Afleveringen
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Welcome to Season 3!
Across the Yard is back for our new season with new interviews, new topics, a new brand, and we’re ready to rock n’ roll!
Kicking things off, Liz welcomes performance coach Travis Thomas, author of “3 Words for Getting Unstuck: Live Yes, And” and his latest, “Confidence is Overrated: Why Courage is the Antidote and Feelings Make Cowards of Us All.”
Liz and Travis discuss his background in improvisation, and how it led to a life-changing realization about how to approach challenges and changes. Then, they get into how courage, not confidence, is what can be counted on to win the day.
It’s an inspiring and thought-provoking episode as we kick off 2025 on Across the Yard. Enjoy!
Links:
Supply-Build Canada (formerly WRLA): https://supplybuild.ca
Book Travis: https://www.liveyesand.com/book-travis -
2024 is coming to a close, and what a year it's been!
Liz, Amanda, and Chris from the WRLA team take a moment to look back on some highlights from the year, including the roll out of our new Building Material Fundamental Suite, our many new Affiliate partnerships, and our ever-present commitment to helping our members be successful.
Then, we look ahead to 2025, and the upcoming WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase, and the reveal of our new brand.
As of this episode, Across the Yard will be on a break until after the Showcase. We'll see you in 2025, and from all of us on the WRLA team, we wish you and yours the very best for the holiday season. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Let’s Talk Commodities. Across the Yard with Don Humphries from Sexton
This week, we’re taking the plunge and talking about commodities and the lumber market. To guide us through it, we welcome guest Don Humphrey, National Commodity Wood Manager for Sexton Group Ltd. He and Liz talk about the regionality of the lumber industry, and how provincial regulations play a role in the success of mills across the country. They also touch on the tariff situation – both historical and present day, and what’s to come in the ongoing saga of selling softwood to the USA. Don takes us through it, and shares some keen observations as we all look for the way forward, examining Canada's inflation rate, the renovation bubble, and even mortgage trends!
It's a conversation you’ll want to hear – enjoy the show!
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
Sexton Group Ltd: https://sextongroup.com/ -
Mental conditioning goes a long way. Your resilience and willingness to ask yourself tough questions can prepare you to deal with the pressures, stress, and even fear that come with running, or working in an organization. How do elite performers do it? What's the secret?
Our guest today is Lauren Johnson. Lauren helps elite individuals develop mental toughness so they can perform their best regardless of circumstance. Lauren’s clients include Google, the US Women’s National Soccer Team, Johnson & Johnson, and the FBI. She and Liz talk about mental conditioning, and what people can start doing right away to start performing at a higher level.
We are thrilled to be welcoming Lauren back to the WRLA Building and Hardware Showcase in Edmonton this January. She'll be talking about the advantage of being able to perform under pressure, and how to leverage it for success. Make sure to register for the trade show today - you won't want to miss this!
Links:
WRLA Showcase: https://wrlashowcase.ca
Lauren Johnson: https://www.laurenjohnsonandco.com/ -
One of the biggest pieces of a business' marketing puzzle is branding. Everything begins and ends with how your business represents itself. What message is your brand telling customers before they ever walk through your door or pick up the phone (or click that link, etc.)
This week, Liz is joined by Kiirsten May of UpHouse, a branding agency located in Winnipeg, with dozens of successful rebranding campaigns under their belts. Chris Allinotte also steps out from behind the podcast editing booth to weigh in on the process as an in-house marketing professional who has seen three companies through the rebranding process.
Find out the how, when, and most of all - the "why" of rebranding. Learn what to expect from the process, and common pitfalls to avoid along the way.
Get your pencils ready - you'll want to take some notes! Enjoy the show.
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
UpHouse: https://uphouseinc.com/
Also:
The Bud Light Marketing Case Study discussed in today's episode:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90888756/bud-light-inclusive-marketing-right-wing-outrage -
At this year's WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase, we're facing off for a great cause. We'll be holding the first ever Hockey for Habitat Event. Participating WRLA Members will be drafted to either Team TIMBER MART or Team CertainTeed.
On this week's episode, Liz sits down with the captain of Team TIMBER MART - and the person who almost single-handedly conceived this event - Joel Hartung of The LumberZone.
Liz and Joel talk about the game, which will be receiving the full NHL game production treatment (and how Joel managed to get that done) and why it was important to bring everyone together in support of Habitat for Humanity.
After the first period, the conversation turns to business matters, the US election, and the Softwood Lumber situation - you know, easy topics like that.
Finally, Joel weighs in on the workforce, and the resilience it's taken to build a successful business in today's economic climate.
Lace up those skates, and hop the boards - you're going to want to hear this one!
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
The LumberZone: https://thelumberzone.ca/
Hockey for Habitat: https://bit.ly/3YT7x7m -
The WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase is in Edmonton, Alberta for our 31st annual event.
