Mark, Author at RokketScience.com | Helping Remodelers grow sales

Scaling and Marketing a Successful Remodeling Business

Building Success & Systems: Growing Tony Geisel Construction from the Ground Up

Mark / February 15, 2025

Building Success & Systems: Growing Tony Geisel Construction from the Ground Up Tony Giesel Construction grew from a small operation to a successful remodeling company using Remodeling Business Strategies. Tony initially aimed to keep the business small but soon realized the importance of hiring the right people. Today, his team includes four full-time staff and up to 25 subcontractors. By applying these business strategies, Tony scaled effectively, building a reliable and capable team. These remodeling business techniques helped him navigate growth while ensuring quality and customer satisfaction. In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, Mark talks with Tony Giesel, founder of Tony Giesel Construction, about growing his business from a small operation into a thriving remodeling company. By using effective Remodeling Business Strategies, Tony expanded his team, realizing the importance of hiring the right people. Tony started his business in 2009 with the intention of keeping it small, but quickly understood how crucial it was to scale up. Today, his team includes four full-time staff and up to 25 subcontractors, which has been key to his success. “You can get to a million or two, but you miss the systems and processes needed to scale to five million.” — Tony Giesel Tony credits much of his business growth to TV advertising, which took his Gutter Dome sales from a mere $8,500 annually to over $100,000. Despite the importance of marketing, Tony also emphasizes the power of referrals and word-of-mouth in building a strong brand. As he looks toward retirement in five years, Tony plans to focus more on traveling and voluntary service while ensuring the business continues to grow with the right people and processes in place. Topics Transcript Topics Discussed Building a Strong Team Tony discusses how hiring the right people, like his sons, and relying on subcontractors is key to growing a successful remodeling business. The Power of TV Advertising Learn how Tony’s company used TV ads to boost sales from $8,500 to over $100,000 annually in Gutter Dome products. The Value of Professionalism in Homebuilding Tony emphasizes why clients should hire experienced professionals rather than attempt DIY projects, focusing on quality and avoiding costly mistakes. Managing Unexpected Costs Tony shares how being flexible with pricing and budgeting for unknowns has helped him succeed in the unpredictable world of remodeling. Grant Cardone’s Influence Tony explains how Grant Cardone’s teachings on business growth and scaling have inspired him to focus on processes for expansion and long-term sustainability. Lessons in Scaling Tony offers advice on avoiding growing pains, emphasizing the importance of building systems and processes before scaling your business. Work-Life Balance & Hobbies Tony talks about his plans for retirement, which include traveling and volunteering, while still staying busy and connected to the industry. Audio Transcription Mark Lamberth Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Contractor Grow Show. My name is Mark, I’m your host, and today I have the pleasure of talking with Tony Geel at Tony Geel Construction over in Wichita. Tony, thanks for being here with us today. Tony Giesel Thanks for inviting me. Mark Lamberth Very cool. So Tony, I saw you guys have got a lot of interesting stuff going on. You guys do home remodeling as well as outdoor structures. Maybe you could tell me a little bit about the history of the business and what you guys are up to today. Tony Giesel I started my own business in September of 2009, and with the idea that I was going to just have all subtrades and no employees and within a few months I hired my first one. And since then we’ve hired two more. We’re still doing a lot of subtrades, trying to manage them, but still doing some of the finer work ourselves, especially the more detailed work. That’s a little bit where we shine is the detailed part of our business of for sure, the trim work and things like that deck building and some of that just the care that our team takes to put things together. Mark Lamberth Okay, fantastic. So you’ve got four people on the team right now, and then how many subs do you tend to deal with? Tony Giesel Anywhere from about 20 to 25. Mark Lamberth Okay, great. And is it mostly remodels or you guys do some house building as well? Tony Giesel We do house building, but dollar wise, of course, the last one I built was a 1.8 million, something like that. Home. We have one, a new slash remodel, it’s an older home that we’re adding onto that’s an $800,000 project and we have a new one we’re working on that’s total. When the job is completed, it’ll be about 1.6, so that’s this year. And we have some window replacement jobs to do that. Each one is probably about $20,000. We got a bathroom remodel that’s 50,000. We have a kitchen remodel that’s over a hundred to start here after the first of the year. Mark Lamberth Amazing. And it looks like, I mean, you guys have done great work in the marketplace. I see a lot of great reviews and a lot of great content on your website. I mean, does the business grow mostly by referrals to get these big jobs or do you guys do some outreach as well? And how are you able to get really in Wichita? It sounds like big, big projects. Tony Giesel TV advertisement is a lot. That plays a pretty good part. It’s still a lot of referrals in some ways. Maybe our brand has been built and yet, I don’t know if it’s ever fully built, but one of the last jobs we did, I asked him where they heard about us from and they told us that a real estate agent, and I’d never met the lady. She told him, she said, if you want a good home built, you need to call Tony. Mark Lamberth That is awesome. Tony Giesel Got to

Alfred Navarro on Building a Referral-Based Remodeling Business

Business Strategy, Growth Ideas, Marketing Tips

Building with Heart: How Alfred Navarro’s Referral-Driven Company Thrives Through Relationships

