June 12, 2023 • 8 mins
Gunton Corporation was founded in 1932 by I.H. “Pat” Gunton. In 1943, I.H. Gunton Company became a distributor for Rolscreen Company, as Pella Corporation was called at that time. Three years later, Pat Gunton’s two sons, Bob and Bill, joined the company and helped to build their father’s business into a flourishing customer focused window distributor.
In 1952, a 4,000 square foot building was built in Cleveland, OH, housing small offices and a dedicated display room for Pella products. The Gunton’s first branch sales office was opened in the late 1950’s on Cleveland’s west side. In 1965, a location was established in Paoli, PA, the first in the Philadelphia Region, to distribute Pella products. In 1978, a new business under the Gunton name was established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania solely to distribute Pella products. In 2015, the Philadelphia division of Gunton Corporation moved to its present day building in Pottstown, PA.
At Gunton, we believe that every customer should be treated as a member of the family.
In 1952, a 4,000 square foot building was built in Cleveland, OH, housing small offices and a dedicated display room for Pella products. The Gunton’s first branch sales office was opened in the late 1950’s on Cleveland’s west side. In 1965, a location was established in Paoli, PA, the first in the Philadelphia Region, to distribute Pella products. In 1978, a new business under the Gunton name was established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania solely to distribute Pella products. In 2015, the Philadelphia division of Gunton Corporation moved to its present day building in Pottstown, PA.
At Gunton, we believe that every customer should be treated as a member of the family.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Hey, welcome in This is theHeart of Pittsburgh podcast. I'm your host
Johnny hart Well. Special guest instudio from Pella's window indoors David Di Simone.
Dave. How are you, sir? I am doing wonderful Johnny.
How long have you been with Pella? Thirty eight years? Sir? Did
you start when you're a fetus?I started at seventeen years old. Oh
you do look young, So you'vebeen there for thirty eight years? Yes,
(00:25):
sir? How'd you start? Istarted at the bottom. I was
in their production line when we usedto do a lot of the manufacture in
our shop, and from there Igot opportunities to move up and throughout the
company. And I'm the general managerright now, as you're the manager now.
So what makes Pella special Pella isall the products that Pela offers are
all Pella products. They have vinyl, they have fiberglass, they have a
(00:47):
whole ray of different wood products outthere. Most other companies out there have
to go get another product from anothercompany because they're not all their products.
Pella has been in business since nineteenthirty two. I mean that says a
lot. Is there anybody in Pittsburghthat doesn't know Pella. No, we're
the number one brand. We're themost recognized out there. We do a
tremendous amount of advertisements and stuff.It's so and so forth. Pella is
(01:10):
the brand that everybody wants. What'syour secret sauce? Is it the craftmanship?
It's the craftmans, It's the warranties. It's on our stallers. I
mean, we have a ten yearinstallation warranty. And while you want to
choose the right product for your home, if it's not installed correctly, nurse
issues. That's where the installation warrantyreally kicks in, all right, tell
us a little more about the warrantythough. The warranty covers you for water,
(01:33):
air infiltration functionality of the windows.So for ten years, we're standing
behind it because we train each one, every one of our installers to do
the job the way that we wantit done. So it's a ten year
warranty. It's a ten year warranty, all right. So if somebody wants
more information on Pella windows, doyou have a website? Do you have
a phone number? Pella Pittsburgh dotcom. That's the best place to get
all our information and a phone numberyou can call four one two six two
(01:57):
zero zero zero four one, Yes, sir, is that your direct line?
That's my direct line. I meanPella, it's a Pittsburgh legend.
Everybody knows, uh Pella, don'tthey. That's it's it's it's a,
it's a it's a household name herein Pittsburgh. Only they do. I
mean, it's the brand that everybodywants, but don't think they can afford,
quite honestly, and that's changed throughoutthe years. At one time Pella,
(02:19):
when Naomi offered wood products UM,it was expensive UM and probably one
of the most expensive products in thecity. But for now, we have
vinyl, we have fiberc glass,we have wood products. Well, like
my granddaddy used to say, youget what you pay for and if you
have value, then it's worth it. So what kind of value does Pella
UM provide the homeowner? Well,the value is is we talked about the
(02:44):
installation warranty, but along that,our products come with a leading industry warranty.
