A strong Gentek Sequoia Select demo kit helps contractors turn a siding estimate into a hands-on product presentation. Learn what samples, colors, corner posts, trim pieces, literature, photos and sales tools belong in a professional Sequoia Select contractor demo kit.
Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy
How to Build a Sequoia Select Contractor Demo Kit
If you want to sell more Gentek Sequoia Select, do not walk into the homeowner's house with nothing but a brochure and a price.
Build a demo kit.
Gentek Sequoia Select gives contractors several physical product differences they can demonstrate. Gentek's current literature highlights a .046-inch nominal thickness on its horizontal siding, a full-roll nailing hem, Advantage Lock system, cedargrain appearance and a 3/4-inch lap height. Selected extended-length panels can also reduce overlaps compared with standard 12-foot siding.
Those features are much easier to understand when the homeowner can actually hold the product.
Don't just carry samples.
Build a demonstration system.
What Is a Contractor Demo Kit?
A demo kit is not a bag filled with every piece of siding literature you have collected over the last ten years.
It is a carefully selected group of physical samples and sales tools that helps you explain the product in a logical order.
SHOW
Let the homeowner see the actual product.
COMPARE
Make product differences easier to understand.
DESIGN
Connect siding, colors and accessories to the customer's house.
Every item in the kit should have a purpose.
If you cannot explain why a sample is in your demo kit, it probably does not need to be there.
The Sequoia Select Demo Kit at a Glance
| Demo Kit Component | Why You Need It | What It Helps You Sell |
|---|---|---|
| Sequoia Select panel | Main hands-on sample | Construction, profile and appearance |
| Comparison panel | Creates context | Premium product differences |
| Lock demonstration | Shows how courses connect | Advantage Lock system |
| Outside corner | Shows finished detail | Corner and trim upgrades |
| J-channel | Explains openings | Attention to detail |
| Finish trim | Shows finishing details | Complete installation scope |
| Color samples | Creates homeowner involvement | Exterior design |
| Soffit / fascia samples | Expands the visual conversation | Complete exterior packages |
| Current literature | Supports your explanation | Product credibility |
| Tablet / house photos | Connects samples to the property | Visualization and design upgrades |
#1 — Start With a Real Sequoia Select Panel
The most important item in the Sequoia Select demo kit is obvious:
The siding.
Do not rely exclusively on a miniature color chip.
Carry a section large enough for the homeowner to see the face of the siding, feel its rigidity, examine the nail hem, look at the locking system and understand the profile.
At the Kitchen Table
“This is the actual Sequoia Select siding I'm recommending. Pick it up for a second and tell me what you notice.”
That question immediately turns a lecture into a demonstration.
Make Sure the Sample Shows the Nail Hem
Do not cut your primary demo sample so small that the important construction details disappear.
Gentek highlights the full-roll nailing hem as one of Sequoia Select's product features. If you want to discuss it, the homeowner should be able to see it.
“Most people only look at the front of siding. I want to show you the part that disappears once the product is installed.”
Turn the sample over.
Now the homeowner can see that there is more to comparing siding than picking a color.
#2 — Carry a Second Panel for Comparison
One siding sample tells the homeowner what Sequoia Select looks like.
Two appropriate samples can help the homeowner understand why products are positioned differently.
If you sell a value-focused vinyl product alongside Sequoia Select, carry a legitimate sample of that product too.
“Both are vinyl siding. Both can be appropriate products when properly installed. I want you to handle both so you can decide whether the differences in construction and appearance matter to you.”
Value-Focused Panel
Show the actual specifications and features of the product you really sell.
Sequoia Select
Demonstrate the .046-inch nominal horizontal construction and other applicable Sequoia Select features.
Never label the comparison sample “cheap siding.”
The Comparison Sample Has One Job
It gives the homeowner context.
Let them hold one sample in each hand. Let them look at the faces. Turn them over. Compare the construction. Compare the profiles.
Then ask:
“What differences do you notice?”
Do not answer the question for them.
The homeowner's observation is often more persuasive than the salesperson's adjective.
#3 — Build a Working Advantage Lock Demonstration
A single panel lets you point at the locking area.
Two properly prepared pieces can let you demonstrate how the siding courses engage.
Gentek identifies Sequoia Select's interlocking design as the Advantage Lock system and describes it as contributing to panel rigidity and stability.
“This is the part homeowners normally never see. Let me show you how one course connects to the next.”
Connect the pieces.
Then disconnect them and let the homeowner try it.
Do Not Turn the Lock Demo Into a Strength Contest
The goal is not to see how hard you can pull on a six-inch sample.
A dramatic tabletop stunt can imply performance claims that a small sample cannot prove.
