A lot of “good ol’ boys” do business with Brown Lumber and Building Supply, says Andrew Brown of his family’s business in Columbiana, a central Alabama town of 5,000 that’s the seat of Shelby County. Most have been around more than 30 years; some were friends of his grandfather, the second Andrew Brown. Now a year out of Auburn University, this fourth Andrew Brown is getting on-the-job schooling. Here’s what he knows:
Log On: I usually get in about 6:30 a.m. I run sales reports before I start getting phone calls and a cup of coffee. We’re on the Advantage computer system; it’s the end of day, month, and year reports that I look at. First thing and last thing I look at is the delivery board, see what we have coming up.
Business Clues: Other than profit being up or down, I look at the permits; that gives me a gauge. [Also] we’re big in retail. The nearest Lowe’s or Home Depot is about 20 minutes away, so we’ve made a nice niche market here. We do look at our daily and monthly ticket count.
Father Knows Best: Dad handles more of the legal side of things, the accounts receivable, filing liens, profit and loss, balance sheets–that buck stops with him. We share inventory duties. … He’s kind of gradually giving it to me.
Stand-Up Guys: We have a country kind of area, and we have a local co-op. We try to honor our local businesses. They shop with us, and we try to return the favor. Everything we do, we try to do as much here. I know I can get it cheaper elsewhere, but I like dealing with Susie down the street, I like seeing her face.
