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The Grit Blueprint Podcast

Simple Ways To Create Cashflow In Your Business with Russ Kathrein, VP of LBM at Do it Best

February 17, 2026 Length: 40 min Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

On The Grit Blueprint Podcast, Russ Kathrein, VP of LBM at Do it Best, shares simple ways to create cashflow in your business. He says most lumberyards think they have a sales problem when they actually have a systems problem.

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About This Episode.

Most lumberyards think they have a sales problem. Russ Kathrein says they actually have a systems problem. In this episode, we break down the operational moves that quietly unlock millions in revenue, from billing special orders the right way to turning drivers into sales assets and cutting truck turnaround from 52 minutes to 12. If you run a yard, manage cash flow, or want cleaner operations that drive real profit, this is a tactical masterclass.

Topics we covered

  • • Billing special orders on receipt to improve cash flow
  • • Clearing dead inventory and exposing carrying costs
  • • Drivers as sales ambassadors
  • • Smart timing and strategic investments
  • • Balance sheet focus over vanity P&L

Key Takeaways.

  • Most lumberyards think they have a sales problem, but Russ says they actually have a systems problem.
  • Billing special orders on receipt is a simple way to improve cash flow.
  • Clearing dead inventory exposes carrying costs, and Russ's rule number one is that your first loss is your best loss.
  • Turning drivers into sales ambassadors and cutting truck turnaround from 52 minutes to 12 are among the operational moves covered.
  • A simple AR playbook raises the share of receivables that are current and gets the yard paid first, without becoming the collections department.

Questions and Answers.

How can a lumberyard improve cash flow?

Russ Kathrein, VP of LBM at Do it Best, recommends billing special orders on receipt, clearing dead inventory, and running a simple AR playbook to get paid first. He also urges a focus on the balance sheet over a vanity P&L.

Do lumberyards have a sales problem or a systems problem?

Russ says most lumberyards think they have a sales problem, but they actually have a systems problem. Cleaner operations, like faster truck turnaround and drivers who act as sales ambassadors, drive real profit.

How can a lumberyard get paid faster?

Russ shares a simple AR playbook that raised the share of receivables that are current without turning the team into the collections department. The goal is to get paid first.

Keep Watching.

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