| And Behind Door #4…
Pulling. Loading. Marking. Stocking. Every day. Whether it’s a beautiful spring day or an icy, blowing, rainy morning, the Customer Service Team at Siewers is on the job.
When you walk into the warehouse behind Door #4 and see 34 bins down one wall which are 4' wide and 5' high, it can be overwhelming. Literally. The racks line both sides of the warehouse, and the big doors on either end allow for multiple vehicles to be loaded or unloaded simultaneously. But a quick glance shows obvious pride in the inventory—it’s neat, it’s clean, and it’s usually full. So how do they keep up with the hundreds of profiles of mouldings, floorings, and sidings that Siewers keeps in stock? Organization is key. On a recent visit, Mike Coltrain was on the mezzanine, stocking crown moulding, while Pinky and Melvin were unloading a dolly. All three were marking the stock—which is color-coded by length—and sorting it into the neatly labeled bins in different sections of the warehouse. Meanwhile, Wendell was tying a load onto a customer’s truck, while Billy was pulling an order for another customer.
Most regular customers know the system and will often call ahead to get one of the guys to pull their order in advance. However, even when customers enter the warehouse from the showroom, it takes just a few minutes for them to be greeted, have their materials retrieved, and be on their way…a vast difference from other lumberyards. “It’s a hard position to fill,” said Richie Siewers, who noted that the team works quite well together. “They’re with the customer sometimes longer than those of us at the counter, and it requires someone with a good personality who understands our philosophy.” If you want to avoid surprises, just look behind door number four and you’ll find good, old-fashioned service—with a simple “thank you” when you’re done.
Recently, Don Soskin of HomeTech Systems spoke about ways to make higher profits in the industry. To be one of the 15% of the successful remodelers, you should know how to sell, how to estimate…and you should know your customer.
—from the NLBMDA Web Site Present yourself as a businessman, not a tradesman. Give references for jobs you’ve done. Which contractor is going to come across more professionally… one who writes down an estimate on the back of a business card, or one who presents a typed proposal? Approximately 30 customers attended the seminar, which was sponsored by Siewers at their facility. To find out more about the HomeTech Estimating System, inquire at the counter or call us at 358-2103.
The Permacast Lampost looks like a real wood post, but because it’s made of PVC plastic with a metal conduit for wiring (with an insulation barrier in between), it will look great for years! In-stock for only $79.95. 5/16'' x 8 1/4'' x 12' Smooth Beaded Hardiplank® Siding is a great alternative to hardboard siding. Made of Portland cement with reinforced fibers, it is slightly more expensive than hardboard, it doesn’t chip, and it will not rot! Also in stock: Other new items now in stock:
Employee anniversaries this quarter (10 or more years at Siewers):
Thank you for your hard work!
At this time, our economy has sustained 86 straight months without a recession (the all time record is 106 months). The average length of time between the past recessions is 50 months, with each recession lasting an average of 11 months. Will our economy surpass the 106 month record?
Often mispronounced, the name Siewers (See-weres) is German in origin. Here are some of the different spellings we’ve seen on our mail via the U.S. Postal service:
What would you say if you were told that you’d never have to replace a deck because of rot? Or if you could avoid painting or staining every 3-5 years?
—from Virginia AGC Week Trex® is a recycled composite material which is made of wood fibers, old milk containers and plastic bags. It is appearance grade which will weather to a light gray color within 3 to 4 months, and will never require any protective sealants. You can cut, fasten, drill, rout, and sand it just like wood, but it is to be used only in decking—the structural members (posts, beams, and joists) must be wood for proper strength. Trex is not affected by moisture (like a traditional wood product)—so the usual warping and cracking that occurs with regular lumber is virtually nonexistent. Although these products are more expensive initially than pressure-treated wood, yellow pine, or fir, the savings is in the lack of long-term maintenance required for proper upkeep. Costs are comparable to cedar or redwood. If you prefer natural wood for decking, Siewers carries a 5/4 x 6 cedar decking in our inventory and can special order items such as redwood, Atlantic white cedar, brazialian cherry, teak, and mahogany.
Tongue and groove porch flooring is found in many of the old houses in the Fan, on Church Hill, and along Monu- ment Avenue in Richmond. If you’re working on a restoration project, you’ll probably want to match the flooring as closely as possible. Before installing, it’s recommended that you prime all four sides of the wood to help avoid expansion and contraction. In addition, although the wood may be under an overhang, you’ll need to apply two coats of exterior paint to prevent water from getting into the wood. Even condensation vapors from the ground can warp the boards, so don’t skip painting to protect the wood. The paint is a sealer, and today’s environmentally friendly paints are not as effective as the oil-based paints used when those homes were originally constructed. Siewers stocks these types of tongue and groove flooring:
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