The 5 W's and 1 H of PWC

Priority Wire and Cable is the best master distributor of wire & cable serving electrical, utility, telecommunications, mining, and welding wholesale distributors. Incorporating in Little Rock, AR in April 1993, PWC has expanded to include sales offices and distribution centers in Houston, TX, Baton Rouge, LA, Las Vegas, NV, Erlanger, KY, and Virginia Beach, VA. Privately held by two owners, PWC's 120+ employees and 34 representative agencies are directed by a seven-member management team. The business plan for Priority was created to capitalize on an opportunity recognized by the two owners. Ken Hamilton, with a manufacturing background, knew the weaknesses and limitations of wire & cable manufacturers. Jim Newman, with a distribution background, knew the unmet wire & cable needs and market potential of wholesale distributors.

Manufacturers are limited in their product offering. They require large minimum footage runs and large prepaid freight conditions. Customer service departments are short staffed resulting in delayed quoting and 48-72 hour shipping turn around times. Hidden costs by manufacturers, i.e. cut charges, reel charges, minimum charges, expediting charges, and high freight charges result in unprofitable orders for distributors. Lack of finished good inventories result in 2 - 3 week lead times and /or multiple backorders.

Distributors need quick answers to wire quotes and the technical questions related to those quotes. They need wire suppliers with broad product offerings and quick ship capabilities. Competitive pricing with no hidden charges is a necessity. Inventory turns, and the profitability associated with those turns, force distributors to buy competitively and keep inventory levels low, stocking only A and B items. This "Turn and Earn" principle disables distributors from stocking specialty cables.

Priority Wire & Cable fills the void between the manufacturers' capabilities and the distributors' needs. Partnering with the best wire & cable manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, PWC stocks large inventories of over 99 different wire & cable product groups. Priority provides these manufacturers an outlet for moving profitable, truckload shipments of product. The consistent demand of PWC eliminates the excess capacity of manufacturers, keeping machinery running and people employed. This Priority inventory gives distributors a cost effective partner for their wire & cable needs with same day shipping, 95% order fill rates, no cut or hidden charges, no minimum order requirements, 24- hour emergency service number, wire striping capabilities, and low prepaid freight requirements. The Priority combination program of a $3000 prepaid freight allowance when purchasing three or more stock product groups gives distributors an inventory tool to improve their "Turn and Earn."

PWC's knowledgeable, service oriented sales staff provides distributors with technical expertise and quick, accurate wire quotations. Technologically advanced, cost efficient operations eliminate delays in order processing. Bar coded inventories ensure order accuracy and allow for real time order tracking. Priority markets its products and services through 34 representative agencies. These agencies provide distributors a personal touch, offering value added solutions and providing customer service support. They provide PWC with the most cost effective marketing program available.

As the distribution industry continues to move in the direction of a world economy, competition will force distributors to run smart, lean, service oriented businesses. Priority Wire & Cable, Inc. is the wire & cable solution for the intelligent distributor. PWC is doing things right. According to the June 2002 and 2006 issues of Electrical Wholesaling magazine, Priority led the electrical distribution industry in sales growth. As Priority continues to expand its product base and open new locations, this industry leading growth is sure to continue.