BuildDirect

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BuildDirect
Home Improvement E-Tailer
Headquarters Vancouver, British Columbia
Key people
 Jeff Booth CEO
Website www.builddirect.com

BuildDirect is a technology company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for heavyweight home improvement products.[1] The company was founded in 1999 by Jeff Booth and Rob Banks, and directly connects buyers (consumers and contractors) with sellers (suppliers and manufacturers). Categories include, but are not limited to, flooring, tile, decking, building materials, outdoor, kitchen & bath, mouldering & accessories and doors.[2] The company is also credited with building the first supply chain for heavy goods.[3]

History

Prior to co-founding BuildDirect, Jeff Booth was a builder.[4] After experiencing complexities and inefficiencies while working as a home builder, Booth, along with friend Rob Banks, founded BuildDirect in October 1999 with the stated goal of "simplifying the home improvement industry."[2][5] The first few years focused on shipping heavyweight home improvement materials, and then in 2002, the pair launched www.Builddirect.com.[6] The company grew rapidly, doubling in size.[7] During the financial crisis in 2008, the company nearly went out of business but survived by reinventing the business model to include suppliers lending their product on consignment to BuildDirect warehouses.[3] In 2010, BuildDirect built the world's first supply chain for shipping heavy goods "anywhere to anywhere", and in 2016, the company launched the BuildDirect Home Marketplace.[8][3] The company initially sold home building materials but has since diversified to include other products such as furniture, landscaping, and outdoor living items.[9]

Building a supply chain for heavy goods

With orders five to ten times the size and weight of the average shipment accepted by UPS and FedEx, BuildDirect had to build a new system for shipping heavy materials at scale.[10] The company utilizes an existing network of primary transporters including freight, rail, and truck to import products to North America, move them to warehouses and deliver them to customers. BuildDirect also leverages technology and a competitive bidding process to calculate efficient and cost-effective delivery methods.[4]

Use of predictive analytics

BuildDirect has built its own proprietary analytics and forecasting tools. BuildDirect Demand Rank™, BuildDirect Product Rank™ and BuildDirect Inventory Rank analyze data to identify in real-time consumer interest in a product, its competitiveness in the marketplace and the locations it will best perform.[11] Access to this demand data enables suppliers to make targeted decisions, unlock potential in new markets and get a head start on inventory planning, production and shipping.[10]

BuildDirect Home Marketplace

The BuildDirect Home Marketplace is an online platform that provides homeowners quick and easy access to a wide selection of products at the best value.[8] With no constraints on shelf space, Home Marketplace can showcase an infinite number of products. The platform also offers a self-service model for sellers to onboard and feature their products, to a much larger customer base. [8]

Locations

BuildDirect has many distribution points across North America, with 6 super warehouses in Vancouver B.C., Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, and New Jersey. The company headquarters is located in Vancouver, B.C.[12]

Awards

  • 2006 - British Columbia Export Awards: Named as one of the top 24 exporters in B.C. and the top exporter in the Professional and Services category.[13]
  • 2012 - Nominated for a JDR award - which honors the best blogs in the design and remodeling industry - for their "green" blog.[14]
  • 2014 - Aon Hewitt's The 2014 Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada[15]
  • 2015 - Aon Hewitt's The 2015 Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada[16]
  • 2015 - BCTIA Technology Impact Awards - CEO Jeff Booth awarded "Person of the Year"[17]

References

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External links

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