1. The Cohens make selling PURPLE a family affair
8/3/2015
Sometimes it takes a husband-wife team to sell National Gypsum products. That’s what happened in
Greensboro, NC, where Advantage Truck Center is building a new facility.
J.D. Cohen is the PermaBase market development representative for the southeast. His wife, Heidi,
works for Advantage in Charlotte. She heard about her company’s new construction project and wrote
an e-mail to the owner of Advantage, urging him to use PURPLE products in the new building. Here’s
what she wrote:
“Good morning! Would you mind giving me the name of the architect and general contractor for
Advantage’s new facility? My husband works for National Gypsum, which is a manufacturer of gypsum
and building products. Their corporate headquarters is in Charlotte, so a local company.
“I was telling my husband about our new location and mentioned the architect was in Rocky Mount. He
often calls on architects and would like to call on the architect to see if his product can be specified.
When you see new buildings going up, they are usually green or purple wallboard. Purple is the color
they want to see especially in visible sites, such as ours will be. Thank you for any help or information.
Have a great day. Heidi.”
Advantage’s owner supplied the architect’s name and the NGC team went to work. Sales Representative
Bruce Baker called on the architect and asked for National Gypsum products to be specified for the job.
The architect agreed. Sales Representative Chris Mattox found out which of our distributors was
supplying product for the job and ensured National Gypsum was used.
Although the amount of PermaBase on the job is small, Cohen’s work brought about a large order for
other NGC products. The job includes eXP Sheathing and 5/8-inch Fire-Shield and XP Gypsum Board,
supplied by Delta Gypsum.
Because of Heidi, those passing by see a large PURPLE building in a high-profile area, next to Volvo’s
North American headquarters on I-40. Welcome, Heidi, to our One Team!