Episode 1: More Than Metal - The Past

In the first episode of Metal Life, Chad & Consuela sit down with owner & CEO Isaac Libbey to talk about how Best Buy Metals began, the challenges of the early days, major growth moments, and the lessons learned along the way.

This episode dives into leadership, perseverance, company culture, and what it means to build something that lasts as BBM approaches 25 years in business.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome to Metalife. This podcast exists to have real conversations about leadership, business, growth, people, and the lessons learned along the way. While our roots are in metal roofing and manufacturing, this podcast is really about something bigger, building people, building culture, and building something that lasts. That's why we're calling this first series More Than Metal. Over the first three episodes, we're going to talk about our past, our present, and our future, not just as a company, but as people. Because every business has products, buildings, and equipment, but what really shapes an organization are the sacrifices, decisions, and challenges and values behind it all. So in this first episode, we're looking back. How did Best Buy Metals begin? What were the early struggles? What did it take to survive, grow, and continue moving forward through uncertainty and change? These conversations aren't polished corporate answers, they're real stories from real people who lived it. And understanding where we all came from helps explain who we are today. So let's get into episode one of More Than Metal. Since we're rebooting a vision that started several years ago and uh called Metal Life as well. And we have spent some time, we've spent some money, we've spent some effort, and we are so excited for this today. So we will dive more into in the future in terms of uh what Metallife is going to be and what we're going to speak into. We're super, super excited. You know, I'll just say this the the goal is not just to create content uh for people to listen to and to watch, but to actually uh add value to uh our listeners and our audience and be able to speak into things, everything from community impact to contractors to roofers to obviously metals, but much, much more than that. So for today, we're gonna go ahead and just jump right in. This is the first of a three-part series called Beyond Metal. Uh obviously, metal is our business. Uh, that's our product, but people is our business. And so we wanted to give some perspective in terms of who we are as a company. And today we're gonna talk about our past and uh where we've come from. And so today, joining us, I have the privilege and the honor to sit down with the Libby family. And um it's super, super uh it's such a great honor uh to sit down with them and to be able to hear them have a conversation between father and daughter. So let's start. Uh Kinsuela, tell us who you are and what you do for the company.

SPEAKER_00 3:14

Yeah, um, I'm our communications coordinator here. Um, like Chad said, we're super excited to be getting started with this. It's been a long time coming. Um, so I think it's gonna be really good.

SPEAKER_02 3:24

Great, great. And then obviously we have Isaac Libby umself here in person, and uh super glad that he took the time to be with us today. Obviously, this is important to him uh as well. So why don't y'all just kind of take it from here and uh and let us listen into your conversation?

SPEAKER_00 3:40

Yeah, for sure. So we want to start out kind of going back to the beginning. Um so first of all, he's want to get um how the company started, you know, where it all began, and what made you choose the metal industry?

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Yes, I mean it's it's great to be on here today and talk with you guys, you all. I guess really looking all the way back, you know, I could share a little bit about um where we where we began, you know, just teenager straight out of high school. Um if we went that far back, we were we were building homes, you know, working for a contractor. And then as we got out of high school, we went right on into uh continuing to build homes from the ground up and did a variety of different aspects, and we had a crew and went on doing that ourselves, you know. As we got into it, we had some friends uh in in Florida that had got into that had did the metal and and we went there a number of times and and I seen some of the manufacturing, and it did get my mind um intrigued on this particular type of industry. So we didn't uh jump right into it initially. We continue building and and then we decided, you know what, there's a there's an opportunity there rather than going from place to place building. And so I think that's really that's really what prompted us to to begin.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Yeah, yeah, that's great. Um I also want to ask, what were some of the biggest struggles in the early days?

