All of the Ways to Use Rainwater
Jim Wood has been an active player in the rainwater harvesting industry since 2012. His ecommerce background made him an ideal choice to lead Rain Harvesting Supplies’ online efforts, and soon after joining the rainwater collection world, he became one of the industry’s most successful salespeople. Jim ultimately led the charge to pivot the company’s business model to focus attention on installation professionals
After spending a few years with Rain Harvesting Supplies, Jim started his own company in 2016 with his wife and business partner, Mitzi Wood. Based in north Texas, their company, Rainwater Equipment LLC (RWE), works primarily with installation professionals but also serves rainwater DIYers throughout the U.S.
Enjoy our recent interview with Jim and Mitzi, where we learned what sets RWE apart in the world of rainwater collection.
Grundfos: RWE does things a little differently than the competition. How has this ensured your success?
RWE: We never wanted to be installers; it just wasn’t our strength. We’re good at helping installers get the equipment they need to do their jobs. That is how Rainwater Equipment has stayed successful: by providing equipment (pumps, UV filtration systems, level gauges, etc.) to installers at a discount while also offering them direct product support, such as pump sizing. Today, only three or four companies in the U.S. do what we do as rainwater equipment online distributors.
Grundfos: How do you maintain a strong relationship with your installer base?
RWE: The majority of our installation professional customers are within 50 miles of one another in Texas — around Austin. Once every six weeks, we take a road trip with a trailer load of equipment to visit each one. This provides a reoccurring, natural touchpoint and enables us to deliver orders, discuss questions, and often enjoy dinner with our colleagues. This trip saves our installers hundreds of dollars by eliminating delivery costs, which they really appreciate.
Grundfos: Why rainwater?
RWE: Water is essential for all life, and it’s a great business to be in. Outside factors impact so many industries, and though water isn’t bulletproof, it is certainly in a good spot when the world or the market is going crazy. People always need water and most of the time they understand the value of it. We’re also passionate about sustainability and being part of the solution as a family. The value of rainwater collection will continue to increase, and we want to be part of that.
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Grundfos: How did you form a relationship with Grundfos?
RWE: We’ve partnered with Grundfos for about ten years. When our business started online, we wanted to set up vendor relationships — we had no purchase history, so we spent a couple of years buying from suppliers and figuring out what people wanted. We met with Barry Nauss from Grundfos early on, and we were established as an OEM, so we didn’t compete with the groundwater distributors. We listened closely to our customers and determined how each Grundfos pump could best be integrated into a rainwater collection system. When it comes to selecting the most suitable Grundfos products, many of them are no-brainers, and others take more consideration. We saw an opportunity to make a splash in rainwater together with Grundfos. It was simply a natural partnership.
Grundfos: Your customers range from homeowners to installers. These are very different audiences, so why do they each choose RWE?
RWE: We provide excellent service and customer support, especially when it comes to pumps. When you buy a Grundfos pump from other places, it can often be difficult to get someone on the phone who can help you make an appropriate pump choice for your particular need. When you contact us, you won't sit on hold waiting to speak to someone who doesn’t know the product. When you contact or visit RWE, you get to speak to one of the team directly. We work with our customers to specify the products and help diagnose issues — it’s our in-house knowledge that separates us from others, and we provide unmatched support. We also have a storefront so people can see firsthand how rainwater harvesting is done in real-time on various installations.
Grundfos:Tell us more about your onsite pump setup.
RWE: We have one 30,000 gallon tank at our facility, a couple of 3,000 gallon ones, and a 5,000 gallon tank. Each is part of an actual working system that is set up as a demo for clients to check out. Our tanks are outfitted with the pumps that we sell. For example, we use a Grundfos SCALA1 3-45 as a transfer pump to automatically send rainwater from one tank to top off another once the water level in the main storage tank begins to drop. It’s great for customers to be able to see the pumps in action in the store instead of only discussing hypothetical situations or potential problems by phone or email. Also, when a customer calls with questions, we can go straight to one of our in-store display pump installations, pull out our phones, and create a short video to share with them that helps to solve their specific issue. But we don’t just talk about pumps and rainwater harvesting; we have a Grundfos CME Plus pump providing potable water to our offices and warehouse.
Grundfos: You’re clearly highly dedicated to your customers' success.
RWE: Everyone needs a pump expert it seems. It’s not uncommon for a customer to come into the store saying, “I have a tank, but I didn’t know I needed a pump.” For both homeowners and installers, we have the expertise to help them select above ground pumps or submersible pumps, single speed pumps or VFD pumps that meet their flow and pressure needs. We enjoy learning about each project, and we form good connections. We also support rainwater system installers nationwide, and those relationships truly matter. Our goal is to make them successful. We know that taking care of them is also the key to our own success. So, it makes perfect sense.
For more information, visit Rainwater Equipment LLC.