Floor Academy - Helping flooring, tile and stone contractors own an asset

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There is plenty in the flooring industry to take for granted. It is fairly recession proof, has a low barrier to entry, it is easy to control risk, and is generally very profitable. I don't think everyone feels that way though, nor would they want you to know these things. Whether it is manufacturers, suppliers, retailers or other installers, it seems many people want to keep their cards close to their vest.

Robert Baier is owner at Baier's Floorcovering and inspections. With 30 years of experience he is no stranger to the game and how it is play in front of others and behind closed doors. Whether he is looking at failed floors, talking with other owners in his area, or conversing with other installers, he sees plenty of places the industry can change from how inspections are handled, people are educated, or even how we all get paid.

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as we get a little spicy and poke the bear.

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I’ve seen a lot of posts online where tradespeople actively discourage youth from getting in to the trades. They are hard, they will ruin you, there’s no money in them, etc. Why anyone would do something they hate so much is beyond me. I believe we all have a choice and can find things we love to do and enjoy them greatly. In fact, I’ve reinvented myself a few times. From film major and reality show camera operator, to flooring installer and boutique showroom owner, to now a guy that challenges the status quo of an industry that changed his life.

Matt Wentland is no different. Going to college and acquiring an elementary education degree, he quickly learned that corporate rules and roles were not his bag. He challenged himself to find other ways to make money doing things that fit his personality which aligned more with being very outgoing and creative. While never conventional such as vacuum salesman, brand icon, emcee, and “booth babe”, there has very often been a side of contractor sprinkled in as well. All of those paths allowed him to use his voice, his energy, and creative spirit to influence, educated and entertain his clients.

Listen in this week on the Floor Academy Podcast, as we hear form Matt on how he has made his chosen path fit him more than chasing a paycheck or settling for second best. Go Boards very own “booth babe” talks about his experience building a life full of passion and how he has been able to use his joys to make a living while also finding ways to partner with clients to advance himself as well.

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Technical knowledge in the tile and flooring industry is a dime a dozen. Call any manufacturer and you will find training easily accessible. There are many 3rd party certifications as well. All of this is great for the industry as there is no excuse to do poor work. The technical side is covered very well. What is lacking with the technical side is the ability to sell it. Introducing The Hybrid and Advanced Systems Installation Event (THASIE) coming March 2024 in Fresno, CA. Not only can you learn some amazing technical details behind your tile installations but there will discussions on selling these techniques and options to your clients to help you grow your business.

THASIE is the brain child of Kris Blanchard, Mike Jarchow, and Brandt Garrison. Pooling their skillsets together and realizing a lack in education in the industry they are putting themselves out there to make it happen. Brandt is the owner of Garrison Tile and Renovation and CTI #1642 in Burley, ID. With his years of experience learning not only the technical details of products and installation standards, he has spent time to learn the basic science behind the products as well. This has allowed Brandt to make dreams come true for his clients while being able to maintain industry guidelines and standards so that warranties exist and everyone sleeps soundly at night.

Tune it to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as we discuss what THASIE has to offer you and how it can help you take your business up a notch with options you may have only dreamed about.

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Reaching your target demographic isn’t always as easy as it seems. Just because you build it, does not mean he will come. You need to target your audience where they are at and offer to solve their problem for them. They may not even know they have the problem until you can tell them a story about someone else you helped serve and then they realize they are the exact same.

Jim Meng is no stranger to business having built a Plumbing and AC business over 20 years to 4 million in revenue. He then helped grow a home builder from 25 homes a year to 1474 and doing 272 million in revenue. Later he founded InVision Construction and over 13 years has completed 1300 projects. This brings us to 2015 when Mississippi Pro Design Center was started to be a one stop shop for flooring with a white glove customer service experience. The design center has since expanded to offer windows, doors, cabinetry, countertops and more.

David Webb was brought on to Mississippi Pro Design in August to be Jim’s right hand man. With over a decade of business to business sales and marketing experience his role is to get people in the door and make sure their experience is next to no one.

Mississippi Pro Design is currently struggling to bring people in through the use of radio, tv, and online marketing. Today we will be spitballing ideas on how they can better reach their target demographic, find ways to interact with the community, and let people know where they are and how to find them. Listen in to this week’s episode of the Floor Academy Podcast to get ideas on how to better reach your target market too.

Need new headphones for working and listening to Floor Academy? Check out ISOTunes using the link below. Amazing Bluetooth headphones that are OSHA certified. http://bit.ly/2P5A9pR

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Many of us run what we would call successful companies. Some of us truly only own jobs that we make a good living from and others may have employees and delegate a bunch of tasks. No matter where you are at in the spectrum though, how many of us can truly step away from the company and it keeps going without you and sometimes, if not always, better than when you have your hands on the wheel?

Trask Bergerson is a partner in Bergerson Tile and Stone in Astoria, OR. With 3 generations now in the partnership, Bergerson Tile is no stranger to the local market or on how to make money. He will readily admit that they may have been doing a lot of it by accident though. It's not that there we not systems and processes in place, but they were sloppy and a lot of assumptions were made.

