Small business profile: Rubber & Accessories

A Florida small business owner shares how critical providing quality, cost-effective benefits is to his company.

Aug. 15, 2023

All states
Small Business (2-100)
Cost management

Buzz Hooper and his late partner Harry Robb founded Rubber & Accessories more than 50 years ago. The industrial rubber distributor, located outside of Tampa, Florida, made a profit the first year it was in business — thanks in part to its hardworking employees, whom Hooper considers members of his family.

Early on, Hooper says that providing health benefits was a critical part of creating that family environment that so many small businesses pride themselves on.

"It’s not just about the pay," says Keith Johnson, a Rubber & Accessories employee. "It’s about the health benefits that are afforded to you. They have your back; it makes you want to keep showing up."

The company’s decision to switch to UnitedHealthcare was not only financially driven, it was also driven by the importance Hooper placed on providing his employees with a quality health plan.

"The reputation of UnitedHealthcare is unmatched as far as I’m concerned," Hooper says. "It’s very important that we supply health benefits to our employees at a minimum cost to them. Our employees are like family, and we want to treat them like they’re a member of our family."

Working together to build a healthier business

Video transcript

Instrumental music plays throughout. Three white lines curl across a blue background. Blue text centers a white screen.

ONSCREEN TEXT: Building healthier

businesses together

A closer look

A sunlit sign outside a warehouse facility reads, "Rubber & Accessories, Inc." Buzz Hooper speaks as employees work with rubber inside the sprawling warehouse.

BUZZ: We are a distributor of industrial products. Rubber products. We're a family business. We're a small business, by any comparison. That family, small business atmosphere, I think, is very important.

Buzz works at his desk in his office, then interviews before a white background. A blue bar slides into the bottom left of the screen, containing white text.

ONSCREEN TEXT: Buzz Hoooper

President &Founder, Rubber & Accessories.

BUZZ: My name is Buzz. Company name is Rubber & Accessories, and we've been in business over 50 years. We founded the company in 1972.

A sign on the building reads, "Rubber & Accessories, Lakeland, Florida. Founded 1972. H. Hooper, H.Ross." An old photo shows Buzz stands beside his business partner at the future site of the warehouse.

BUZZ: My partner and I loved each other like brothers. We made a profit the first year that we were in business. There's always a fear of losing what you've created. But I love that challenge.

Employees work on a heavy-duty machine inside the warehouse. Keith Johnson interviews before a white background. A blue bar slides into the bottom left of the screen, containing white text.

ONSCREEN TEXT: Keith Johnson

Employee.

KEITH: As I graduated college, I'd always heard about Rubber & Accessories as a quality company. I started with a sales position at age 22.

BUZZ: Early on, health benefits were a very important part of what we wanted to establish as a culture of the company.

KEITH: It's not just about the pay, it's about the health benefits that are afforded to you. They have your back. It makes you want to keep showing up.

A montage shows Buzz smiling and talking with several employees around the office.

BUZZ: Switching to the UnitedHealthcare level funded plan has permitted us to have to charge less of the premium cost to our employees.

KEITH: We're treated pretty well here at Rubber & Accessories with our UnitedHealthcare plan. It makes you feel better when you go home at night.

Ronnie Barker interviews before a white background. A blue bar slides into the bottom left of the screen, containing white text.

ONSCREEN TEXT: Ronnie Barker

Employee

RONNIE: My name's Ronnie. I work at Rubber & Accessories. I've been here 23 years. It makes me feel safer. If something happens to me, I can go somewhere without breaking the bank.

BUZZ: The reputation of UnitedHealthcare is unmatched as far as I'm concerned. We feel that it's very important that we supply health benefits to our employees at a minimum cost to them. Our employees are like family and we want to treat them like we would treat a member of our family.

An American flag blows in the wind outside the Rubber & Accessories office. The warehouse is seen from above on a sunny day. Blue text flashes quickly on screen, centering a white background.

ONSCREEN TEXT: There

ONSCREEN TEXT: for

ONSCREEN TEXT: what

ONSCREEN TEXT: matters

ONSCREEN TEXT: Ronnie Barker

A blue u-shaped logo appears against a white background, followed by text.

ONSCREEN TEXT: United

Healthcare

Small black text runs along the bottom of the screen.

ONSCREEN TEXT: This case study is true and based on client’s own opinions. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on client specific demographics, funding type and plan design. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

ONSCREEN TEXT: Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates, and UnitedHealthcare Service LLC in NY. Stop-loss insurance is underwritten by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or their affiliates, including UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company in NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York in NY.

ONSCREEN TEXT: © 2023 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 23-2301519

ONSCREEN TEXT: EI232389000 7/23

The music fades.

Learn more about how Rubber & Accessories found success with the UnitedHealthcare Level Funded plan

Explore strategies for your business

Cost management

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Innovation

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Disclaimers

This case study is true. Savings calculated on book-of-business case rate savings for these programs. Savings for enrolled members are case specific. Results will vary based on client-specific demographics and plan design. Results will vary depending on the state where the insured policy is issued and the amount of engagement by employees.

UnitedHealthcare Level Funded plans include a potential year-end surplus refund when plan participant medical and pharmacy claims are lower than expected. Please consult a tax and/or legal advisor to determine if, by receiving a refund, there are any restrictions or obligations. Surplus refund available only where allowed by law.

Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates, and UnitedHealthcare Service LLC in NY. Stop-loss insurance is underwritten by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or their affiliates, including UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company in NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York in NY.