“Turnover is vanity and profit is sanity”, plywood trader Derek Fletcher told members of the Plywood Club of London on Tuesday evening.
Mr Fletcher, managing director of Purfleet-based DHH Products and who has been in the timber trade for 53 years, gave his thoughts on the current state of the plywood trade as guest speaker at the club meeting.
“Businesses need to look at profit and not market share, and salesmen should not be saying ‘We are cheapest’ but rather ‘We are the best’,” said Mr Fletcher. “You are only as good as your next order,” he added.
Mr Fletcher recounted his years in the timber trade, from his early days selling firewood from a barrow, through his time selling hardwood and panel products for Denny, Mott and Dixon (later to become Mallinson Denny and, today, Finnforest)
“The trade has evolved immensely in those 53 years, from businesses being run by entrepreneurs, not accountants.
“ Salesmen were executives of the company and would always get the best deal for their customers and the company.”
The club will hold its annual “charity” dinner on Tuesday December 7, at The Radisson Blu Portman Hotel. The main trade speaker will be Bob Harvey, chairman of the NPPD and the entertainment will be provided by comedian Tony Rosco. Tickets, priced at £50, are on sale now by email to geoffmaynard@btinternet.com
