From a “man with a van” in 1989 to a 38-truck fleet today, T.Webber Plumbing Heating, Air & Electric founder Tom Webber has built his business up to be a major competitor in New York’s expansive Hudson Valley. Now, Webber employs 52 individuals, including his son, daughter, and daughter-in-law.
A family company
Webber entered the trades after a friend asked him for help at work for a few weeks.
“A few weeks turned into a few years, and he had to decide whether he was going to continue to learn and progress in the plumbing trade or focus on welding and equipment repairs,” says Kelly Webber, Tom Webber’s daughter and T.Webber’s marketing and operations manager. “He chose to move forward with plumbing, as it was a steadier business. So he began working for himself, eventually founding and incorporating T.Webber Plumbing & Heating, Inc.”
Despite the company’s current size, it remains family owned and operated, which helps it stand out from its competition.
“The people are what make T.Webber special,” Kelly Webber says. “Customers have the ability to connect with the owners, who are very active in the business. While the business is growing, we still work hard to ensure we maintain a personalized, family feel, both for our employees and our customers.”
The company’s slogan, “We keep your home running right,” represents the company’s commitment to its customers’ safety and comfort.
“As a turn-key home services company, our team of expert tradesmen can take care of the entire home,” Kelly Webber says. “We offer services in plumbing, sewer and septic, HVAC, electrical, water treatment and well systems. We do a little bit of everything.”
Of T.Webber’s 52 employees, 33 work in the field while 19 are in the office or warehouse. The company performs almost exclusively residential work and is a member of the Nexstar Network, CEO Warrior, and Independent Master Plumbers of Westchester.
“We don’t specialize in one trade; we are a turnkey home services company,” Kelly Webber says. “What we do specialize in is high-quality repairs and customer-focused service.”
Truck talk
T.Webber’s 38-truck fleet is comprised of a mix of 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, 2016 Nissan NV 2500 High Tops, and 2016 Ford Transit Connects. Since T.Webber has made a name for itself over the years as the company with these “big blue trucks,” they knew that when it came time for a redesign, they would pay homage to their old trucks.
“At the same time, we wanted to modernize the look with a more energizing blue, too,” Kelly Webber says.
T.Webber worked with Dan Antonelli from Kick Charge Creative to choose a design that is “clean, modern, and tells a visual story,” Webber says.
“The running mechanic surrounded by the house is intended to showcase the speed of our home services. It is also a visual representation of our tagline, ‘We keep your home running right.’
The new wraps have brought in business, she adds.
“More of our customers tell us they saw our vehicles on the road,” Webber says. “We got a phone call from a real estate agent who ‘just had to call because our trucks looked so great.’ She said our trucks looked stylish, professional and ‘didn’t look cluttered with unnecessary information’ like a lot of home services companies.
“We definitely consider that a positive reaction.”
This article was originally titled “Telling a story” in the June 2018 print edition of Plumbing & Mechanical.
