Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Do it Best graduated its inaugural class of LBM Academy students last week, equipping nearly 50 home center and lumberyard employees from across the country with proven techniques to more effectively drive sales with their pros and contractors.
“Our No. 1 goal is to help our members sell more in an increasingly complex market so they’re prepared for whatever comes their way,” said Do it Best vice president of lumber and building materials Russ Kathrein. “We created our LBM Academy to address those changing needs to empower the next generation of LBM leaders. With guidance from industry veterans, consultants and vendors, along with our in-house experts, we’re sending this group back to their yards with the knowledge they need to take their operations to the next level.”
Do it Best has a long history of offering LBM-oriented training programs to its members. When creating their new LBM Academy, Do it Best was driven to provide a curriculum that would help yard owners with career development for newer staff in addition to strengthening the retention of key team members. The newly designed format was created to take advantage of the training and collaboration opportunities available at Do it Best’s new headquarters.
Coursework over the three days of intensive training included a leadoff session by noted construction industry consultant Bradley Hartmann. He was followed by group presentations and activities, as well as breakout tracks on lumber and building materials, kitchen, bath and flooring, construction science and lumberyard management.
“I’m extremely proud of everyone who fully engaged in LBM Academy,” Kathrein says. “Whether they were newer to our industry or are more experienced members who have recently stepped into new roles, each participant left here with a fresh set of tools to take back to their businesses to grow their sales.”
