Episode 4: More Than Metal - The Future

In this week's episode of Metal Life, Chad Helms & Stephen Bailey sit down to discuss the future of Best Buy Metals, the importance of leaving a lasting impact, and what it means to build a legacy that extends beyond business.

Plus, enjoy a special bonus conversation with CEO Isaac Libbey as he shares his perspective on the company's vision and legacy.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:20

What started as a small operation became something much bigger.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

But growth was never just about buildings or machines.

SPEAKER_00 0:27

It's always been about people.

SPEAKER_02 0:28

And 24 years later, our commitment hasn't changed.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Our commitment to you.

SPEAKER_03 0:34

Well, today we are wrapping up our series called More Than Metal. It's been a series that we used to relaunch our podcast called Metal Life that starts some time ago. And this has been a great series to kind of dive right back into our podcast. It's been a great series talking about our past, our present. And today we are closing out the series talking about our future. Our future. So I'm Chad Helms. I'm the director of marketing and strategy. And I have Stephen Bailey. Stephen Bailey with me today. And today we're going to kind of exchange here, talking about some of our efforts moving forward, the intentionality, how we are investing time, energy, and money to really go the next step, the next mile for our company, but most importantly, our customers. And so next year marks 25 years. It's 25th anniversary on April 1st of 2027. And we could not be more excited about it. It has been, well, 25 years coming. It's been awesome. And uh and so we are really um being very strategic and focusing in on um, you know, not necessarily because it's 25 years, but uh but because where we're at with the company, how do we better ourselves? How do we better our products? How do we better our experience? How do we better our systems? Uh, how do we better our software? All the things that growing businesses um um just have to deal with as as they grow. And so we want to talk a little bit about that today. Um, and so as I mentioned, this is Stephen Bailey. Stephen, tell us what you do here.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

I'm the brand engagement and experience manager. Okay, so uh talk about a little bit about what that is. Well, I've been brought on to kind of help tell the story of the business in uh di in different ways. Uh, we're gonna be uh pushing Metal Life podcast, you know, full time now, and uh I'll be a part of that. Also be going out in the community and uh getting pictures and videos of uh of all the products um that's being displayed around the area. Yeah, you know? Yeah. And so, you know, homeowners are are happy, you know, the businesses are happy, and uh, you know, Best Buy Metals is happy to supply these things. And so people need to know about it. So that's kind of my uh my challenge to kind of tell that story.

SPEAKER_03 3:01

Every structure, every home represents a story, right? It's not just a story, it's not just a structure. It it contains families and kids and who are growing in laughter and and tears and and markers uh along uh along life as they grow up. And and uh and so we're part of that, right? It's not just a structure. It's it's a it's a safe, it's a place of safety that uh that protects, which is very much a part of what we do. It drives what we do is to protect the things that matter in in our life, our family or toys or tractors or or whatever that is. And so getting that content and going out um talking about our products, right? But even the stories, the people behind it, right? The families behind it, our contractors, their stories, um, builders, their stories. Everyone has a story to tell. And I love hearing stories, and uh I think they're they're stories that are definitely worth uh worth sharing. Um so talk to us a little bit about um so we we've had a um a CLP program, is what we refer to it as customer loyalty program. But we're kind of revamping that, which is partly these things is why we created your position and brought you on um to as a sign of hey, we want to we want to get better, we want to get stronger, really pointing to the customer experience. Talk to us about that a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I was really excited to join the business here is you guys are being really aggressive and growing. And just to be a part of that, I was really excited about the the challenges and the projects you you guys are working on. Yeah. And the loyalty program is one of those things. Yeah, I'm really excited that we get to connect with a lot of contractors and uh really come alongside them and help them grow their businesses as they help them uh build ours, you know.

SPEAKER_03 4:50

Yeah, you know, it's it's uh it's it's not as much a loyalty program as it is a partnership program. Um, because it's not just about what they get in return, uh, it's about how we invest into them and their business. And so there's there's a lot of things. If you're a contractor, um and would be um I I hope you're interested in it because there's gonna be a lot of things that we do, not just uh from a product perspective, but from a training and uh perspective and a lot of other things that we really don't want to go into yet. Um and uh we're we're planning on launching this Q4, uh, October 1st is really the goal here. And uh so it's really a partnership program to really enhance the relationship, to come alongside our businesses that's going to pour value into them.

