Get Our Email Newsletter

DEALER PROFILE: Drexel Building Supply

In 2000, Joel transitioned into his current leadership role that he titles Solution Provider. Joel’s impact on the family business has led to expansion as well as a name change.

Drexels-Flooring-DesignersAfter purchasing Drexel Interiors as an asset sale in 2009, Campbellsport Building Supply was rebranded as Drexel Building Supply in 2013. As with Drexel Interiors, many of the acquisitions Joel made were during the economic downturn, when he bucked trends by hiring more staff and adding locations.

Though Albert Fleischman remains the foundation of the company, Joel says his father isn’t actively involved currently, “but I pick his brain as often as I can.” Joel has built upon his father’s philosophy of creating a world-class buying experience for the communities and customers he serves.

LBM Resources

White Paper: Catching the Digital Transformation Wave in the LBM Industry

Catching the Digital Transformation Wave in the LBM Industry Digital strategies abound in the lumber and building materials (LBM) industry. As a distributor or pro...

“I wouldn’t be here today if it was not for the local communities and local builders,” he writes in a welcoming statement on the Drexel website (www.DrexelTeam.com). “They have not only become our customers, but our friends.”

Drexel customers are “hard-working Wisconsinites,” Joel says. General contractors make up 95% of Drexel’s business. At Drexel you’re likely to make the sale to the same person who is actually doing the work. “Our bread and butter are the guys who still swing the hammer,” Joel says.

That bread and butter will combine to help Drexel top $100 million in revenue this year, Joel anticipates.

- Advertisement -

Leading by Coaching
Joel Fleischman isn’t the only coach on staff at Drexel. In fact, there are 22. Drexel has 22 subject matter experts that the company refers to as coaches who lead teams of particular expertise. The coaches all-together oversee the just about 200 Drexel team members. Coaches communicate closely with one another and are empowered to make decisions on behalf of the company. Joel says that no one coach makes a decision without input from other coaches. If the company were to carry a new line of siding, coaches from purchasing, sales, yard, and siding departments would come together to make the decision. Group decision-making relieves stress and allows all staff to embrace change more easily.

Drexel-Campbellsport-Team“We don’t have an org chart here,” Joel says. “I feel like that’s from the 1950s.”

Doug Carlson echoes Joel’s sentiment. “We make sure we’re hiring the right people who understand our culture—they live and breathe it every day,” Doug says. “We truly believe in the concept of building world class teams within Drexel. Every person on the team needs to help separate you from the competition by focusing
on the details. In an industry that is consolidating and becoming streamlined and top heavy, we are going the other way.”

Get our free newsletter

Join thousands of other lumber and building material industry leaders and keep up with the companies, people, products and issues shaping the industry.

What's New

Digital Partners

Become a digital partner ...

Sales Comp Study

Download this 55-page, in-depth study by LBM Journal of industry trends in sales force compensation and benefits. See how your organization stacks up.

Webinars

- Advertisement -

White Papers

View all ...

- Advertisement -

Partner Content

View all ...

- Advertisement -

Registration is now open for the LBM Strategies 2024 Conference