Mark / February 1, 2025

Building with Heart: How Alfred Navarro’s Referral-Driven Company Thrives Through Relationships New Contractor Marketing strategies have played a significant role in helping Alfred Navarro’s business thrive. In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, Alfred discusses his 33 years of experience in high-end residential remodeling. His business has primarily grown through referrals, building strong relationships with clients and subcontractors. Alfred’s dedication to customer service includes going the extra mile, even visiting past projects years later to offer assistance, fostering long-term trust with clients. He takes pride in offering exceptional customer service, even going as far as visiting past projects years later to provide assistance, whether or not his team was responsible for the issue. The approach to digital contractor marketing helps in building long-term trust and solidifying a loyal client base. “I’ve been very fortunate that I haven’t had to struggle to get projects, but it’s always in the back of my mind. I know it’s hard for some people to get projects, but the wheels just keep turning.” – Alfred Navarro Alfred’s commitment to quality is reflected in his approach to custom fabrication. From matching molding to crafting bespoke steel structures for modern renovations, he ensures every detail is perfect. Though his company only employs a small core team, Alfred has maintained a tight-knit, family-like atmosphere, bolstered by his longstanding relationships with subcontractors. This dynamic allows him to manage multiple projects without sacrificing quality. Despite his success, Alfred acknowledges the challenge of work-life balance, but through hobbies like tennis and travel, he finds ways to recharge while continuing to serve his loyal clients. His journey exemplifies how fostering relationships and providing high-touch service can lead to sustained success in the remodeling industry. Looking to elevate your business and stay ahead in construction? Join the Los Angeles Builders Association for networking, resources, and industry advocacy. Gain insights, connect with key players, and support growth in the LA real estate market. Topics Transcript Topics Discussed The Importance of Referrals in the Remodeling Industry Alfred highlights how word-of-mouth and referrals have been the backbone of his business, with long-term relationships playing a key role in generating repeat and new projects. Navigating High-End Residential Projects Alfred shares insights into working on high-end homes, detailing his expertise in custom fabrication, restoration, and attention to detail in complex remodeling projects. Managing Subcontractors for Consistency and Quality With a small core team, Alfred maintains strong relationships with trusted subcontractors, ensuring smooth project execution and high-quality results. Building a Family-Like Work Culture Despite a small in-house team, Alfred fosters a tight-knit culture with subcontractors, focusing on communication, loyalty, and mutual respect. The Role of Licenses and Certifications in Contractor Success Alfred discusses the benefits of obtaining additional licenses and certifications over the years, ensuring smoother operations and compliance in complex projects. Balancing Work and Life as a Contractor Alfred provides insight into how he manages his work-life balance, discussing hobbies like tennis and travel while running a successful contracting business. Dealing with the Challenges of Custom Fabrication Alfred talks about the complexities of custom work, especially when replicating unique architectural elements, and the importance of craftsmanship in high-end remodels. Audio Transcription Mark Lamberth: Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Contractor Grow Show. My name is Mark, I’m your host, and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Alfred Navarro, Navarro Construction in Pasadena, California. Alfred, thanks for being with us today. Alfred Navarro: Thanks for having me. Mark Lamberth: Yeah, fantastic. So Alfred, maybe you could just tell us a little bit about the history of the business and where you guys are at today. Alfred Navarro: Sure. So I’ve been doing this about 33 years. Started really young. It was supposedly the easy road. So I got a job working in a house, kind of finishing a house for some people and working there full time, and they kind of planted the seed of, “Hey, have you thought about starting your own business?” I was like, no. So they started referring me to their friends, and eventually, I started contracting. And that was about 33 years ago. So we’ve been doing pretty well. I mean, we’ve, sorry. Sure, no problem. Not much being in front of the camera. So no, we’ve been going strong. We do mostly high-end residential. We started kind of in the Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills area, moved to Pasadena in ’99, then decided I didn’t really want to drive all the way over there and to work. New Contractor Marketing has played a significant role in attracting more clients. Through New Contractor Marketing, we’ve expanded our network and enhanced our visibility in a competitive market. Alfred Navarro: So I had some great clients and some great connections, and so they started kind of digging into Pasadena and it took me a few years. And mainly all my projects are within 10 miles of my house. Oh man, I love it. And I see my customers in the grocery store and it’s everyone’s happy, which is good. We are a referral based business. I mean, I have a website, I’m on LinkedIn and stuff like that, but we really don’t advertise intentionally because we don’t do huge volume. I’m not bidding 10 jobs a month like some contractors. And I like the higher percentage of, because it takes, I have my own way to bid. It might not be the best or most efficient way, but it’s very accurate for us and helps us control and not lose money. But it’s worked. We’ve rolled through the house crisis and all that and kept going, so we’re Mark Lamberth: Fantastic. Sure. No, no problem. So man, I saw you looks like, did you come from a long line of family builders? I mean, is that kind of what your family’s been doing? Want to know how Tony Giesel grew his small business into a thriving remodeling company? Tune in as he explains how hiring the right people helped expand his

Patella Flooring podcast: Legacy and Growth with Anthony Patella

Growth Ideas

Legacy & Growth: The Patella Flooring Story of Family, Commercial Success, and Smart Scaling

