Member-owner Steve Bennett isn’t just new to Do it Best — he’s new to the home improvement industry. However, when it comes to entrepreneurship, he’s no rookie. Steve grew up watching his father work with startups and spent much of his own career as a consultant for other business developers.
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Working Knowledge
Member-owner Steve Bennett isn’t just new to Do it Best — he’s new to the home improvement industry. However, when it comes to entrepreneurship, he’s no rookie. Steve grew up watching his father work with startups and spent much of his own career as a consultant for other business developers.
“I had been coming up with programs and processes for a wide variety of industries,” says Steve. “I wanted to take everything I had learned and apply it to a business of my own — and see where I could take that business.”
Steve began to look for opportunities in the Cincinnati area. Through his consulting work, he had regularly networked with area bankers and brokers to share his interest in becoming a business owner. A local banker told him that the owner of Pilot Lumber Company, a nearby lumberyard, was ready to retire. After completing his due diligence and negotiating with the owner, Steve received the keys to the two-location lumberyard business in February 2021.
“You never know where business relationships will take you,” says Steve. “Having a good relationship with bankers and brokers gives them the confidence to introduce you to the people they’re representing — people who can help you with your own business.”
Pilot Lumber included two yards serving Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. One primarily served walk-in customers with remodeling projects, while the other location was a contractor lumberyard, providing professionals with building materials and specializing in high-end railing and composite decking.
Most importantly, the previous owner of Pilot Lumber was a Do it Best member. It did not take long for Steve to discover that the investments Do it Best made in his success were more than financial. Do it Best introduced Steve to other members who were ready and willing to serve as mentors, sharing their experience and expertise.
For example, when Russ Kathrein, Do it Best vice president of LBM, learned that Steve was new to the industry, they met for an in-depth discussion on all the things Steve would need to know to drive his business forward.
Working Knowledge
Member-owner Steve Bennett isn’t just new to Do it Best — he’s new to the home improvement industry. However, when it comes to entrepreneurship, he’s no rookie. Steve grew up watching his father work with startups and spent much of his own career as a consultant for other business developers.
“I had been coming up with programs and processes for a wide variety of industries,” says Steve. “I wanted to take everything I had learned and apply it to a business of my own — and see where I could take that business.”
Steve began to look for opportunities in the Cincinnati area. Through his consulting work, he had regularly networked with area bankers and brokers to share his interest in becoming a business owner. A local banker told him that the owner of Pilot Lumber Company, a nearby lumberyard, was ready to retire. After completing his due diligence and negotiating with the owner, Steve received the keys to the two-location lumberyard business in February 2021.
“You never know where business relationships will take you,” says Steve. “Having a good relationship with bankers and brokers gives them the confidence to introduce you to the people they’re representing — people who can help you with your own business.”
Pilot Lumber included two yards serving Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. One primarily served walk-in customers with remodeling projects, while the other location was a contractor lumberyard, providing professionals with building materials and specializing in high-end railing and composite decking.
Most importantly, the previous owner of Pilot Lumber was a Do it Best member. It did not take long for Steve to discover that the investments Do it Best made in his success were more than financial. Do it Best introduced Steve to other members who were ready and willing to serve as mentors, sharing their experience and expertise.
For example, when Russ Kathrein, Do it Best vice president of LBM, learned that Steve was new to the industry, they met for an in-depth discussion on all the things Steve would need to know to drive his business forward.
“Russ reached out to me a few months after I purchased Pilot Lumber,” recalls Steve. “He gave me a lot of good advice and ideas based on what worked for him when he ran his own stores.”
Russ also connected Steve with fellow member-owner David Stemler and Kevin Passanisi, general manager of PC Home Center. Through regular meetings, David helped Steve identify the lean practices and procedures to improve his business. Kevin provided invaluable insight into pricing, inventory management, and shipping solutions.
“Collaborating with other Do it Best members who are facing the same challenges I’m facing is extremely encouraging,” says Steve. “Learning best practices from successful people who have been in the business for a long time has been very beneficial.”
Early on, Steve found purchasing, product availability, and price volatility had the heaviest impacts on his business. He relied on guidance from the Do it Best team to help him manage his inventory.
“The Do it Best warehouse network made it easier to find the stock I needed,” says Steve. “They also kept me informed on pricing and availability trends and were constantly in touch with me to help me with the harder-to-find items.”
Steve applied the knowledge and insight he received from Do it Best to provide better service to his customers.
“Russ reached out to me a few months after I purchased Pilot Lumber,” recalls Steve. “He gave me a lot of good advice and ideas based on what worked for him when he ran his own stores.”
Russ also connected Steve with fellow member-owner David Stemler and Kevin Passanisi, general manager of PC Home Center. Through regular meetings, David helped Steve identify the lean practices and procedures to improve his business. Kevin provided invaluable insight into pricing, inventory management, and shipping solutions.
“Collaborating with other Do it Best members who are facing the same challenges I’m facing is extremely encouraging,” says Steve. “Learning best practices from successful people who have been in the business for a long time has been very beneficial.”
Early on, Steve found purchasing, product availability, and price volatility had the heaviest impacts on his business. He relied on guidance from the Do it Best team to help him manage his inventory.
“The Do it Best warehouse network made it easier to find the stock I needed,” says Steve. “They also kept me informed on pricing and availability trends and were constantly in touch with me to help me with the harder-to-find items.”
Steve applied the knowledge and insight he received from Do it Best to provide better service to his customers.
“The industry information Do it Best provides helps me give my customers real answers,” he notes. “Instead of just telling them whether or not a product is available, or how much it will cost, I can tell them why. It’s that kind of service that sets my business apart from the competition.”
Steve utilized Retail Performance to ensure he was providing the best possible experience for his customers. Working closely with Territory Sales Manager Jordan Jehl, Store Designer Tom Scofield, and Retail Performance Manager Kevin Berry, Steve selected new layouts for his stores. The new floorplan ensured that the right products were in the right place and the departments were laid out logically and intuitively.
“The Retail Performance program helped me see what I needed to do to make the store function better,” says Steve. “Understanding store layout, product placement, and what trends to follow lets me make more confident decisions.”
With his first years behind him, Steve continues to hone his business. Looking forward, he is focused on sharpening his focus on the customers who come into his stores, and making the necessary adjustments to enhance their shopping experience. Through it all, he knows that he has a fully invested co-op partner at his side.
“The industry information Do it Best provides helps me give my customers real answers,” he notes. “Instead of just telling them whether or not a product is available, or how much it will cost, I can tell them why. It’s that kind of service that sets my business apart from the competition.”
Steve utilized Retail Performance to ensure he was providing the best possible experience for his customers. Working closely with Territory Sales Manager Jordan Jehl, Store Designer Tom Scofield, and Retail Performance Manager Kevin Berry, Steve selected new layouts for his stores. The new floorplan ensured that the right products were in the right place and the departments were laid out logically and intuitively.
“The Retail Performance program helped me see what I needed to do to make the store function better,” says Steve. “Understanding store layout, product placement, and what trends to follow lets me make more confident decisions.”
With his first years behind him, Steve continues to hone his business. Looking forward, he is focused on sharpening his focus on the customers who come into his stores, and making the necessary adjustments to enhance their shopping experience. Through it all, he knows that he has a fully invested co-op partner at his side.
