MLA Lumber Industry News Express
|
|
Here's the new issue of the Mid-America Lumbermens Association online newsletter. We'll send a new issue every two weeks to let you know what's happening in the industry, at your MLA, and in the world that affects your business. We welcome your opinions and ideas. If you have information you'd like to share with other members, we'd be happy to include it in our next issue. We welcome both personal and industry-related news - members would love to hear your news and views - so don't hesitate to email us with information.
|
|
Sunflower Shootout - June 8!
|
Plan to attend the 30
th
annual Sunflower Shootout to benefit the Kansas Lumbermens scholarship program. We’ll play at the Hesston Golf Course, in Hesston, Kansas. Sponsorships are available and registration is open to all.
|
|
Swing into Spring - Register Now!
It's time to get ready for the Missouri Swing-into-Spring event, set for May 3-4 at beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.
Call the MLA office at 816-747-6529 to register or for sponsorship information. We'll see you there!
|
|
With the Arrival of Spring, Watch for Scams
A member called from western Kansas last week to alert MLA and other members that scammers are active once again. They received a phone call from a “customer” who ordered roofing and wanted it charged and shipped. The whole thing sounded wrong, and fortunately, his employee was smart enough to catch what was going on. Here’s a
link to an article
with some tips on outsmarting the bad guys. You may also find the
attached flier
helpful. It was prepared by Federated Insurance for equipment dealers, but the same rules apply!
|
|
Member News
Three questions for John Mize…It was announced this week that John H. Mize intended to step down from day-to-day operations at Blish-Mize, where he has worked for 56 years, most recently as executive chairman and chairman of the board. He’ll continue to serve as chairman of the board of the Atchison, Kansas-based family owned hardware distributor.
Read more
.
Source: HBS Dealer, April 12, 2018
|
|
Time to Consider the MLA MEP
|
MLA has offered a “group” MLA 401(k) plan for members for more than two years. It is saving participating dealers on their fees and offering a great benefit to reward their loyal employees. If you haven’t taken a serious look at this program, now would be a good time. Find out why smart dealers are making the move to the MLA program. Call the MLA Hotline at 800-747-6529, or
click here to learn more
.
|
|
|
Lumber News
A Closer Look at Tariffs...
Among the products imported from China on the U.S. Trade Representatives’ tariff list are automatic thermostats, cash registers and centrifugal clothes driers. These three products are among the most familiar items on a 35-page list that also includes several pages of alloys, steels, medical products and “Parts of stock pumps imported for use with machines for making cellulosic pulp, paper or paperboard,” to give another typical example.
Read more
.
Source: HBS Dealer, April 4, 2018
Ten Insider Tips: How to Judge Creditworthiness...
Take it from us – we’ve screened thousands of customers for creditworthiness for over 20 years. We know how to screen out bankruptcy and fraud, and mitigate disputes and slow pay. Check out our top ten tips for how to screen for risk, once you have the application in hand.
Read more
.
Source: BlueTarp
Retailers Get Ready as Signatures Become a Thing of the Past...
The four major card providers will stop requiring merchants to accept signatures, a long-desired move by the retail industry. Merchant groups expect some to move faster than others, while a financial technology group says that the move was enabled by the introduction of the chip card.
Read more
.
Source: Associations Now, April 12, 2018
|
|
This service provided courtesy of Federated Mutual Insurance Company, your association’s recommended insurer.
|
|
Have You Checked Out the MLA Online Campus?
The MLA Online Campus provides you and your employees with high-impact, "real-world" training that develops your leaders, retains your best people and increases your customer loyalty. Each employee has a unique username to access the campus, which houses more than 700 courses on customer service, sales, leadership and more. Want to try a program for yourself?
Click here
to view an example. If you like what you see, contact us for a one-week trial subscription to see the hundreds of available courses.
Learn more
.
|
|
The Last Word
"
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing
."
- Walt Disney
|
|
Mid-America Lumbermens Association | 800-747-6529 | 816-561-1249 (fax)| ruhler@themla.com |
Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
