Content Is King: Declarations of Independents

I recently spoke with two representatives of independent distributors who were very optimistic about the future. Earl Ward, president and CEO of NEMEON, Inc., and

Arrowhead Building Supply recently opened this new3.5-acre facility inLowell, Ark. The company has posted record sales in each of the last four years.

Richard “Rick” Pogue, sales manager and owner of Arrowhead Building Supply, Inc., are both bullish on the market despite a sluggish economy.

“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 brand-new showroom. The company also started construction on a brand-new, 42,000-square-foot facility in Springfield, Mo. Pogue noted Arrowhead has had four consecutive years of record sales since 2008, and projections for 2012 are in the area of $70 million.

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.”

For more information about the distribution and the supply chain in the roofing industry, stay tuned for our July issue of Roofing Contractor.

For more information about NEMEON, visit www.nemeon.com.

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