Roofing distributor Gulfeagle Supply provides top-notch service by partnering with its customoers.

Premier Business Partners:

Tamko Building Products Inc.

Gulfeagle Supply Inc. traces its humble beginnings to 1972, when founder Jim Resch operated from a small office with a small inventory and one truck. The company he founded in Tampa, Fla., has grown from one branch to 55 locations nationwide. Today, the firm is run by the second generation of Resch’s family with son Brad Resch as  president, and has enjoyed steady growth through acquisitions, start-up locations and its diversity of products.

Now a leading distributor of residential and commercial roofing and building products that include drywall, masonry, lumber, sheet metal, siding and fireplaces, Gulfeagle’s first acquisition was Service Lumber in Jacksonville in 1975. Many other companies followed, with the most recent acquisitions including the assets of JEH/Eagle Supply, Group4, Pelican Supply and Construction Products.

Vice President of Sales and Operations Phil Harvey recently spoke with U.S. Business Review about Gulfeagle’s growth, challenges and future developments.

U.S. Business Review: How do acquisitions benefit Gulfeagle and its capabilities?
Phil Harvey: Acquisitions have allowed us to expand our coverage into outlying states and increased our buying power and product lines. Our size and financial strength provides us with purchasing power that allows our distribution centers to offer our customers competitive pricing and purchasing terms. We maintain broad product lines and inventory levels and ensure timely delivery of products. Each operating manager has the latitude to operate his business as he deems necessary, to staff his needs, and to strive to attain the highest level of customer service and satisfaction possible for his customers.  

USBR: How is the company adapting to the changing market?
PH: One of Jim Resch’s favorite sayings is, “The only thing constant in business is change.” Our business model allows us the flexibility to adapt to the changing environment and use our core strengths to deal with the changes head-on and overcome them. Gulfeagle has been growing in geography and product diversification during a period when some of the areas of the roofing business have been less than stellar, mostly new construction of homes and the lack of re-roofing business in areas where storms have been gone for a while and the business portion is done.  

Anyone can put trucks on the road, material in a warehouse and ship it to job sites. We, on the other hand, strive to provide impeccable service, top-notch product offerings and partnering with our customers. But our main point of difference is the value created by the strength of our people, through the development of our people, holding them accountable, our relationships with our customers and our focus on safety. This business philosophy is what Jim Resch has deemed our core values. Through these core values, we maintain our strong position in the industry.  

USBR: What are some of the typical challenges you encounter?
PH: The roofing business is generally a recession-proof business. But right now, there has been a dramatic decline in new home construction and in some areas affected by the recent hurricanes, such as Florida, which have caused a drop in re-roofing business. 

There are always difficult areas to address, (but we survive) because we have diversified into different markets and product lines. When business is down in some of our core areas, we have to make sure we’re diversified enough,  so we have other avenues with which to shore up our revenues.

USBR: What has been Gulfeagle’s key to success?
PH: Growth is continually maintained through the strength of (our) people. Keeping (our) employees well trained is one of Gulfeagle’s top priorities, as we want to serve our customers with the best of the best, and we have implemented many training programs to keep our managers and salespeople on top of their game.

USBR: What are you most proud of about your company?
PH: Family owned businesses sometimes lose the focus on people. Yet, Gulfeagle has remained dedicated to the welfare of our people and concerned for their long-term growth and stability. By providing superior training, strong benefit packages and a healthy work environment, we provide the type of company people want to work for and stay with.  

USBR: What’s in store for the company?
PH: We (will) constantly strive to provide the latest in product development to our people. We (will continue to) improve our training to stay on top of the cutting-edge of improvements in selling areas. We are always on the lookout for situations that fit our business model to arise, and then take advantage of them through acquisition.  

USBR: Any awards you’re proud of?
PH: Gulfside Supply, Inc. DBA Gulfeagle Supply was ranked second-fastest growing companies in the Tampa Bay area by 2003 to 2005 growth.

In 2006, Jim Resch was awarded honorary membership in the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association by unanimous vote of the member of the FRSA for his outstanding contributions.