Demonstrate
- How the courses engage
- Where the lock is located
- How the panel is constructed
- Why the feature is part of the product comparison
Do Not “Prove”
- That siding can never come loose
- That installation does not matter
- That a sample pull equals wind testing
- That the product cannot be damaged
#4 — Add an Outside Corner Sample
A siding panel alone does not show the homeowner what the finished house will look like.
Corners matter.
Carry an outside corner sample that works with the products you regularly quote. If you offer more than one corner treatment, a second premium corner sample can create an excellent design comparison.
“This is how the siding terminates at the corner of the house. The corner isn't just an installation accessory—it also becomes part of the exterior design.”
Then use a photograph from your exterior walk-around.
Point to the corners on their house.
Now the sample has context.
#5 — Carry a Short Piece of J-Channel
J-channel is one of the most common siding accessories and one of the easiest details to explain incorrectly.
Carry a clean section that is large enough for the homeowner to understand its shape.
“This is one of the receiving and finishing accessories used around certain siding transitions and openings. You will see details like this around the exterior, so I like homeowners to understand what they're looking at before we start.”
Keep the explanation simple.
Do not describe J-channel as the component that waterproofs the entire window or wall. Flashing, the water-resistive barrier and other water-management details are separate parts of the exterior assembly.
#6 — Add Finish Trim
Finish trim is not the most exciting item in the bag.
That is exactly why many salespeople never show it.
A small finish-trim sample can help explain how cut siding is finished in applicable locations and reinforce that your proposal includes more than wall panels.
Do not sell finish trim. Use finish trim to sell attention to detail.
#7 — Build a Sequoia Select Color System
Suburban Wholesale & Supply currently promotes 29 Sequoia Select colors in stock for contractors.
That does not mean you should dump 29 loose color samples onto every homeowner's kitchen table.
Carry the selection.
Present the shortlist.
Organize Your Color Samples Into Groups
Instead of searching through a pile of samples during the appointment, organize your color tools before you leave the office.
Warm Neutrals
Creams, tans and warmer exterior directions.
Cool Neutrals
Gray and cooler architectural directions.
Color
Blues, greens and other distinctive selections.
Designer Direction
Deeper or more dramatic exterior choices.
Use the current Gentek literature to verify actual product names, profile availability and colors before presenting or ordering.
Keep a Few Larger Color Samples
A small color chip is useful for narrowing choices.
A larger piece is better for finalists.
If you regularly sell several popular Sequoia Select colors, consider keeping larger clean samples of those colors in the vehicle or office.
Always make final color decisions with current physical samples. Screens, printed brochures, interior lighting, sunlight and surrounding exterior materials can all affect how a color appears.
#8 — Add Soffit and Fascia Samples
If your siding presentation stops at the walls, your demo kit is incomplete.
The homeowner sees the roofline too.
Carry representative soffit and fascia samples or color references for the products you actually offer.
“Now that we have a siding direction, let's look at the roofline. Do you want the soffit and fascia to blend with the siding, stay close to your windows, or create contrast?”
That is a legitimate exterior-design discussion—not an automatic recommendation that everything must be replaced.
#9 — Add One Premium Design Upgrade
Your Sequoia Select kit should give you the ability to move beyond the basic wall panel when the homeowner's goals justify it.
You do not need every possible accent in the truck.
Choose one or two visual examples relevant to the products you regularly sell:
Wider Corner
Demonstrate a stronger architectural corner.
Window Surround
Show how openings can become design elements.
Board & Batten
Introduce a possible gable or architectural accent.
Shake / Stone Example
Open the conversation about a focal area.
The demo kit should make relevant upgrades easy to show—not make every upgrade mandatory.
#10 — Include an Insulated Siding Demonstration When You Offer It
If your good/better/best system includes an insulated siding option, consider keeping a separate demonstration showing the siding panel and compatible contoured insulation.
Do not simply hold up a loose piece of foam and say:
“For another $X,XXX, we put this behind your siding.”
Show the wall-system difference instead.
Existing Wall
Water Management
Insulation Option
Exterior Cladding
Only use the insulation sample when the option is relevant to the homeowner. Verify compatibility and current specifications for the exact siding and insulation system being proposed.
#11 — Carry Current Gentek Literature
Physical samples should lead the presentation.
Manufacturer literature should support it.
Your Literature Folder Should Include:
- Current Sequoia Select brochure
- Current color information
- Current product directory
- Current warranty information
- Relevant accessory information
- Extended-length information when applicable
Replace old literature when product offerings change.
An outdated sample kit can create an expensive promise.
#12 — Keep the Current Warranty in the Kit
Do not try to memorize every warranty condition.
