What's happening and what matters in construction supply, from longtime ProSales editor Craig Webb
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Potential Economic Hazards Ahead:
Here's What You Should Do Now
Imagine you’re driving along, probably traveling faster than the speed limit, and you see traffic ahead. What do you do? The likely answer is "It depends"--on the weather, on your vehicle's condition, and in particular on your best guess of what's likely to happen down the road. At the least, though, it makes sense to exit cruise control and check your mirrors and brake.
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This issue of
Webb Analytics Report delivers ideas and advice for what you should do given the economic warning signs that have lit up recently. At the moment, it appears evasive action isn't necessary. But extra vigilance never hurts--and it could boost your near-term profits. Here's how.
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BlueTarp’s Simpson: Employ ‘Healthy Paranoia’ About the Future These 4 Ways
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"I am more bearish than bullish about what's ahead," BlueTarp CEO Scott Simpson told Webb Analytics recently. He suggests you employ "healthy paranoia" in coming months by embracing these four credit and collection tactics.
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Larry Adams' 11 Smart Ways to Weather an Economic Downturn
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Larry Adams
knows LBM. After more than three decades running what now is the Building Material Suppliers Association and leading numerous roundtables, he took over management of
Robinson Builders Mart
in Newton, N.C., in 2014 and has helped it grow substantially. Here is his advice on how to get set for the next housing downturn.
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Ganahl Swears by These Key Metrics
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When your newest facility costs $35 million to build, it’s obvious that
Ganahl Lumber
doesn’t mind opening up the checkbook to achieve certain objectives. But if you talk to Peter Ganahl about spending, it quickly becomes clear that when and whether the money flows depends on a key issue: Profitability. It’s a philosophy that’s particularly valuable when you want to help your business survive a downturn.
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Could Your Business Survive a 20% Drop? This Test Could Tell.
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Longtime roundtable leader and consultant Jim Enter wants to help you get ready for harsh times by seeing how your bottom line would change if a recession caused sales to decline by 20%. It assumes occupancy and admin expenses stay unchanged, and delivery costs can’t drop more than 50%. Thus, if you want to stay profitable, you'll need to cut elsewhere.
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Get Ready for More Off-Site Construction, New Survey Suggests
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A just-released survey of 300 builders and remodelers by
Home Innovation Research Labs shows a larger percentage of big builders plan to embrace off-site construction solutions than do smaller builders, but both groups are moving in that direction. Some big dealers, anticipating this move, already have begun building more truss and component plants. .
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LBM Threats and Opportunities: News Briefs
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Beacon Sets Robust Profit, Growth Goals for '19
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Beacon Roofing Supply
is No. 2 in its sector and pushing hard to keep growing, but it aims in the future to produce adjusted EBITDA margins that are several percentage points better than recent past performances. Those are among the many insights Beacon offered stock analysts on Dec. 13 during its annual Investor Day. Of the 75 slides in its
presentation
, we found these six to be particularly illuminating, starting with its summary (above) of the company's progress over the past two years.
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Going to IBS? Hear Me Speak and Meet Great People at the Crystal Vision Breakfast
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I’m thrilled and honored to have been asked to give the keynote address at Worldvision’s annual Crystal Vision Award Breakfast in Las Vegas this coming Feb. 20 during the International Builders’ Show. I’ll provide a forecast of three big issues you should confront now so you can excel in the future. But in my opinion, the even greater benefit is your opportunity and meet and learn from great building manufacturers and suppliers who are helping Americans nationwide through their support of Worldvision.
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During the workday, Randy Rusk is Do it Best's communications director. But when he's ready to relax, he heads home to his collection of miniature replicas of campers. It's such a big collection, and so rare, that Rusk recently donated it to the
RV/MH (recreational vehicle/mobile home) Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind. Rusk, who has been a collector since he was 9, needed two days just to unpack the models and sort out the display.
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Need a Speaker? Moderator? Board Member?
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If you want to run a better LBM company, Webb Analytics can help.
Webb Analytics
was created by Craig Webb, who for 12 years served as editor-in-chief of ProSales, the nation's most-honored publication for construction supply executives.
Webb Analytics provides insights, data, and connections to help LBM insiders and investors make better decisions. Choose a preferred medium and he can do it, via
custom research, data, strategic consulting,
speeches, roundtables, board work, and business development services.
Prior to joining ProSales, Webb worked as an editor and reporter at The Wall Street Journal in Brussels and New York. He served as chief economics reporter for United Press International, covered Congress and the White House for McGraw-Hill, was trade editor at the Journal of Commerce, and worked for other organizations in newsrooms from Indiana to Italy.
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