General Distributing…providing options…providing solutions, but never forgetting their roots
About Laura McRae
Laura McRae has written 66 post in this blog.
28 Year Veteran of the Financial Services Industry, 12 Year Volunteer Business Mentor for SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), BA History & Political Science - Montana State University Bozeman, MBA University of Phoenix
As I toured the trade show floor at the recent Montana Energy 2012 energy symposium in Billings, Montana I was struck by the number of recognizable businesses I came across. While some of the recognition came from the national brands represented by the various vendors, most of it came from the recognizable, long time Montana business owners present, staffing their own booths, and genuinely interested in building relationships one hand shake at a time.
One in particular that stood out was General Distributing, a company that can trace it’s Montana roots back three generations in the welding supply business to 1948 in Great Falls, Montana with the Bliss family. Overtime, General Distributing grew to five locations (Great Falls, Helena, Butte, Bozeman, and Billings) to service the state. Growing brick and mortar is one thing. Growing a company with multiple business units (welding & industrial, medical gases, hard goods, and beverage gases) and growing a company with a culture that embodies the very traditions and core values of grandfather Bliss takes commitment, perseverance and a resolve that your business needs to be more that just peddling a bunch of commodities.
While remaining true to their core customer base (smaller, mom & pop companies throughout Montana), General Distributing has grown to a company that is well position to supply and service the needs of large corporations. Through a competent staff of experienced, well seasoned professionals that look beyond just selling you a product, to a team standing ready to help your business discover what it takes to effectively and efficiently get the job done. Along side the local staff is an army of manufacturer reps willing to team up to address your specific business needs. With this expanded network of product line experts your business can readily access credible, competent advice.
The company’s location in Billings is well positioned logistically to provide lean solutions for businesses from Billings to the Bakken. For General Distributing, lean means helping Bakken business owners transition from the inability to find a product to just in time inventory management; from paying any price in the local marketplace to competitively priced products delivered in a timely manner; from more efficient product solutions to improve productivity and profitability; and to providing service and training so your staff can properly and efficiently use the equipment. General Distributing actively works with business owners to understand the true cost of the options available, not just the price of the item on the right hand side of the invoice. They are more than order takers, they are solution providers; and part of the solution for the team at General Distributing is for you to understand the true cost of your options; creating the opportunities for profit maximization.
