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Never Be Out!

Guided by this simple directive, ELFCO doesn't give customers reasons to look elsewhere.

Stepping up to direct the company their father started nearly 40 years ago are, from left, Mike, Tom, Terri and Dan Gleason.

Nothing goes out the door without the ELFCO logo on it � many of the basic nuts and bolts items go in a custom ELFCO box.

When ladders come in they feature the ELFCO name and logo imprinted at the factory. When they go out, they include the customer�s name stenciled in place as a finishing touch.

Custom cutting Unistrut channel and threaded rod is a significant service that ELFCO customers have come to rely upon. A section of the new warehouse has been set aside to make it easier and more efficient to accommodate the increased demand for this value-added activity.

The new warehouse with its spacious aisles and wide racks makes filling orders fast and efficiently, much easier than in the multiple building layout of just a few years ago.

The balcony area above the offices at ELFCO holds the slower moving items and those, like power tools, that require extra security.

A recent Milwaukee tool promotion turned the showroom into a "madhouse" according to the Gleasons. They sold more than 500 hammer drills in one day as buyers responded to the unadvertised special event.

With eight overhead doors in the shipping/receiving area of the new warehouse, moving inventory from the smallest fastener to a heavy load of steel has become easy and efficient.

Don Rigg helped to get the Electrical Fastener Company off the ground. The semi-retired comptroller still has his pulse on the financial side.

Employees: 52 total, including 10 inside sales and seven outside sales
Lead lines: DeWalt, Klein Tools, Knaack, Caddy Fasteners, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Ridgid, Anvil, Unistrut Metal Framing, Ideal, Gardner Bender, Bosch, Powers Fasteners, Ramset, Power-Strut, Honda Generators, Greenlee, Werner Ladders
Computer software/technology: FACTS
Associations/Affiliations: STAFDA. Sphere 1
Website: copy www.elfco.com

'Old school' values lead to record results

The term "old school" comes up frequently when discussing the management style of the Gleason family and its approach to building a successful business. Don Rigg, now semi-retired after more than 30 years as the company's comptroller and secretary/treasurer, has seen old school values form the foundation for a company posting record numbers in the last 18 months.

"Cash flow and cash control were the two basic concerns when Jack Gleason and John Grant asked me to become involved in their business venture," recalls Rigg. "Paying attention to those details is as critical now as it was then."

When the company got off the ground, evaluating accounts was a critical procedure because it couldn't afford to fall behind or have accounts fail. "One of the things we agreed to early on was that we'd never pay a bill late - and we never did," he adds.

Whatever it takes

"This kind of business required a huge investment in building relationships with people and Jack's honest attitude opened doors to both customers and vendors. He'd make deliveries at 6 a.m. on his way to work in an old Chevy van. His motto was always: Whatever it takes!"

In 1970 Gleason and Rigg teamed to get what has evolved into today's ELFCO on sound footing.

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