The COVID-19 pandemic has had varying degrees of impact on the construction industry. Fluctuations in product availability and price have made planning and budgeting seem impossible while labor shortages have led to overworked crews and unavoidable delays in scheduling. When you combine this with the low mortgage rates driving up the demand for new homes, it can start to become overwhelming for residential construction companies.

Fortunately, entrepreneurs in the construction industry are quite savvy when it comes to controlling costs and increasing production. One of the strategies they use to accomplish this is strategic partnerships. By partnering with companies like L.E. Smith, businesses in the construction industry can take advantage of numerous benefits that include, lower cost of goods, increased production and improved customer service.

Lower costs on everything from kitchen countertops to bathroom vanities

L.E. Smith specializes in custom countertops and surfaces. We don’t build houses or sell furniture. We focus on providing the most in-demand products and materials for everything from kitchen countertops to bathroom vanities. Because of that focus, we can offer our clients the benefit of economies of scale.

As one of the largest laminate kitchen countertop companies in the country, we have tremendous purchasing power. We can purchase a variety of materials in large volumes, which allows us to negotiate lower prices on hundreds of colors, styles and materials. This cost savings benefits our clients as it helps them keep their estimates competitive without sacrificing quality.

Increased production

According to Reuters, “Job openings, a measure of labor demand, increased by 431,000 to 11.0 million,” in October. This increase was the second-highest on record. Although projections indicate this will ease slightly in 2022, the construction industry has been hit hard by labor shortages. So how can they hope to increase production when they are struggling to find skilled workers? By outsourcing specific jobs to trusted companies.

In a year when we are experiencing record-breaking labor shortages combined with a high demand for new homes, outsourcing can mean the difference between maintaining a project timeline and falling months behind schedule. “Our clients have been taking advantage of our professional installation and staging services,” said Brian Smith, Executive Director of Sales at L.E. Smith. “This allows them to move their crews to other areas of the project, and helps them stay on schedule.”

Value engineering

It’s not just business owners that are feeling the pinch with the increased costs of products and, in some cases, limited availability. New homeowners who are planning their dream home are also facing the difficult decision of increasing their budget or eliminating features and upgrades. Fortunately, when it comes to kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities, the team at L.E. Smith can help.

If a quartz kitchen island is no longer in the budget, we can step in and offer quality alternatives that meet the needs and style of the homeowner without breaking the bank. “Solid surface is a great example of this,” said Smith. “It offers the durability and beauty of quartz, at a more cost-effective price point.”

It is important to understand that value engineering does not mean sacrificing quality or choosing a substandard product in an effort to cut costs. Instead, we offer a lower-cost, high-value product as an alternative to a high-cost product. “In this example, solid surface can surpass the aesthetics of quartz, giving homeowners the exact style and durability that attracted them to granite.”

L.E. Smith can expertly value engineer any project by offering hundreds of colors and styles in the following materials.

• Laminate
• Solid Surface
• PVC Edge Tops
• VanitEase™ bathroom vanities
  • Granite
  • Quartz
  • Cultured marble

Outstanding customer service

When outsourcing, it is important to find a partner who shares your commitment to offering quality products and customer service. At L.E. Smith, our goal is to ensure that our clients are more profitable and successful as a result of partnering with us.

We consider ourselves an extension of our client’s team, and we take our job seriously. Just a few of the benefits of working with L.E. Smith include:

• Impeccable quality that will exceed your clients’ expectations on every job
• Industry-leading turn times so you don’t have to worry about costly delays or schedule changes
• Professional installation so that you can reduce your workload and still see your profit margins grow
• Scalability to accommodate large commercial projects as easily as small residential projects without compromising quality or timelines

To us, you are not just a customer, you are a long-term partner. If you are interested in learning more about how The L.E. Smith Company can help you increase your profit margin and reduce labor pains, contact us at insidesales@lesmith.com or call 419-636-4555.