UM are wood windows, for instance, they come with a limited lifetime
warranty that no other wood company offersthat covers you with glass in deterioration and
rotting of the frames fading on XTR. Even our vinyl and fiberglass products,
I mean, they have a lifetimewarranty with them also. I mean it's
(03:06):
a great product that should last yourlifetime. And that's what when we sell
windows, that's what we expect.You know, one time purchase, You're
never got to replace your windows everagain. And that's really the pride and
brand of Pella Windows and Doors.If you want more information, the website
is Pella Pittsburgh dot com. That'sPella Pittsburgh dot com. Or you can
call four one two six two zerozero zero four to three. Can you
(03:29):
talk a little bit about Pella's innovation. Pella's innovations is pelle takes looks at
a window and says they just don'tsee if it opens and close and the
functionality is there. They look atissues where costumers don't might want to remove
their screens. Pelle takes a doublehundwindow. They give you a hidden screen
so in the wintertime you don't haveto remove that screen. When you want
(03:50):
to screen, when you open upthe bottom sash, it's visible. When
you don't want to screen, youdon't see the screen from the next tier.
They've taken that with casement windows andalso with our Patti doors. They
have invisible screens that they're there whenyou want them and are invisible when you
don't. That's something that most otherwindow companies wouldn't even look at, but
that's how Pella looks at their brand. They're always looking to improve it to
(04:10):
make it better for homeowners. Allright, so tell us what's the difference.
What is the difference make of whatsets you apart from the competition.
One thing that definitely sets us apartagainst the competition, Johnny, is are
pre finishing, fishing Preefinnish is paintingand stating of the wig units or the
trim. You know, most othercompanies, when you're installing windows, there's
some type of interior trim, windowstills, casing stops that need to be
(04:32):
installed, but they leave it upto their customers to find their own pain
or stainer to come out after theyinstall the windows. We do it all
beforehand. If you want to customstain, we match the stain. The
windows or the trim or the casingis prefinished from us. When we come
out, we feel the no holes, there's no follow ups or the customers.
The window projects entirely dumped and quitehonestly, our finishes are incredible,
(04:55):
our paints are stains. I meaninternally we do a tremendous jo, but
making sure we satisfy our customers withthe right clearcoat, the right color,
and I think we do a tremendousjob. And that's one thing other our
other competition doesn't do all right,you said you are You've been with the
company for thirty eight years. Yes, sir, What made you stay with
Pella all these years? Well,the biggest reason I stay with Pellos because
(05:17):
the quality of the brand, ourbrand, our windows, everything that we
do. As far as the sellingprocess, I'm very proudful with. My
sales team is a very low pressuresales team. We don't come up with
two thousand dollars drops, just earnyour business that day. We know a
window project takes some time and youhave to think about the product, the
(05:39):
right installation for your home, andour reps will work for you. They'll
nurture that. It's not a oneday sale. You know, if you
have to talk to your husband orlook over the different array of products that
we have, we're there for youwhen you're ready to make a decision.
We don't do the high pressure closes. Well, you know, the windows
and doors from Pellas sell themselves,so you almost don't need salespeople because we
(06:00):
talked about the quality, and wetalked about you know, the installation,
the craftsmanship, we talked about thewarranty, the pre finishing, the attention
to detail. All of this kindof sells itself. It's a brand that
Pittsburgh trusts. Yes, one hundredpercent, where the number one rated brand
that Pittsburgh homeowners trust. I'm gonnaagain another reason why we went with Pella
so long you can easily stand behindthat brand. You're very prierful and quite
(06:24):
honestly, my team also buys intothat brand. They serve our customers far
better than I know anybody in theentire industry. All Right, if somebody's
interested in Pelow windows and doors,what's the step? You know, they
go to the website. It's it'sPello Pittsburgh dot com. And what are
some of the things that are goingto be able to see on the website.
The website, you'll be able toreview the different products that we offer.
(06:44):
And plus we do free in homeconsultations within my sales reps. So
if you're ready to get a quotefrom us, you just sign up for
a time and date that's available thatyou're available, and we send a rep
out there and they're going to discussyour project. Then they're gonna fee.
They're going to see what the bestfit for your particular house is along with
your budget. Okay, we onlyhave about a minute left. What is
one or two things you want peopleto know about Pella? What is one
(07:09):
or two things you want people toknow about your products? Well, the
number one thing John had like peopleknow about Pella is they assume that we're
going to be the highest price inwindows are doors out there, and that's
not true. While we're the highestin quality, our prices aren't necessarily the
highest that you're going to have fromany of our competitors. We have different
offerings between different installation types, differentproducts that we offer, Plus we have
(07:31):
financing that can get you to amonthly payment that you can afford. We
take great pride and everything we do. We stand behind our projects from beginning
to end. The things that wedo offer different from our competitors, I
don't think that can be surpassed.And it's more about the people. My
sales team does a tremendous job makingsure they have the right fit for each
(07:51):
and homeowner. They deal with everybody'sdifferent different colors, different types of installations,
different things that they want that wecan provide and most other companies cannot
provide for our homeowners. And ifsomebody wants more information, please visit us
at Pella Pittsburgh dot com. That'sPella Pittsburgh dot com, or you can
call Dave directly at four one twosix two zero zero zero four one.