Mark / January 15, 2025

Legacy & Growth: The Patella Flooring Story of Family, Commercial Success, and Smart Scaling Patella Flooring, a family-run business based in Youngstown, Ohio, has been serving the community since the 1950s, evolving from a residential outfit to a powerhouse in commercial flooring marketing. Founded by Anthony Patella’s grandfather, the company is now in its third generation, with Anthony and his cousins running daily operations. Over the years, Patella Flooring has expanded its reach, now serving clients across Ohio and Pennsylvania, particularly in education, which remains their largest sector. Commercial flooring marketing has played a key role in their growth. “We try to take a more natural or holistic approach to growth—safe and steady, not growth at all costs.” – Anthony Patella Despite their long history, the company has managed to adapt to changing times. They’ve grown steadily, doubling in size over the past decade, largely driven by word of mouth and referrals. Anthony mentions that while 75% of their work is competitive bid-based, they’ve cultivated a few long-term clients that trust them for “no-bid” projects. As a union shop, the company faces the challenge of maintaining a stable and reliable workforce, particularly in an era where skilled labor is in short supply. Despite these challenges, Anthony emphasizes the importance of treating employees with respect and rewarding performance. Looking ahead, Patella Flooring is not aggressively pursuing growth but will continue to focus on stabilizing its current operations before considering expansion. Want to connect with other professionals and grow your remodeling business? Join top industry associations to learn, network, and thrive—start here. Topics Transcript Topics Discussed The Evolution of Patella Flooring: From a small residential operation in the 1950s to a prominent commercial flooring contractor, Patella Flooring has successfully navigated multiple generations and industry shifts. Family Dynamics in Business: With a third-generation leadership team, Patella Flooring thrives on the synergy between family members, including Anthony, his brother, and his cousin, who handle day-to-day operations. Geographical Expansion: Initially focused on the Youngstown area, Patella Flooring now services clients across Ohio and Pennsylvania, with plans to further solidify their regional presence. The Role of Word of Mouth and Referrals: The company has cultivated a strong reputation through word-of-mouth, which has helped them attract new commercial clients, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Sector Specialization: While Patella Flooring handles a wide range of commercial projects, education has remained their strongest sector, contributing 15-30% of annual revenue. Navigating Competitive Bidding: 75% of the company’s work comes from competitive bids, requiring a fine balance between cost and quality to win projects without jeopardizing profitability. The Union Shop Structure and Labor Challenges: As a union shop, Patella Flooring faces unique challenges and benefits in managing labor, balancing in-house installers with subcontractors for larger projects. Audio Transcription Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Contractor Grow Show. My name is Mark, I’m your host, and today I have a great guest. It’s Anthony Patella at Patella Flooring in Youngstown, Ohio. Anthony, thanks for being with us today. Anthony Patella: Great to be here. Thanks for having me. Mark Lamberth: Fantastic. So man, I’ve done a lot of research here with the team and we looked at the history of the business. It seems like it’s a long interesting history, kind of multi-generational, would love to hear about history of the business and then where you guys are at today, what you guys are up to. Anthony Patella: So my grandfather started the company way back in the 1950s, long before I was even born, and it didn’t even have the same name. It was called Standard Floor Covering, and they were mainly a residential outfit. It was just him and a partner just doing houses like kitchens and bedrooms and some small commercial stuff for a local developer here in Youngstown. They kind of floundered, they were doing okay just getting by. And then in the eighties, my dad, who also has the same name, Anthony, he was actually a chemical engineer out in New Jersey and completely hated it. Decided to move home and get into the family business. At that time, a little bit of debt on the company and he had to actually take his wedding money to pay off the existing debt, buy out my grandfather’s partner. And then it became my grandpa and my dad changed the name to Patella Carpet, slowly got out of debt doing a little more residential. And over the years my uncle also got involved. So we have a lot of family players, but over the past 30 some years we’ve kind of morphed into full-blown commercial flooring contractor and commercial flooring marketing has played a significant role in that transformation, and the residential business has been left behind, but we’ve kind of morphed from really small residential outfit to a pretty big commercial player. We’ve incorporated commercial flooring marketing as a major part of our business strategy to reach new clients. Mark Lamberth: Interesting. Wow. So is your dad still involved in the business and your uncle as well? Anthony Patella: Yeah, we’re kind of in a transition phase. They’re still involved with some daily operations, bigger picture stuff, but we’re kind of onto the third generation. There’s me, my brother, and my cousin who kind of run 90% of the day to day. Mark Lamberth: And you guys are in three states, right? Anthony Patella: Yeah, so we’re strategically located, so Youngstown for people that aren’t familiar right on the eastern border with Pennsylvania. So it’s like I could drive 15 minutes from our office here and be in Pennsylvania. So we get access to kind of that western Pennsylvania market. Obviously the Youngstown market, we travel up to Cleveland as well. We’re kind of strategically located between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Those are the main two states. I know before I was involved, they would mess around with some jobs down in West Virginia, but recently it’s mainly just been Ohio and

Business Strategy, Marketing Tips

Growth Mindset: Leadership – What is it, and can it be learned?

Mark / December 24, 2024

Growth Mindset: *Leadership* – What is it, and can it be learned? In this interview, Hans Frees, founder of Outdoor Excapes, shares the journey of scaling a landscape architecture business, which has transformed from a small landscaping operation to a high-end outdoor construction business. For over 25 years, the company has focused on adding architectural elements like pools and outdoor kitchens to landscaping, distinguishing itself in the industry. The company’s success is rooted in a commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and a strong focus on client satisfaction, which has led to an impressive track record of organic, glowing reviews. Hans Frees Scaled his Landscape Architecture Business with Peer Groups & Customer Service “It’s amazing what happens when you give people that opportunity, give ’em that chance, and things soar.” – Hans Frees Hans discusses the challenge of finding and retaining skilled employees in an industry struggling with workforce shortages. Outdoor Excapes’ approach is to nurture its team by aligning their professional and personal goals, ensuring growth opportunities and a solid company culture. As for business growth, the company has primarily relied on repeat business and referrals, with future plans to ramp up marketing efforts. A key to their success has been maintaining close client relationships long after the project ends, handling issues, and providing referrals. Hans also highlights the importance of work-life balance, which he’s achieved by trusting his team and learning to delegate. His involvement in peer groups and mentorship also plays a vital role in both his personal and professional growth. Connect with Outdoor Excapes Website: OutdoorExcapes.com Instagram: @outdoorexcapes Are you a landscape architect looking to grow your own peer group and business? We always recommend joining the top associations in your industry as a way to grow and learn. You can do that here. Topics Transcript Topics Discussed Outdoor Excapes’ Evolution Outdoor Excapes started as a small landscaping business and evolved into a specialized outdoor builder offering services like pools, porches, and outdoor kitchens, focusing on architectural elements. Employee Retention and Growth The company prioritizes employee development by aligning personal and professional goals, fostering growth, and offering opportunities beyond just compensation, creating a strong, loyal team. Business Growth Through Referrals Outdoor Excapes thrives on repeat and referral clients, with plans to expand branding and marketing, especially through social media, while continuing to enhance relationships with long-term clients. Maintaining Exceptional Client Relationships The company’s commitment to client satisfaction goes beyond project completion, with a focus on long-term service and attention to detail, ensuring organic positive reviews and ongoing trust. Project Management Process Their approach includes detailed project management, where each client is given direct access to a project manager for consistent updates and communication throughout the phases of the project. Importance of Work-Life Balance Hans discusses the evolution of his work-life balance, learning to delegate and trust a team of experts, which allows him to enjoy personal time with his family while maintaining a successful business. Mentorship and Peer Groups Hans values mentorship and peer groups, drawing inspiration from successful business owners and constantly seeking advice from those in the field to improve both business and personal life. Audio Transcription Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of The Contractor Grow Show. My name is Mark. I’m your host, and today I have the joy of interviewing Hans Frees at Outdoor Escapes in Long Lakes Minnesota. Hans, thank you for being with us today. Hans Frees: Thanks, mark. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Mark Lamberth: Yeah, so I’ve taken a look at your stuff and I get to talk to a lot of smart people on this podcast and something that has been great to see. I mean, we’ve looked all over done a lot of research. One thing that I just want to say is you guys get it. I love your offering. It’s exciting what you guys have got going on, the representation of your work. So maybe you could tell us a bit about the business. Hans Frees: Yeah, no, I appreciate the kind words. I mean, to be honest with you, what we’ve got online right now, we think it’s outdated, needs to be updated. So we’re in the process of doing that. But outdoor escapes started until 25 some years ago. I was like any kid growing up, looking for a job, needing some money. My father was a CPA, so he did fine, but there were no handouts in our household, so he had to earn, it kind of grew up mowing lawns, doing some small work around the yard, the neighborhood, family, friends, and student turn into customers. And over the years it developed into kind of a niche of more construction based. What I’ll say is taking two dimensional landscaping to more three-dimensional by adding in architectural elements as far as pools, porches, pool houses, outdoor kitchens. So today what outdoor escapes is 20 something years later is more of a outdoor builder. We’re a licensed general contractor in our markets, so technically we could pull permits to build homes, et cetera, but that’s not really our avenue. We have a lot of trade alliances with builders, remodelers we work with, and a lot of direct consumer relationships. But yeah, outdoor building is kind of our niche. Mark Lamberth: Okay, great. And I just wanted to read kind of the description of which you guys are up to. Outdoor scapes, landscape design, build firm, focusing on combining the trades to create exceptional outdoor spaces from a simple perennial garden to an elaborate backyard retreat. Outdoor scapes is committed to providing our clients with inspired design, respectful and dedicated craftsmanship, uncompromising service. You guys have got a lot of great reviews and on your website there’s a lot of beautiful work. In fact, I want to just quickly open up my screen here and show some of what you guys are up to. So if you happen to be seeing this on YouTube, this is the portfolio of outdoor

