Making a Mark in La Marque
“I did not ask enough questions in the interview,” laughed Branch Manager Michael Martini, who became a CES branch manager in November 2020.
When he accepted the position in Alvin, Texas, he had no idea that in just a few months, he’d be moving the entire branch 20 minutes away to a new location in La Marque. He hit the ground running — almost literally.
Welcome to CES. We’re Moving.
“Alvin is a nice, small town, and we love the people there,” said Martini. “We just needed a little more visibility, and we’ve got that here in La Marque. We’re facing Interstate 45, which means about seven million people pass us in a year.”
Talk about a change. It seems to be paying off, too, considering they got the building on February 1 and are already seeing a difference.
Bigger and Better Than Ever
“This location has already brought in new clients. It’s also brought some old clients back to us because this location is so convenient for job sites,” explained Martini.
Another benefit? The location is approximately 2,000 square feet larger than the old one, with an impressive showroom that’s already a hit with customers.
“Instead of having everything hidden away in the back, we can present items and market them while people are in the showroom,” said Martini. “They can see everything for themselves. Some clients who followed us from Alvin have said really nice things about this location.”
Ready for the Next Challenge
While the location is getting great feedback and seeing an uptick in both walk-in traffic and sales, it took hard work for the team to get there. Martini and his team had to hustle to move everything to the new location as quickly as possible while staying open and on top of projects for customers.
But they pulled it off.
“It took a big investment from the company and my bosses, but it was worth it. It’s helped us become a real one-stop shop for clients,” said Martini. “We can hold more, and we’re easier to get to and from.”
Because of everyone’s hard work, the branch is now set up to help customers better than ever before, but in a lot of ways, the work is just beginning.
“There have been challenges, but I like that every day is different. I’m always ready for the next challenge,” said Martini. “There will be more challenges in the future, but I’m not worried. I’ve had a lot of support from my boss and the regional manager.”
“They told me to let them know if I ever need anything,” he added, “and you can’t ask for more than that.”
See for Yourself
And District Manager Daren Thode is more than happy to support Martini in all of the challenges ahead.
“What stood out to me when I interviewed Michael was his business mind,” said Thode. “He’s someone who knows how to solve problems and take charge. I know he’s going to continue to do great things in the new location.”
And that’s exactly what Martini is doing. He’s been successfully supporting residential and commercial customers, and he’s ready to leave his mark on the industrial market next.
“I want people to know we’re not just a wholesaler. We’re here for any market, and we’re a great resource for any project,” said Martini. “Just stop by and see for yourself!”