Page 19 - Jan-Feb-2025 - REPORTER

am regularly asked “Why should I be a An issue that our office has been working independent group who will support the
I member of the LBMAO?”. While the LBMAO on to get a solution involves credit card dealers and their suppliers if things get off
has been around since 1917, many do not processing when the card is not present. This track. We are also working to show dealers
understand what we do. I was a dealer is a major issue for many of our dealers. We products or offerings that their buying group
for almost 20 years and a member during are working to get the same type of third- may not feature.
that time and to be honest, I was not sure party authorization from card processors that We love to feature what strong retailers
what happened inside the LBMAO offices. ticket sellers have. Currently if a customer and suppliers are doing in our industry. We try
I did have the late Jim Kenny come every calls in for a delivery and provides a credit to show what is happening with new stores,
three years and recertify our yard staff with card as payment, we have no way of proving new additions, and new suppliers to Ontario,
forklift training. I was busy trying to grow the that card is legitimate. Customers can through features in the Reporter. As a dealer I
business and I had a young family to look dispute the transaction, and the retailers loved to see what dealers and suppliers were
after. are left out in the cold. Some are fraudulent doing and tried to incorporate fresh ideas into
situations, some are legitimate, but it is our location.
Why should I worry about what was becoming increasingly difficult to know Programs for hiring, recruiting, and
happening outside of my circle of influence? which is legit and which is a scam. Having developing new staff members in our industry
Why should other LBM dealers and a third-party identification code sent to the is also a key role that we continue to work
suppliers in Ontario not think the same thing? customer’s phone while the transaction is on at the LBMAO. Our industry has had a
I now see behind the curtain and if anything, being processed would provide legitimacy to reputation as a place to work until you can
this is the most crucial time for dealers and the transaction. We are working with the card find your career. We are working to dispel
suppliers to support the association. The processors to correct this. that. We want to have people come to this
biggest recent example of why you should We are also working to help dealers industry and get good paying, stable jobs. It
want to support the LBMAO came during and suppliers train their staff to be more is important to point out that our industry is
the start of the lockdown during Covid. The productive and work more safely. A staff aging, and we need to bring in the next group
LBMAO was front and centre making sure that member who is well trained will sell more to capable people to fill these roles for the
the lumber and building materials retailers product, have better interactions with future.
– particularly the smaller ones (read not customers and is more likely to want to stay Our association is always looking to
just the box stores) - had a significant role to in that organization. We have a multitude of see how we can make our dealers be more
play in keeping stores open and accessible in-person training opportunities. (estimating, successful. We have programs to save them
to the public when everything was being sales, yard management, electrical and money on credit card processing, employee
shut down. Your association worked very plumbing hands-on training). We also have benefit programs, health and wellness
diligently on your behalf to ensure that LBM a substantial number of online training programs, and building/equipment insurance.
dealers stayed open and viable. Without the classes. These range from Health and Safety,
loud and constant dialog with the provincial WHMIS, driver education, and load safety. We want our dealers to be successful
government things could have turned out We have online classes that will ensure that There are many other reasons why you
much differently than they did. your location meets the Ministry of Labour should be a member of the LBMAO - social
guidelines. We can even come to your outings and having some fun. Face it, you can’t
Other current initiatives location to make sure that your staff meets all work 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
Currently we are working with the the mandatory government requirements for You need to have fun and what better way to
provincial government on their housing goals forklift, boom truck or truck mounted lift truck network and learn more about how to build
and how our members can be a key part of training. your business than hang out with others in the
the package. We are also working with the Do you need help with training your same industry. If you missed our AGM, we had
home builders’ association to partner with managers or your contractor staff? We have an exciting time watching the horse racing.
them and the government with respect to the training from contractor sales personnel You missed a great event. You will want to
building code changes and the next updates. that includes: the difference between attend in November at Deerhurst Resort.
We just published coverage of the 2024 Code being successful or mediocre at sales, how The best part of this entire program is that
changes in the December Reporter. The type to manage your time, dealing with pricing you get everything I have discussed for well
of housing that we have supplied and sold objections and how to close the sale. We under $400 per year if you are a retailer. And
in the past 30 years is changing and we want also have managers training on how to build only a bit more if you are a supplier. WOW
our members to be front and centre with a championship team: hiring top performers, what a great deal!
solutions and knowledge. The LBM dealers motivating top performers and field coaching. The real question should not be why
and suppliers in Ontario are an integral part of We are also your connection to the should I be a member, it should be “Can I
the housing equation, and we need our spot industry. Dealers at True Value in the United afford not to be a member?”
at the discussion table when new initiatives States found out in October that is important
and plans are being developed. to have someone who is looking out for
We are also working with the trucking your best interest when their buying group
association to see if we can make the rules for declared bankruptcy and left them on their
electronic delivery logs to match those that own. While we do work closely with all the
dealers in the United States have. buying groups in Ontario, we are the only

www.lbmao.on.ca LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2025 19