Focusing on your Niche and Creating Partnerships Ft: Rustic Lumber Store

May 3, 2022

Focusing on your Niche and Creating Partnerships Ft: Rustic Lumber Store

“I would say that the biggest thing is creating a definitive end game. I know what my end game is, but I guess I try to wear too many hats on different things we do. On the construction side of things with log in timber frames, the only part I want to be doing is log in timber frames. So how do I delegate out the other aspects of the business to focus on that?

Zach Wedekind

Delegation is an essential topic for business owners within any industry to focus on. However, within the wood industry, it is pervasive for business owners to want to focus on the hands-on work without needing to spend time and creative energy on things that are less interesting to them.

“So you have a beautiful, beautiful lumber store. Have a party and invite a bunch of general contractors and say, ‘I want to start handing out my GC projects to somebody. I want to have a partnership with somebody.’ Or you could do it individually and then literally ask them who you can partner with.

Some of those general contractors will want to do only certain parts. So if you could develop the system, and you say, ‘This is how much the project will cost. Give me my part, and you take care of the rest.’ They handle all the client communication, and you get it written down on paper.”

Steve Larosiliere

Opening Up a New Business Avenue

Recently Zach has realized that Rustic Lumber Store needs to market itself further to general contractors. Partly because that’s what will allow Zach and his business to grow their company by reaching out to a very lucrative market. Additionally, most general contractors have never worked with log and timber framework, so Zach and his team will be opening up an entire new sector of business which will allow those general contractors to upsell more timber framing projects.

“I like the mass approach. Pick a date in the middle of May or June, and have a beer party at the Rustic Lumber Store. Then invite a bunch of general contractors and just say, ‘Hey, I want to only focus on timber framing stuff. I know, most of you have projects and I’d like to start referring people to general contractor work. However, I know you probably don’t want to do timber framing. I want to do timber framing on your upcoming projects. So let’s form a partnership.’

It’s really all about being transparent. Stating what it is that you have to offer, what it is that you want from people, and it will benefit everyone. You and your team are doing exactly what you need to be doing. You’re building a brand, you have the right mindset, you are building a community around your brand, and you and you have the sales system.”