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I've seen a lot of requests from installers looking for work lately. I've talked with a few retailers that say things have slowed. I have also talked to a bunch of people that are busier than ever still. Our current market surely is a confusing one. After shutting down most businesses for a minute, turning on the printing press, and keeping everyone locked up many of us had tons of work. Now, many are trying to figure out how to pay the bills and where the next project is coming from.

Paul Trau is the managing partner of Retail Results, a consulting firm specializing in the retail home furnishings and the flooring industry. With time spent with The Carpet Guys, Empire, Mattress One, Flooring America and more he has not only seen a few economic cycles but worked on the sales and marketing through them. Listen in as Paul and I discuss his views about what he sees in our market, how you can help yourself stand out, and what kind of planning you need to have to weather storms.

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It's 2023 folks. I can't believe that this conversation even has to happen on the podcast. How an entire gender can be ignored by professionals they are asking intelligent questions to is beyond me. The only thing hotter than Phoenix currently is this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast.

Katie Sue, Jennifer Lynn Barker, Ashley Singer, and Jennifer Blumer join me this week to discuss their experiences at trade shows and supply houses. You will be appalled to find out how they are ignored, overlooked, or pushed aside for when a man enters the booth. These ladies can have an intelligent conversation about their industry, their processes, and their products and yet, no one is paying attention to them. I for one know of a few companies they will not be doing business anymore.

Listen in as we hear about their experiences, what they believe needs to change and how you can step up and make sure to support not only women in our industry but creating a better industry for all.

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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Google, Facebook, Instagram and now TikTok reign supreme as ways to engage with your audience and create leads. It wasn't that long ago though that a little extra money being spent on a yellow pages ad or a newspaper ad could get you all the leads you wanted. Much of the flooring industry still wants to operate like we do only deal with the yellow pages and newspaper ads. 

Jason Kimmel is a 3rd generation flooring industry professional. Growing up in the Floors To Go franchise system that his grandpa created, he later ran his own store, until recently when he joined the team at Flooring Liquidators to handle their social media. Jason has seen a lot change in the industry from how his grandpa and father did business to how he has to now generate content to draw attention to Flooring Liquidators.

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as we discuss what's changed in the industry, how you can keep up with current trends, and why you need to stay out front or risk running your company in to the ground.

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

Check out the virtual estimates software here! Don't forget to create an account after submitting a sample estimate to get access to more features.

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The International Surfaces Event

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I bet you are like me. As long as the bank account has some money in it, there is some money in the savings account, and the bills are paid, then you feel pretty good about your company. This mindset is absolutely detrimental to small businesses. We have no actual idea what is happening within our businesses to know if  we are stalled out, moving forward or shrinking. If we are counting on our profit and loss statements to tell us, then we are using a lagging indicator and it is already too late.

Jeff Provost, the owner of Key Performance Integrators, is a huge fan of scorecards. This simple tool can track some key areas of your business in real time to give you instant feedback on where the company stands and which direction it is moving. You can even make scorecards for different positions within your company so that your employees can know instantly know the impact they are having on the company.

Listen in to this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Jeff and I discuss some basics to add to your scorecard, what this info will empower you to do, and how it will allow you to set better and more powerful goals to catapult your business to a new level.

Jeff's KPI Scorecard - https://www.kpintegrators.com/download-the-business-scorecard-template/

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 many of you are truly investing in your clients? I think many of us believe we are but most of us are probably only dealing with customers and making a transaction of services for a fee. This is not a great long term plan for repeat business, continued growth, and ultimately a successful company with a great legacy and local impact.

Seth Hanson, is the account manager at GoBoard a division of Johns Manville. His time is spent making sure his clients are happy and thriving by being able to sell his product. If Seth was not invested in making them successful, GoBoard would not have a leg to stand on. 

We will chat about Johns Manville's core values which are People, Passion, Perform and Protect. Find out how these guiding values make it easy to make big decisions and lead the company towards being successful. 

What values are leading your company? Do you even have any? How many people know them?

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

Check out the virtual estimates software here! Don't forget to create an account after submitting a sample estimate to get access to more features.

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The International Surfaces Event

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In this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast, we will be joined by Matt Baer, owner of Elite Flooring Installations in Louisville, Kentucky, who has successfully built a thriving business despite facing challenges as a recovering addict. Matt believes in the potential of individuals in the construction industry, including those who may have struggled with addiction or have a criminal record. He will share his personal journey of overcoming addiction, finding support through recovery programs, and using his experiences to shape his business model.

Matt will discuss how the resources available through recovery programs have helped him establish a better business, not only for himself but also for his community. He will share insights on how hiring individuals in recovery or with criminal backgrounds can be a positive and impactful decision, including the benefits of providing second chances, fostering a supportive work environment, and promoting inclusivity and diversity in the construction industry.

Join us to hear Matt's inspiring story and learn how leveraging resources available through recovery programs can contribute to building a successful and socially responsible business in the construction industry. Gain valuable insights on creating a positive work culture, empowering individuals in recovery, and making a difference in your community through your business practices.

