Biz Connect: Koehler Welding Supply, Inc.

Today’s business world requires a streamlined, efficient approach to everything.   Acquiring supplies is no exception. Koehler Welding Supply, Inc. caters to small businesses and larger corporations alike, taking care of supply related details and allowing those businesses to focus on their individual products. In business since 1929, Koehler’s has evolved to meet the unique needs of their customers becoming an integrated, diverse supplier and distributer.

“We’re a large, small business,” President Dave Ungru explains. They are big enough to be competitive and keep a deep stock, but small enough to individualize their approach to service, based on their customers’ needs. Koehler’s takes on the responsibility of purchasing and maintaining inventory for a variety of businesses and manufacturers. They directly place purchase orders, and over time, a plant’s supply needs become something that Koehler’s understands and takes into consideration when communicating with vendors. With flexibility and buying power that rivals “large” companies, Koehler’s small-yet-big approach equals net savings for their customers. The overall convenience of having only one supplier is attractive for large and small industries.

“We work to build relationships,” explains Ungru, “getting to know the customers and paying attention to their buying habits helps us anticipate how much product they will need in the future.” This reduces the customers’ wait time, eliminates extra freight costs, and increases efficiency. He and the other employees at Koehler’s personally communicate with vendors negotiating the best possible prices for their customers. If Koehler’s had a motto, it would be “whatever it takes.”

Although gas is their core product, there seems to be no product too large or small for Koehler’s to stock and deliver: Krylon, Gatorade, Wesson Oil, gloves, ear plugs, even toilet paper line their highly organized shelves. They are doing the legwork associated with supplies for plants and small businesses around the country.

One example of exceeding customer expectations includes working with local plant, Dow Corning, to develop and patent a glove to suit their specific needs. Now that glove is used in plants around the nation. Understanding the customers as well as the vendors is a result of long-term relationships and good communication.

To some it may seem as though Madison is in the “middle of nowhere,” but, really it is in the middle of a large business hub. Koehler’s supplies to plants both regionally, in Columbus, Carrollton and Louisville, and nationally, delivering as far away as California and Canada. They apply the “whatever it takes” approach to every aspect of their interactions with customers, down to the delivery.

Originally, Koehler Supply included automotive products, but in 2006, the business became two separate entities, next door to each other:  Koehler Tire and Koehler Welding, Supply Inc.   Since then, the welding supply business has grown to include a larger inventory and more employees. Sometimes in business, the name says it all, but that’s not the case with Koehler Welding, Supply Inc.  This business is much more diverse and offers a wider variety of services than the name indicates.

 Koehler’s has been a Madison mainstay for 83 years. Ungru cites relationships as the key to building and keeping a small business in today’s economy.  Koehler’s also strives to maintain its relationship with the community. Like many Madison area business, Koehler’s gives back, supporting the Clearinghouse non-profit, Ribberfest and youth soccer.

Learn more about them at koehlerweld.com.