Skip to content
Principia/Blog/Principia/The Competitive Edge of LBM Dealers

The Competitive Edge of LBM Dealers

In today’s fiercely competitive landscape, staying ahead requires more than just offering quality products, value pricing, and satisfactory service levels. It demands an understanding of the competitive advantages that set one LBM dealer apart from its competitors. Principia’s ongoing, monthly dealer survey uncovered what they consider to be their top competitive advantages.

A bar chart of survey data from LBM Dealers about their perceived advantages over their competition: Knowledgeable salesforce 93% Word of mouth / reputation 71% All others (no more than 24%)

Key Advantages According to LBM Dealers:

  • Knowledgeable Salesforce (93%)
    A staggering 93% of LBM dealers identified their knowledgeable salesforce as their top advantage. In an industry where technical expertise and customer service are paramount, having a well-informed sales team can be critical to overall success and continue to pay dividends well into the future.
  • Word of Mouth/ Reputation (71%)
    Trust and reputation go hand-in-hand in the building materials industry. Seventy-one percent of dealers credit their success to positive word of mouth and/ or a solid reputation. This underscores the importance of maintaining high standards of service resulting in the belief customers find you easy to do business with. In an environment where online reviews and testimonials can significantly influence purchasing decisions, cultivating a strong reputation is more crucial than ever.
  • All Others (No larger than 24%)
    This is not to suggest the other reasons for competitive advantage are not important, but rather emphasizes just how much importance LBM dealers place on the top two over all others.

Stay Ahead with Principia

Staying ahead requires more than just recognizing your advantages—it demands strategic action. At Principia, we provide comprehensive market insights and strategic solutions to help building material suppliers and LBM dealers navigate industry challenges and achieve success.