Goal in providing services: 'competitive advantage'

The concept of “strength in numbers” has been applied in many ways by Builders Exchange members over the decades.

“For years, the BX has used group buying power to access business services at special prices – rates most member firms couldn’t achieve independently.” John Igel George J. Igel & Co., Inc. Board Liaison, Membership Services

“For years, the BX has used group buying power to access business services at special prices – rates most member firms couldn’t achieve independently,” said John Igel (George J. Igel & Co., Inc.), the BX board liaison who oversees membership services.

“We have many members who save tens of thousands of dollars a year through discounts on BX programs like office supplies (through Staples), courier service (through Best Courier) gasoline (through SuperFleet) or health care (through the Construction Industry Alliance),” Igel said.

Probably the largest Exchange discount program, both in terms of member participation and dollars saved, has been the BX Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Plan, which has saved participating firms $53 million since its inception in 1991.  Igel said the current group consists of 308 companies, who can combine their strong workers’ comp histories and essentially file with the BWC as one giant company,

“Group rating participants can see dramatic impacts – in the last rating year, one firm saved nearly $87,000 – but even members who don’t qualify for it can get on board with other BX services and see huge bottom-line benefits,” Igel said.

The latest membership service creating a buzz is a new BX partnership offering discounts on vehicle sales or leases.  Working with Momentum Fleet Management, both members and their employees can access rates negotiated with manufacturers such as Chrysler, Ford and GM.

“One example: a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500ST, 4x4 – which has an MSRP of $27,225 – will cost members $19,193 through the BX program,” Igel said.

Continuing to find group buying power opportunities is a focus of the recently-updated Builders Exchange Strategic Plan, he noted.

“The Strategic Plan has four major goals that we use to drive the BX forward – and the one about membership services seems to be a permanent part of the plan.  We’re always looking for new services that can give our members a competitive advantage.”

For more information, members are encouraged to read the new Builders Exchange Strategic Plan on the association’s Web site: www.bx.org.