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Yeah, I'm really excited about getting to meet all these uh business owners. You know, guys are putting um putting their lives on the line there to to to feed their families, to support their community, and just to be able to put names and faces together and you know, and to see them succeed and grow and just be a part, a small part of that is gonna be really rewarding. Yep. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:53

That's right. That's right. Um, you know, so we've we're talking about products, um, we've talked about people and then telling stories of our partnerships. Oh, that's that's amazing. Yeah, it's gonna be because we, you know, we've talked in previous episodes already about um some of our efforts. And um, if you didn't hear the the second, the the first um of the two-part series talking about our present, go back and listen to that. Uh as Isaac's talking about, got very personal, talking about his heart. That was a hook for me with this company. That was definitely the hook. Continues to be lots of hooks, but to be a part of a company that truly partners with communities, um, past, present, and future, going out and and telling their stories and bringing awareness, right? Um to um to nonprofits. And uh, I know that we're looking to have someone that, you know, well, we've been talking to multiple, but one is one specifically that we're about to have in on a podcast and just uh tell their story, right? Bring awareness to them, to their organization as well.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Absolutely. And the best part is, you know, Best Buy, we're gonna be successful, we're gonna continue to grow, but to do something that has uh lasting significance, you know, um making differences in people's lives who may never hire us for their metal projects. Yeah. But yeah, they need help. And yeah, we're supporting, we're supporting organizations who can help. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:19

And uh Yeah, you know, I I I know it probably sounds um a lot of people would expect uh talking about past, present, and future, really diving into um strategy and and product and announcements and all those things will come. Um they really will. We've got a lot lined up, but uh our future really comes down to uh we're gonna talk about later is is leaving a legacy, leaving a lasting impact. That's more important to us, to the owners, to management, um, than it is product specifically. Product gives us the platform um to do all those things. So so partnerships are extremely important, uh, will continue to be important here. So we've got partnerships that we support. We also have partnerships. We've not talked a lot about our marketing efforts and things here, but uh we are excited in terms of the future. Uh we have a different type of partnership, and that is uh partnering with um uh with various teams and and sporting events and uh avenues and outlets that uh really get the word out about Best Buy medals that are a natural fit. And one of the things that we did last year that I'm really, really excited about uh is we added a uh a sponsorship with the University of Tennessee, uh Govalls. And um and so we entered that partnership last year. We're getting even more strategic this year. Uh and so if you go to Nealin this year this year, which I would encourage you to, uh you're gonna see even more of a Best Buetals presence, uh not just the name, but Metaltron. Promise you, he's getting pretty famous at Nealon. So that's pretty awesome. We also at this year added um partnership with uh the tourists, which is a new stadium in Asheville, North Carolina. Um, a $50 million renovation happened there. Lots of history with Baby Ruth and things. Uh, and so now we have the Best Buy Metals Pavilion there, lots of presence there at the stadium, and of course, love uh watching baseball. Um, so lots of things that we're doing. We'll talk a lot more about those uh in the future, but kind of going back to the main topic of today is is really people. And I wanted to cover this to set something up. Uh it's another portion of the interview where where we sit down with Consuela and she had a conversation with her father, Isaac. So let's show you that in that uh portion of the interview that talks about really what's important at Best Buy Metals, and then we'll be right back.

SPEAKER_00 9:51

All right. So um, you know, in the past episodes, we've talked about the past, we've talked about where we are today, and right now we want to jump into the future a little bit. Um, you know, next year marks 25 years for BBM. So uh we just want to see how does that how does that make you feel? How do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_02 10:09

25 years. Makes me feel old. No, that's what my girl would say, my younger girl would have said it makes me feel. But the fact is, I was talking to someone about this just last week because I don't really know where all that time went. Because it seemed like it was one it was just a journey, one step at a time. So now 24 years going on 25 next year, like you said, that's half my life. Uh we opened at 24 years old. 2002 is when we first began the business, and now I'm 48, might as well put it out there. And so um exactly how my life but doing this. So at the same time, we have been thankful to see all the different the growth during that time, I feel um and to see each each step at a time from one business to the next. And I'm just very thankful for it.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

Yeah. Um, how does our company focus right now influence where we want to get and head to in the future?

SPEAKER_02 11:10

I think the focus a lot of what we could talk about here is similar to our we had a leadership meeting um retreat here a few weeks ago and we did all talk about our focus and our goals. And in order to grow and to continue growing as we definitely plan to and are, we have to always continue to establish the right um baseline. We talked about that something like a tower. The tower, in order for it to to go higher, has to have a great foundation. So the deeper you dig, yeah, the taller you can go. And so I think what we've been focusing on, and and as you know this chat, even our leadership meeting, is is within all the leaders that we continue to empower and allow leaders to take responsibilities and additional um things on because as we talked about in the previous episode, without having that, there's no way we can grow. So we we need we need to in a healthy manner. So sometimes we pause for a little bit to make sure the foundation is stable and because we don't want to just grow not uh be able to take care of our customers the way we want to.

