MARKET INSIGHTS
The empty-shelf challenge By Tim Burke Landon Garner, third generation owner of Rogers, Ark.-based Garner Building Supply and Rental, which has served Northwest Arkansas for 65 years, related, “We are having to project forecasts earlier than we normally would.” He said their company is leaning on and, “trusting those industry relationships we have cultivated for years with our buying groups.” Cody Miller, inventory maintenance specialist at Hartville Hardware, located in Hartville, Ohio, explained what he’s seeing: “In general, manufacturing is not able to keep up with demand mainly because of shortages in the workforce.
Also, a lot of our suppliers are not able to get basic materials because of shortages and/or they are on allocation.” The other issues are at the ports. “There is a container shortage due to many ships waiting at ports, waiting to be unloaded, but there is nowhere for those containers to go,” Miller said. Explaining supply chain issues with your hardware customers, and letting them see the whole picture, helps. “We are trying to be as transparent and honest as possible with our customers about what is going on,” explained Miller. One example is with exterior doors and windows, he mentioned. “We’ll
tell customers upfront about the challenges in the industry and that they could be looking at a 12- to 16-week lead time, compared to a 2- to 4-week lead time in years past.” The other thing Hartville does, Miller said, is work hard to find alternatives for the customer. If a customer comes in looking for a certain product that they cannot get at that time, he explained, they ask ‘what else do we have for them that can fulfill their need?’ Garner, who has been a True Value dealer for more than 40 years, indicated that it comes down to communication.
Diversity Drives Performance Celebrating Women in Building Flexibility – Our multi-billion dollar purchasing power helps you play in a competitive market, but we are personal enough to respond to your specific needs. Experience – Our breadth of industry knowledge and passion for your success lead us to work tirelessly on your behalf. Transparency – We are accountable to our members and believe that transparency builds trust, creates solutions, and accomplishes goals.
LBM Advantage Better. Stronger. Together.
Our Mission: To create a competitive advantage for our members by leveraging their collective power.
www.lbmadvantage.com
42
| 866-629-4141
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 HARDWARE + BUILDING SUPPLY DEALER
HBSDealer.com
