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Owned and Operated Growth

Home Service Contractors: Stop Overpaying for Parts!

πŸ“… September 18, 2025 ⏱️ 37:19 🎀 John Wilson, Jen Laughlin

Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Introduction to We Supply Trades
    John Wilson introduces Jen Laughlin from We Supply Trades, an online supply house, and outlines the episode's focus on saving on materials and wholesale partnerships.
  • 3:24
    Understanding We Supply Trades
    Jen explains that We Supply Trades is an online supply house offering a wide variety of HVAC, plumbing, light electrical, tools, and lighting products, including major brands and exclusive offerings.
  • 5:23
    Direct E-commerce Surprises
    Jen discusses the surprising challenges and insights from running a direct e-commerce platform, such as identifying fraudulent orders and understanding regional product nuances.
  • 9:43
    Access to Parts and Savings
    The discussion shifts to how We Supply Trades provides access to essential parts and supplies, emphasizing competitive pricing, quality products, and the value of their OEM parts.
  • 13:09
    Driving Margins with Exclusive Brands
    Jen explains how contractors can drive margins by considering We Supply Trades' exclusive brands, Stream 33 (plumbing) and Breeze 33 (HVAC), which offer quality and cost savings.
  • 16:47
    Warranty and Consumable Insights
    The conversation delves into the warranty benefits of We Supply Trades' exclusive brands, particularly for products like PEX, and the significant savings possible on high-volume consumable items.
  • 23:11
    Customer Types and Service
    Jen describes the different types of customers, from one-off orders to inventory replacement, and highlights the company's commitment to exceptional customer service and being a 'savior' for contractors needing specific parts.
  • 34:43
    The Value of a Good Partnership
    The discussion focuses on the importance of open communication and trust in contractor-wholesaler relationships, with We Supply Trades valuing feedback to improve services and product offerings.
  • 42:10
    Challenges and Growth Priorities
    Jen shares the challenges of managing a vast number of SKUs and the company's roadmap for growth, prioritizing customer feedback to improve offerings like tax exemptions, shipping options, and product additions.
  • 50:50
    Addressing Rural and Urban Needs
    The episode concludes with how We Supply Trades addresses the needs of contractors in rural areas and congested urban centers by providing fast, reliable shipping for critical parts, including same-day shipping options.

Speakers

J
John Wilson
Host
J
Jen Laughlin
We Supply Trades

Key Takeaways

✦

Explore alternative suppliers and exclusive brands (like Stream 33 and Breeze 33) to identify significant cost savings on commonly used parts and consumables, potentially boosting gross margins by 50-60%.

✦

Leverage 'Pro Accounts' with suppliers like We Supply Trades for benefits such as discounted pricing (10-15% off), free shipping on orders over $99, and access to bulk pricing discounts.

✦

Actively provide feedback to wholesalers about product needs, pricing, and shipping to help them better serve your specific requirements, fostering a strong, mutually beneficial partnership.

✦

Understand the warranty policies of alternative brands; some exclusive brands offer comparable or even better warranties than established brands, even across different product components.

✦

For contractors in rural areas or congested cities, utilize online supply houses with fast shipping (e.g., same-day shipping) to reduce inventory overhead and ensure quick access to necessary parts, minimizing downtime.

✦

Implement a system to audit your most frequently purchased SKUs to identify opportunities for switching to more cost-effective alternative brands, starting with the top 500 items.

✦

Diversify your supply chain by not getting 'locked in' to a single brand or supplier, which can lead to overpaying; instead, continually assess what other opportunities are available.

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