KC Supply Co. Inc. • 800-527-8775 • http://www.kcsupply.com
Reprinted from Grain Journal November/December 2017 Issue
We work with our customers to find the right solution for their application at a fair price.”
That statement from a recent conversation Grain Journal had with KC Supply Co. President Jeff Lavery neatly sums up one of many reasons the company has been in business for nearly 30 years. As a leader in providing conveying and elevating equipment, access doors, monitoring, and safety equipment to the grain industry, KC Supply manufactures quality products and has built a reputation in the industry for being fair and trustworthy – all necessary ingredients for success.
Company History
KC Supply Co., Inc. began in 1988 when Woody Jones and Lorrie Roland opened up a warehouse in Kansas City, MO to serve the grain industry. The first few years were difficult for the fledgling company, which experienced some setbacks early on, including the loss of one its founders within a few years of launching.
“The company started in April 1988 with Woody and Lorrie, and my father was a silent partner,” Lavery recalls. “Woody Jones passed away in ‘93. I came onboard in ‘94 basically to try to resurrect the business, because it was losing money and struggling to survive. After I came in, the company continued to struggle for a bit, and then it took off.”
Lavery says there’s no “magic bullet” to explain why the company began experiencing greater success but identifies a number of factors that contributed to its growth. He points out that the company created a new, professional-looking catalog and began marketing more consistently. Additionally, attending industry events and networking regularly helped KC Supply partner with other vendors and get its name out there, which proved to be a very positive move.
“We developed relationships with several vendors and started stocking their products. Nothing changed drastically, but we saw steady growth,” Lavery says. “We would still go to the regular trade shows such as GEAPS Exchange, plus state and regional grain and feed programs.
“We also started doing product training classes during the educational sessions. This added service showed that KC Supply was a company that understood customer’s needs,” he says.
Products and Services
Today, KC Supply Co. staffs seven full-time employees and is considered a leading supplier in the grain industry. The company is proud to offer a large selection of Knappco and Civacon products.
“Our biggest product line that everybody knows about us is Knappco/Civacon access doors and, more recently, PS doors,” Lavery says. “They are what people think of when they think of KC Supply.”
KC Supply doesn’t have two true divisions, but it does have two separate components within one company. Its material handling division is the larger portion and provides dry bulk material conveying equipment such as buckets, belting, bin level monitors, and spouting components. This division also provides maintenance and repair items such as urethane and other liners or even replacement drag paddles.
KC Supply’s safety division covers about one-third of its overall sales. Within the safety component of the business, KC Supply works with some of the most respected brands in the safety industry to offer products that meet the demands of the grain industry.
“It is common to find industrial-type products used incorrectly in the ag industry, and KC Supply tries to correct that,” says Lavery. The company’s products range from grain-dust-rated flashlights to grain entrapment rescue devices, as well as the standard PPE, fall protection, lockout/tagout equipment and safety signs.
“We understand the unique challenges within the ag industry, and we have the right safety products for the facilities and personnel,” says Lavery.
KC Supply recently began stocking several new safety gates and ladder climbing devices. The gates are pre-fabricated for various opening widths and are made of stainless steel or powder-coated steel. “They are easy to install in just a few minutes. By having them immediately available, end users and contractors can receive and install the equipment in a just day or two,” he adds.
Other services provided by KC Supply include gas monitor calibration and repairs for MSA and Draeger, along with other brands. “We can inspect a gas monitor and find out why it isn’t working properly or simply provide regular maintenance.”
Additionally, Lavery says the company is the largest stocking distributor of Knappco doors in North America, a distinction that sets it apart from the competition.
“If we don’t have it, no one will have it,” he says. “In fact, we support a number of their other distributors and resellers, because they know we have it, and they don’t. So, they might be a competitor, but we have it as part of our sales.”
What’s New
KC Supply has unveiled an improved design for its grain entrapment rescue tube that Lavery says is new for the company this year, adding that its original design has gone by the wayside.
“This design is more versatile. You can make different designs and configurations, but it also retains the steps so that first responders can apply first aid to victims easier,” he explains.
Keys to Success
In the bulk handling business, Lavery explains, the company’s products are technically a commodity, so the difference between success and failure is making sure the company is providing the right product for the right application.
“Anyone can sell a belt, but selling the correct belt or buckets that meet customers’ needs, that’s what we strive to do,” Lavery says. “I don’t need to mention the number of times people will call up and say, ‘hey, I want this product,’ then you talk to them a little bit more and you realize, ‘no, you don’t want that.’ It may be less expensive, which is counterintuitive for a sales organization, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to treat people fairly and provide the right solution.”
Beyond that, Lavery says KC Supply lives by a simple motto that may sound cliché but is nevertheless true: Treat customers how we wish to be treated. “People buy from those whom they like and trust, so we try to build trust and respect from customers. They know we’ll treat them fairly and offer a competitive price,” he concludes.
