Chad Bowie has always had an eye for sales. That interest led him to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he obtained a degree in agricultural business and marketing. He then leveraged those skills during stints with Ag-Pro South and Greenway Equipment, where he sold agricultural, turf and commercial worksite products and John Deere equipment. After 14 years spent honing his skills between those two posts, Bowie joined Acme Brick, Tile & Stone as district manager in 2018.
“What I most enjoy about my job is seeing the skills and knowledge of our staff come together to provide a great customer experience,” Bowie told Arkansas Money & Politics in 2023. “Our company is over a century old and built on a foundation of brick manufacturing, but we continue the pursuit to offer more than just the essentials to homebuyers, builders and architects.”
As a foremost name in stone, tile and outdoor living products, Acme Brick prides itself on making products that last for the long haul. That commitment is further demonstrated by the company’s 100-year guarantee. There is much more to the 133-year-old company than its namesake bricks, however, which makes education an essential component of any Acme team member’s job. Bowie relishes the opportunity to show new customers the depth and breadth of Acme’s inventory, as well as keeping returning clientele up to speed on the latest materials and styles.
“I think it’s good when people ask questions and that they get good feedback,” Bowie said. “I still believe that we should always be a partner with our customers. It’s a constant challenge to educate our clientele, which we strive to do every day. That’s why we’re investing in the training that’s necessary to help our customers understand the product, how to install it, and to suggest or recommend certain installers to help them.”
One of those developments has been the explosion of interest in MAC Metal siding, and the Maumelle-based Bowie has helped usher in a bevy of Arkansas homeowners opting for the premium, environmentally friendly product.
“In Arkansas, we are setting the trend, even in places already known as trendsetters, such as Dallas,” Bowie told AY About You. “Ever since Arkansas kick-started the demand, the product has really taken on a life of its own in the South. We’ve got entire homes of this product. We’ve sold some jobs that were over $100,000 worth of product just for the exterior of million-dollar homes.”
Another area homeowners have zeroed in on in recent years, he said, is the importance of outdoor spaces. While not totally a product of the COVID-19 pandemic, the extended time indoors certainly accelerated the need for amenities such as outdoor pools, patios and pizza ovens for those willing to splurge. Bowie again found himself at the forefront of a wave of demand, and Acme was positioned to deliver above and beyond customer expectations.
“Our products offer a better warranty and give you a product that will last you for years to come, instead of having to replace it every single year, as can happen with cheaper models,” Bowie said. “There are less expensive options out there, but you quickly get wise to the fact after you’ve bought something three or four times that the savings over time are not that substantial. You also have to really factor that in when considering making a high-quality purchase.”
As an experienced salesman, Bowie knows a quality product when he sees it, and his time at Acme has helped the company become the “hometown option” for Arkansan customers.
“We appreciate the opportunity to serve people in Arkansas, many of whom have been doing business with us for multiple generations,” he said. “We’re proud to help so many people’s dreams for their home come true.”
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