Do it Best Group has unveiled a broader array of LBM programs during its Indianapolis Fall Market, which features new incentives for Trex, a warehouse assortment update, a metal roofing alliance with Central States, and additional interior product offerings.
The announcements were detailed during the Do it Best and True Value LBM Industry Update, where executives discussed tariffs, lumber buying strategies, and other challenges facing independent home improvement dealers and lumberyard owners through 2027.
Expanded Trex Partnership
A key highlight is the enhanced collaboration with Trex, which was announced earlier in the week. Members of Do it Best and True Value retailers are now eligible for a yearly growth incentive on Trex products billed through the co-op, with select merchants also able to secure extra rewards based on their past history with the brand.
In addition to financial incentives, the company is stocking regionally specific Trex railing collections in its warehouses. This selection includes white and black aluminum styles, as well as 42-inch-high items, to satisfy West Coast building codes.
Jodi Lee, Trex’s senior vice president of marketing, informed attendees that the strategy goes beyond selling individual boards to encompass the whole outdoor living space. “Sell the backyard, not the board,” Lee stated during her speech. “The frame, the railing and the lighting quoted in the same breath as the deck.”
Tariffs and Lumber Pricing
Discussions on trade barriers and duties regarding Canadian construction materials dominated the LBM update. Do it Best informed dealers that new 50% U.S. tariffs introduced this summer impacted specific Canadian goods, such as plywood and laminated veneer lumber, while softwood lumber faced a different mix of levies.
Do it Best Group LBM staff advised merchants with large volume or upcoming major projects to explore purchasing tactics like forward pricing, lumber futures, and contracts. The company noted that its reload network currently holds over 20 million board feet of lumber and is capable of delivering mixed or full truckloads.
Do it Best also emphasized its support for Forest Economic Advisors’ (FEA) PricePulse, a transaction-based pricing tool. Dealers signing up at the market can access the platform for the rest of 2026, provided they commit to using it in 2027.
Lauren Wilson, Do it Best Group’s building materials divisional merchandise manager, noted that metal roofing pricing has been unstable, with vendors raising rates from May through June and again starting in August. In response to market unpredictability and dealer feedback regarding current suppliers, the company added Central States as a new metal roofing partner.
Wilson noted that supply is now more accessible than during recent allocation periods, allowing for better comparison of vendors and 2027 programs.
Do it Best reported widespread mineral wool shortages, with some orders not shipping until late October or November. The company also mentioned that two announced 6% increases for fiberglass insulation were not implemented but predicted another pricing move by the first quarter of 2027.
The organization is broadening its scope beyond basic commodities, introducing new appliance drop-ship programs, larger kitchen-and-bath selections, and refreshed flooring options. Vanities seen at the market will ship to warehouses weekly starting in January.
Do it Best is also enhancing dealer education, with its Operations Excellence team launching more than two dozen improvement projects over the last 18 months. These efforts focus on yard layouts, material flow, delivery operations, and other workflows. The company is partnering with the University of Notre Dame on a business education program set to launch next summer.
Industry Challenges and Programs
Additional programs include the Millwork Academy and specialized peer groups. Do it Best is transitioning to the nationally branded REX Wrap product in its warehouses.
Dealer Education and Resources
Do it Best members can utilize Forest Economic Advisors’ PricePulse platform through a new arrangement, which offers discounted rates and calculates weighted-average pricing using transaction data from supplier ERP systems.
