Specializing in consumable items for pallet recyclers, HUB Industrial Supply of Lake City, Fla. strives to be a one-stop-shop for a wide variety of products, especially, bandsaw blades, resaw blades, safety supplies, chemicals and paint, janitorial supplies, welding accessories, fasteners and much more.
Gabriel Curry, president of HUB Industrial, said, “HUB has made a science out of saving its customers money and we know how to have a good time doing it.” HUB’s recent promotion challenges customers that it can save them $4,995 or will pay a $500 bounty. This is typical of HUB’s business philosophy built around cost savings, contests and giveaways.
HUB saves customers money through sourcing quality, low cost consumable products and offering them at discounted prices. In addition, HUB saves customers money by reducing their inventory costs. Curry said, “Holding too much inventory is expensive, but running out costs even more. Our mission is to convince our customers that they can safely reduce their inventory because we will have it when they need it. If they knew they could trust their supplier—really knew beyond a shadow of doubt—they could afford to reduce their stockpiles and put their inventory money towards something more profitable.”
HUB offers a wide variety of products that are all showcased in a 48-page catalog designed specifically for pallet businesses and supported by a dedicated website (www.palletinsider.com).
To make this just-in-time procurement a reality, Curry instituted a “same day shipping guarantee” that promises a $100 check to a customer if anything ordered from the catalog doesn’t ship on the same day. “Everyone at HUB knows the same-day promise is a big deal,” Curry said. “And as a consequence, we haven’t had to write very many of those checks.”
Another money-saving strategy that HUB champions is fighting the hidden costs of purchase orders. “We’ve analyzed this and researched it extensively,” Curry said. “Every purchase order a company generates sets in motion a chain reaction that requires the participation of staff from purchasing, accounting, bookkeeping, receiving, management, and back to accounting. It costs $75-$150 from beginning to end.” Curry insists that a company could save big if they would buy the supplies they need using just a few purchase orders instead of twenty.
Although HUB is involved in other industries besides pallet companies, Curry takes an active interest in the pallet portion of the business since he worked so hard to develop pallets as a HUB specialty. He is joined by national account manager Samuel Lacey and industry specialist Jonny Guinn in serving pallet customers.
The mention of the HUB Industrial name brings a smile to many faces because this company has established a reputation for having fun doing business. HUB is well known for giving away radio controlled helicopters by the hundreds. Anyone who has tuned into its “Monday Morning Minute” video that gets emailed out every week will often find a reason to start their week with a chuckle. For more information or to place an order, call Sam at 800/743-9401 or visit www.hubindustrial.com .
