As codes change, products improve, and end-user customers (like homeowners) desire new amenities, Chicago concrete contractors and MCA have changed to stay competitive. A major example of this is the recent trend among new homebuyers to create their basements to be suitable for more useable living space in the future. Their demands have led to the creation and adoption of the IRC-2000 code that sets standards for natural light, ventilation and egress through windows and window wells.

“The codes in 2000 changed the industry from small to very large basement windows in homes.” Mike explains. “So while window costs have gone up, the amount of light and airiness of basements has increased substantially. Basements in new homes are no longer dungeon-like places; they're additional quality living space. Since a majority of our business comes from residential contractors, the window portion of our business has grown significantly over the past two years as a result of these more costly products.”

Reducing Rebar Turnaround

MCA has not forgotten its commercial contractor customers when it comes to continually reducing turnaround time on key construction items. To that end, MCA improved its rebar operations this year by purchasing a new fabricating machine, the Schnell Bar Wiser®. This world-class piece of equipment takes straight #3, #4, #5 and #6 steel stock and cuts in within 3/64 inch tolerance in mere seconds.

In effect, fabricating time is halved and the computer-driven programs reduce the time for doing take-off work and estimates.

“This machine allows us to deliver even better product to our customers a lot more quickly than we could before,” Mike says. “And time is money to commercial guys as well as residential.”

MCA believes they fill a void in the market by keeping their customers' demands in mind at all times. This philosophy translates into everything from the way MCA sales people service their customers to the marketing efforts the company uses to increase awareness and retain customers.

“According to a survey our marketing consultant told us about, 68 percent of the customers that leave any given company within a year's time will leave because they feel an attitude of indifference from their supplier,” Mike says. “In short, because they feel like they're just not important to that company.”

Apparently, this is something MCA always knew instinctively because they have made a habit of treating their customers with integrity and TLC over the years. They also give their sales people latitude and encouragement to build their relationships with their customers.

“We give our sales people the autonomy to run their customer relationships as they see fit, Mike says.