Keep access to the current written Gentek warranty and use the manufacturer's document when a homeowner asks detailed questions about coverage, transferability, fade, hail or exclusions.
“Gentek provides the product warranty, and rather than paraphrase the fine print, I want to give you the actual current warranty so you can see exactly what is covered and what conditions apply.”
#13 — Your Phone or Tablet Is Part of the Demo Kit
The physical samples explain the product.
The screen helps apply the product to the house.
During the exterior inspection, take useful photographs of:
When you sit down, the house photos become the bridge between your samples and the homeowner's exterior.
Now your presentation can be about their house instead of your sample bag.
#14 — Add Visualization
A homeowner may understand the difference between two siding panels and still struggle to picture the finished project.
That is where a visualizer or measured exterior model can strengthen the presentation.
“Let's take the color you liked on the sample and see what that general design direction looks like across the whole house.”
Use visualization to narrow the design. Use physical samples to confirm actual colors and finishes before ordering.
#15 — Add a Few Completed-Project Photos
Your own completed projects can be some of the most useful items in the entire demo kit.
Organize photographs by design problem rather than dumping hundreds of images into one camera roll.
| Photo Group | What It Demonstrates |
|---|---|
| Light siding / dark trim | Contrast |
| Dark siding / light trim | Modern exterior direction |
| Wide corners | Architectural detailing |
| Gable accent | Controlled use of specialty siding |
| Extended-length installation | Reduced-overlap concept where applicable |
| Complete exterior | Siding, soffit, fascia, trim and gutters working together |
Do Not Carry the Entire Warehouse Into the House
There is a point where a demo kit becomes too much.
The Overloaded Demo Kit
- 15 siding panels
- Every brochure from every manufacturer
- Loose accessories with no explanation
- Discontinued colors
- Old warranty documents
- Products you rarely sell
- Dirty jobsite scraps
- Random samples with no presentation order
More samples do not automatically create a better presentation.
Carry enough to demonstrate the differences. Leave enough out to keep the decision simple.
Build the Kit Around the Order of Your Presentation
Do not organize the bag randomly.
Organize it in the same order you normally sell.
1
PRODUCT
Sequoia Select and comparison panel
2
DETAILS
Corner, channel, finish trim and accessories
3
DESIGN
Colors, trim, soffit, fascia and accents
4
PROJECT
House photos, visualization and proposal
Use a Two-Bag System
Contractors who sell multiple exterior options may benefit from separating the essential kit from the specialty samples.
Bag #1 — Every Appointment
- Sequoia Select sample
- Comparison panel
- Lock demonstration
- Corner sample
- J-channel
- Finish trim
- Color tools
- Current literature
- Warranty access
- Tablet
Bag #2 — When Relevant
- Insulated siding demonstration
- Premium window surrounds
- Wider corner treatments
- Shake samples
- Board-and-batten samples
- Stone samples
- Specialty soffit
- Other project-specific upgrades
You can leave the specialty bag in the vehicle until discovery tells you it belongs in the conversation.
Create a “Clean Kit” Standard
You are putting these samples on someone's kitchen table.
They should look professional.
Before Every Appointment:
- ✓ Wipe down samples
- ✓ Remove damaged pieces
- ✓ Check literature dates
- ✓ Confirm colors are current
- ✓ Charge the tablet
- ✓ Organize the bag
- ✓ Replace missing samples
- ✓ Confirm project-specific samples
A professional demo kit quietly communicates how you approach the rest of the project.
The 60-Second Sequoia Select Demo
Your salesperson should be able to explain the core product without turning the presentation into a 30-minute technical lecture.
“This is Gentek Sequoia Select. Pick it up for a second.”
“The horizontal product we're looking at has a .046-inch nominal thickness. Thickness isn't the only thing that determines siding quality, but it is one measurable difference.”
“Turn it over. Gentek uses a full-roll nailing hem here, and this is its Advantage Lock system where the courses connect.”
“Now turn it back over. Look at the cedargrain appearance and the depth of the lap. That's what you're actually going to see across the house.”
“Now that you've seen the product, let's look at which colors and trim combinations make the most sense on your home.”
That is enough to establish the product before moving into design.
The Demo Kit Should Create Questions
A good demonstration is interactive.
Use the samples to ask questions instead of simply talking.
- “What do you notice when you hold these two panels?”
- “Do you prefer the deeper profile or the flatter appearance?”
- “Would you rather have the corners blend or contrast?”
- “Which three colors should we take outside?”
- “Would you like the windows to have more definition?”
- “Do you like the house primarily one siding style, or would you consider one accent area?”
The samples should help the homeowner participate in the project.
Don't Demonstrate Every Sample
Having something in the bag does not mean it belongs in every presentation.
If the homeowner told you they want a simple monochromatic exterior, you probably do not need a 15-minute presentation on contrasting corners, shake accents and elaborate window surrounds.
If the soffit and fascia are newer and the homeowner wants to keep them, acknowledge that and move on.
Discovery should edit your presentation before the demo kit hits the table.
Your Demo Kit Is Not a Substitute for Product Knowledge
A salesperson who carries ten excellent samples but cannot explain them accurately does not have a good demo kit.
They have luggage.
Every salesperson using the kit should know:
Train With the Kit as a Team
Once you build the kit, use it for sales training.
Friday Morning Demo Drill
- Give one salesperson the demo bag.
- Give another salesperson the role of homeowner.
- Set a five-minute timer.
- Demonstrate Sequoia Select.
- Ask the “homeowner” three discovery questions.
- Introduce one relevant upgrade.
- Have the team identify unnecessary jargon.
- Repeat with the roles reversed.
The goal is not to memorize a script word for word.
The goal is to become comfortable enough with the product that the conversation sounds natural.
The Complete Sequoia Select Demo Kit Checklist
□ Sequoia Select primary siding sample
□ Appropriate comparison siding panel
□ Two-piece Advantage Lock demonstration
□ Outside corner sample
□ Premium corner option if offered
□ J-channel sample
□ Finish trim sample
□ Window / door trim example if offered
□ Current Sequoia Select color samples
□ Larger samples of popular colors
□ Soffit sample or color tool
□ Fascia / trim coil color tool
□ One architectural accent example
□ Insulation demonstration if offered
□ Current Sequoia Select brochure
□ Current Gentek product directory
□ Current warranty access
□ Installation reference material
□ Tablet or charged phone
□ Organized project photo library
□ Visualization access
□ Clean sample bag or case
The Demo Kit Inspection Checklist
Assign someone to inspect every sales kit on a regular schedule.
| Check | Question |
|---|---|
| Product | Are all samples current? |
| Condition | Are samples clean and presentable? |
| Colors | Have discontinued or unavailable colors been removed? |
| Literature | Are brochures and specifications current? |
| Warranty | Can the salesperson access the current written warranty? |
| Digital | Are photos and visualizer tools ready? |
| Presentation | Can the salesperson explain every item in the bag? |
Use Suburban Wholesale to Build the Kit
A contractor does not need to build the entire Sequoia Select presentation from random scraps collected on jobsites.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply's Davenport showroom includes full-scale siding displays, color and texture displays, coordinated trim and other exterior products. Suburban Wholesale also offers product demonstrations and contractor support around product options, colors, accessories, installation details, warranties and project requirements.
Bring your salespeople in.
Lay out what you currently carry.
Identify what is missing.
Build the demo kit before you build the sales pitch.
Once your team has the right samples and understands how to use them, the product presentation becomes much easier.
The Demo Kit Sales Flow
1
DISCOVER
Learn priorities.
2
HANDLE
Give them the product.
3
COMPARE
Show differences.
4
DESIGN
Apply it to the house.
5
PRICE
Let them choose.
Discovery → Product → Comparison → Design → Price
The demo kit supports the presentation. It should never control the presentation.
The Bottom Line
A Sequoia Select demo kit does not need to be complicated.
It needs to be intentional.
Start with the actual siding. Add a legitimate comparison panel. Include samples that help explain corners, openings and finishing details. Organize the color presentation. Carry current literature. Use house photos and visualization to connect the product to the homeowner's exterior.
Most importantly, train your salespeople to use the samples as conversation tools rather than props.
Don't ask the homeowner to imagine what you can demonstrate.
Put the siding in their hands.
Show the construction.
Compare the products.
Build the exterior design.
Then give the homeowner the information they need to choose.
Build Your Sequoia Select Demo Kit at Suburban Wholesale & Supply
Suburban Wholesale & Supply helps contractors throughout the Quad Cities, Iowa and Illinois compare siding products, colors, profiles, accessories and installation details before the materials are ordered.
Our Davenport showroom includes full-scale exterior displays where contractors and their customers can see siding, colors, textures and coordinated trim in a more realistic setting. We also provide one-on-one product demonstrations and can help contractors review the product information needed to create a stronger sales presentation.
If your sales team is presenting Gentek Sequoia Select, stop in and use the showroom as a training resource. Build a consistent demo kit, practice the demonstration and make sure your team understands the products before they take them to the kitchen table.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply
3602 North Harrison Street
Davenport, Iowa 52806
563-391-4000
Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM–4:30 PM
Part of: Selling Siding & Windows
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Sample books, color decks, demo kits and cutaways are available at the counter, and most are free.
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