SALTAI Ultralight MDF Mouldings is a moulding supplier that directly manufactures and imports its products from South America to their main distribution center in Los Angeles. The company takes pride in offering sustainable, eco-friendly, ultralight MDF mouldings to the market. Originally serving only California, SALTAI now delivers nationwide.
Interview with Gabriela Salguero, Senior Manager Sales & Business Development at Saltai.
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and its activities.
Gabriela Salguero: In our short time in the industry, we have made significant strides. We are committed to providing our dealers with the best service and top-quality materials. Our rigorous quality control at our manufacturing sites ensures every detail is perfect, from production to deliver to our dealers’ warehouses. This dedication to quality and service has established SALTAI as a respected name in the industry.
As we grow, we continually expand our moulding profiles based on our dealers’ needs. Our current inventory includes a variety of profiles, such asMDF baseboards, MDF crown mouldings, MDF casings, Pine base shoes, and quarter rounds. We will soon be adding pine mouldings to our offerings.
When we entered the market, our goal was to provide the highest quality mouldings at the lowest prices. We are proud to have contributed to making the moulding industry more equitable. We believe in transparency and never upsell our dealers for our benefit. Through honesty, excellent service, and exceptional products, we have built a strong reputation and will continue to uphold these values.
E.E: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
G.S: SALTAI has expanded beyond the West Coast, now shipping nationwide. Our dedicated and well respected sales representatives serve dealers across the nation, including all West Coast states, some in the Pacific Northwest, and our reach is expanding into the Southern states and the East Coast.
We take pride in supplying our mouldings to moulding houses, flooring suppliers, flooring stores, lumber stores, Door companies and more. Our mouldings have made significant contributions to the building industry. Due to their ultralight weight, they are easier for our dealers’ customers to use for any installation. They are also smoother and easier to cut, enhancing their versatility and usability.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
G.S: SALTAI is excited to introduce 10 new profiles, including a mix of baseboards, casings, and crown mouldings. We prioritize bringing in profiles that are popular and highly requested by our dealers, ensuring we do not overextend ourselves. Listening to our dealers’ needs is a core value, and we involve them in the decision-making process for new additions.
With over 40 profiles currently in stock, we plan to expand our offerings to over 100 profiles as we continue to grow. Our rapid expansion has prompted us to move to a larger and more centrally located distribution center. Stay tuned for updates on our new distribution center!
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
G.S: SALTAI offers a wide range of mouldings, all made of ultralight MDF radiata pine and compliant with Phase 2 CARB regulations. Additionally, we stock finger-joint pine base shoes and quarter rounds. Our shipping times vary: we provide next-day shipping to our Southern California dealers, deliver within two days to Central and Northern California dealers, and ship out of state within 2-5 days, depending on the destination. Our sales representatives are dedicated to providing excellent service and are available to assist our dealers at any time. They are the reason why we have grown as much as we have in such a short period of time.
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
G.S: While the overall moulding industry appears to have remained stable in this market, SALTAI is experiencing rapid growth. Despite the market not being as booming as it once was, it is still on the rise. We attribute our significant growth to our marketing strategies, which have proven successful in this evolving market.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
G.S: Market trends indicate a gradual but definite rise in the millwork industry, which has also translated to an increase in our own company’s market share. SALTAI has experienced steady and promising growth, reflecting the positive trend in the overall market. We are enthusiastic about the future of this market and are eager to contribute further to its growth.
E.E: What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
G.S: At SALTAI, innovation stems from our sales representatives, who continuously discover new ways to reach audiences and win over dealers, even those loyal to veteran moulding suppliers. Despite being newcomers in the industry, our youth and innovative approach have enabled us to make significant strides and continue to do so. This success is attributed to our effective social media marketing and business-to-business sales strategies.
We are committed to fulfilling our dealers’ requests for custom mouldings and have streamlined our manufacturing and delivery processes for quick turnaround times. Beyond being a moulding supplier, we aim to support not only our dealers but also our community, fostering growth as we expand.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2024?
G.S: For the remainder of the 2024 cycle, SALTAI is committed to continued growth. We eagerly anticipate the unveiling of our new, larger distribution center and are developing special reward programs for our loyal dealers. Additionally, we are expanding our range of profiles to offer even more options. Our goal is to surpass our current growth and continue expanding. We are excited about the future and cannot wait to share our progress with everyone soon!