G. Proulx LLC: A Leading Distributor of Quality Building Materials

Gratien Proulx founded drywall dealer G. Proulx LLC (Proulx) in 1979. In the years since, Proulx has developed into one of South Florida’s most well-respected building material suppliers. Proulx takes pride in providing customers with high-quality, competitively priced products in addition to attentive customer service.

Proulx maintains headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the Port 95 Commerce Center. Both the warehouse and showroom are strategically located close to the intersection of South Florida’s major highways, including I-95, I-595, I-75 and the Florida Turnpike, making the location just a quick stopover for may contractors en route to a jobsite.

The company’s inventory not only includes regularly requested materials, but also a large selection of harder-to-find specialty items. Proulx stocks a wide range of products, which include wallboard and drywall products, as well as insulation, access panels, dimensional lumber, treated lumber, stucco, plaster, lath and trim products, acoustical ceiling components, metal framing systems, and all the scaffolding and tools needed to get the job done right.

In-house and On-site Expertise

“We probably have the best showrooms in the state of Florida,” expresses Richard Adan, sales manager at Proulx. The company’s inventory numbers over 3,000 SKUs with a value over $6 million. Even so, the team works to ensure customers can find exactly the products needed without feeling overwhelmed by the extensive selection. Proulx employs a team of professionals with diverse backgrounds, some in sales and some from other aspects of the construction industry. Many Proulx employees have on-site experience themselves, as does Adan, who joined the business after a successful career in commercial construction.

“I started here as an outside sales representative because I wanted to experience the other side of the industry, and I eventually worked my way up to become sales manager,” adds Adan. “Joe Vinet [president of Proulx] began his career in operations.”

As a result, contractors look to Proulx not only for quality materials, but also for reliable information when planning project needs. Customers rest easy knowing that many Proulx employees possess the necessary experience and expertise to recommend specialized commercial construction products, giving clients greater confidence in every purchase.

The company also prides itself in keeping up with changes in the industry, as Proulx employees are continually trained and updated on the latest products and technologies offered. The company only represents products from leading manufacturers in every category, which ensures that every product will live up to its promises. This guarantees that each customer has the ability to select from multiple manufacturers to deliver a project exactly as specified.

Proulx’s growth is largely owed to its commitment to fulfill special requests. The company offers contractors the option of picking up orders in person at the Fort Lauderdale facility, or having orders delivered directly to jobsites. The team’s standard service provides customers with confidence that material will be delivered on time and as promised, avoiding costly project delays.

In-synch Expansion

In 1999 Proulx spun off two divisions, Wholesale Building Supply and Trebor USA Corp., in order to ensure the collaborative team could efficiently meet each client’s every need. Proulx and the other two companies employ over 150 knowledgeable professionals, each of whom take pride in helping customers and their projects move forward.

Proulx’s most recent venture is a rebar division to complement its diverse product offering, and Proulx established a location in Dania Beach, Fla., exclusively for rebar needs. This addition helped the company augment total business and also maintained volume when the Florida construction market slowed down in the wake of the economic downturn. “It’s a different side to the business and eventually I think it will be spun off into its own company,” says Bim Krutek, CFO at Proulx.

Part of Proulx’s business philosophy is based on longstanding relationships with loyal vendors. “Our best vendors act as true business partners and that’s the way we like to do business with our own customer base,” expands Adan. When the success of more and more projects hinges on competitive pricing, Proulx works directly with vendors to ensure customers can expect a fair market price.

Opportunity looms large for Proulx in the next few years, as Florida’s economy gradually shows signs of further improvement. Whichever way the company chooses to find future growth, the team will make sure that clients can continue to rely on G. Proulx LLC for high-quality building materials, expedient service and delivery, as well as honest, informed product recommendations.