Growth Ideas, Marketing Tips

Contractor Marketing Ideas for 2025

Mark / December 15, 2024

Contractor Marketing Ideas for 2025 In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, Mark Lamberth discusses essential marketing strategies for contractors in 2025. He highlights the importance of having a solid growth plan to ensure business expansion outside of referrals, which, while valuable, have their limits. Mark emphasizes the need to target new customers through web traffic, SEO, paid search, and social media to generate leads and maintain growth. Key Topic: Respond to Your Leads Immediately A major struggle for contractors, according to Mark, lies in their websites and lead-response times. He compares a poorly designed website to a dirty work truck—it’s a bad first impression that can harm sales. He also underscores the importance of responding to leads immediately—within five minutes if possible. Failing to answer calls promptly can result in lost trust and missed opportunities, as potential clients will quickly turn to competitors. Mark wraps up by stressing that contractors must focus on maximizing their marketing spend by generating traffic, prioritizing leads effectively, and setting up processes that ensure quick follow-ups. With the right approach to these areas, contractors could see a 15-20% increase in revenue. We recommend joining your local and national associations. This is a great place to network and continue your business education. Here’s a good one to join: https://www.agc.org/ Want to hear our fist episode? Listen here. “Answering the phone immediately can increase your conversion rate by 3-8%, simply by showing professionalism and commitment to the customer.”- Mark Lamberth Topics Transcript Topics Discussed The Importance of a Growth Plan for Contractors: Contractors need a clear growth plan for 2025 to avoid stagnation and ensure sustainable expansion outside of referrals. Transitioning from Referrals to New Customer Acquisition: Relying on referrals alone limits growth, so contractors must target strangers in the marketplace to expand their customer base. The Website’s Role in Converting Sales: A contractor’s website should reflect the quality of their work, as a poorly designed site can cost them sales. Speed of Lead Response: Responding to leads within minutes rather than hours is crucial to building trust and avoiding lost opportunities to competitors. Traffic Generation Beyond Referrals: SEO, paid ads, and other marketing efforts are necessary for contractors to attract new clients and generate traffic to their websites. The Impact of Answering the Phone everytime: Answering the phone promptly not only builds trust but can increase conversion rates by showing professionalism and commitment. Prioritizing and Segregating Leads: Contractors should prioritize high-value leads and customize their responses based on the project’s scope to ensure they’re chasing the right opportunities. Audio Transcription Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Contractor Grow Show, put on by my company Rokket Science. My name is Mark, and I am your host. In this episode, I want to talk about contractor marketing ideas for 2025. So here we’re in December of 2024, and it’s a great time to be planning this month, next month for how much growth your contracting business is going to have in the next year. So if you’re a kitchen or bath remodeler, a sub, or a roofer, or anybody in the trades, it’s a good time to plan for the next year. And I just want to say that if you don’t have a plan for growth, there’s a great chance it’s not really going to happen as much as you want and as well as you want. Okay? I mean, we grow our businesses by referrals. We can only kind of max out our referral base only so much. Mark Lamberth: Our referral base gives us a lot of business, but it’s limited. And if we want to grow the business, we really need to plan ultimately to sell to strangers. We need to go out into the marketplace and find people that are looking for your contracting business but have never heard of you before. And as I’ve said some other episodes, when you go out to the marketplace and start working with strangers, there’s some promise and opportunity, but there’s also a problem with that. When you have built a business by referrals, it’s easy to close. You have all of that trust kind of built into the process. And when you go out into the marketplace and start dealing with web traffic, folks that find you on Google, SEO or paid search or YouTube, Facebook, when you go out and advertise to get new business, it’s a whole different ball game. Mark Lamberth: I mean, the folks that you’re talking to, they have no loyalty. They may be price shopping at some level, it’s going to be more difficult to close those people. You’re going to have to have a process for selling them. You’re going to have a lot of folks that you may win the bid, you may have the best bid or quote for them, but then you’re dealing with just the inertia of someone not moving ahead with getting a huge kitchen remodel or a new home or a new roofing job. The biggest competitor that we have in sales is actually not our competition. It’s doing nothing at all, right? And if you’ve been in sales for a while, you know that. So today I want to talk about really the three areas that I see contractors struggle with the most. And we’re a digital marketing agency here. We’re rocket science.com. We work specifically with remodelers, and we have seen over the last many years that contractors typically struggle with three main issues. One is that their website is subpar. So you go out to your job sites with nice clean trucks. You wouldn’t go out there with them covered in mud. You wouldn’t go out with a damaged truck that had just been in an accident. It would create a bad impression for those prospects or for your clients. Mark Lamberth: But your website does look like a wreck truck in most cases. I mean, I’m talking like 80% of the great

