26 May How We Helped Lumberyards Steal a Page from the Big Box Playbook May 26, 2025By Will Strohl | 2 MIN READ Will Strohl of Upendo Ventures was recently featured in HBS Dealer, contributing marketing insights for independent lumberyards. The real win? It's proof that Ideation can uncover standout ideas that resonate with any business size—or industry. Recently, I had the honor of being quoted in HBS Dealer, one of the most trusted sources in the building supply industry. The article was packed with real-world insights about how independent lumberyards can gain a marketing edge—and I was thrilled to share some of mine. My contribution focused on what I believe is one of the biggest opportunities small businesses overlook: community-based brand visibility through generosity and creativity. “Support your neighbors, and they’ll support you.” Why This Matters (and Not Just for Lumberyards) Whether you run a hardware store, a boutique agency, or a wine shop, your reputation lives and breathes locally first. That’s where trust starts. And no big-box chain can replicate that level of intimacy. In the article, I suggested strategies like: Hosting homeowner or community workshops Sponsoring school projects or HOA events Launching small grants for local nonprofits Building a branded app for local engagement These aren’t gimmicks—they’re investments in trust, loyalty, and long-term relevance. And these ideas didn’t come out of thin air. They were born from the exact same Ideation sessions we offer to our Clients. Why Ideation Works You already have ideas. What you don’t always have is time, clarity, or a strategy to act on them. That’s where Ideation comes in. We sit down together—virtually or in person—and unpack all those “I’ve been meaning to…” moments. Then we translate them into actionable ideas tailored to your business, your audience, and your goals. You don’t need a million-dollar marketing budget to compete. You need ideas that feel like you—and serve the people who already want to support you. Want to Chat? We’re not here to hard-sell anything. But if you’ve been stuck in “what’s next?” mode or wondering if your marketing is doing anything for your bottom line, let’s have a conversation. Sometimes, all it takes is an hour of brainstorming to completely shift how you show up. Contact us to get started. Let's Chat! We'd love to work with you. Let's talk about how. Contact Us May 26, 2025By Will Strohl Business, General, Leadership Community Visibility, Ideation Consulting, Lumberyard Marketing, Small Business Strategy, Upendo Ventures About the Author Will Strohl Founder & CEO Upendo Ventures Overall, Will has nearly 20 years of experience helping website owners become more successful in all areas, including mentoring, website development, marketing, strategy, e-commerce, and more. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. blog comments powered by Disqus Related Posts Your Website’s 3 Most Important Pages (and You’re Ignoring One) These three web pages are often overlooked—but they’re the keys to building trust, easing friction, and increasing conversions. And yes, you're definitely ignoring one of them. From Wix to Winning: Why Small Businesses Are Migrating to Custom Websites What helped you start your business won’t help you scale. 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