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

Check out the virtual estimates software here! Don't forget to create an account after submitting a sample estimate to get access to more features.

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The International Surfaces Event

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In this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast, we will be joined by Julie Howell, a senior project manager at Commercial Flooring Services in Denver, Colorado, who recognized the importance of soft skills in the flooring industry. Julie noticed that her young team members were skilled at their jobs, but lacked the necessary people skills to build and maintain relationships with clients, resulting in clients relying solely on her for their projects or questions. This realization led Julie to invest in training her team on soft skills to improve client satisfaction, ensure future work, and empower her team to work independently with multiple team members.

Julie will share her insights on the significance of soft skills in the flooring industry and how they can impact client relationships and business success. She will discuss her approach to training her team on soft skills, including effective communication, customer service, relationship-building, and problem-solving. Julie will also explain why she believes in providing thorough training to her team members, so they can excel in their roles and work autonomously with clients.

Don't miss this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Julie Howell shares her experiences and strategies for training her team on soft skills to enhance client satisfaction and improve overall business success. Learn about the importance of people skills in the flooring industry and how investing in soft skills training can benefit your team and your business. Join us to gain valuable insights on how to empower your team to build meaningful relationships with clients and excel in their roles.

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

Check out the virtual estimates software here! Don't forget to create an account after submitting a sample estimate to get access to more features.

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The International Surfaces Event

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In this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast, we will be joined by Sean Monett, the president of Blackton Inc. in Orlando, Florida, who specializes in new construction with a focus on larger builders. Sean has recognized the importance of effectively managing teams and maintaining a harmonious work environment, as he understands that employees have their own lives outside of work and that interpersonal dynamics within the team can impact productivity and overall success.

Sean will share his insights on how to navigate the delicate balance between being too friendly with employees and being too strict, and how to effectively play the role of a psychologist to manage relationships within and outside of the office. He will discuss the importance of setting clear rules and expectations for employees while also fostering a positive and supportive work culture. Sean will also share tips on how to keep the team focused on the important aspects of the business and maintain productivity.

Managing teams can be challenging, and Sean will provide valuable insights on how to effectively handle employee complaints, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and create a positive work environment that fosters productivity and team cohesion. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of team management and learn from Sean's experiences in maintaining a successful flooring business while prioritizing employee well-being and team dynamics.

Don't miss this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast for valuable tips on effectively managing teams, establishing clear rules and expectations, and maintaining a positive work culture for your flooring business. Gain insights on how to navigate the challenges of team dynamics and create a productive and harmonious work environment for your team.

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

Check out the virtual estimates software here! Don't forget to create an account after submitting a sample estimate to get access to more features.

Check out our sponsors

Johns Manville

The International Surfaces Event

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Support the show

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In this week's episode of the Floor Academy Podcast, we will dive into how customer service and customer experience are different, what makes The Carpet Girls Experience so unique, and how you can build an experience unlike any other in your market, and lastly how it all needs a why.

In this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast, we will be exploring the difference between customer service and customer experience with our guest, Dianne Grossman, the creator of The Carpet Girl Experience and co-founder of The Carpet Girl in Springfield Township, NJ.

Dianne believes that customer service and customer experience are not interchangeable terms. She sees customer service as the act of resolving problems and ensuring customer satisfaction, while customer experience encompasses the entire journey from start to finish, including how the customer is handled, educated, and nurtured throughout the process.

Dianne will share her unique approach to creating an exceptional buying experience for her clients at The Carpet Girl, which has allowed her to grow her business and build a loyal customer base. She will discuss how she recognized the disparity between the decision-makers (mostly women) and the salespeople (mostly men) in the flooring industry, and how she leveraged this insight to create a buying experience unlike any other in her market.

Lastly, we explore the importance of knowing your "why" in business, as Dianne will share her experiences with her nonprofit organization and its powerful mission.

Learn more about Mallory's Army.

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

Check out The International Surfaces Lookbook here!

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Johns Manville

The International Surfaces Event

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Floor Academy is a podcast hosted by Kyle Hedin that provides small business information and guidance to flooring, tile and stone contractors on how to build a successful and sustainable business. The podcast aims to help contractors move from owning a job to owning an asset, by providing insights and strategies related to management, entrepreneurship, and networking.

Floor Academy covers a range of topics related to flooring, tile and stone business management, including small business advertising, paid traffic, and organic traffic. The podcast also provides information on promotional marketing, LLC setup, simple small business management, and networking strategies.

The podcast aims to help carpet, tile, stone, hardwood, floating floor, and many more types of contractors develop a deep understanding of business management, including effective networking and entrepreneurship strategies, which are crucial to achieving long-term success in the flooring industry. By discussing various topics related to small business management, such as finance, operations, marketing, sales, human resources, branding, advertising, interviewing, taxes, company structures, and more the podcast provides valuable insights to help flooring, tile and stone contractors become successful business owners.