It's our first time hosting the show in Edmonton, so we invited on a guest who knows a thing or two about this wonderful city - Peter Cottan from Explore Edmonton. They talk about the significance of the show coming into the city, how the newly revitalized Expo Centre is ready to provide a world class experience. Learn how the city and venue are leading the way towards a cleaner, more eco-friendly, power-saving future. Most importantly, find out where to get the best pint of Guinness in Edmonton!
Enjoy the episode, and we can't wait to see everyone in Edmonton!
Links:
WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase: https://wrlashowcase.ca
Explore Edmonton: https://exploreedmonton.com/ -
This is our 50th Episode!
We started Across the Yard (formerly the very creatively titled, "WRLA Podcast") to share with the world what we already knew - that the Lumber and Building Materials industry is home to so many incredible business leaders and employees. We've invited 50 episodes worth of guests to join us for a chat and, quite often, a few laughs. We've talked about the market, the nature of sales, and so much more.
With all that, we think this week's guests are the perfect encapsulation of that entrepreneurial spirit, and examples of resilience in business. Liz welcomes Wade Laurent and Shane Chapman of The Ultimate Deck Shop in Regina and Saskatoon, SK. They share their "origin story" and talk about how their journey to expansion led right through the middle of a global pandemic.
Thank you, the listener, for joining us for 50 episodes. We can't wait to bring you even more stories, discussions, and laughs in the episodes to come.
Enjoy!
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org/
The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://tuds.ca/ -
It's no great secret that experience (or the school of hard knocks) is the ultimate teacher. While education and theory can impart critical thinking skills and a baseline of knowledge, there's no substitute for on-the-job experience. That's where internship can help - specifically the WRLA's internship program.
This week, Liz is speaking to three recent students who found full-time employment through internship and career fair opportunities! Olivia Lloyd took part in a program through the Calgary Board of Education in partnership with WRLA. John Carlo Mendoza got his start on a student internship with us and then found his new career at the Career Fair at last year's Building & Hardware Showcase, and Camilla Josef is now a full-time member of the WRLA team after completing a design internship. Check out the episode and hear how they arrived on their current career path, and what advice they have for their fellow students!
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
The Cedar Shop: http://www.cedarshop.com
Sexton: https://www.sextongroup.com -
"Am I the a**hole if I buy groceries with my company credit card?"
"How many drinks is too many at a work function?"
"Would I be the a**hole if I suspect something's up with the person that calls in sick every single Tuesday after a long weekend?"
These are just some of the questions that can keep a manager or business owner up at night. Lucky for us, we've got people and culture consultant Natalie Bell on hand to field some of these questions for us.
Liz and Natalie start out with a great discussion about the nature of human resources and how every business can benefit from taking a closer look at their HR policies and practices.
Then ... Natalie walks us through some HR tips and strategies as she and Liz navigate some real-life workplace horror stories where clear expectations and sensible policies would have saved the day.
It's a fun (and funny) jaunt through some truly wild workplace challenges that you won't want to miss.
Enjoy the episode (and then sign up for Natalie's Webinar on November 21 where she'll walk you through the HR Basics).
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
Natalie Bell Consulting: https://nataliebell.ca/
WRLA Webinar: HR Basics with Natalie Bell -https://wrla.org/events-calendar.html/event-info/details/id/81 -
"All you need is love ... and receipts" ~the Beatles' accountant, probably.
Expenses are one thing that every business has in common. Regardless of your product or service, there are expenses involved with doing business, and keeping track of spending is one of the most important things you can do for your bottom line.
If only it wasn't so much WORK.
Our guest this week is Paul Ansloos from ExpensePoint. We'll find out how Paul saw a need to make things easier for businesses to track expenses, keep track of receipts, and automate much of the work needed to produce month-end reporting.
The story of how Paul took this program from idea to multi-national success story is incredible, and you'll never look at your expense processes the same way again.
Enjoy the show (and share the link with your accounting departments asap!)
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
ExpensePoint: https://www.expensepoint.com/ -
We've got a very special episode for you this week! Liz was at the Women of Lumber and Forestry (WOLF) conference in British Columbia, and had a chance to catch up with a group of women who are taking the industry by storm!
What does it take to get established in a new job? How does one even find jobs in this industry? And once you have that job - how do you get better? To find out, we're talking to Layne Chand'Oiseau (Mountain View Building Materials and student at University of Calgary), Claire Welikoklad (Executive Home Building Centre), and Taylor Reynolds (Dakeryn Industries Ltd.) about their experiences.
We're talking about mentorship, and how working with people who want to see you succeed can make a world of difference, especially when you're starting out. Further down the career path - we're also talking to Helen Smith (Star Building Materials, Calgary) about her commitment to lifelong learning, including the new Executive Mastermind Course from WRLA, presented by the incomparable Lauren Johnson.
Enjoy the episode!