(08:16):
Dave, thank you so much.This has been fun. Thank you Johnny
so much for allowing me to comein here once again. The website is
Pella Pittsburgh dot com. If youwant more information. This has been the
heart of Pittsburgh Podcast. I'm yourhost, Johnny Hart Well, thank you
so much for listening.
Hey, welcome in This is theHeart of Pittsburgh podcast. I'm your host
Johnny hart Well. Special guest instudio from Pella's window indoors David Di Simone.
Dave. How are you, sir? I am doing wonderful Johnny.
How long have you been with Pella? Thirty eight years? Sir? Did
you start when you're a fetus?I started at seventeen years old. Oh
you do look young, So you'vebeen there for thirty eight years? Yes,
(00:25):
sir? How'd you start? Istarted at the bottom. I was
in their production line when we usedto do a lot of the manufacture in
our shop, and from there Igot opportunities to move up and throughout the
company. And I'm the general managerright now, as you're the manager now.
So what makes Pella special Pella isall the products that Pela offers are
all Pella products. They have vinyl, they have fiberglass, they have a
(00:47):
whole ray of different wood products outthere. Most other companies out there have
to go get another product from anothercompany because they're not all their products.
Pella has been in business since nineteenthirty two. I mean that says a
lot. Is there anybody in Pittsburghthat doesn't know Pella. No, we're
the number one brand. We're themost recognized out there. We do a
tremendous amount of advertisements and stuff.It's so and so forth. Pella is
(01:10):
the brand that everybody wants. What'syour secret sauce? Is it the craftmanship?
It's the craftmans, It's the warranties. It's on our stallers. I
mean, we have a ten yearinstallation warranty. And while you want to
choose the right product for your home, if it's not installed correctly, nurse
issues. That's where the installation warrantyreally kicks in, all right, tell
us a little more about the warrantythough. The warranty covers you for water,
(01:33):
air infiltration functionality of the windows.So for ten years, we're standing
behind it because we train each one, every one of our installers to do
the job the way that we wantit done. So it's a ten year
warranty. It's a ten year warranty, all right. So if somebody wants
more information on Pella windows, doyou have a website? Do you have
a phone number? Pella Pittsburgh dotcom. That's the best place to get
all our information and a phone numberyou can call four one two six two
(01:57):
zero zero zero four one, Yes, sir, is that your direct line?
That's my direct line. I meanPella, it's a Pittsburgh legend.
Everybody knows, uh Pella, don'tthey. That's it's it's it's a,
it's a it's a household name herein Pittsburgh. Only they do. I
mean, it's the brand that everybodywants, but don't think they can afford,
quite honestly, and that's changed throughoutthe years. At one time Pella,
(02:19):
when Naomi offered wood products UM,it was expensive UM and probably one
of the most expensive products in thecity. But for now, we have
vinyl, we have fiberc glass,we have wood products. Well, like
my granddaddy used to say, youget what you pay for and if you
have value, then it's worth it. So what kind of value does Pella
UM provide the homeowner? Well,the value is is we talked about the
(02:44):
installation warranty, but along that,our products come with a leading industry warranty.
UM are wood windows, for instance, they come with a limited lifetime
warranty that no other wood company offersthat covers you with glass in deterioration and
rotting of the frames fading on XTR. Even our vinyl and fiberglass products,
I mean, they have a lifetimewarranty with them also. I mean it's
(03:06):
a great product that should last yourlifetime. And that's what when we sell
windows, that's what we expect.You know, one time purchase, You're
never got to replace your windows everagain. And that's really the pride and
brand of Pella Windows and Doors.If you want more information, the website
is Pella Pittsburgh dot com. That'sPella Pittsburgh dot com. Or you can
call four one two six two zerozero zero four to three. Can you
(03:29):
talk a little bit about Pella's innovation. Pella's innovations is pelle takes looks at
a window and says they just don'tsee if it opens and close and the
functionality is there. They look atissues where costumers don't might want to remove
their screens. Pelle takes a doublehundwindow. They give you a hidden screen
so in the wintertime you don't haveto remove that screen. When you want
(03:50):
to screen, when you open upthe bottom sash, it's visible. When
you don't want to screen, youdon't see the screen from the next tier.
