Want to boost your sales of preservative-treated wood products? You can see more profits by training your sales staff using a host of free tools available today.
The preserved wood industry has developed a number of tools that bring that knowledge and training right to your lumberyard or office. These are available at no cost, yet provide solid value that transforms your business from preserved wood order takers to solution providers.
These resources range from online training for both preservative-and fire retardant-treated wood products to support guides and publications to smartphone/tablet apps. Each have been fully researched to support all pressure-treated wood produced by Western treating companies.
Back to basics
Knowing the product is the first step in building sales. Western Wood Preservers Institute (WWPI) has created an eUniversity that covers the basics of how preserved wood and fire-retardant wood products are made, specified and used in construction today. Working with the online education services AEC Daily and Architectural Record’s Continuing Education Center, the eUniversity courses are available 24/7 and can be downloaded for use anytime and anywhere.
The courses preserved wood and fire-retardant wood are certified for continuing education credits (CEUs) from more than 20 different organizations, include American Institute of Architects and National Assoc. of Home Builders. At the end of each course is a 10-question quiz to ensure the student fully understands the information.
All courses are available as downloadable presentations or as multimedia versions that run on an internet browser, complete with narration and video.
Get backup materials
Sometimes it’s helpful to have something in hand to guide customers to the proper product. The website PreservedWood.org offers a full technical library of publications and guides that can be printed or downloaded and sent as attachments to emails.
Need guidance on what level of treatment is needed for a project? Get the PreserveSpec guide Specifying with AWPA Use Categories. What nails or screws should I use with treated wood? Download the one-page PreserveTech sheet on fasteners. Do I put something on the cut ends of the preserved wood? Print the PreserveTech field treating guide.
The online library includes titles showing the environmental friendliness of preserved wood products compared to alternatives such as steel, composites and concrete. The PreserveWise series of publications explains the sustainability of preserved wood and well as science-based Life Cycle Assessments offering comparisons of the environmental impact of common building materials.
For fire retardant wood products, there is a similar library at FireResistantWood.org. All titles can be downloaded and printed from any computer, in either color or black and white. In addition to the publication libraries, both websites offers key information on preservatives or fire retardants, uses in construction and supply sources.
Be ready for any question
Utilize today’s technology to answer any question that might arise with the Treated Wood Guide app. Available for both Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones and tablets, the free app puts up-to-date information at your fingertips.
The app offers all the information needed to select the proper preserved wood product through the Use Categories. One section in the app allows you to select the exposure where the wood will be used and list the common wood products, preservatives and required retentions that are appropriate for the conditions.
With these tools and other resources, your sales staff can increase its preserved wood IQ and boost sales as well as customer satisfaction. A small investment of time and effort will become the extra mile on the path to better profits.
Learn more at www.wwpinstitute.org.