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
Mountain View Building Materials: https://www.mountainviewbm.ca
Executive Home Building Centre: https://www.hbcpro.ca/
Dakeryn Industries Ltd: https://www.dakeryn.com
Star Building Materials - Calgary: https://www.starbuildingcalgary.ca/
WOLF Conference: https://womenoflumberandforestry.com/
Lauren Johnson: https://www.laurenjohnsonandco.com/ -
What did your career path look like? How did you arrive where you are today?
More importantly - if you could tell that things weren't working out, did you make a change?
That's the conversation we're having this week on Across the Yard with Colin McColl of Windsor Plywood Sherwood Park in Alberta. Liz and Colin talk about how he came to get involved in the building supply business. He also talks about what it's like to go from working alongside a team, to running that same team as a co-owner.
It's a great conversation you'll want to hear. Enjoy the show!
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
Windsor Plywood: http://www.windsorplywood.com -
It's one thing to be an effective salesperson, but when you're in charge of the team, it's a whole other ballgame!
Jil Reid of Federated Co-operatives Ltd. joins Liz to talk about her journey from outside sales to successfully running a team of sales professionals. They talk about coaching, fostering a collaborative workplace, and how to approach (and train your team to approach) Contractor Sales. You'll also learn why it's super important to keep some fun in your Fridays!
Enjoy the show!
Links:
Federated Co-operatives Ltd: https://www.fcl.crs/home/
WRLA: https://wrla.org/ -
The job of a sales representative is simultaneously one of the most straightforward, and most complex roles on your business' team.
On the one hand, you are going out and getting people to agree to buy products from you; on the other, you're managing personal relationships, histories, preferences, and the unique needs of possibly hundreds of contacts across hundreds of businesses - and that's if you're doing it right!
This week on the podcast, Liz is joined by Derrick Czayka, Alberta Territory Manager for Regal Ideas Inc. They chat about how relationships, honesty, preparedness, and good old fashioned numbers can make a world of difference, especially if you're just starting out.
Thanks to Derrick for spending time with us Across the Yard, and sharing his time and wealth of experience with us!
Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
Regal Ideas: https://www.regalideas.com -
Why the West? Liz is joined by Matthew Brennan from Greenfiber, manufacturers of cellulose insulation.
They talk about the company's expansion across Canada into the west, but that's just the beginning!
In this episode, Liz and Matthew get into the nature of reclaimed and recycled materials, the logistics and supply chain challenges that, while not unique to the west, are keenly felt across the prairies and beyond. What does it take to build climate-conscious housing while still being affordable and, above all, providing comfortable houses people want to live in? Listen to all this and more in this week's Across the Yard!
Links:
WRLA: https://www.wrla.org
WRLA Showcase: https://wrlashowcase.ca
Greenfiber: https://www.greenfiber.com -
Why would a customer choose your store over your competitor? What sets you apart?
Liz is joined by returning guests Sarah Hounslow from BMF and Joel Siebert from Mountainview Building Materials. They discuss how Joel, in working with the merchandising experts at BMF, became a destination store that leads with their materials expertise. You may not be the one-stop-shop, but you can be the leading authority on the products you sell!
Joel talks about how that expertise leads to different product mixes at different locations and how you really, really don’t want to buy that vinyl siding if you want your house to stand up to Alberta weather.
It’s a great conversation, and you’re sure to take away some tips to make your business better today. Enjoy the show!
Make sure to subscribe on Spotify or your favourite podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released!
Links
WRLA: https://www.wrla.org
BMF: https://www.bmfonline.com
Mountainview Building Materials: https://mountainviewbm.ca/ -
What are your customers thinking?
Knowing how people think when preparing for a purchase can give you a big lift in your sales strategies. Liz is joined by Lee Waltham of Brandish Inc. to talk about these subjects as well as the importance of brand recognition, customer feedback, and three questions you can ask today to start improving your business!
Enjoy the show!
Links:
WRLA: www.wrla.org
Brandish: https://brandishagency.com/
Lee Waltham: @leewaltham (LinkedIN) -
What does it take to grow a product from idea to one of the world's leading professional tools?
Join us this week as we find out from Rolf Effertz and Blessy Liquido of TurnX tools. Learn how a chance encounter with a stubborn window shade kickstarted innovation and why today, nothing compares with the in-store experience.
Thank you to TurnX for a fabulous conversation about an even more fabulous product!
Links:
TurnX Tools: https://turnxtools.com/
WRLA: www.wrla.org -
"Race to the bottom",
"Circling the Drain",
"Bleeding Out"
There are many ways to describe it, but everyone who runs a business knows the situation where price (and only price) seems to be the only thing that matters. Margins get thinner, needed expenses get trimmed, and growth? What growth?
Liz is joined by Joel Seibert of Mountainview Building Materials and Pete Baran from Blueneck Business Mechanics. They discuss the pitfalls of making everything about price and how you can break the cycle. Listen in and learn how to create strong customer loyalty, energize your workforce, and set yourself on a growth trajectory. Enjoy! - Laat meer zien
