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Solid surface countertops are making a comeback

Third-generation builder says solid surface countertops are making a comeback After 50 years of new home construction and renovation, Welling Construction, Inc. has seen just about everything when it comes to kitchen and bathroom trends. Although some trends are gone forever, think avocado green kitchens and carpeted bathrooms, there is one that is making a welcome comeback. “When we first started in the early 70s, laminate was the trend in bathroom vanities and kitchen countertops,” said Sean Welling, 3rd generation owner of Welling Construction, Inc. In the 90s, that trend shifted to solid surface which reigned in popularity until the early…

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70 Years of Experience and WBE Certification

Our Experience and WBE Certification Will Help Your Business Grow 1950 was a big year for new beginnings. Cinderella premiered on the big screen, the comic strip Peanuts was published for the first time, and Lawrence E. Smith opened a small business called The L.E. Smith Company. Although L.E. Smith does not have the same celebrity status as Cinderella and Charlie Brown, they do share a few common traits. Building a business from the ground up took a strong work ethic and creativity. It also required the ability to face challenges with a sense of humor and a drive toward…

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Antimicrobial countertops and surfaces

Home renovation projects lead to demand for antimicrobial countertops and surfaces For the past year, COVID-19 has changed the way we live in our homes. What once was a place where we came to relax at the end of a long day is now where we spend the majority of our time. While this transition has helped many people get back to basics with home-cooked meals and family game nights, it has also magnified the areas of the house that need to be updated or repaired. As a result, the construction industry is seeing a dramatic increase in the demand…

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A milestone year for L.E. Smith

Celebrating 70th-anniversary and certification by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council The year 2020 has proven to be a milestone year for The L.E. Smith Company. Along with celebrating our 70th anniversary, we are also proud to announce our certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council, Ohio River Valley. “L.E. Smith has always been committed to equity, and that commitment has been both differentiating and positively impactful to our results,” said Laura Juarez, shareholder and chairperson of the board. “We’ve intentionally created a leadership team where diversity of perspective, life experience and skill are celebrated and…

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Optimizing profits in the slow season

Rain, snow, sleet and hail may not stop mail delivery throughout the year, but it does have a significant impact on businesses in the construction industry. This is especially true for those of us that deal with harsh winters followed by unpredictable spring weather. Although we joke that we may see three seasons worth of weather in a single day, it is difficult to find the humor when it begins to impact our bottom line. For many businesses this time of year, the drop in temperature also means a drop in profits. Although this may not be not true for…

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Leverage your competitive advantage for effective marketing

As a business owner, you are no stranger to understanding your customers’ needs. After all, you built a business around providing goods or services that fulfill those needs. What proves to be a little more difficult is understanding and marketing your competitive advantage. According to smallbusiness.chron.com, “A small business builds a competitive advantage by providing a better overall value to customers than competitors are able to.” That competitive advantage is the message that you want to include in all of your marketing efforts, as it is the reason customers will choose to do business with you rather than your competitors.…

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Top benefits of choosing a single supplier for all your surface needs

On any construction job, there are a lot of moving pieces that must be seamlessly coordinated in order to stay on track with project timelines. Many contractors have chosen to simplify this process by selecting a single source supplier for all of their countertop and surface needs. Not only does this save them time by eliminating the need to coordinate multiple suppliers, orders and deliveries, it can also lead to increased profit margins. At L.E. Smith, we take our role as your partner seriously. As a result, here are a few of the advantages our clients benefit from when they…

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Casework Company Increases Profit Margins with L.E. Smith

At The L.E. Smith Company, we have the privilege of working with clients from a number of different segments. They include residential and commercial builders, casework/millwork cabinet shops, and kitchen and bath retailers. Recently, we had the privilege of partnering with a casework company to submit a packaged quote for a large commercial project. Rather than dividing their efforts and manufacturing the entire quote for cabinetry and surfaces, the casework company chose to partner with L.E. Smith. This allowed them to focus on the cabinet portion of the project that would increase their profit margins. The Quoting Stage As with…

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Outsourcing Offers a Competitive Advantage for Small Businesses

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they can be found in every industry throughout the United States. The construction industry is no exception. As a matter of fact, an article published on eyeonhousing.org  stated that “residential construction remains the industry of independent entrepreneurs with 81 percent of homebuilders and specialty trade contractors being self-employed.” This research, provided by the National Association of Home Builders, is conducted every five years and is a continuing trend. Whether working in residential or commercial construction, independent entrepreneurs have become savvy in the art of cutting costs without sacrificing quality. One of…

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Value Engineering: Laminate and Solid Surface Rising in Popularity

For over a decade, granite and quartz have topped the charts for popular kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities. In addition to being a coveted material in private homes, rental properties also jumped on the trend in order to offer high-end upgrades that would attract loyal tenants. Unfortunately, the granite and quartz trend has been dramatically impacted by rising costs and increased tariffs.  What once was a smart investment, is now priced so high that a return on investment is no longer a guarantee. Offering low cost, high-value alternatives Value engineering is defined as a systematic approach to improving the value…

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