In this episode of DriveTime, Chip Hanson, chairman and CEO of J-B Weld Company, discusses the wide appeal of the company’s line of J-B Weld adhesives.
Hanson explains how the company is preparing to launch a new line of adhesives for professionals to meet growing demand and expand beyond the DIY market.
From Garage Roots to Universal Appeal
“There was really no big strategic lightning bolt that said we should go into more professional-type products,” Hanson explained. “We get calls all the time from professionals who say, ‘why don’t you sell us this in larger sizes’? It really isn’t a strategic initiative as much as it is demand being put on us from customers who said, ‘why aren’t you doing this?’ It just evolved and that’s what we’ve turned into and said, let’s give it a shot.”
“From a branding standpoint, we’re blessed to have a great brand already that most everybody’s heard of,” Hanson continued.
J-B Weld Employee Ownership Drives Success
Hanson described the company’s employee-owned structure and explained why it motivates its workforce. He believes transparency and ownership create a stronger personal investment in success.
“When you own something and you can see the results – and we’re very transparent about our overall results – you take an interest in it at a higher level, and when you take a higher-level interest, you pay more attention and you do more to make it succeed,” he explained. “That’s really been our secret to success. We have a lot of people who say, ‘I just don’t see myself wanting to work somewhere else.’ So, to me, it’s the way to go.”
Episode Overview:
- Hanson’s professional background, and how he ended up at J-B Weld Company (0:51).
- J-B Weld to launch a line of adhesives for the professional market (2:13).
- Professional adhesive line distribution (3:12).
- Hanson discusses what the company’s employee-owned ownership model does for employee engagement, product quality and company success (5:52).
- Outlook for J-B Weld and the aftermarket over the next few years (9:12).
- Lightning Round (12:55).