SPEAKER_01 5:08

I'll tell you what, I think uh that that's a that's a great question. I know for me it was probably trying to balance out between uh work life and pretty much really between work and work, because when you ask that question, when you're first trying to get kicked off, uh as as you know, we started out very small. I took a few of the guys that were on the crew that worked for us building homes, and we only had just uh just three of us, really. And so at that time when you start out there's really no income for the new business, you know. Most as most know, you you start out by on faith and you you it takes time to build, it takes time. So the biggest challenge was to keep everything else going while we were beginning. So we would go in and we started out with just this real small uh storefront building that we we built right in front of the warehouse and we would work during the day, and then at night we'd go in and we'd work on some of the other projects that we were used to doing. Like we'd wire, we'd do electrical for homes at night. So we would go right into wiring the homes, work till midnight, one o'clock in the morning, two o'clock in the morning. That way you still had some income coming in. Then we'd take a take a few hours' sleep and get do it all over again. So that was probably the biggest challenge, just trying to get it started.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

Yeah. Um You know what was there ever a moment where you weren't sure if things would work out?

SPEAKER_01 6:43

You know, you always when you jump into something like this, you definitely have ambition and you have goals, you have you you but the unknowns are still unknown because it was very new to us. We've never took on quite that type. So yeah, I'm back of our head, you're like, well, I really pray and hope you know this all comes together and we felt good about it, but there's always those times because it does take a while for things to start rolling.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

Yeah. I didn't have the privilege of seeing as much of the earlier, earlier days because I was pretty young, but I have had the opportunity to see like current struggles and like how you guys get past that and take that on. So I think that's really good. Um, what was the first big win or what you would say the turning point?

SPEAKER_01 7:34

I think, you know, for us it was, you know, at the beginning we didn't have the equipment really to run the panels. So we were counting on other providers and we had to build the clients or customer base, contractors, those around us to really establish a base so that we felt comfortable. I know everyone does it a different way, some will jump right in with equipment and investments and and uh but we we had felt to step into it and try to keep a a healthy balance. So when the equipment, whenever we got to it was actually a couple years in, we were we felt good about how the company was going, but a couple years in when we was able to get some of the manufacturing equipment, um, the brake was the first thing for trim, and then we was able to get the roll former. To me, I felt like that was a turning point because at that point we could really provide the customer service and take care of our our clients, our customer contractors in a in a much better way. So that was probably for me.

SPEAKER_00 8:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:35

So did you start with one roll former? We did. Yeah, one roll former. The actually the break for the trim, we we end up going that route first, then we got the roll former. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:47

Yeah, yeah. And we've definitely seen that have a huge impact, obviously. That's definitely helped get us to where we are today. Um, I would say what opportunities do you think have helped the company grow the most? I know that's probably one of them, but amongst other things.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

Opportunities. Oh, you know whenever we were able to we felt it was in a good position and add new leaders to the team and those around us, surround us by people that that we knew we had confidence in that really could help us take it to a new level.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

That was I would think would be a Yeah, for sure. Um, how do you feel about where the company is at today or right now?

SPEAKER_01 9:30

I feel like that um very thankful for for how it's growing, for the team we have around us, for the the leadership that's here. And uh really overall each branch going going forward in a great way. And uh so we feel good about the direction and we got a lot a lot of goals. I'm sure we'll talk about a different uh um we spoke with even with the leadership team recently, so I feel really good about it.

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Definitely. Um just to get a little bit personal here, what does being the part of the company mean to you personally?

SPEAKER_01 10:06

Personal. So I guess since you're your daughter, you think I can we can get personal.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

Yep. Okay pretty much.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Ask me that one more time.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

So what does being part of the company mean to you personally?

SPEAKER_01 10:20

Well, for me, it's more than just uh making a living. It is making a living, you know, for our family and those around us. But for me, I've s I guess seeing it from the beginning and the and the growth, and then I see our team or you know, really our family that works with us and many of them for for years. So we got our we got several in our immediate family that that work here, and then we have those that just become family and we work together every day. And so I enjoy seeing each individual take ownership and grow as they and and benefit for their families as we continue to grow. And and also our community, really just we building these relationships. We got such good um relationship, good great community contractors, those that we've I mean we we seen some just the other week when it are Appreciation Day contractors that's been here for the for as long as we've been open. So I enjoy seeing these, yeah, talking with them and experiencing and and uh just looking back for years. And so it it's always uh enjoyable.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:31

