search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Low Slope Roofing

Independent Distributors

Refuse to Participate in the Recession

By Chris King
independents1

 Arrowhead Building Supply’s showrooms feature a variety of products on display. The Hollister location features two miniature homes. 

independents2

 Arrowhead offers custom-made Job Lockers designed for on-site storage of materials and tools. 

independents3

 Arrowhead Building Supply recently opened this new 3.5-acre facility in Lowell, Ark. The company has posted record sales in each of the last four years. 

independents1
independents2
independents3
July 5, 2012

The economic downturn has been especially tough on the construction industry, but the roofing segment has been more resilient than most. Despite of the tough economy, some independent distributors have had record years recently. Two representatives of independent distributors, Earl Ward, president and CEO of NEMEON, Inc., and Richard “Rick” Pogue, sales manager and owner of Arrowhead Building Supply, Inc., shared their thoughts on the market with Roofing Contractor.

“In early 2008, Arrowhead Building Supply boldly chose not to participate in the current economic recession,” said Pogue. Headquartered in St. Peters, Mo., Arrowhead Building Supply just opened its newest location — its sixth branch — inLowell, Ark. The 3.5-acre facility includes 30,000 square feet of warehouse space and a showroom featuring a variety of different products, including home facades complete with sidewalks, landscaping, and decks. There’s even a street sign at a crosswalk that reads “Arrowhead Way” and “Arrowhead Lane.”

“We have decided to ‘sell the dream’ in all of our showrooms, as our General Manager, Jim LoPiccolo says, in order to make the selection process easier for our customers,” Pogue said.

The company also started construction on a brand-new, 42,000-square-foot facility in Springfield, Mo. “The new Springfield location will be the state-of-the-art facility in our entire industry, said Pogue. “This new building will host a 5,000-square-foot showroom with two miniature homes inside to display product and give a realistic feel to our customers who are there to pick products and colors. As with our Hollister, Mo., location, Springfield will have a drive-thru window, just like at a fast food restaurant, allowing customers to call ahead and have material ready for pickup when they arrive, never having to exit their vehicle.”

Despite the tough economic climate, Arrowhead has had four consecutive years of record sales since 2008, noted Pogue. “Over the last 11 years, we have grown from a $7 million company in 2000, to a $53 million company in 2011. Projections for 2012 are in the area of $70 million and, with all of the spring 2012 storm activity in the St. Louis area, sales will probably be well north of that figure, with only six total locations.”

 

Strength in Numbers

Arrowhead Building Supply is part of NEMEON, a roofing and siding distribution cooperativeheadquartered in Woodbury, Minn. According to its president and CEO, Earl Ward, NEMEON is comprised of more than 180 independent roofing and siding distributors — with more than 500 branches across the country — who are all equal owners. According to Ward, working together has helped NEMEON’s member companies be more profitable. “Business has been very good overall,” he said. “The independent distributors have weathered the recession very well and are positioned well to capitalize on the improving economic conditions.”

The cooperative offers purchasing power and other perks. “We concentrate on the purchasing aspects but have introduced many initiatives including development of a national presence through our NEMEON Network, point of sale digital signage program. We have also introduced our own private brand — LionGUARD — which is comprised of professional-grade complementary and accessory products produced exclusively for NEMEON by the industry’s premier manufacturers. Our newest initiative is our Buy Local campaign. Our membership has national strength while maintaining their local ownership and independence. Buy Local will bring to the forefront the opportunities and advantages of doing business with locally owned and independent roofing and siding distributors.”

Members can also learn from one another. “Working together in the cooperative model gives the independent the ability to share best practices and utilize the collective leverage necessary to not only survive but thrive in this highly competitive marketplace and feel good about perpetuating their business,” said Ward. “We also see that contractors are recognizing that doing business with the local independent distributors is good business as they can develop strong owner to owner relationships.”

It’s those relationships that can help both contractors and distributors cope with an uncertain world ahead. “Going forward, contractors need to stay close to their suppliers to be on the cutting edge of information as more changes are sure to come,” said Ward.

Pogue agrees, and urges businesses to focus on what they do best. “My father and our company president, Jerry Pogue, taught me long ago that you cannot be all things to all people,” he said. “He is correct, as usual. Instead, we have chosen to focus on being the very best at what we do, and customers have rewarded us with a lot of business. In short, if you put out a superior product, customers will find you, and they have done just that in large numbers.”

 For more information about NEMEON, visit www.nemeon.com. For more information about Arrowhead Building Supply, visit www.arrowheadbuildingsupply.com.

KEYWORDS: AEC industry economic analysis NEMEON

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Chris King is editor of Roofing Contractor. He can be reached at 248-244-6497.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Editor's Note
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Sustainable Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • TAMKO Titan XL Shingles
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Built for Business: How Titan XT® Shingles Keep Proving Their Value

  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

Popular Stories

The Home Depot is weighing a bid for GMS. The potential offer would pit the retail giant against QXO Inc.

UPDATE: Home Depot Pushes QXO Out of GMS Pursuit

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

Brad Jacobs, chairman and CEO of QXO, offers $5 billion to acquire GMS, a major distributor of gypsum and interior building products.

QXO Sets Its Sights on GMS in $5 Billion Offer

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • CoverStory-0323-MainImg-900.jpg

    Independent Distributors in Roofing Trade Emerge Stronger from the Supply Crunch

    See More
  • DISTRIBUTORS Help Contractors Boost Sales

    See More
  • King's Corner: Distributors Work Together to Ensure Jobsite Safety

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 007145828X.jpeg

    Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems Fourth Edition

  • roofingconstructionestimatingrevised_web_1.png

    Roofing Construction & Estimating Revised

  • guyed-steel.gif

    Guyed Steel Stacks

See More Products
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing