The Call That Saved Us From Bankruptcy (with Craig Penland from Eurolink Fastener Supply Service) | Ep. 23

Most business leaders try to keep their personal beliefs separate from their professional lives. Kyler Nixon sits down with Craig Penland to discuss what happens when you do the exact opposite. Craig opens up about the terrifying winter of 2009, when he dropped to his knees in a quiet office to seek direction, only to receive a call that saved the business days later.ㅤYou will hear how Craig navigates the tension of being a "faith-based business" without forcing it on his team. He explains why he refused to remove religious messages from his invoices, even when a sales rep warned it would cost him business. Kyler and Craig also discuss the "NASCAR smoke" visualization that changed how Eurolink handled the uncertainty of 2020: instead of slowing down, they accelerated. This is a candid look at building a company that prioritizes people over profits and service over volume.ㅤGuest BioCraig Penland is the Founder, President, and CEO of Eurolink Fastener Supply Service. Based in Greer, South Carolina, Craig launched the company in 2000 to solve a specific problem in the industrial market: sourcing hard-to-find metric fasteners. Under his leadership, Eurolink has become a premier "master distributor" known for stocking C-class items that larger competitors ignore. Craig is also an active member of C12 and partners with nonprofits, including JUMPSTART SC, to provide employment opportunities.ㅤWhat We CoverThe specific prayer in 2009 that preceded a company-saving order from a lost customer.How Craig handled a sales rep who wanted him to hide his faith to win more business.Why does Eurolink pay for a chaplain to visit the office every two weeks?The "NASCAR smoke" analogy: How to lead when you cannot see what is in front of you.Navigating the hiring process as a faith-led company without being exclusionary.Why does Eurolink focus on "No Quote" and "No Stock" items rather than competing on volume?Separating your personal identity from the financial success of your business.ㅤResources MentionedEurolink Fastener Supply ServiceC12 Business ForumsJUMPSTART SC