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Episode 5: From Triplex to Chimney Sweeping Woes
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Welcome back to Simmons Sooty Stories! In this episode, Jeff and Trent dive deep into the early, "scrappy" years of the business and married life. From living in a colorful triplex on 8th Street to the hard lessons learned while working out of a spare bedroom, this is a look at the "sooty" foundations of Top Hat Chimney Sweeps.
In this episode, we cover:
- The 8th Street Triplex: Life in the "eclectic" neighborhood where their secretary lived next door, and the neighbors included a drug dealer and a prostitute.
- The "Devil" on the Porch: Jeff recounts the most terrifying night of his life involving a dark back porch, a lack of railings, and a "demon" with glowing red eyes that turned out to be much smaller (and furrier) than expected [22:32].
- Jeweler Screwdrivers & Justice: Hear the legendary stories of Jeff chasing down mailbox thieves, confronting a building intruder with nothing but a tiny screwdriver, and the bizarre encounter with a "naked" intruder in his shed [34:29].
- Preacher Landlords & Evictions: The frustrations of renting in Alabama, including a literal "runaround" with a policeman trying to serve an eviction notice for a landlord who couldn't spell Jeff’s name right [27:37].
- The $25 Business Mistake: Jeff opens up about "working his way out of business" by only charging $25 per sweep and how a life-changing pricing seminar (and his wife Denise’s boldness) saved the company [44:56].
Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs:
Jeff shares the pivotal moment he realized that professionalism and thoroughness require a business model that actually covers the bills. If you’ve ever been scared to raise your prices, this episode is a must-listen!
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zuym18DpgY8
Follow us for more stories:
- Instagram: @TopHatChimneyAU
- Website: www.CallTopHat.com
Don’t forget to participate in our listener challenge! The first person to accurately retell one of Jeff's stories wins a Dogfish Head bottle opener!
#SimmonsSootyStories #ChimneySweep #SmallBusiness #EntrepreneurLife #AlabamaHistory #PricingForProfit #PodcastStories
Podcast Website
Youtube
View all episodes
By Trent SimmonsSend us a text
Welcome back to Simmons Sooty Stories! In this episode, Jeff and Trent dive deep into the early, "scrappy" years of the business and married life. From living in a colorful triplex on 8th Street to the hard lessons learned while working out of a spare bedroom, this is a look at the "sooty" foundations of Top Hat Chimney Sweeps.
In this episode, we cover:
- The 8th Street Triplex: Life in the "eclectic" neighborhood where their secretary lived next door, and the neighbors included a drug dealer and a prostitute.
- The "Devil" on the Porch: Jeff recounts the most terrifying night of his life involving a dark back porch, a lack of railings, and a "demon" with glowing red eyes that turned out to be much smaller (and furrier) than expected [22:32].
- Jeweler Screwdrivers & Justice: Hear the legendary stories of Jeff chasing down mailbox thieves, confronting a building intruder with nothing but a tiny screwdriver, and the bizarre encounter with a "naked" intruder in his shed [34:29].
- Preacher Landlords & Evictions: The frustrations of renting in Alabama, including a literal "runaround" with a policeman trying to serve an eviction notice for a landlord who couldn't spell Jeff’s name right [27:37].
- The $25 Business Mistake: Jeff opens up about "working his way out of business" by only charging $25 per sweep and how a life-changing pricing seminar (and his wife Denise’s boldness) saved the company [44:56].
Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs:
Jeff shares the pivotal moment he realized that professionalism and thoroughness require a business model that actually covers the bills. If you’ve ever been scared to raise your prices, this episode is a must-listen!
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zuym18DpgY8
Follow us for more stories:
- Instagram: @TopHatChimneyAU
- Website: www.CallTopHat.com
Don’t forget to participate in our listener challenge! The first person to accurately retell one of Jeff's stories wins a Dogfish Head bottle opener!
#SimmonsSootyStories #ChimneySweep #SmallBusiness #EntrepreneurLife #AlabamaHistory #PricingForProfit #PodcastStories
Podcast Website
Youtube