Labor Savers: A tough job made easy
The following article is part of a series of interviews with companies offering solutions designed for speed and efficiency at or near the job site. The series ran as “Labor Savers” in the March 2018 issue of HBSDealer.
With a name like E-Z, the job has to be easy and quick. That’s the message from E-Z Gutter, produced by Saint Clair, Mo.-based Midwest Enterprises. With more than 25 different gutter guards in its portfolio, dozens of patents and more than 250 years of experience in the gutter business, the company has mastered a science behind gutter protection and ease of installation. HBSDealer recently spoke with Jim Ealer Jr., VP of sales and marketing at E-Z Gutter.
The name E-Z Gutter implies that this is a product that can be installed easily and quickly. Is that the intention?
Yes, we took the knowledge from our experience in the wholesale market — we have more than 100 million feet of gutter protection professionally installed and have developed a new line that just snaps into k-style gutters.
It also snaps out for effortless maintenance, which all gutters will need from time to time. This makes E-Z Gutter Guards the simplest and quickest line to install available from the retail market.
What are some of the product lines you produce?
We offer three types of gutter protection: E-Z-Quick, E-Z-ZipTight and E-Z-Shield, along with E-Z Gutter accessories.
Given the tight labor market, has that climate impacted E-Z’s go-to-market strategy?
Yes, we highlight how simple it is to install on all of our marketing materials.
Who are your core customers? What are you hearing from them?
We sell E-Z/retail to smaller contractors, maintenance people and DIYers. You don’t need to be a gutter mechanic to have exceptional gutter protection with E-Z.
Do you think the labor shortage provides a boost to your branding?
Yes, anytime you can cut the labor in half, still have a superior finished job and know it will be there for years, unlike the foam or plastic guards, people will ask for E-Z Gutter Guards again and again.
Has the labor shortage changed how you market yourself and new products down the line?
Midwest Enterprises has always designed and manufactured E-Z products to cut the labor time on each job since 1983.
Catch Up: HBSDealer published one Q&A every day this week with someone from each of the following companies regarding its labor-saving products: Hyphen Solutions, White Lightning, Georgia-Pacific, Epicor and E-Z Gutter.
