Lumber retailers supply buyers with a product that is always in demand. Although this might give your business a good chance at standing the test of time, it is important to continue to make an effort to attract and retain customers if you want to be successful. Here is a look at some sales strategies that you can use to sell lumber as a retailer.
Increase Your Social Media Presence
Although social media does not lend itself to selling lumber quite as naturally as it may fit with selling clothes or promoting events, many lumber retailers report that they see high levels of community engagement on social media profiles when they post frequently on multiple platforms. Even something as simple as a photo of a group of contractors building something with your lumber can be a good excuse to get your name out there and remind people of your presence.
Position Yourself As An Expert
You want to position yourself as an expert to your customers so they will continue to come back to you not only for their products, but also with any questions they might have about the best products for different projects. Moreover, as you build a rapport with them, they will be more likely to recommend you to others who need your products based on that relationship.
Get To Know Your Customers
A key component of sales is knowing the customer. When you know what your customer needs, you can find the best way of ensuring their satisfaction. As a lumber retailer, you should not only know what your customers are doing but what their goals and wants are.
It is not enough to know, for example, that a customer is a soon-to-be-homeowner; some people in this category are most concerned with working within a certain budget while others aim to get the best materials regardless of cost. This is why it is worthwhile to take the time to get to know each customer so you can offer them exactly what they want.
Don’t Forget Traditional Marketing
Although social media marketing is incredibly useful right now, it is important not to overlook traditional marketing.
Although the demand for wood will always be there, marketing is something that every business needs to do in order to survive. Make sure that customers know about your business, what you offer and where you are using traditional methods in addition to social media marketing.
Follow Up With Your Buyers
Once you’ve sold the product, do not let the process end there. Selling lumber may not be like selling a car or a home, but a follow-up can still go a long way toward building your name.
A few weeks after the sale, reach out to your customer to ask them for feedback on the material. Find out whether their needs were met and if there is any way that you can improve their shopping experience in the future. In addition to finding areas where you can make improvements in your business, you may be able to address any problems related to a customer’s dissatisfying experience before word gets out to other customers or they post about it online.
Use Your End Caps Wisely
In your store, make it easier for people to find what they want by putting everything they need in one place. Think of your end caps as being a location to promote compatible products. For example, placing stains and paint on a particular end cap that go with the wood sold on that aisle will reduce shoppers’ frustration – and you may even end up selling a few extra products as a result.
Work Exclusively With A Wholesale Lumber Supplier
One of the best ways to ensure that you are offering your clients a steady stream of high-quality lumber is by working exclusively with a wholesale lumber supplier.
These suppliers offer many advantages to lumber retailers, from better access to harder-to-find products and higher-quality wood to a wealth of knowledge about the various products being sold.
This allows you to ensure you are offering your customers exactly what they need and have the right knowledge to guide them. Best of all, wholesale lumber suppliers can help you get better prices on the lumber you sell, giving you room to mark the products up for higher profits or pass those savings on to your own customers to gain a competitive edge.
Get In Touch With The Northern Virginia Wholesale Lumber Suppliers
If you are a retailer who is looking for a good source of wholesale lumber, get in touch with Curtis Lumber and Plywood. We offer a broad range of high-quality lumber to retailers, including specialized lumber that may be difficult to find in retail outlets, such as fire-retardant treated lumber and plywood.
Our team of professionals is happy to answer any questions you have about our products and make delivery arrangements so that you can provide your customers with everything they need.
