TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At age 60, McNICHOLS Company has more than a family legacy to celebrate. This post-war-born, family-owned company started on $1,100 working capital, and is now a $200 million business selling worldwide as a leading supplier of specialty metal products.
A lot has changed since 1952, when Bob McNichols, company founder, took orders by phone in the morning, making deliveries in his station wagon that afternoon. What hasn’t changed is its culture of caring for its employees, innovative marketing, investment in technology, and unwavering attention to the customer.
“We have been fortunate to penetrate different customer segments effectively,” said Scott McNichols, grandson of the founder and president of McNICHOLS, “but the core customer service principles we practice continue to be what allows us to be successful.”
Just like the personal delivery begun by Bob McNichols, the company is known for fast custom shipping. Its 24-hour product shipment is made possible by its vast and diverse inventory and strategically locating service centers throughout the country.
Similarly, the company practices its founder’s often stated philosophy: “You can’t sell from an empty wagon.” Known as the “The Hole Story®” because all of its metal products have openings of some variety, McNICHOLS ‘ provides over 3,500 types of perforated and expanded metal, wire cloth, grating and flooring.
McNICHOLS’ products are marketed to over 800 industries throughout U.S. and foreign markets, including industrial, commercial, government, architectural and other construction-related businesses.
Building on a history of mailing millions of product catalogs annually, McNICHOLS took its marketing to new heights as an early adopter of e-marketing. The website’s e-catalog was launched a decade ago followed by its e-commerce portal.
Averaging 90,000 hits per month, the website has an interactive web tool called McNICHOLS® Virtual Designer that allows architects and contractors to see how McNICHOLS products look in a range of commercial applications “virtually.”
This fall, McNICHOLS plans to complete the launch of a Customer Relationship Management software platform, another customer-focused initiative that takes the customer experience to greater levels, while improving operational efficiencies in every unit of the company.
Meanwhile, McNICHOLS ’ 335 associates, called “The Hole Team,” are regularly rewarded for their hard work, milestones and anniversaries through incentives and special events, a practice started by its founder.
With 20 percent growth over the past two years, McNICHOLS continues its strategic planning process focusing on future goals, including adding new locations. “Careful planning has allowed us to physically expand in many new market locations and to improve and expand our customer service,” said Gene McNichols, company chairman and son of the founder.
What would Bob McNichols, who passed away in 1981, say about the company today? “Our continued reflection on our Christian foundation would be an encouragement to him as he was the one who laid that important foundation,” said Scott McNichols. “He also would be pleased with our continued focus on customer service excellence and our Hole Team associates.”
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McNICHOLS Co., founded in 1952, is the North America’s leading provider and fabricator of perforated and expanded metal, wire cloth and all types of grating and flooring to customers worldwide. Driven by a strong family legacy and catalog and Internet marketing, the company serves over 800 industries from 18 locations throughout the US, Mexico and Canada. Headquartered in Tampa, McNICHOLS maintains the ISO 9001:2000 quality standard for each of its service centers. Visit www.mcnichols.com.