By: Davies Hood, Induron President
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend the annual Guild CPO Conference held at The Drake in Downtown Chicago, IL. As a 20-year-old organization made up of small- and medium-sized paint manufacturing companies, Guild CPO was organized to provide cooperative purchasing services for its member companies in order to improve their profitability. That’s a really nice way to say that the group is similar to a buyer’s co-op, where cooperation and teamwork really do help lift all. When it’s done right, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” As a longtime member and participant, I think that this group is currently doing it right!
The Guild CPO tag line is “Cooperation is a Powerful Tool,” which is definitely true for Induron Coatings. We aim to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by providing a true team approach to sales. Each individual acts as part of something larger (the Induron team) to provide their respective customers with excellent service and long term value.
My experience with the Guild is that the same type of teamwork helps not only within our individual companies, but also the larger community. When we cooperate and act as a true team, our collective profits increase. While this seems to be happening in 2019, it certainly has not always been the case. I remember attending a Guild meeting with my parents in the early 2000s. Back then, harmony within the co-op was not a given or even the norm. I also remember taking my then pregnant wife to our very first Guild CPO Meeting in Coral Gables, FL. Last week, my wife and I celebrated our daughters 16th birthday…. oh, how time flies!
Anyway, I have found that participation in professional organizations, like Guild CPO, provides companies with the opportunity to improve profitability. I also know from firsthand experience that participation in organizations like this encourages personal development and relationship building with other people who share similar roles. I find it enlightening and fun to meet other business owners who run companies like Induron. Obviously some of the companies are more similar than others, but the challenges, wins and losses that we all encounter day in and day out truly are similar. And that’s why I look forward to participating in Guild CPO for another 16 years. I can try to help raise the tide in the coatings pool AND see old friends who truly are brothers in arms.