What one year with CBUSA looks like: A builder’s perspective

One year into his CBUSA membership, Tony Marnella of Marnella Homes has a clear perspective on what the experience actually looks like for an independent builder. As one of the first members to join CBUSA’s Portland market, Tony has seen how membership fits into his business, from building supplier relationships to managing the reporting process.

His experience offers an honest look at what builders can expect during their first year with CBUSA. From why he joined to what surprised him about membership, Tony’s perspective shows how group purchasing can support an independent builder’s business without adding unnecessary complexity.

Here’s a closer look at some of the takeaways from Tony’s experience.

Why Tony joined CBUSA

Tony had considered other group purchasing organizations before deciding to join CBUSA. What made CBUSA stand out was the combination of purchasing opportunities, supplier relationships and the chance to help establish a market in his area.

CBUSA had recently opened its Portland market when Tony joined, making him one of the first members in the region. That gave him an opportunity to help build the local network while gaining access to the broader CBUSA organization.

Several factors helped make the decision easier:

• Access to group purchasing opportunities
• Relationships with national brand partners
• The opportunity to help establish CBUSA’s Portland market
• A network of other independent builders
• Purchasing support that complemented his existing business

For Tony, joining CBUSA was about finding a purchasing organization that could bring value to his business while fitting the way he already operates. That decision became even clearer once he experienced membership firsthand.

What’s made membership easy

One of the biggest benefits Tony has experienced during his first year has been the relationships he’s built with national partners. Those connections give him another avenue for working with suppliers while keeping the process manageable for his team.

That relationship-building is a meaningful part of the CBUSA experience. Independent builders can connect with national brands through a broader purchasing network while continuing to run their businesses independently.

Tony’s first year has also given him a better sense of what participation actually requires. The experience has been more straightforward than he expected, particularly when it came to the administrative side of membership.

The biggest surprise came when Tony got into the reporting process. What looked like another administrative chore on paper turned out to be a relatively small part of the workload, making membership easier to fold into the way his team already operates.

The reporting surprise

Reporting can sound like one more administrative responsibility when a builder first considers joining a group purchasing organization. Tony found that the reality was different from what he expected.

The reporting process wasn’t as significant a time lift as he initially thought. That made it easier to participate in the program without creating another major administrative task for his team.

For builders evaluating a new partnership, that distinction matters. The value of a program depends partly on whether the work required to participate fits into the way a business already operates.

Tony’s experience suggests builders should look at the practical side of participation before assuming it will become a major time commitment. A closer look at the process can help answer some important questions:

• How much time does reporting actually require?
• What information does your team already have available?
• How often does information need to be provided?
• What value comes from participating in the program?

For Tony, the answer was clear after a year: Reporting wasn’t the burden he expected it to be.

Why Tony recommends CBUSA to other builders

After a year as a member, Tony has become an advocate for CBUSA and encourages other independent builders to consider membership. His recommendation comes from experiencing the program firsthand and seeing how it fits into his business.

His perspective centers on the value of being part of a network where independent builders can benefit from collective purchasing power and supplier relationships.

As Tony puts it, “Smart builders are part of CBUSA.”

That statement gets at what Tony sees as the larger value of membership. Independent builders can maintain their businesses and decision-making while gaining access to a broader network of purchasing resources and industry relationships.

His first year also shows why evaluating a group purchasing organization requires more than looking at a single agreement or savings opportunity. The experience includes the relationships built, the process required and the resources available to members over time.

For Tony, those pieces have added up to an experience he’s comfortable recommending to other builders.

What builders can take away from Tony’s first year

Tony’s experience provides a practical look at what a first year with CBUSA can involve. His story gives other builders a chance to consider the decision from the perspective of someone who’s already gone through the process.

The biggest lessons from his first year include:

• Look at the whole opportunity: Tony considered more than purchasing alone when deciding whether CBUSA was right for his business.
• Pay attention to the experience: The day-to-day reality of membership gave Tony a different perspective than he had before joining.
• Consider the administrative side: Reporting turned out to be less of a time commitment than he initially expected.
• Use the network: Relationships with suppliers and other builders are an important part of the membership experience.
• Think beyond the first year: The value of a business partnership can become clearer as you build relationships and gain experience with the program.

Tony’s story gives independent builders a useful benchmark for thinking about what membership could look like in practice.

Watch the full webinar

This article covers just a few of the insights Tony shared during Lessons from year one with CBUSA. The full webinar gives independent builders a firsthand look at why Tony joined, what made membership easy and what surprised him along the way.

In the webinar, you’ll learn:

• Why Tony chose CBUSA over other GPOs he considered
• How joining helped establish CBUSA’s Portland market
• What Tony has gained from relationships with national partners
• Why CBUSA reporting wasn’t the time commitment he expected
• Why Tony believes “Smart builders are part of CBUSA”

Watch the full webinar here: Lessons from year one with CBUSA

Hear Tony’s experience firsthand and see what a first year with CBUSA can look like for an independent builder. Builders interested in exploring membership can also learn more about CBUSA and submit a membership inquiry.