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Trask and I discuss how Bergerson Tile and Stone has benefitted from taking a step back to analyze what they are really after, how they are delegating more than ever, and why you can only move at the pace of understanding.

Need new headphones for working and listening to Floor Academy? Check out ISOTunes using the link below. Amazing Bluetooth headphones that are OSHA certified. http://bit.ly/2P5A9pR

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In my opinion the flooring and tile industry has one huge problem in it. The subcontracting model. You have a bunch of guys and gals that don't realize they are running a business, owning jobs and struggling to make it. Yes, there are success stories and you may be one of them, but paying a fair wage to employees and giving them opportunities to grow into new roles would do a lot more for the industry moving forward than the current system of everyone trying to fend for themselves.

Matt Plaskoff is the owner of One Week Bath in Van Nuys, CA. With over 35 years of experience in construction, 70 employees, 2 years as a consultant for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and a thriving business with a quick turnaround model, Matt knows why employees work better than subs and how important a training program is. Not only does he have control over the quality of work but he can insure everyone is constantly operating on the same page because they all learned from the same system. Little to no deviation means more consistent results.

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Matt and I discuss how and why he settled on the employee model, and how he built a training program to insure the success of One Week Bath.

Need new headphones for working and listening to Floor Academy? Check out ISOTunes using the link below. Amazing Bluetooth headphones that are OSHA certified. http://bit.ly/2P5A9pR

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We all know that when we look in the mirror, we need to admit we are our biggest problem. Most of us won't do it and place blame on outside circumstances instead of owning what is right in front of us. We may even read a book on mindset or go to a weekend conference and be fired up after completing the course. However, most of us never continue to do the work, and the real change only happens when you are consistent and experience hard times. How do you get to a place where you can maintain growth, be comfortable being uncomfortable, and confronting your fears or headtrash?

Kathy Case is the Director of Business Development for Quantify North America, a company that handles takeoff bids for commercial companies. With a family history that hit 100 years in 2023 she is no stranger to the commercial construction industry. Since 1979 she has been an estimator, installer, project manager, sales, and executive management. In the last 3 years she has really been able to make some moves that changed her life and business. In 2020 she dove into the self development world when Tony Robbins offered his first virtual event and she hasn't looked back since staying actively involved in his programs.

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Kathy and I discuss what motivated the participation, why she hasn't quit and why she wishes she would have taken this step sooner.

Need new headphones for working and listening to Floor Academy? Check out ISOTunes using the link below. Amazing Bluetooth headphones that are OSHA certified. http://bit.ly/2P5A9pR

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As the owner of J&R Tile in San Antonio, Texas, Erin Albrecht, is responsible for making sure the company is successful. Part of that success comes from your partnerships with your suppliers. Not all distribution houses are created equally as we will find out as we hear her story about a project turned sideways because of the contact at a distributor. Find out what kind of things we need to look for in a partnership, why a supplier may not be your best fit, and what to do when you aren't happy with the relationship.

Need new headphones for working and listening to Floor Academy? Check out ISOTunes using the link below. Amazing Bluetooth headphones that are OSHA certified. http://bit.ly/2P5A9pR

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How are you making sure you company stands out? We all try to offer services but how can you make a shower or a floor stand out from the rest? What is different about your work from others? 

Sometimes there is nothing different. The differences come from the information presented. Do you offer dustless services? Are you actually promoting them? What about the materials you use? What makes those unique and different from others on the market? How can you find ordinary everyday things to present as valuable up sells to your clients that your local competition is not? 

Duane Paradis is the Technical Manager at JohnsManville with the GoBoard team. He has not only played a major role in converting the technology from the roofing industry to the tile industry, but also undertakes many technical duties with it. Products are not always what they are cracked up to be from appearance alone and Duane knows this more than most. 

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Duane and I discuss how we can take a seemingly ordinary run of the mill product seem extraordinarily different from the rest.

Need new headphones for working and listening to Floor Academy? Check out ISOTunes using the link below. Amazing Bluetooth headphones that are OSHA certified. http://bit.ly/2P5A9pR

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I called back my client twice and texted them but they didn't respond. I think I am going to move on. This is what I do and it's a horrible way to run your small business. I know this is what a lot of you do. How many leads were not ready to close yet, how many leads needed a little more info they never got, how many leads can't find your info 12 months later when they are ready. Not everyone wants to buy right NOW!

JR Pentolino owns and operates Design Windows and Doors in Ontario, CA. With 21 employees he is not only the visionary behind the company at this point but also the sales manager. On track to do 5 million in revenue this year with a goal of 6 million, it's no small operation anymore. JR has found a passion for lead management and knows how important it is to the success of his business. 

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as we discuss what a buying cycle looks like, why you need clients on a drip campaign, and how to rehash leads from the "dead". All of these tools will help your top line revenue grow and keep your schedule filled up. Don't miss your opportunity to set your business apart from the competition.

Need new headphones for working and listening to Floor Academy? Check out ISOTunes using the link below. Amazing Bluetooth headphones that are OSHA certified. http://bit.ly/2P5A9pR

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