3rd Generation Family Business' Growth recognized by Google

EVANSVILLE, Ind., June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Google's Economic Impact Report was released recently, and online metals provider Cut2SizeMetals.com was selected to represent Indiana. This selection recognizes the growth of this third-generation family business into a national online metals provider. The story of that journey, from a little garage to the national online metals provider, spans three generations and almost 70 years, and begins with H. Byron "Barney" Hubbard.

As an employee of a local sheet metal company, Barney rose from an apprentice to field superintendent. Although he had job security and a good salary, he wanted to be his own boss -- and to put his trade skills to better use.

So in April 1946, he and several friends spent the day hauling family "treasures" from the garage. When the job was done, and the garage scrubbed out, they turned to an area of the backyard which was adjacent to the garage, and shaded by a large cherry tree. It was in this garage, and under that tree, that he founded Evansville Sheet Metal Works (ESMW).

The garage shop was quickly outgrown, and a new building was purchased in August of 1947. The original residential gutter work was expanded to include specialized custom jobs. It was this specialization that opened the doors to opportunity.

As their customers began demanding aluminum and stainless steel for their products, ESMW tooled up to serve them. The very nature of stainless, aluminum, and other exotic metals required additional skills, which led to the development of technical training programs designed to raise and broaden the skill levels of key personnel.

By 1970, Barney's son Mark had become president of the business, and during his tenure focused it in two important ways. First, he saw that many customers were demanding greater precision in their products, and so ESMW began offering highly accurate, laser-cut parts. A large investment in technology followed, offering "contour cutting" in wide variety of materials and thicknesses. Although Barney saw the value of precision parts, not all new technology appealed to him. "Convincing my father to buy the laser was easy," Mark said. "It was convincing him to buy our first forklift that was tough."

In 1985, in response to inquiries from customers, Mark opened a metal sales division, offering custom cut items in aluminum, stainless steel, brass, and copper. These items included aluminum diamond plate, stainless steel sheet, brass round, and many more. In fact, businesses and individuals could find over 700 items in stock, and buy them off the shelf or have them custom fabricated. Great customer service created devoted customers, and the metal sales division soon became a third of the company's business.

Mark's son Andy is the current president, and he continues to refine the business built by his father and grandfather. "My grandfather started the business, and my father really gave it direction and focus," Andy says. "I knew that if we could just tell our story to a wider audience, they would appreciate our service as well." In 2010, he launched Cut2SizeMetals.com, an ecommerce website for the metal sales division. Given that Cut2SizeMetals.com now has customers in all 50 states, it seems their story is being heard.

Contact:
812-429-1634

Photos:
http://www.prlog.org/12160046

SOURCE Evansville Sheet Metal Works