Achieving long-term benefits for contractors and clients

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how the right manufacturer partnership can set you up for success in your contracting business. 

In order for a contractor to do their best work, they need the right products and the right partner. This is why Rudy Gutierrez, president and CEO of Shell Roofing Solutions, carefully chooses products, such as USG Securock® Brand Roof Boards, for success. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, he spoke to Heidi J. Ellsworth about why he picks the products he uses and how he keeps his clients on the same page. 

Rudy gave a bit of background on his business strategy, telling Heidi that it has always been and continues to be about long-term performance of a roofing system. He explained the reasoning, “More often than not, you're the one tied to that product, meaning by name. Your brand is tied to that product. And if it fails, you'll be the first phone call.” Knowing that reputation is key to their success in the field, Rudy and his team are careful to do their homework before partnering with a manufacturer. He elaborated, “Once I look at technical data sheets, I educate myself on a long-term warranty, how they work, where it can be incorporated.” And that’s how Shell Roofing Solutions has built longstanding relationships of trust, like what he has with USG Securock® Brand. 

But he made sure to note that his job isn’t complete after selecting the brand he wants to work with, he also has to get the client on board. This is where it can get a little challenging to sell the long-term solutions he believes in, as they often need more investment up front. The way he explains it to customers is, “Sometimes when you spend the least amount of money, long term it costs you way more money. It costs you money to maintain, it costs you money to repair and ultimately, you're replacing two systems within that one warranted long-term period with good performance systems.” By partnering with trusted brands, Rudy builds the best value for his customers and communicating that helps him close leads. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about what partnering with the right manufacturer can do for you and your clients in the long term.