Newsletter:  July 2005 a "This is a very select market," says Jim Kempers, LeDuc & Dexter Residential Manager, referring to the exclusive custom homeowner who chooses to purchase the crème de la crème custom sinks and faucets. "I'd like to help LeDuc & Dexter become an even stronger company than they are." – Kalani Spears, LeDuc & Dexter's Commercial Department Administrator. "When I met people for the first time and I tell them what I do, 75% of the time they will say, 'Oh, I know who you are – I see your trucks all the time!'" – Tom LeDuc, LeDuc & Dexter President & CEO.

Exotic Custom Sinks

Residential

Porcher copper sink mounted above counter with Porcher faucet. (click image to enlarge)

As the custom home market has grown for LeDuc & Dexter, Inc., so have the choices in plumbing fixtures, tubs and sinks for this upscale sector of new homeowners. The décor of one-of-a-kind custom homes includes many top-of-the-line sinks and faucets with counter and vanity surfaces of marble, granite and tile that tie into the overall interior designs, which can be very imaginative and exotic.

Kohler ladena biscuit sink  with Dorindrach wall-mounted faucets. (click image to enlarge)

"This is a very select market," says Jim Kempers, LeDuc & Dexter Residential Manager, referring to the exclusive custom homeowner who chooses to purchase the crème de la crème custom sinks and faucets. "Most of these sinks are priced at over $750," says Jim Kempers.

The process of choosing the right sink for each application many times falls on the homeowner. "Most of the time we spec out the house with the help of the owners," says Jim Kempers, "We get selections from designers" when they are involved in making the choices of sinks and faucets that complement their design.

Blanco round stainless steel under mount with Grohe faucet. (click image to enlarge)

Bates & Bates pewter sink with Sigma 1200 series faucet and Luxemburg handles in soft  pewter. (click image to enlarge)

The style of choice for counters and vanity surfaces in the current market is somewhat narrow compared to the sinks and faucets that are mounted on them. "Tile is used sometimes, but the majority of these houses use granite or marble", says Jim Kempers.

There are, of course, many variations of color and patterns in the stone surfaces and combinations of stone and tile that are used such as the pictured Kohler ladena biscuit sink with Dorindrach wall-mounted faucets, "This is a very popular way to do faucets in modern homes," says Jim Kempers. The popularity and demand for exotic sinks seems to have an energy of its own in the custom home market and LeDuc & Dexter's residential department is right in the middle of it.

Kalani Spears – Commercial Department Administrator

Commercial

Kalani Spears is the administration assistant and contract administrator for LeDuc & Dexter's commercial department. Kalani assists Bill Zeeb, manager of the commercial department, in day-to-day operations including accounts receivable, purchasing, quotes, bids, material pricing, labor hours, change orders and construction projects reports. Kalani administers and reviews contracts with management and follows through with the terms to final contract completion. Kalani has 20 years of experience in the construction industry from her early days with a framing contractor to a number of electrical contractors she was employed with as a project manager and contract administrator.

KALANI SPEARS LeDuc & Dexter Commercial Department Administrator

"I'm a diligent, hardworking employee," says Kalani, "I'd like to help LeDuc & Dexter become an even stronger company than they are, and right now I'm working on streamlining our systems in the commercial department including hydronics." "When I came to work here I could feel a positive aura," says Spears, "Everyone has been really receptive to me and everyone is very accessible including the owners. I feel like I have very good support here."

The Company Fleet

The Company

Field Utility Body Truck (click image to enlarge)

For companies that travel daily to their work or jobsites the vehicles used for transport must be reliable and utilitarian, but a company's fleet can be much more than transportation. "Our fleet really creates a good image," says Tom LeDuc, President and CEO of LeDuc & Dexter, Inc., "When I met people for the first time and I tell them what I do, 75% of the time they will say, 'Oh, I know who you are – I see your trucks all the time!' Our trucks are a huge marketing tool for us."

Radiant Floor Heating Van (click image to enlarge)

Why is it that people remember LeDuc & Dexter trucks? "Our trucks look good, they're washed and clean – even the older vehicles are well kept," says LeDuc, "It makes a good impression when our trucks are on the road or on a jobsite because it's usually the first thing people see regarding our company." Another reason people see LeDuc & Dexter trucks so often is that there are approximately 50 vehicles in their fleet.

Aside from the marketing factor that the fleet creates, the reliability and performance of the fleet is also equally important. "Our trucks make it easier for us to do our job," say LeDuc, "they're designed with all of the proper equipment and they're able to carry the materials we use on the job. We also make it a priority to maintain our trucks so we don't experience breakdowns."

Manager's Pick-Up Truck (click image to enlarge)

Customer Service Van (click image to enlarge)

Truck breakdowns are not simply downtime for the company, "When we have a breakdown on the road we're not performing for our customer, the plumber is not working and the company is missing the revenue. When you add in the repair cost it all adds up to a real big negative," says LeDuc, "fleet maintenance is a big factor in our success."

LeDuc & Dexter's fleet also gets good care from the employees, "If you give a nice vehicle to an employee they tend to take really good care of it," say LeDuc. The department managers and field superintendents mostly drive new model pick-up trucks. The field employees drive "service body" trucks and vans are used for customer service and radiant heating. One-ton, 12-foot stake bed trucks and pick-ups are used for deliveries and Super Service has their red cube vans. Overall LeDuc & Dexter's truck fleet provides a very good image and performance beyond expectations in the field.