You know, I I I just uh from from my perspective, speak into that a little bit, like talking about hearing you talk about family. Um, you know, one of the things that I've I've loved here from really immediately was you you guys do a really good job, even though you do have immediate family members work here. Um I feel like family. Uh it's an extension of your family. And so you guys do a really, really good job at bringing everyone in to a sense of family, and uh you're very, very intentional. And um that's one of the that's one of the hooks for many of us, right? Because that's very uncommon to find of a it's not just family-owned, but it's a family atmosphere with all of us as well.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Absolutely. I appreciate you saying that because to me that's what you that's the way we want it to feel. Because I mean we we work take care of our families, but we spend a lot of time with each other, right? And so we're spending all these time, we want, you know, the the friendships here are important, important to me, you know, it's people we work with, we live with. And so although um we understand we're each one's here to take care of the families, but at the same time we we have to live for the moment too, you know, one day at a time because it goes by so fast. I mean, I don't know where all these years went by.

SPEAKER_02 12:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

So it's uh it's a it's a journey, and it's and so we have to enjoy the journey as we go, not just and I I have to remind myself of that because we have so many goals and ambitions. You you and I'll even tell our team and talk with them is goals are great. We need goals, we have to have ideas, thoughts, direction. But the fact is today's the day we're living. That's right. And so enjoy the day. Um and and when because when you get to that goal, there's always gonna be another goal. True. Like you may feel like you never get there. So enjoy the journey and and and do everything to to be uh pleasing to God in the process. So that's good.

SPEAKER_00 13:28

Yeah, I know for me, obviously, this company has had a lot of impact on my life. Um I feel like I've been throughout here all my childhood. I've had the opportunity to learn a lot of things. I always joke and say that I've tried almost everything because it feels like for every summer I was doing something new. And it was challenging, but I'm really thankful for it. And that's, you know, that means a lot to me also.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

You know, that that that has been an uh global part for me too, to see my family, to see you, because you're right. You know, the fact is you have stepped into so many different roles and and excelled at really all of them, stepped right in there and and and learned every process. So you know a good bit about the company and and able to do uh many different aspects.

SPEAKER_02 14:14

You know, one of the goals with Metal Life is um always to find moments where people there are takeaways or and you know, we we learn and we glean information from other people's journey and their story, like you've even been sharing today. Uh so a few uh a few questions um in terms of leadership and possible takeaways for those listening. What would you say is a hard lesson you've learned uh along the way, um perhaps through even pain or mistakes?

SPEAKER_01 14:45

We're getting more personal now. Oh yeah, no doubt. You know, I'm always learn I I'm always learning. I'm I'm trying to learn from uh from my mistakes and learn from those around me. And I th I think one of the ones that could be the hardest for some to do, and it was for me at the beginning, and still at times, is to realize the people you surround yourself with, the leaders you bring them in, is to give them leadway to be able to to help. You know, everyone's got different uh uh talents, expertise, God's way God made us. And so to allow the leaders that are here to to use the talents that they have and not to hold back because I say that, but in order for that to work, I have to let go too of some things. So and that's not easy to do because true, you know, it's you know when you start out you people can tell. But in order for the company to grow, and I've learned both the hard way and because there's time not times, there's plenty of times I've not let go, right? And and there's times that go and then I try to pull it right back in because I'm a little uneasy about it. Like the pain you're talking about. It's like, wait a minute, well, but in results, you still have to find that balance on how much you allow because how much you just allow leaders and different ones within the company to do what they very capable of doing.

SPEAKER_02 16:10

Yeah. So you know, that's probably a struggle for a lot of business owners, uh, even you know, entrepreneurs or leaders in general, you know, that might be listening, is it's always that balance of uh how do I let go? What do I need to be involved with, you know, who I need to raise up, what does that process look like? Because without being intentional with that, it's easy just to kind of hang on and and but that's part of of an evolving company is learning, you know, what you did and what you had to do personally five, ten years ago. Obviously, you uh can't do uh now. So um so you know, there's a lot of businesses that talk about growth. Um and there's um you know, growth in a lot of ways. What's something growth has cost you personally that people would rarely see?

