May 2013
| Business World Magazine | 199
capabilities. Hunstad, having worked with
so many different suppliers, understood ex-
actly which services were provided by each
respective operation. So, when a manufac-
turer requested a component, whether it was
something derived from rotational molding,
extrusion, die cut or other, he knew exactly
how to source the material. Since Stern Rub-
ber Co. was a provider of custom molded
rubber components, the intent to serve cus-
tomers through this new, larger capacity,
didn’t align well with the existing business
model. This is what led to the establishment
of Stern Companies.
ANY NEED
ACCOMMODATED
In the beginning stages of this new endeavor,
Hunstad says he spent more time connecting
with suppliers than he did connecting with
customers. He sought out suppliers work-
ing in special niches, from injection molding
and blow molding to extrusion and all other
kinds of customized delivery systems. Some
specialized in the production of large parts
while other produced small components.
As Hunstad says, “all have unique areas of
specialty.” When meeting with suppliers,
Hunstad would ask for them to eliminate
