|
COMPANY PROFILE: A Far North niche Brooks Range Supply prides itself on having what its North Slope customers need when they need it Susan Braund Petroleum Directory Contributing Writer
Echoing the business marketing mantra — find a niche, consistently give your customers what they want and serve them well — Brooks Range Supply has deeply carved a niche as a North Slope supplier. The company, originally Prudhoe Bay Supply, has been a commodities and parts touchstone for slope companies since 1980, and directly on the slope since 1984.
“Our company tagline, ‘Your Source on the Slope’ says it all,” explains Craig Welch, one of two general managers. “Brooks Range Supply is a full line parts and industrial supply company selling any and all products associated with work in the oil field. We pride ourselves in having the experience in Prudhoe Bay to provide the best in customer service along with quality products at a fair price.”
In April of 2000, Colville Inc., which is owned by majority shareholders Mark and Jeff Helmericks, purchased Brooks Range Supply. Their close association with the oil field has brought valuable experience and additional products to the supply company. Colville Inc., a fuel supplier to the oil companies since 1985, also handles all the solid waste west of the Kuparuk River on the North Slope. (See Colville, Then and Now profile in the August 2001 issue of Petroleum News).
Named for its proximity to the Brooks Range, the firm’s facilities in Deadhorse are centrally located to Prudhoe oilfields. “On a clear day you can see the Brooks Range about 200 miles to the south ... it’s beautiful,” says co-manager Mike Kunkel. Two slope buildings The supply house has two buildings, one heated and one not, totaling 25,000 square feet. Construction is under way to heat and double deck the second storage space soon. “We’re growing, expanding product lines to be able to serve our customers better. When we buy in more volume we get discounts and prepaid freight, which allows us to remain competitive in our pricing. But it does takes some space!”
Kunkel cites the biggest challenge in operating the far north facility as “making sure the product gets to the customer in a timely fashion, preferably in stock, ready to go out the door. Up here, second-day air, and next-day air usually means five days!”
Brooks Range has built a reputation of willingness with a string of satisfied customers. Bill Thomas, facility maintenance for Schlumberger Pumping Services says, “Brooks Range Supply has served us very well for a long time. They’ve filled a niche — it’s difficult for North Slope companies to have a local source for supplies. They are willing to work with and accommodate us and have established themselves as an important part of ops up here.” Active sales team A very active Brooks Range sales team, Larry Pennino and Stan Weaver, call on all shops in the area, taking orders for needed items as well as checking bench stocks of consumable items. “The salesmen actually fill a spot that would normally cause us to have a person on staff,” comments Thomas. “Brooks Range tries to fit their services into our requirements and does a really good job of it.”
Brooks Range Supply is a distributor for: NAPA Auto and Truck Parts, Induserve (True Value Hardware industrial division), Aeroquip Premier hydraulic hose and fittings, Milwaukee and DeWalt power tools and a multitude of other lines.
After parts, commodities are the second-line mainstay. “We’re kind of like a mini-Home Depot. We carry lumber, wheelbarrows, paint and painting supplies, cold weather gear, safety supplies, plumbing, electrical, plate glass, windshields, propane, welding supplies, hand and power tools, abrasives, chemicals, oils, lubricants and fasteners ...” Welch pauses while reciting his litany of supplies and parts, “then there’s absorbents, batteries, gloves, office and paper supplies, light bulbs, closures, door springs, fixtures, chains, slings, binders, shackles, ground engaging teeth, duct hose; and don’t forget camlock fittings, pipe fittings, all types of filters, bearings, seals, household goods — and just about anything else a person might need while working in a remote location!” Need-it-right-now calls Although commodities are the biggest part of the business, the need-it-right-now calls are usually for parts, according to Kunkel. “With the climate up here, things break down more often, and when equipment goes down it’s needed back in action now!”
Keeping on top of demand, Brooks Range takes inventory frequently and places orders to more than 200 vendors every Sunday and a NAPA order five days a week. To further accommodate customers, the supply house offers a special order expediting service to find and supply any requested item. “The expediting service makes it easy on us,” says Thomas. “We don’t always want to spend the time setting up the paperwork with new vendors. Brooks Range acts as expediters and does the purchase for us. They have become fairly integrated into how our operations work.”
Kunkel says the most fun and rewarding part of the business for him is working with the people. “Our customers and employees here care about their jobs; they want to get the job done right. They are professionals and act like professionals. I’m thankful for the really good customers and how good it is to be able to work with them and take care of their needs.” Two-week-on, two-week-off rotation Hours of operation mirror the 24/7 pattern of the oil field. “As Brooks Range Supply is open at all times, our employees work a two-week-on, two-week-off rotation, with each person having a direct alternate,” says Welch. “We adhere to all the same policies as the oil companies, with safety and environmental compliance being major factors in our business.”
Both general managers have considerable experience in automotive parts, supplies and management and are supported by a reliable and experienced staff. Kunkel has been with the company for five years and co-manager Welch for eight. “Our employees have many years of experience providing you with oilfield related products and services,” comments Kunkel. “Prudhoe Bay is famous for some of the world’s coldest and longest winters. We have been in business here for many years and know what works and what doesn’t.”
Brooks Range Supply
#1 Old Spine Road, Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734; (907)659-2550 • Fax: (907)659-2650 • In-state Toll Free (866) 659-2550 • Email:[email protected]
Editor's note: Susan Braund owns Firestone Media Services in Anchorage, Alaska.
|
