Materials Management Reference
Complete guide to managing your materials catalog, pricing strategies, and supplier relationships for profitable estimating.
Materials Catalog System
🖼️ IMAGE: Materials Catalog Main View
Specifications:
- • Size: 1920x1080px
- • Format: PNG with numbered annotations
- • Content: Full materials page with 15-20 materials visible
- • Highlight: Search, filters, and action buttons
What to Show:
- • Materials grid with product images
- • Search bar and filter controls
- • "Add Material" button (top right)
- • Category tabs or filter sidebar
Catalog Structure
Material Categories
- • Fence Materials: Posts, panels, rails, pickets
- • Gates & Hardware: Gate frames, hinges, latches, locks
- • Installation Supplies: Concrete, screws, brackets
- • Labor & Services: Installation, removal, specialty work
- • Accessories: Caps, trim, decorative elements
Material Types
- • Wood: Cedar, pine, pressure-treated, composite
- • Vinyl/PVC: Privacy, picket, ranch rail
- • Metal: Aluminum, steel, wrought iron
- • Chain Link: Galvanized, vinyl-coated, commercial
- • Specialty: Bamboo, glass, custom materials
What You Can Do
Browse & Search
- • Search by material name, type, or description
- • Filter by category, style, price range, or availability
- • Sort by price, popularity, or alphabetical order
- • View detailed specifications and high-res images
- • Compare materials side-by-side
Customize & Configure
- • Create custom materials with your specifications
- • Set contractor-specific pricing and markups
- • Upload product images and documentation
- • Configure material variants (colors, sizes, grades)
- • Set territory-specific availability
Organize & Maintain
- • Archive discontinued materials
- • Bulk update pricing across categories
- • Export catalog data for external use
- • Track material usage and performance
- • Sync with supplier catalogs
Creating Custom Materials
🖼️ IMAGE: Material Creation Form
Specifications:
- • Size: 1200x900px
- • Format: PNG
- • Content: Complete material creation form
- • Show: All fields filled with example data
What to Show:
- • Material name and description fields
- • Category and type dropdown selections
- • Specifications section (dimensions, colors)
- • Pricing configuration with markup calculation
Material Information Fields
Basic Information
Material Name Required
Description Required
Project Category Required
Material Type Required
Unit of Measurement Required
Specifications
Dimensions Optional
Weight Optional
Color Options Optional
Style Variations Optional
Technical Specs Optional
Pricing Configuration
Cost & Pricing
Cost Price
Your actual cost from supplier (private)
Markup Percentage
Profit margin (e.g., 40% = 1.4x cost)
Selling Price
Final price shown to customers (auto-calculated)
Advanced Pricing
- • Tier Pricing: Different prices for different customer types
- • Volume Discounts: Reduced pricing for large quantities
- • Seasonal Pricing: Adjust prices based on time of year
- • Geographic Pricing: Territory-specific pricing
- • Competitive Pricing: Match or beat competitor prices
Step-by-Step: Creating a Custom Material
1
Access Material Creator
Dashboard → Materials → "Add Material" button (top right corner)
2
Fill Basic Information
Enter material name, description, select category and material type
3
Set Specifications
Define dimensions, colors, styles, and technical characteristics
4
Configure Pricing
Enter cost price, set markup percentage, verify final selling price
5
Add Images & Documentation
Upload product photos, spec sheets, and installation guides
6
Test in Estimator
Create a test estimate to verify the material works correctly
Pricing Strategies & Markup Management
🖼️ IMAGE: Pricing Configuration Interface
Specifications:
- • Size: 1400x800px
- • Format: PNG with callouts
- • Content: Pricing setup interface
- • Highlight: Markup calculation in real-time
What to Show:
- • Cost price input field
- • Markup percentage slider or input
- • Calculated selling price (auto-updated)
- • Profit margin display
Standard Markup Strategy
Category-Based Markups
Fence Materials 35-45%
Hardware 50-60%
Labor 25-35%
Specialty Items 60-80%
Best for: Consistent pricing across all projects
Competitive Pricing
Market-Based Pricing
- • Research local competitor pricing regularly
- • Price to match or beat competitors by 5-10%
- • Factor in your unique value propositions
- • Adjust based on market demand and seasonality
- • Track win/loss rates to optimize pricing
Example Strategy:
Premium materials: Match market price
Standard materials: 5% below market
Labor: 10% premium for quality guarantee
Standard materials: 5% below market
Labor: 10% premium for quality guarantee