SPEAKER_01 17:01

I think uh a lot some may not realize how much you really take home with you. Even though you try not to, they say you don't but you know when you're growing, especially in certain times when you're adding new locations when you're in the day-to-day work, it's hard to get everything ready for the next day, especially when you got multiple individuals working on all different things. You want to be prepared. So you go home, you know, spend time with your families. Important. I've always said it's important. So this is things the the question you asked me is something I continually try to reel back in. And I actually I tell our team the same thing because I want their families is very important. Yeah. So the least you can take home with you, the better. But the fact is, when you're in a growing time, there are certain times, many times, I guess I should say, where uh you go home and you have to you still have to brainstorm, you're working on what you're gonna do next. How's this how's this show where I'm gonna develop, what we're gonna do with this building, what what uh equipment we need to get next. So your mind's thinking sometimes you have to jot it down when you're supposed to be sleeping, you wake up and like, oh, that's what I need to do. And where'd that come from? You're supposed to be sleeping, right? So I think in a growth period, that would probably be one of the things that gets me.

SPEAKER_02 18:18

Yeah, that's good. You know, and just for some more context in terms of the family, you know, so your CEO, Angel is CFO, and then you've got multiple kids that work here. Uh I just thought of an idea. Maybe you need a clock-out table at the dinner table. And that would be great. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Like I might have to go with that one, for sure. Uh-huh. My younger daughter's always saying, hey, we're at home now, don't talk about work. That's right. Okay. And we'll try to reel it back in.

SPEAKER_00 18:42

But there being more of us definitely makes it difficult because if I'm not careful now, I'll find myself ranking work up. So let's make it hard sometimes.

SPEAKER_02 18:51

Yeah. Yeah. Um What's one piece of advice you could give to those listening, whether they're leaders, owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, what's one thing that comes to your mind that you could impart to someone else?

SPEAKER_01 19:06

You know, there's things that some of this will tie in with the question with what you've asked already, but because there's there's multiple that you go there. But I think really it be an entrepreneur, it does take a lot of your time, a lot of your resources. But what I would advise, and working on myself daily, is to look at the big picture. Because as much as we enjoy this, and we do, we enjoy it, there is a bigger picture, and a bigger picture is is is goes back to your families, take care of your families. That's why we're working. Because life's so quick. Children grow up so fast, my girls are already, you know, two of them driving, a third one won't be before will be before long, and then and so enjoy but going back to enjoying the journey. But even more than that, do it and realize that our long-term goal is being pleasing to God in everything we do, and that should be a daily thing. Yeah. And so if we could continue to grow in the business and elsewhere and still be able to do the things that God would have us to do and realize that that those are the things that's really going to count in the end, you know, who you know, things we do for you know we keep none of these things on earth, none of these things we could take with us. Yeah. It's needed, you don't take care of families. So I think to to sum it all up to that question is to enjoy every day and make sure to take time for your family, friends, those around us, and uh and be pleasing to God in everything we do. And and I've not done that perfectly by no means. I it's a thing I have to continually work on. It's important to me. It really is. So um so that's the reason why I even tell our team the same thing. Though some of them I'll say, Hey, I I appreciate everything you're doing here, but take time for your family. It's important. Your anniversaries, there's certain things that come up, take time, you know.

SPEAKER_02 21:01

Yeah. It's uh, you know, remembering the big picture and then remembering also that there is more to this, right? It's not just work, especially no faith is important to to us and to you and to the company, and and um and not just getting focused on the day-to-day, but also leveraging the company and the products to be able to serve others and serve them well. Thanks for listening to Metal Life. We hope this conversation gave you a deeper look into not just what we do, but who we are and what matters to us. You know, at Best Buy Metals, we believe leadership, service, culture, and relationships matter just as much as the products we manufacture. That's why this podcast exists to have conversations that challenge, inspire, and create value both inside our industry and beyond it. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow Metal Life and share it with someone who would benefit from this conversation. Thanks for following us. Best Buy Metals, designed to inspire, made to protect, driven to serve.