Challenge
A fast-growing irrigation installation company based in the Southeast has built a solid reputation for residential and light commercial projects. As demand grew, they began bidding on larger commercial developments, including a multi-site municipal project valued at over $300,000 in irrigation infrastructure. While their in-house team was skilled in installation and field operations, they lacked the in-house resources for accurate take-offs, CAD design support, and the inventory management required for a phased, large-scale job. They needed to ensure their distribution partner could offer technical support, product guidance, and proactive planning to help them compete at a higher level. After having multiple meetings with different distributors, they decided to pivot from their current supplier after hearing about the business resources and support they could receive through Central.
The Central Difference Solution
They had worked with Central for product supply on past jobs, but this larger opportunity required more. Central’s Commercial Services team stepped in to provide detailed support, starting with irrigation design revisions that aligned with the LCO’s installation methods. The team also developed phased material take-offs and a procurement plan to match construction timelines, helping to minimize delays and reduce excess inventory. Central provided product alternatives that balanced performance with cost-efficiency and assisted in preparing the bid package with value-engineered options.
Results
With Central’s support, they presented a well-organized, cost-competitive bid that helped them win the municipal contract. Central’s redesign and product substitutions saved approximately 7% in material costs—over $20,000 in total. Additionally, the phased delivery strategy kept the jobsite organized and reduced warehouse overflow, allowing them to operate more efficiently. The partnership positioned the LCOs to confidently pursue larger, more complex projects in the future.