Podcast Episode thumb about Contractor Growth Tips

Industry Trends, Specialization

The Art of Painting & Business Growth with Andy Moya of Moya Painting

Mark / December 1, 2024

The Art of Painting & Business Growth with Andy Moya of Moya Painting In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, Mark Lamberth sits down with Andy Moya, who shares some great contractor growth tips. Andy’s the owner of Moya Painting and Decorating in Sacramento, he shares the story of his growing painting business, which has roots in his father’s 30 years of industry experience. Together, Mark and Andy dive into the details of how Andy transitioned from working with his dad to building his own company, focusing on both residential and commercial painting projects. Andy offers valuable insights on what it takes to grow a business, from navigating the challenges of pricing and quoting to finding the right team and maintaining quality. He also shares his approach to marketing, emphasizing the power of word-of-mouth referrals, building strong relationships with contractors, and networking with others in the industry. With a focus on craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, Andy has built a reputation for delivering high-quality work with a personal touch. The Art of Painting & Business Growth “Quality craftsmanship and clear communication are the foundation of everything we do.” – Andy Moya Beyond the day-to-day operations, Andy discusses strategies for scaling the business—how he balances residential projects that require more detailed craftsmanship with commercial jobs that offer faster turnaround times. He also talks about the importance of certifications, insurance, and gaining specialized licenses to tap into higher-end and more profitable work. Whether you’re an established contractor looking to scale or just starting out in the painting business, Andy’s journey offers inspiration and practical advice for overcoming common hurdles and building a sustainable business. If you’re looking for tips on how to grow your business through smart pricing, strong customer relationships, and a focused business strategy, this episode is packed with takeaways you won’t want to miss. Connect with Moya Painting and Decorating: Website: https://www.MoyaPaintingAndDecorating.com/ Instagram @MoyaPainting Listen in as Andy shares the secrets to his success, many contractor growth tips, and how he’s positioning his company for continued growth in Sacramento’s competitive painting market. Topics Transcript Topics Discussed Family Legacy in Painting: Andy Moya discusses how his father’s 30 years of experience inspired him to start Moya Painting and Decorating. Building the Right Team: The company values recruiting workers who align with their mindset for long-term success. Word-of-Mouth Marketing: A significant portion of their business growth comes from personal connections and referrals. Balancing Residential and Commercial Work: Andy shares insights on how they manage the profitability and challenges of both sectors. Sales Process Transparency: Detailed quotes and client walkthroughs are pivotal to their customer service approach. Overcoming Payment Challenges: Establishing trust with clients and refining payment policies ensures smooth transactions. Strategic Growth Plans: Andy outlines the steps he’s taking, including licensing and certifications, to expand into high-quality, profitable jobs. Want to learn more from The Contractor Grow Show? We’ve had incredible guests so far, with many more on the way! Watch those Podcasts here: Aaron gives us an inside look at his business, sharing how his early experience remodeling investment properties fueled the rapid growth of Luria Construction. Don explores how social media and word-of-mouth marketing have driven their growth, along with the importance of building lasting relationships in their community. Audio Transcription Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Contractor Grow Show. This is Mark, and today I have the pleasure of talking with Andy Moya at Moya Painting and Decorating in Sacramento. Hey, Andy, thanks for being on the show today. Andy Moya: Thank you guys. Mark Lamberth: Yeah, fantastic. So I saw that you guys have been in business just a few years, looks like things are going great though. Maybe you could tell us a little bit about the business, the history of it, how you got into it, and where you guys are at right now. Andy Moya: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, so the roots of our company have been with my dad. I mean, he started painting about a little bit over 30 years ago, and he’s always been in the industry. He’s been with one company for almost those 30 years, and so I got into that business with my dad because of all the experience he had. And so yeah, he’s known so much about the industry and I was able to work with him on the weekends and all that stuff. I actually got to go to college, played collegiate, collegiate soccer, and then when it was time to kind of hang up the boots, I decided to go into an industry where I might have an advantage and an edge. And so yeah, I kind of got into this business knowing that I was going to have the productivity side. I was really confident with that, and it’s just about now growing a business and kind of doing it our own. Mark Lamberth: I love it. Does your dad work with you at all or does he have a totally owned company? Andy Moya: No, no. He’s a partner with us and yeah, we work with him and we’ve been slowly been able to, I always relate everything to sports and for me it’s been a slow process to recruit the right prospects and sometimes some people come and go, but we want to fit people that fit our mindset, so yeah, Mark Lamberth: I love it. How many people do you have on your team right now? Andy Moya: Right now we have six people. Six workers? Mark Lamberth: Okay. Yeah. Okay, fantastic. And do you guys ever kind of scale up and down at all? Do you have any kind subs that come along or kind of temporary crew? Andy Moya: Yeah, yeah. I think what I’ve known to do is network with a lot of people, so sometimes when some big things come up, we can also get workers, but also just being in the industry, knowing a lot of people in our family that

