Wilco Supply President Joe Wilkins reflects on three decades of change in the seamless gutter industry — from full-coil bulk orders to job-by-job, piece-by-piece purchasing — and explains how Wilco built its operation around getting contractors in, out, and back to the job site faster.
The seamless gutter business doesn’t look the way it did thirty years ago — and Wilco Supply has changed right alongside it. Joe Wilkins, President of Wilco Supply, sat down to share how customer buying habits have shifted, why speed at the pickup counter matters more than ever, and how the company keeps its operation laser-focused on one thing: getting contractors back on the road and making money.
What has changed in the gutter industry over the last 30 years?
“So what has changed in thirty years? This is what’s changed. The customer base used to buy full coils of everything. Today, in the last ten to fifteen years, you, the customer, want twenty-five feet of this, fifty feet of that. Everything’s pieced by the job.”
Thirty years ago, gutter contractors stocked up in bulk — full coils, full pallets, full truckloads. The buying model was built around volume.
Today’s contractor operates differently. Jobs are tighter, margins are sharper, and material is purchased the way it’s used — by the foot, by the color, by the project.
Why are contractors buying gutter material job-by-job today?
The shift to job-by-job purchasing is driven by how the modern gutter business runs:
Tighter cash flow — no one wants money sitting in inventory
Job-specific color and material mixes — homeowners want options, and contractors stock to match
Limited truck and shop space — every square foot of the trailer counts
Speed-to-install — material in today, on the house tomorrow
That’s why the modern contractor wants twenty-five feet of one profile, fifty feet of another, and a quick turnaround at pickup.
How does Wilco Supply work with contractors on every order?
Wilco’s approach to that new reality is simple and direct.
“How we work together as a customer — just let me sell you what you need for the job, but we do it the best we can, the most economical way we can, and try to do it in the quickest fashion for the pickup customers that come to us to get them in and out the door.”
That philosophy comes down to three things:
Sell what you need — no upselling, no overstocking
Do it economically — fair price market value on every line item
Do it fast — pickup customers in and out the door
It’s a model built around the contractor’s day, not the supplier’s convenience.
Why does pickup speed matter for gutter contractors?
Every minute a crew spends waiting at the supply counter is a minute they’re not on the roof.
“The quicker we can get to the job site, the quicker you’re making money.”
That’s the kind of math gutter pros understand. Faster pickup means:
More jobs per day for the crew
Less idle time for trucks and labor
Faster billing cycles for the business
Happier homeowners with shorter project timelines
When the supply chain moves at your speed, the whole job runs better.
What makes Wilco’s contractor-first approach a win-win?
The Wilco model isn’t about transactions. It’s about partnership.
“It’s a win-win.”
Contractors get the right material, at the right length, at the right price, out the door fast. Wilco gets long-term customers who keep coming back because the experience saves them time and money.
That’s the kind of win-win that builds a 30-year business — and keeps it relevant for the next 30.
“The quicker we can get to the job site, the quicker you’re making money. It’s a win-win.”
— Joe Wilkins, President, Wilco Supply
Built around the modern gutter contractor
The way contractors buy gutter material has changed dramatically over the last three decades — and Wilco Supply has built its operation around that reality. Sell what you need. Price it fairly. Get you out the door fast. That’s the formula that’s kept Wilco the supplier of choice for working gutter pros across the Midwest.
How has the gutter supply industry changed in the last 30 years?
The biggest shift is from bulk buying — full coils and pallets — to job-by-job purchasing, where contractors order specific lengths of specific materials for individual projects.
Can I buy gutter material by the foot at Wilco Supply?
Yes. Wilco sells material the way modern contractors use it — by the length, by the profile, and by the color needed for each specific job.
Does Wilco Supply offer fast pickup for contractors?
Yes. Wilco prioritizes getting pickup customers in and out the door quickly so crews can get back to the job site and keep making money.
What is Wilco Supply’s approach to pricing?
Wilco sells contractors what they need at the most economical price possible, with a fair-market philosophy applied to every order.
Why does pickup speed matter for gutter contractors?
Faster pickup means more jobs per day, less idle time for crews and trucks, faster billing, and happier customers — all of which directly impact a contractor’s bottom line.
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