Facing Fast Growth and Strong Competition

Profile on: Mike and Brian McCoy, co-owner of McCoy’s Building Supplies

During the early part of their careers, Mike and Brian McCoy, owners of McCoy’s Building Supplies, applied a simple formula for success: hard work followed by more hard work. This, along with an innovative approach to selling building supplies, allowed the Galveston-based business to become one of the largest building supply companies in America.

Facing challenge

However, their dogged approach to business eventually came up against an enormous challenge in the form of competitors like Home Depot and Lowe’s, who offered a deeper product line and more specialized services to their customers. But even more devastating was the sudden death of their brother Dennis, who had been a partner in the business. After Dennis’s death, Brian and Mike tried to continue doing business as usual. But their grief sapped their motivation, forcing them to ask questions about life that they had never before considered.

“We were raised to accept what happened and just move on, or fix it and move on,” says Mike. “But this was something we couldn’t fix.”

Aura of peace

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While Mike and his family struggled with their grief, he noticed his wife Myra had an aura of peace that Mike just couldn’t figure out. Then he remembered the Bibles she kept in the home. Perhaps that was her secret. One night, Mike decided to see for himself.

“Being the macho Texan that I am, I tucked it under my arm and snuck it out of this dark room where she’s sound asleep,” Mike says.

Mike took the Bible with him on his next business trip, only six days after his brother’s death. While reading it, he paused to pray.

“I said, ‘Okay, I don’t believe you’re real. But I’ll tell you what I’ll do, God. I’ll make a deal with you.’ You see, I was good at making deals, so I thought I’d just make a great deal with God.”

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The terms of the deal were simple: Mike vowed to read the entire Bible. Once finished, he would either accept or reject God forever. It took Mike about nine months. But when that time was up, he made good on his end of the bargain, and became a Christian.

Making family a priority

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Meanwhile, Brian was having a similar struggle. One area in particular that troubled him was his family, especially after his wife pointed out that his dedication to the business was causing him to miss out on his son’s life.

“All of a sudden I realized I had no clue how to enter a fifth grader’s life,” says Brian. “I was around. I went to soccer games. But to really enter his life and add value to whom he was going to become. I didn’t have a clue.”

Like Mike, Brian was finally able to gain insight into this relationship by coming to faith in God, the ultimate Father.

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Unique business niche

Now that the brothers had gained some perspective on life, they were still faced with the problem of McCoy’s shrinking market share. Realizing there was no way they could go toe-to-toe with their competition, Brian and Mike decided to invest in their employees and improve the quality of the products and services they did offer. Thus, Brian and Mike managed to create a unique market niche for McCoy’s that has allowed them to thrive despite their competition. Today, McCoy’s has 100 stores in six states, nearly 2,000 employees, and annual sales of over $500 million.

“I think the secret to our success is to continually be growing for the benefit of helping others grow,” says Mike.

People often kid Mike about this, asking him if he thinks his business is God’s gift to humankind. When they do, he looks them right in the eye and says, “I hope so.”

Have you ever considered how your business might serve others? Let Jesus show you how. If you don’t know Jesus, we encourage you to pray the following:

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be. Amen.

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