They've taken that with casement windows andalso with our Patti doors. They
have invisible screens that they're there whenyou want them and are invisible when you
don't. That's something that most otherwindow companies wouldn't even look at, but
that's how Pella looks at their brand. They're always looking to improve it to
(04:10):
make it better for homeowners. Allright, so tell us what's the difference.
What is the difference make of whatsets you apart from the competition.
One thing that definitely sets us apartagainst the competition, Johnny, is are
pre finishing, fishing Preefinnish is paintingand stating of the wig units or the
trim. You know, most othercompanies, when you're installing windows, there's
some type of interior trim, windowstills, casing stops that need to be
(04:32):
installed, but they leave it upto their customers to find their own pain
or stainer to come out after theyinstall the windows. We do it all
beforehand. If you want to customstain, we match the stain. The
windows or the trim or the casingis prefinished from us. When we come
out, we feel the no holes, there's no follow ups or the customers.
The window projects entirely dumped and quitehonestly, our finishes are incredible,
(04:55):
our paints are stains. I meaninternally we do a tremendous jo, but
making sure we satisfy our customers withthe right clearcoat, the right color,
and I think we do a tremendousjob. And that's one thing other our
other competition doesn't do all right,you said you are You've been with the
company for thirty eight years. Yes, sir, What made you stay with
Pella all these years? Well,the biggest reason I stay with Pellos because
(05:17):
the quality of the brand, ourbrand, our windows, everything that we
do. As far as the sellingprocess, I'm very proudful with. My
sales team is a very low pressuresales team. We don't come up with
two thousand dollars drops, just earnyour business that day. We know a
window project takes some time and youhave to think about the product, the
(05:39):
right installation for your home, andour reps will work for you. They'll
nurture that. It's not a oneday sale. You know, if you
have to talk to your husband orlook over the different array of products that
we have, we're there for youwhen you're ready to make a decision.
We don't do the high pressure closes. Well, you know, the windows
and doors from Pellas sell themselves,so you almost don't need salespeople because we
(06:00):
talked about the quality, and wetalked about you know, the installation,
the craftsmanship, we talked about thewarranty, the pre finishing, the attention
to detail. All of this kindof sells itself. It's a brand that
Pittsburgh trusts. Yes, one hundredpercent, where the number one rated brand
that Pittsburgh homeowners trust. I'm gonnaagain another reason why we went with Pella
so long you can easily stand behindthat brand. You're very prierful and quite
(06:24):
honestly, my team also buys intothat brand. They serve our customers far
better than I know anybody in theentire industry. All Right, if somebody's
interested in Pelow windows and doors,what's the step? You know, they
go to the website. It's it'sPello Pittsburgh dot com. And what are
some of the things that are goingto be able to see on the website.
The website, you'll be able toreview the different products that we offer.
(06:44):
And plus we do free in homeconsultations within my sales reps. So
if you're ready to get a quotefrom us, you just sign up for
a time and date that's available thatyou're available, and we send a rep
out there and they're going to discussyour project. Then they're gonna fee.
They're going to see what the bestfit for your particular house is along with
your budget. Okay, we onlyhave about a minute left. What is
one or two things you want peopleto know about Pella? What is one
(07:09):
or two things you want people toknow about your products? Well, the
number one thing John had like peopleknow about Pella is they assume that we're
going to be the highest price inwindows are doors out there, and that's
not true. While we're the highestin quality, our prices aren't necessarily the
highest that you're going to have fromany of our competitors. We have different
offerings between different installation types, differentproducts that we offer, Plus we have
(07:31):
financing that can get you to amonthly payment that you can afford. We
take great pride and everything we do. We stand behind our projects from beginning
to end. The things that wedo offer different from our competitors, I
don't think that can be surpassed.And it's more about the people. My
sales team does a tremendous job makingsure they have the right fit for each
(07:51):
and homeowner. They deal with everybody'sdifferent different colors, different types of installations,
different things that they want that wecan provide and most other companies cannot
provide for our homeowners. And ifsomebody wants more information, please visit us
at Pella Pittsburgh dot com. That'sPella Pittsburgh dot com, or you can
call Dave directly at four one twosix two zero zero zero four one.
(08:16):
Dave, thank you so much.This has been fun. Thank you Johnny
so much for allowing me to comein here once again. The website is
Pella Pittsburgh dot com. If youwant more information. This has been the
heart of Pittsburgh Podcast. I'm yourhost, Johnny Hart Well, thank you
so much for listening.
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