Dan Webb, CAS
PRESIDENT
Webb Company
Now, at 31 and the company president, he’s working to continue shaping the company his father built and creating a legacy his two children will want to become part of one day. He says he was born into the business and is lucky that he loves it. Webb most enjoys the sales aspect and engaging with customers, but he’s naturally an introvert. “I used to stay far away from sales but the more you do it, the more fun it becomes, and now I thrive on it,” he says.
The most difficult challenge he’s had to overcome at Webb Company is that of driving continued growth during economic downturns, combined with online direct sellers and customers going direct. Even so, Webb Company has grown nearly 300 percent in the past four years. What the challenge has taught him is to stay focused. “You can’t please everyone and not everyone’s business model is a fit for your business to equal a profitable venture,” he explains. “Stay focused on your path and target the customers that you enjoy working with.”
For other young business owners, he offers this advice: “The only thing you can control is yourself,” he says. “Don’t chase money and don’t chase people. When you focus on yourself, these things chase you.”
To relax, he gets away with his daughter, Hayden and son, Roman, and also plays golf and runs. “Running is a great tool I use to free my mind and reenergize as well,” he says.
Nominator Patty Batalden, who recently retired as sales and marketing manager for the Webb Company, is impressed with Webb for a number of reasons, starting with the fact that he’s an amazing listener. “He never responds until the person is done speaking. He cares about what the distributor, employee or fellow supplier is saying—and when he responds, his answer is well thought out.”
Batalden worked for the Eagan, Minnesota, supplier for 10 years, the past six under Dan’s leadership, and calls him one of the nicest people she’s ever met. She shares these examples: “He treats everyone equally and values all the relationships he forges. When he meets a distributor at a show, gives them his card and says call me anytime, he means it. When he says his door is always open, that is true too. On a personal note, the fact that he is much younger than me, doesn’t affect me at all as I have learned so much from him. To be able to work for a person who talks the talk and walks the walk is a great thing.”
She also describes Webb as someone who is truly dialed in to what is happening within the industry and what the trends are, and he’s glad to share the information with employees so they can answer customer questions. He’s also recently brought in several new product lines, including a line of lip balm manufactured on-site.
“Our industry is lucky to have such a rising star looking after it,” adds Batalden. “When Dan and I are out on the road together, I am often asked if he’s my son. I thank them and tell them he is not but I consider it a compliment as he is such a great man.”
HIS INSPIRATION
His father, Alan, and his two children. “My father built the Webb Company from our basement. I’ve watched it grow from nothing to massive and back to almost nothing again. I’ve learned a lot from him and I strive every day to continue growing the company bigger and better than before—not to show him up, but to show him off. I wouldn’t be here without him and I also wouldn’t be here without my children. I want them to grow up seeing what hard work looks like. I don’t think I’d be as driven as I am Dan Webb, CAS without them. They are such a driving force for me and the best things in my life.”
THE INDUSTRY IN FIVE YEARS
He sees more consolidations, buyouts and mergers. “All of it, and a lot of it. I see a lot more suppliers working together than ever before as well. This can be scary for companies that are unsure of their future, but Webb has no doubt they are here to stay and grow. The future is quite exciting.”
ON HIS TO-DO LIST NOW
Work on implementing new cloud-based ERP/CRM system, hire additional sales staff, increase support staff to handle the growth.