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Specialization

Building a Disaster Recovery Business from the Ground Up – SkyWater’s Journey

Mark / November 15, 2024

Building a Disaster Recovery Business from the Ground Up – SkyWater’s Journey In this Contractor Grow Show Interview, Dawn Forest Callahan, co-founder of SkyWater on Call, discusses her journey into the disaster restoration industry. After 20 years of experience and with the support of her husband Mark, they launched SkyWater in 2022. Unlike many restoration companies, they avoided heavy reliance on insurance work and instead focused on direct relationships with commercial clients. Dawn explains how these contracts offer more control over pricing and fewer emotional challenges than residential projects. Restoration work is challenging because people are in crisis SkyWater’s main services include water damage restoration, mold remediation, and other general contractor work like drywall repairs and carpet cleaning. Dawn reveals that while her company has worked on large-scale residential projects post-hurricanes, their core business remains commercial-focused. Through it all, Dawn’s focus is on providing exceptional service and building long-term relationships with clients and employees alike, ensuring that SkyWater on Call continues to thrive in an increasingly complex industry. Contact Dawn on her site. “The biggest challenge in restoration is educating clients on the laws and requirements—especially when they’re in crisis and just want the work done as quickly as possible.” — Dawn Forest Callahan Topics Transcript Topics Discussed SkyWater on Call’s Origin Story: Dawn shares how SkyWater was founded in 2022 by her and her husband after his retirement from the fire department, leveraging her 20+ years of experience in the restoration industry. Challenges of Insurance Work: Dawn discusses the complexities of dealing with insurance companies in the restoration business, especially when working with residential clients, compared to the more straightforward commercial contracts. Commercial vs. Residential Work: Dawn explains why SkyWater prefers working with commercial clients, emphasizing the predictability of contracts, faster decision-making, and fewer emotional challenges compared to residential projects. Restoration Services Beyond Disasters: SkyWater offers general contractor services such as drywall repairs, carpet cleaning, and painting in addition to disaster restoration, providing a broad range of services for commercial clients. Top Disasters in the Area: The most common disasters requiring restoration in the Largo, FL area include flooding, water losses, mold remediation, and seasonal hurricane damage. Challenges in Restoration Projects: Dawn talks about the difficulties in educating clients about legal requirements, such as asbestos testing before demolition, and the time-sensitive nature of disaster recovery work. Recruitment and Retention Strategies: Dawn shares how SkyWater successfully recruits and retains talented team members through referrals, networking, and strong internal relationships, while also providing a supportive work environment. Curious about The Contractor Grow Show? More exciting episodes are coming, featuring inspiring guests. Watch those Podcasts here: See how David Shafshak and Ariel create a supportive culture at InnoVolt, with 54 employees, plus 16 at Ventura Systems, retaining top talent and ensuring high-quality work. Ami Feller, based in New Braunfels, Texas, transformed her family’s roofing business into an industry leader, specializing in residential roofing and carving out a niche market. Audio Transcript Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Contractor Grow Show. My name is Mark. Today I have interesting guests, disaster. Dawn, it’s Dawn Marie Forest, Callahan from SkyWater on Call in Largo, Florida. Dawn, thanks for being on today. Dawn Forest Callahan: You’re welcome. Thank you for having me. Mark Lamberth:: Yeah, very cool. So we’ve taken a look at SkyWater and what you guys are up to. Maybe you could tell us a little bit about just the history of the business and what you guys are up to these days. Dawn Forest Callahan: Sure. Well, SkyWater on Call was established in 2022 by myself and my husband Mark Callahan. It was after 22 years in the business and my husband going into a retirement. He was 30 years a lieutenant in St. Petersburg fire Department, and him and his family are big entrepreneurs and he’s owned just companies in the past. So he started really talking about it in 2020. I had transitioned to another company in more of a director role and he had gone on a couple jobs with me and found it to not be rocket science to do. And so he started talking about wanting to open a company with me when he did retire and whenever he was ready to pull that trigger, we decided in 2022 to go ahead and open our own company. So I was ready but nervous, but obviously my client base of 20 years was a nice added bonus to start a company. Dawn Forest Callahan: I did have the relationships, we did it very organically. Unlike most restoration companies, most of the time you need a million dollars in the banks just to open the doors. Majority, if not all restoration companies start with the insurance program work where I’m more of an anomaly. 22 years ago when I was hired with Bay Area, actually it was called PLA Construction at the time. They specifically hired me to chase water and to strictly market the end user. And I was mentored by another DKI member called Fire Services. So I was very fortunate because I never had to deal with the insurance company or adjusters or third party TPAs. Speaker 3: So Dawn Forest Callahan: I found that to be the only way I’ve ever known how to do it. So whenever my husband and I decided to start our own company, I immediately reached out to my clients of 20 plus years that had traveled or followed me along with the different companies that I had worked for over the years. And to our surprise, immediately decided they immediately were willing to give us a shot. So it was a huge blessing to have their support. So without my client base of 20 plus years, I’m not sure we would’ve been able to open the doors, but we were, and we don’t have any investors. We invested all of it with our own money. So it’s kind of exciting. And recently, after a

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Specialization

Scaling a High-End AV Business: Growth Strategies with Andrew Schneider of The Wiring Guy

Mark / November 1, 2024

Scaling a High-End AV Business: Growth Strategies with Andrew Schneider of The Wiring Guy In this episode of The Contract to Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth sits down with Andrew Schneider, the founder of The Wiring Guy, a premier low-voltage company based in Calabasas, California. With over 28 years in the business, Andrew has carved out a niche in the high-end home AV and low-voltage installation space, serving luxury homeowners in Southern California’s elite communities. Andrew shares his journey from Chicago to Calabasas, the growth of his business, and how he navigates the challenges of designing and installing sophisticated systems for high-net-worth clients. From home theaters and audio systems to security and surveillance, The Wiring Guy offers comprehensive solutions for upscale properties, all while managing the delicate balance between growth, quality, and client satisfaction. Grown over 25 years through word of mouth & trusted partnerships. Whether you’re interested in the technical side of home AV systems, the business of high-end installations, or insights into scaling a small business in a competitive market, this episode has something for you. Tune in to learn about the strategies that have helped The Wiring Guy thrive in one of the country’s most exclusive markets. **Key Takeaways:** – The importance of collaboration with designers and architects in luxury home builds. – How Andrew’s business has grown over 25 years through word of mouth and trusted partnerships. – The challenges of scaling a high-end service business while maintaining quality. – Insights on the future of home technology installations and the demand for low-voltage experts. If you’re in the AV space or simply fascinated by the world of high-end home tech, this episode is a must-listen! Website: https://nevadastairs.com/ “We may not always get exactly what our clients want, but even when the economy fluctuates, they’re still spending enough to make it work.” – Andy Schneider Topics Transcript Topics Discussed High-End Market Opportunities: Andy Schneider discusses the advantages of working in a high-end market like Calabasas, where the economy’s fluctuations have less impact on demand for home technology services. Specialization in Low Voltage Services: The company focuses on low voltage work such as home theaters, security systems, and wiring for luxury homes, leveraging the expertise in electrical systems that won’t cause harm. Collaborating with Designers and Contractors: Andy highlights how working early with architects, designers, and contractors is essential for planning wiring and home systems in custom, high-end projects. Business Growth and Team Management: The challenges of scaling a business with limited resources, including whether to add more people or invest in higher-margin equipment. Word of Mouth and Referral Network: The primary method of business growth through referrals, both from clients and contractors, with minimal traditional advertising. Managing Subcontractors for Large Projects: The complexities of bringing in subcontractors for large projects, especially when dealing with tight spaces and the need for efficient coordination. Profitability in Higher-End Equipment: Andy shares his preference for selling high-end systems, which provide better profit margins without increasing workload, making growth sustainable. Need Some Business Insights? We feature amazing guests and have plenty of more episodes coming soon! Check out the podcasts here: Jeff promotes from within through internal training and strengthens team engagement with community events like cookouts and bike rides. Brent shares his transition from the concrete industry to Spray Lock in 2017, where he adopted the company’s mission of integrity-driven solutions. Audio Transcript Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of The Contractor to Grow Show. My name is Mark Lamberth, and today I’m talking with Andrew Schneider, the wiring guy in Calabasas, California. Andrew, thanks for coming on the show today. Andy Schneider: Hey Mark, thanks for having me on the show today. Appreciate it. Mark Lamberth: Fantastic. So I see you guys have been in business for a while, looks like you guys are up to a number of different things. Maybe you could tell us about the business and history and what you guys are up to right now. Andy Schneider: Sure, sure, absolutely. I’ve been doing the wiring guy now 28 years. Wow. It’s been a while. We’ve been at an official business, I was just looking last week, about 25 years. I’ve been doing it 28 years. And the wiring guy, we are a low voltage company, so we specialize in home theater, home audio, everything from security, surveillance, anything that you would need on the low voltage side. The line I like to use is anything that won’t kill you kind of thing, and that’s more of the electrical stuff. We are licensed electricians though, and we hold that license so that we can do things like putting outlets behind TVs and things like that. So when we’re hanging televisions for clients, we don’t need to call in an electrician separately. Mark Lamberth: Fantastic. So have you guys been doing the low voltage side of this the whole time? Andy Schneider: We have. That’s my preferred thing. As a young kid, I always enjoyed tinkering with electronics and things like that and whatever it is, and so that was the direction I went and it’s grown over the last 20 plus years, which is great. And I happen to be in a wonderful market where it’s the 1% of the 1% kind of thing where if somebody is going to spend money and whether the economy is down, so maybe they’re not going to spend X, they’ll spend Y, but people are still spending money in our market, so I’m fortunate for that. Mark Lamberth: This is the high end market, I mean, that’s what you mean. Andy Schneider: Absolutely. Absolutely. So we’re in southern California. Our clientele is anywhere from Malibu to the area that we reside in, which is Calabasas Hidden Hills, which is the Beverly Hills of the San Fernando Valley. We do work with clients in Beverly Hills, those areas, and so we’re fortunate. Mark Lamberth: Okay. And then Andrew, when you are working on projects like this, we’ve

