In any industry, even ours, people make the difference. If one product or service in any industry was overwhelmingly better than another, there wouldn’t be a choice for very long. This is an example of entrepreneurial spirit and culture building in its very definition.
Most people outside the metal plate connected wood truss industry view connector plates as a common, almost commodity product. That isn’t the case. Today, plates and software are exclusive to each other. What then is the difference? Some would say price, some would say software, but most would say relationships or people.
Every component manufacturer uses connector plates every day. They may look similar, but the differences between brands are enough to make them exclusive. Connector plates are a consumable in your business and likely the smallest percentage of cost in what you do every day.
Software is another vendor-specific value and today’s design software is rapidly changing for the better. Long gone are the days where libraries of common designs were catalogued and used repeatedly. The software has gotten more sophisticated in what it can do. From CAD overlays to live 3D viewports to sharing models over the web without an app, we have seen a remarkable improvement in the past couple of decades. The software constantly gets better and more efficient, mostly out of necessity. Today’s design staff is younger and largely less experienced than the typical staff of 20 years ago. Software has to be smarter, more robust, and must have an engaging interface.
Finally, there are the people. If all else were similar, the people are what sets one dealer, store, brand, or vendor apart from another. Certainly you have choices on where you shop for certain items, but if you are like me, you find yourself at the same place time after time. In our industry, you need a partner and not simply a supplier. Someone who takes the time to understand your business and how you run it. You don’t need someone telling you what you should do, rather you need to know how they can help you. Your supplier needs to provide solutions and not just products.
As a component fabricator, you must buy plates. Are you buying them from someone who makes you feel appreciated? Someone who will stop at nothing to ensure you are successful? What problem has your supplier helped you solve this year, this month, or this week? Anyone can sell you a product, but a true vendor partner will stop at nothing to ensure you succeed.
We are rapidly approaching BCMC 2022. If you are a first-time attendee, you will not regret it. If you are a returning visitor, then you’re already looking forward to it just like I am. Either way, please stop by and say hello. We would love to meet you and prove how our people make the difference.