumber business in the early ’90s I was a manager trainee at 84 Lumber on the east side of Toledo, Ohio, in a town called Oregon. At the time, it was the epitome of a blue-collar town and in dire need of being put through[Read More…]
Year: 2017
The Importance of Setting Goals
German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.” Maybe that’s why so few people follow through and act on their goals, let alone set goals. My question to you[Read More…]
Managing Cash Flows
Having cash is like having gas in the car. Whether you drive a 2017 BMW or a 2007 Beetle, you can’t go anywhere without gas in the tank. A business can be unprofitable and have plenty of cash (for a while). On the other hand, a business can be very[Read More…]
More Than One Way to Sell a Shed (Part 3)
In traveling around the country, you will find many different types of shed lots. Some will be full store fronts with indoor and outdoor displays of many outdoor products ranging from sheds and other portable buildings to poly furniture and windmills. Others will be a few sheds on display outside[Read More…]
How is Your Company Being Represented?
We as a nation live in a day and age where online transactions are the norm—face to face interactions have become few and far between. People have become dependent on their smart phones and tablets for purchasing, selling, and all other social interaction. It appears that most people have forgotten[Read More…]
The 5 ‘Musts’ of Accomplishing Goals
I like setting goals, which means I love the time around the new year. To me, it’s exciting to think of how I can push myself and accomplish something new, perhaps difficult, but definitely rewarding. You decide what you want to do, then count down the last days of December,[Read More…]
2016 Lumber Market Review, Forecast
When it comes to the lumber market, many factors affect supply and prices. And that has a direct impact on shed builders. For my first report of 2017, I can say that consumer confidence is up, but lumber prices are in flux. Read on for more details. Economic Background[Read More…]
For Want of an Air Conditioner
Our on-site truck is getting on up in age and miles and has been for several years. It is a great truck for going out on location and constructing a building. The tool bed allows us to keep our guns, hoses, saws, nails, hand tools, etc., stocked and ready. All[Read More…]
What Happened to the ‘Little Red Barn’?
Decades ago the “little red barn” was the icon of portable buildings industry. But times have changed as storage sheds and detached car garages have evolved into many more shapes and styles than their “red barn” predecessors. Those changes have at times been customer driven and at other times been[Read More…]
Texas Shed Builder Helps Habitat for Humanity
Leland’s Barns, located in Grandview, Texas, is founded on the principles of honoring God as leader in all they do, creating opportunities for individuals to make a difference, and creating a culture of excellence to serve the community with a level of service that is second to none. So, it[Read More…]