Best for: Highly competitive markets
Value-Based Pricing
Service-Focused Pricing
- • Price based on total value delivered to customer
- • Include consultation, design, and warranty
- • Factor in convenience and time savings
- • Emphasize quality and professional service
- • Create pricing tiers with different service levels
Service Tiers:
Basic: Standard installation
Premium: Design consultation + warranty
Elite: Full-service with maintenance
Premium: Design consultation + warranty
Elite: Full-service with maintenance
Best for: Premium service positioning
Bulk Operations & Catalog Management
🖼️ IMAGE: Bulk Pricing Update Interface
Specifications:
- • Size: 1600x900px
- • Format: PNG
- • Content: Bulk update interface with materials selected
- • Show: Before/after pricing comparison
What to Show:
- • Multiple materials selected with checkboxes
- • Bulk action toolbar with pricing options
- • Percentage increase/decrease controls
- • Preview of price changes before applying
Bulk Update Features
Price Adjustments
- • Apply percentage increases/decreases across categories
- • Update specific price ranges (e.g., all materials $50-$100)
- • Set new markup percentages for material types
- • Round prices to nearest dollar or specific increments
Category Operations
- • Archive entire categories of discontinued materials
- • Move materials between categories in bulk
- • Apply consistent specifications across similar materials
- • Update supplier information for multiple materials
Import/Export
- • Import materials from supplier spreadsheets
- • Export your catalog to Excel/CSV format
- • Backup and restore material data
- • Sync with external inventory systems
Catalog Organization
Naming Conventions
Good: "Cedar Privacy Panel 6ft x 8ft Natural"
Good: "Aluminum Gate Hardware Kit - Black"
Avoid: "Panel1" or "Gate stuff"
Search Optimization
- • Include key specifications in material names
- • Add relevant keywords to descriptions
- • Use consistent terminology across similar materials
- • Tag materials with searchable attributes
Quality Control
- • Review material specifications monthly
- • Verify pricing accuracy with supplier updates
- • Update product images when materials change
- • Remove or archive discontinued items promptly
Advanced Materials Features
Material Variants
Color Variations
Create multiple color options for the same base material
Size Options
Multiple height or length options for the same material type
Grade Levels
Different quality grades with corresponding price points
Supplier Integration
Supplier Catalogs
- • Import materials directly from supplier price lists
- • Automatic price updates when suppliers change pricing
- • Track lead times and availability by supplier
- • Compare pricing across multiple suppliers
Inventory Management
- • Track on-hand inventory levels
- • Set reorder points and automatic alerts
- • Calculate material needs for upcoming projects
- • Generate purchase orders directly from platform
Cost Tracking
- • Monitor material cost trends over time
- • Alert when supplier prices increase significantly
- • Track actual vs. estimated material usage
- • Analyze profitability by material type
🖼️ IMAGE: Material Variants Configuration
Specifications:
- • Size: 1200x800px
- • Format: PNG
- • Content: Material with multiple variants
- • Show: Color/size options interface
What to Show:
- • Base material with variant options
- • Color swatches or size dropdown
- • Individual pricing for each variant
- • Variant selection in estimator preview
Materials Performance Analytics
Usage Analytics
Most Popular Materials
Track which materials are used most frequently in your estimates and projects
- • Usage frequency by material type
- • Seasonal usage patterns
- • Customer preference trends
- • Regional popularity differences
Profitability Analysis
Identify your most and least profitable materials
- • Profit margin by material
- • Total profit contribution
- • Cost trend analysis
- • Pricing optimization suggestions
Optimization Insights
Pricing Recommendations
- • AI-powered pricing suggestions based on market data
- • Identify materials priced too high or too low
- • Competitive analysis and positioning
- • Seasonal pricing adjustment recommendations
Inventory Optimization
- • Identify slow-moving or obsolete materials
- • Suggest materials to archive or discontinue
- • Recommend new materials based on customer requests
- • Optimize material mix for maximum profitability
Materials Analytics Dashboard
Ask your AI assistant for materials insights:
"Which materials have the highest profit margins?"
Analyze profitability across your entire catalog
"What materials do customers request most?"
Identify popular materials to stock and promote