67 Factory Visits with Steve Dubin

<h1>67 Factory Visits with Steve Dubin</h1>

<p>Steve Dubin grew two offsite accounts by 172% in one year. He has visited 67 factories. He sells polyisocyanurate rigid insulation, or Polyiso.</p>

<h2>Episode summary</h2>
<p>Steve Dubin describes how a social media post led to a plant visit, then to long-term business in modular and offsite construction. He says curiosity, factory visits, and adapting to each plant’s workflow drove the growth.</p>

<h2>Key facts</h2>
<ul>
  <li>Author: Audree Grubesic</li>
  <li>Date: Sep 30, 2025</li>
  <li>Factories visited: 67</li>
  <li>Sales growth: 172% for two existing offsite accounts in one year</li>
  <li>Product: Polyiso, short for polyisocyanurate rigid insulation</li>
  <li>Typical thermal performance: about R-6.5 per inch</li>
</ul>

<h2>How Steve entered the market</h2>
<p>Steve was a regional residential manager when he saw signs of a downturn and looked for diversification. He noticed a competitor’s product in a photo from Fading West on social media and reached out. That contact led to a factory visit. After assembly tweaks, the plant became one of his best customers.</p>

<p>His leadership then asked whether he could grow the business by focusing on modular and offsite full-time. He said yes and started that role on January 1.</p>

<h2>Sales approach</h2>
<p>Steve says sales is a contact sport. He visits factories, listens, and learns. He says 100% of this year’s wins came from turning social media connections into real-world relationships.</p>

<h2>Why Polyiso fits modular construction</h2>
<p>Polyiso is usually installed on the exterior. It offers one of the highest R-values per inch among common rigid insulations. That compactness helps modular builders meet energy-code targets without adding too much assembly depth.</p>

<p>Its performance is useful when buildings must ship to different climate zones or when factory space is limited.</p>

<h2>How he works with factories</h2>
<p>Steve says no two plants are the same. He avoids forcing a product into a workflow that does not fit. Instead, he studies how a line actually runs and adapts his support to match it. He says that approach builds trust, saves time, and reduces surprises.</p>

<h2>Why factory visits matter</h2>
<p>He also visits smaller, lower-profile plants that may not appear in directories or on social media. Those trips help him learn practical details and build respect with teams that have long track records.</p>

<h2>Advice for suppliers</h2>
<ul>
  <li>Jump in and be consistent.</li>
  <li>Visit factories.</li>
  <li>Listen more than you talk.</li>
  <li>Follow up and follow through.</li>
  <li>Use online tools to learn, then validate on the floor.</li>
  <li>Understand what matters to each plant.</li>
</ul>

<h2>FAQ</h2>
<h3>How did Steve Dubin break into modular and offsite construction?</h3>
<p>He noticed an opportunity through a social media post, contacted the team, and turned that into a plant visit and long-term relationship.</p>

<h3>Why is Polyiso popular in modular construction?</h3>
<p>It provides high insulation value in a thin profile, which helps factories meet energy-code targets without losing assembly depth.</p>

<h3>What does Steve tell suppliers to do?</h3>
<p>Visit factories, listen carefully, adapt to each plant, and deliver value that matches the plant’s specific needs.</p>