Business Strategy

From Finance to Landscaping: How Good Earth Landscaping Scaled with Smart Business Strategy

Mark / October 15, 2024

From Finance to Landscaping: How Good Earth Landscaping Scaled with Smart Business Strategy In this interview on The Contractor Grow Show, Jeff Margulis, co-owner of Good Earth Landscaping in Carbondale, shares insights into the company’s growth and success. Founded over 30 years ago, Good Earth was revitalized when Jeff and his partner took ownership in 2017. Jeff, who previously worked in finance, applied his business acumen to the green industry, significantly improving operations and scaling the company. A major turning point came when Jeff joined the ACE Peer Group, a community of business leaders in the green industry. Run your Business like a Business, not a Technician Employee retention has been a key part of Good Earth’s success, with Jeff emphasizing the importance of taking care of employees and building strong relationships. The company’s seasonal business model relies heavily on a committed, motivated team, and Jeff has worked to build internal training programs to promote from within. Community-focused activities, like cookouts and mountain bike rides, also help foster a cohesive and engaged team. Website: https://goodearthaspen.com/ “Having a good understanding of the financials has been a huge advantage for us, especially in the green industry where most businesses are run by technicians, not financial strategists.” – Jeff Margulis Topics Transcript Topics Discussed Business Origins and Growth: Good Earth Landscaping, with over 30 years in business, was revitalized by Jeff Margulis and his partner in 2017, expanding from basic maintenance to full-service landscaping. Finance Background in Landscaping: Jeff’s financial expertise, honed in investment analysis and business strategy, gave Good Earth a competitive edge in applying business fundamentals to the landscaping industry. The Role of Peer Groups in Business Development: Through the ACE Peer Group, Jeff gained invaluable insights into high-performing landscaping operations, which helped him apply structured processes to his company. Technology and Process Integration: The implementation of industry-specific software, Aspire, alongside new processes, helped streamline Good Earth’s operations and set the company up for scalable growth. Building Accountability in a Seasonal Business: Emphasizing accountability and consistency, Jeff’s leadership focused on creating clear responsibilities and empowering crew leaders to improve operations. Team Building and Employee Retention: Good Earth’s employee-centric culture, built on mutual respect and language skills, fostered a loyal workforce that helped drive the business’s success. Community and Team Engagement: Jeff emphasizes the importance of creating a strong company culture through team-building activities like cookouts and group bike rides to unite his employees. Need fresh business insights? We feature great guests with more episodes coming soon! Watch those Podcasts here: Brent Rollins, owner of Spray Lock, has streamlined sales in a niche market, securing 10-20 projects annually from clients who find their products online. See how Alex Post founded Nastase Contracting in 1977, starting with residential exteriors and insurance restoration before pivoting to commercial construction and wall systems in 2020. Audio Transcript Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Contractor Grow Show. This is Mark, and today I have the pleasure of interviewing, talking with Jeff Margulis from God Earth Landscaping in Carbondale, just right up the road from us. We’re here in Denver. Jeff, fantastic to have you on. Thank you for being here. Jeff Margulies: Yeah, thanks for having me. Mark Lamberth: Very cool. Well, I’ve taken a look and learned more about the business. Maybe you could tell us just kind of what you guys are up to today and then we’d love to hear more about the history of the business as well. Jeff Margulies: Sure. So Good Earth is a full service landscaping company. I would say our backbone is maintenance, but we do just about everything outside the home. We’ve been doing, really growing the construction side of the business, whether that’s new installs kind of ground up or larger enhancement projects. We have a full irrigation division, fine gardening division that does higher touch gardens, custom containers, things of that nature. We do snow removal in the winter and then a little bit of everything in between to fill the shoulder seasons. Mark Lamberth: Okay, fantastic. How long have you guys been at this now? Jeff Margulies: So Good Earth has been in business somewhere over 30 years. My business partner and his former partner acquired the company beginning of 2017, and then I took over operations and stepped into an ownership role beginning of 2018, seven-ish years, somewhere in there that we’ve been doing. It certainly changed a lot over that time period. Neither my partner nor I had a landscaping background. We both come from a financial careers, more business strategy and numbers based, but found ourselves in a situation where we had to become operators and have, I think relatively successfully been able to apply some of those business principles to a new field and grow the business a lot since then. Mark Lamberth: Man, I love it. I was taking a look. You went to Brown, Mark Lamberth: Is that right? Yep. Amazing. And then you later went on to become an investment analyst and kind of finance vp. I always love when I hear stories of folks who came out of finance at some level and went into some type of trades business that we’re always talking with. It just really tells me about that somebody like yourself has really evaluated obviously the numbers of the business at a higher level and that you’re approaching this probably from just a really, I dunno, a higher level of business fundamentals and number of fundamentals than maybe some of the rest of us. if you need help thinking through business growth, contact us. Jeff Margulies: Yeah, I mean I think that’s been a huge advantage for us, especially in the green industry. I’d say the majority of businesses are owned by career technicians who happen to be successful in growing the business, but once you get to a certain scale, that’s hard to continue. And we’ve been fortunate to come at it from the other side where

