Inspiration around every corner

By Anna Lockhart.  

By meeting with contractors face-to-face, this manufacturer is able to devise quality solutions in real time.  

Meeting contractors where they are is a cornerstone principle of Van Mark Products’ marketing and communications strategy. Offering a range of portable bending brakes and other metal tools, the brand has an extensive 60-year history of finding ways to deliver reliable products designed to meet an array of contractor needs.  

In fact, their goal is to find a solution for any contractor, even if that solution isn’t available just yet in their current product line. In a conversation with Megan Ellsworth, live from The Coffee Shops™ soundstage at the 2025 International Roofing Expo (IRE), Gary Weinert explained that often times, their team looks for ways to best accommodate any customer needs, even if that means facing a gap in product offerings where a contractor has a need they aren’t able to meet. He shared, “Our tools might not be right for [a contractor], but these conversations help us discover what customers might need that we could find a way to meet, and we love talking directly to those contractors to discover what kind of tools we can possibly make.” 

He went on to share that these conversations and interactions are a key driver for innovation and creative processes behind enhancing or creating new tools in their product line. “That challenge keeps us in business,” Gary laughed, “but also, it’s good for the industry. We all need the industry to thrive, so that’s the beauty of roofing... As a friend told me, ‘There’s always two kinds of roofs: one that’s leaking, and one that will leak eventually.’”  

In the meantime, outside of brainstorming new and innovative ways to upgrade their products and designing new tools, Gary shared the different ways customers can find their tools. In addition to finding their products through wholesale distributors, Van Mark Products are also available at most rental stores across the country which is also a great way to test out a Van Mark brake before purchasing. 

Watch the full interview to learn more about Van Mark’s promise of innovation and customer satisfaction!