A Supply in Demand
Builders and contractors love Kamco Supply Corp.ās extensive product list and quick delivery
When contractors are ready to build, they call Kamco Supply Corp. (Kamco) and that sets off a burst of activity thatātime after timeāhas made the Long Island, New York, company a preferred distributor of top-quality building materials.
Kamco is a comprehensive distributor of products for commercial and residential building needs. Its warehouse in Syosset, New York, is a builderās paradise containing thousands of products. The categories alone are proof: lumber, plywood, drywall, acoustical and specialty ceiling systems, tools, equipment, doors, steel framing, C-joists, flooring, insulation, safety equipment and so much more.
The Syosset warehouseāconveniently accessible by taking the Long Island Expressway (Exit 43A westbound or Exit 43 eastbound)āis one of four locations in the region (the others include Brooklyn, Manhattan and Paterson, New Jersey).
Kamco is a distributor of name-brand products most often requested by contractors, such as USG, Armstrong, Owens Corning, QuietRock, AdvanTech, DeWalt, ZipWall, Trex decking, 3M Firestop, Karp access doors, Marino\WARE, Super Stud and ClarkDietrich, to name a few.
Once contractors, developers, homebuilders and remodelers place orders in person or by phone or email, the sales personnel at Kamco jump into action to provide the fastest delivery times possible. At the warehouse, customers enjoy refreshments while the sales counter personnel scan the orders and initiate the procedures for customer pickup.
Teeming with Activity
The Long Island store hits high gear at 6 a.m. most days and that rush continues throughout the day. Its inside sales team fills orders to be prepared for the next dayās and often same-day deliveries.
Kamco has 24/7 delivery capabilities. Even better, most orders for customer pickup at the store are filled promptly and loaded into the customersā work vans or trucks by one of the companyās forklift operators. Additionally, the warehouse is open to the general public.
āWe can provide building supplies for anything from a house to a skyscraper,ā says Al Rodriguez, operations manager.
Tech Advantages
The company recently launched www.kamconewyork.com, its brand new website, and updated its technology to improve order flow, order fulfillment and billing. Customers appreciate the user-friendly online capabilities.
In addition, the outside sales representatives meet in the field with prospects and repeat customers. This provides a convenience for builders, subcontractors and others who are loyal customers and are continuously ordering building materials.
āOur outside field reps and sales team visit sites and meet with clients to learn about their projects, offer solutions and set up accounts, as well as demonstrate products and how to use them,ā Rodriguez says. āFully staffed and knowledgeable inside and outside sales teams are something smaller supply companies canāt match.ā
No order is too small. The company takes pride in having a role in building homes, schools and hospitals and so much more in New York and beyond.
A World of Options
A key to its ability to fulfill any order is Kamcoās depth of inventory and its long-term relationships with product manufacturers and wholesalers. The company has established relationships with manufacturers across the nation and around the world.
Kamco can also source materials from virtually anywhere. Plus, product choices include environmentally friendly and sustainable materials for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and other green building objectives when specified.
Kamco has also been exporting building materials since 1973.
Besides a core mix of products, Kamco offers a full line of lumber, decking and plywood products and has large quantities readily available. Lumber and plywood cut to size is a service many of its customers appreciate.
Also available are engineered lumber products, such as glulam beams, wood I-beams, open trusses, molding and much more.
Unique Services
An advantage for contractors stems from Kamcoās drywall forms service. Kamco is one of the largest providers of drywall in the New York metropolitan area; when contractors want exact column enclosures, soffits and light coves, the drywall can be fabricated and delivered to the job site ready for immediate installation. The pre-cut drywall saves time and material costs for contractors.
Besides a knowledgeable sales team, Kamco can assist customers with samples and submittals that may be required for approval before ordering and shipping their orders.
Quick turnaround times on these requests are highly appreciated by its customers.
Kamco ceiling specialists are ready to help a company stay on schedule through clear communications with the manufacturers of complex wood and metal custom ceiling specifications, which can require shop drawings and longer lead times than standard acoustical ceilings.
A huge benefit to its customer base is the fact that Kamco operates a fleet of boom trucks capable of hoisting building materials up to 10 stories high. Many of its flatbed trucks and trailers are also equipped with Spider forklifts.
A crew of laborers can also be dispatched from Kamco to distribute the drywall as an added service to its customers on Long Island.
Eight Decades Strong
Kamco has helped build the Big Apple for 80 years, serving the metropolitan area since 1939. The company has been around since the New York Worldās Fair opened in nearby Queens, when LaGuardia Airport first opened, and when Lou Gehrig retired from the New York Yankees.
Its longevity is largely attributable to the companyās family-like culture. This approach enhances the work environment, builds relationships with customers and also benefits the employees. The company promotes from within. For instance, someone who may start as a sweeper in the warehouse may eventually join the inside sales team. Many of the Kamco employees have been with the company for at least 20 years.
The companyās family culture also is evident when it comes to being of service to others. For instance, in 2017, Kamcoās Long Island branch partnered with the Waves of Hope USA effort responding to Texasā devastating Hurricane Harvey to deliver much-needed supplies, accessories and equipment to assist recovery efforts.
Kamcoās drivers helped load the caravan of trucks that headed to Texas, and the company also provided gift cards to residents affected by the natural disaster.
From its charitable efforts to its dailyāeven hourlyāservice to construction customers, Kamco continues to prove its commitment to impact the community, whether in the New York metropolitan area or far beyond.