Like many service businesses, Cornerstone Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical had a plan in place in case of a hurricane. So when Irma struck Tampa Bay last September, owner Dana Spears believed her company was ready.
Her fleet of 35 trucks and 65 employees were prepared to help customers get back up and running after power outages and flooding. But, a shortage of air conditioning units, generators and service parts hindered Cornerstone’s goal of 100 percent customer satisfaction, because they could not get some of the equipment and parts they needed.
“We had to rely on our distributors, and when they couldn’t get product from the manufacturers, we were stuck, too.” said Spears. “Getting generators was the worst — the manufacturers were backlogged for two and three months, and we had to wait like everyone else.”
That situation was unacceptable to Spears, who takes prides in her company’s commitment to fast, expert service and outstanding customer care.
“I realized after Irma that we needed a larger warehouse so we could stock more of our own supplies and equipment,” said Spears. “I didn’t want to go through another storm season depending on our suppliers, worrying if they would be able to fill our orders.”
So began Spears’ plan to build a 6,000-square-foot warehouse next to her existing building on U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. And, just eight months after Irma left its mark, Cornerstone will soon be opening its new warehouse.
“We will be fully ready for hurricane season this year,” said Spears. “We are investing over $100,000 in generators, water tanks and air conditioning units, plus thousands more in an expanded parts inventory, all to be stocked in our new warehouse. This is a huge commitment for our company, and we’re doing it to make sure we have all the supplies needed to take care of our customers.”
Cornerstone’s new warehouse will store air conditioning units of all sizes and seer levels, and stock more high-demand service items for its air conditioning, electrical and plumbing operations. It will also stock portable and permanent generators of all sizes, including whole-house systems by Generac.
The new warehouse will also allow Cornerstone to field more service and maintenance calls, because technicians will no longer need to drive to supplier warehouses and wait for parts to be loaded on their trucks.
“Every morning our vans will be fully stocked with everything our technicians need, which means on most calls, we will be able to solve a customer’s problem on the first visit,” said Spears. “And, because our trucks will be more fully stocked, we will become a more efficient service operation that will result in even better customer service.”
The warehouse will also allow Cornerstone to buy some items in bulk, often at reduced prices, and expand the number of inventory items it carries.
“The savings we see from bulk purchasing will be passed along to customers after we are fully stocked,” said Spears.
Cornerstone was founded in 2006 as an air conditioning service company. It moved to its 4-acre site on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in 2011, and the following year added plumbing services. In 2014, it expanded again with electrical services.
Spears credits her company’s growth to its commitment to outstanding customer service, and also because its employees exemplify her company’s values.
“We hire people who are genuine, honest, trustworthy, clean-cut, and live their life with good ethics and morals,” said Spears. “Most employees are local people who live in our service area, and they are very committed to their work and community.”
The company has developed its own training program for employees to become certified in its trade areas. Fifteen employees have successfully completed these training programs, receiving numerous industry certifications, and now work as highly skilled tradesmen. Currently, three employees are enrolled in the Cornerstone training program.
“We’re always looking for eager, hardworking men and women with a good attitude and mechanical aptitude,” Spears says. “We’re successful because we’ve built our business on reputation and trust, which begins by hiring great people.”
Cornerstone phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Call (813) 990-0561 anytime, day or night. For more information, visit their website at CornerstonePros.com.
Published June 27, 2018
