At the forefront of any successful construction project is efficiency. Everyone involved in a project, whether the general contractor, subcontractor, or administrative assistant, wants to see the job completed on schedule with minimal disruptions. But long lead times in construction equipment sales can throw a serious wrench in even the best planned schedule. So, when RPI Rentals was approached about supplying equipment and materials to The RO project in Houston, our team figured out the best way to minimize this issue was by setting up shop directly onsite.
About The RO
The RO is a 123,623 square-foot retail development in Houston’s historic River Oaks District. It will include restaurants and boutiques. Brick facades and pavers, as well as a paseo, will capture the unique aesthetic of the area while also providing a touch of modernity and innovation. The work is expected to complete this summer.
The RPI Pop-Up Shop
Because RPI backs builders, we offer everything a construction crew needs from the second they step onto the jobsite for the first time until the final cleaning is done. But as those in the construction industry are all too aware, lead times for materials can sometimes pose a significant challenge to the project’s schedule. And even if there isn’t a lead time issue, it’s frustrating to wait for materials to be delivered and to deal with potentially lost or damaged products or unforeseen shipping delays. Our team at RPI decided there was a better way – to set up a miniature RPI “pop-up shop” to house the basic construction equipment sales products needed for the project. The shop is an 8×20 foot ground-level office container that sits at the very front of the jobsite.
Our Houston sales representative, Tony Gutierrez, is the one-man operation for the shop. “I’m here about 98% of the time,” he said. “If I’m not, I’m easily accessible by phone and can be back within a few minutes. If someone on the crew needs something, I can hand deliver it to them instead of them waiting for it to ship out.”
Currently, there is about $50,000 worth of consumable inventory in the shop. Materials range from personal protective equipment (PPE) to small hand tools to fall and perimeter protection and can be modified.
RPI is also supplying many of the rental needs for The RO and plans to offer more as the project progresses. “Since we’re right by the job trailers, we’ve definitely become the first call for the crew,” Tony said. “Currently, we’re supplying all the generators and forklifts for the project.”
Impeccable Service at Your Fingertips
The RPI “pop-up office” is about more than just convenience. It’s another way for our team to provide exceptional service to our customers.
“It’s definitely not just a marketing stunt,” Tony said. “This is an effort to better our service response and delivery times. Nowadays, we live in a digital world where most people just go online, add what they need to their shopping cart, and get it delivered. But in doing this, I get to be here on site and build relationships with all the different teams and trades that are coming in and out of the project. I can make sure that each person who comes looking for something is getting exactly what they need in a timely manner. They never have to wonder who to call or spend hours on the phone with an automated customer service line because I’m here. Whether these customers use us in the future or not, my hope is that when this project is done, everyone who worked on it remembers RPI the good service we provided them.”