Roofer Chicks thumbnail for Contractor Grow Show Podcast

Business Strategy, Specialization

How this Texas Roofing Co. got to $5M+ by being Omnipresent in her Market

Mark / October 1, 2024

How this Texas Roofing Co. got to $5M+ by being Omnipresent in her Market In this insightful interview full of Roofer Marketing 2025 tips (#8 from The Contractor Grow Show) with Ami Feller, founder of Roofer Chicks, we dive deep into the journey of building a unique and successful roofing business in a male-dominated industry. Based in New Braunfels, Texas, Ami shares how she transformed a family roofing business into an industry leader, focusing on residential roofing and embracing a niche market. She discusses her decision to rebrand in 2021 to “Roofer Chicks,” a name that reflects her mission to break the mold of what roofing companies can be, while also fostering an empowering space for women in the trades. Ami’s entrepreneurial spirit has propelled her to not only succeed in roofing but also to advocate for more women to join the industry. Despite facing challenges in recruiting and retaining female workers, she has built a loyal, skilled team and continues to push for change. Are you a woman in the roofing industry? Reach our to Ami for advice on how to thrive, or you can even join this woman focused association. Roofer Marketing 2025 tips – Being Omnipresent was THE KEY Throughout the interview, Ami also touches on her strong community involvement, including her work with Habitat for Humanity and the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce. She explains how these connections have contributed to her business growth, and shares her approach to customer service and building a strong online reputation. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, branding, and the power of community. Get your Roofer Marketing 2025 tips from Roofer Chicks in this episode. “I’ve always believed that every time you get criticism from somebody, there’s truth in it, and you need to find what that truth is and get over your emotions.” ~ Ami Feller Topics Transcript Topics Discussed Building a Niche Roofing Business: Ami explains how she found success by focusing solely on residential roofing, simplifying the business model, and avoiding diversification into other services like windows or handyman work. Branding and Standing Out: The creation of the “Roofer Chicks” brand was a deliberate decision to stand out in a saturated market by embracing a female-driven identity and bright, recognizable vehicles and branding. Overcoming Challenges in a Male-Dominated Industry: Ami discusses the unique struggles of being a female leader in an industry where women make up only 5% of the workforce, and her efforts to build an all-female roofing crew to challenge this norm. Community Involvement for Business Growth: Being active in local organizations like Rotary International and Habitat for Humanity has been key for Ami in networking, gaining trust, and growing her business in New Braunfels, TX. Importance of Customer Service and Follow-Ups: Ami emphasizes the importance of a dedicated office staff to handle inbound inquiries and ensure timely follow-ups, a key factor in her company’s exceptional customer service. Using Technology for Customer Engagement: The innovative use of a fun animated video on their website helps clients understand what happens when they reach out, enhancing engagement and setting expectations. Building a Strong Reputation through Reviews: Ami shares her strategy for collecting customer reviews, which includes sending personalized requests and leveraging automation tools to make it easier for clients to leave feedback. Discover Tools for Success. Welcome, we’ve had some great episodes – take a look at those here. Watch those Podcasts here: Discover how Andy’s diverse background, from ministry to environmental surveys, led him to find his true calling in painting. Andy has built a reputation for delivering meticulously designed homes that blend innovation with historic preservation, meeting the needs of discerning clients. Audio Transcript Mark Lamberth: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Contractor Grow Show put out by Rokket Science. This is Mark, and today I have the pleasure of bringing onto the show, Amy Feller from Roofer Chicks. I’m really excited about her story. She unloads Roofer Marketing 2025 tips today, so stay tuned. We’ve never met before, but I really already have a lot of trust for what she has to say and her business, and that’s a piece I’d like to unpack here later. But simply because the website is set up so well, she has a big footprint and has just got a great business that I’m really excited to learn about it. It’s kind of a niche business. It’s got a curious story. So Amy, thank you so much for being on the show today. Ami Feller: Thanks for having me. I’m really excited about it. It’s funny you talk about the website. I just stood that website up about two or three weeks ago and I’m actually trying to rewrite a lot of the content. Mark Lamberth: Oh, is that right? Okay. Ami Feller: Yeah. Mark Lamberth: So Amy is from Roofer Chicks in New Braunfels, Texas, which is between San Antonio and Austin. Amy, maybe you could tell us a little bit about the business and the current state that it’s in now, and which you guys you’re up to right now in New Braunfels. Ami Feller: Okay, for sure. So we are primarily a residential roofing contractor, although we do do a little bit of commercial. We’re probably 90 10. We don’t do any work for general contractors. I’ve tried that in the past and it didn’t go well, so I just pulled back from that. So if we do commercial, it’s usually like a single owner business, like a restaurant or a church or something like that. And currently I seem to have plateaued at about 5.2 million for the last four years. And like I said, we are a roofing contractor. We primarily do roofing. I’ve tried my hand in trying to get into windows and handyman services, and earlier this year I dropped all of that again and just decided to simplify again and just do roofing. And within roofing we don’t do new construction because we don’t find

Author name: Mark