A recent ProDealer conference in Washington D.C. hosted the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association (NLBMDA) as well as the Hardware + Building Supply Dealer media group to discuss the mounting challenges industry leaders are facing amid a worsening supply chain. According to Forbes, product providers outlined the obstacles they’ve encountered since the start of the pandemic, along with strategies to overcome them.
From a substantial labor shortage to extensive lead times and price hikes, builders and manufacturers are still weathering a relentless post-pandemic supply chain storm, but some are finding effective ways to cope. All across the board, attendees and panel members agreed that communication is key to maintaining business operations both with fellow manufacturers and partners and with clients, who bear the burden of extensive delays.
Across the board, everyone on the panel, in addition to other industry leaders, kept referring to the human element of the industry. They agree that successfully managing these issues is based on open, frequent communications built on trust and authenticity.
“It’s more of a people business than ever,” [Stephen] Sallah said. “A lot has changed and probably permanently. We are communicating more with members and advising differently than we did in the past so that they have stock. Dealers are being more conservative, no one is taking on new customers.”