SPEAKER_03 12:29

Yeah. You know, uh I I always feel like we're um you know, i i it's always a struggle, right? But we're always seeking to how do we how do we refine our focus? How do we focus in a little further? Because how do you focus in at 24 years versus you know 20 or 15 or or or 10? But it's completely different. You know, I mean we're we're making decisions now that are different. Um, you know, we've we've got seven locations plus our national division. And uh this year it feels like our focus has been, okay, in order to grow further, let's pour intentionality and effort into making our current locations and setting them up for success. So even um, you know, just for our viewers to know, we we um in in Greer, uh we moved from Greenville to Greer and into about a 35,000 square foot facility, had that grand opening here a couple weeks ago, which was phenomenal. Um, and then in Asheville, we're getting ready to for a move there. And then even in Charlotte, they're they're really busting at the seam. So, you know, it feels to me like our focus is is yes, we want to grow, but we also want to grow healthy. So that's a leadership perspective, that's an an empowerment perspective, that's a logistical perspective, and that's just even a location perspective, you know. Like how do we need to refine our focus so we can go further in the long run?

SPEAKER_02 13:51

That's right. You really even like you said, even the new locations as they have grown and needed more space, it it goes back to building the foundation in order to keep going further and do it in a healthy way where it don't stress us out because I have seen it and I've been there before too, where we take off in one area a little bit too quick and you feel so much pressure and stress, and yeah, you need a healthy balance, you know. Right. And so as I as we know, we could have and took on several more locations already, but if we can't if we do it and our team is not established right, then it'd be too much pressure and we'll lose that customer service. So it's it it's important. It goes back to that foundation you're talking about with the tower building. Strong foundation.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Those things are super important. Um and then we want to ask what separates business businesses that survive from businesses that actually leave a legacy.

SPEAKER_02 14:52

Well, uh that's a very good one. I think I I guess I I can go back to somebody's gonna go back to the points we touched on because we could we continue to grow to make another dollar, right? We definitely gotta make another dollar to survive and us all to take care of our families, but at the same time, if that is our main goal, then we're not leaving any of the legacy. We're not leaving any because it goes back to what we really do for others and for the kingdom of God is what's gonna last. So that's the legacy I think that comes to mind when you say that. You know, we have fun all along the way. We our families get care of, we enjoy times, you know, the outside of work. But if someone was to look at our the company, Best Buy Metals, I don't want them to think that I would not want them to think, okay, that's just a company that's just all in it for themselves. And that's I I think if they look around, I want them to see that we care about them, we care about the community, we care about those in need. And and that would be what I would I would hope that would be seen within our company.

SPEAKER_03 16:06

You know, I think of a uh a splash, you know, you throw a rock in. It's not just a splash, but uh what we're doing, what you're doing specifically is creating ripples that impact uh uh beyond the the the immediate area of impact, right? It's it's in Haiti, it's in uh it's with employees, it's in communities, it's it's in uh with churches and individuals and families as you're making an impact that's not just for day, but it's leaving ripples and not only just knowing that, but making decisions that, hey, I want to to I want those ripples to be seen and felt in in future years, and so and making decisions that way is good. Well, good stuff. You know, I um was listening to that again uh earlier today and reflecting on legacy, which is kind of where we ended with that discussion, and we talked about kind of the ripples and and the impact that um that is made. And you know, it it really when I when I do think about the future, I think I think of the word legacy. Uh it's a word that I've heard um a lot in a lot of different capacities. Uh Steven, legacy, what what do you think? What comes to mind when you talk when you think of legacy?

SPEAKER_01 17:17

Legacy. Um story well lived.

SPEAKER_03 17:21

Story well lived. Man, that's that's that's good. I um to be honest with you, I uh I used to struggle um, you know, in in leadership circles when I would hear a lot of people talk about legacy, because I I I I honestly felt like there was an agenda attached to it. Um that it really was more about them framed in a way that positioned them well, if that makes sense. And not that that doesn't happen because it it certainly does uh a lot of leadership circles. But it also doesn't negate the importance of legacy. You know, if if you say that um legacy is not important, then really what you're saying is I really don't care about people. Uh and if who doesn't want to leave an impact? Regardless of what's driving that or where you go with that, legacy is very, very important. And um, one of the things that I I really love about here is the ripple effect that is happening uh here in Cleveland specifically, and people that we rub shoulders with every day here at work and their families and the community and how that goes on and on uh around the world uh is very, very important. You know, so when the episode opened today, you heard Kinsuela on the opening video say it's always been about people. And on the video with Isaac, uh, we've talked about leaving a legacy and leaving ripples of impact. And really at the end of the day, that's what it's about with us at Best Buy Metals, is we want to leave an impact. And that impact is um it affects people in many ways. And so for a product, we want to leave an impact on your home or your business. And uh, in terms of our partnerships, we want to leave a positive impact on communities and with people, we want to leave a legacy. You know, here at Best Buy Metals, we don't claim perfection. We are certainly not perfect, we do make mistakes and we work really, really hard to serve our customers well, even when we make a mistake. But at the end of the day, we're really focused on leaving an impact that far outlasts metals. 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. It's Best Buy Metals, designed to inspire, made to protect, driven to serve.