By Kyle Hedin - Speaker, Mastermind Facilitator, Writer, Content Creator, Business Therapist, and Contractor
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.
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The podcast currently has 278 episodes available.
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What changes about your marketing strategy as your business develops around you. What kind of tactics are required as a startup, survival, successful, scaling, or sustainable entity? More than likely referrals won’t be the only thing keeping you business alive past the survival stage.
Justin Shaw of Driven for Growth, returns to the show to help us answer the above questions with practical steps to help you move the needle. He works closely with entrepreneurs in the contracting space to implement strategies and systems for their continued growth. His approach is holistic and helps business owners develop the skills they need to transform their business so that it can truly reach its full potential.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Floor Academy podcast as we talk about practical steps to take at each stage of business.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
Kronus Soft
Ardex Americas
TileTools.com
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
What changes about your marketing strategy as your business develops around you. What kind of tactics are required as a startup, survival, successful, scaling, or sustainable entity? More than likely referrals won’t be the only thing keeping you business alive past the survival stage.
Justin Shaw of Driven for Growth, returns to the show to help us answer the above questions with practical steps to help you move the needle. He works closely with entrepreneurs in the contracting space to implement strategies and systems for their continued growth. His approach is holistic and helps business owners develop the skills they need to transform their business so that it can truly reach its full potential.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Floor Academy podcast as we talk about practical steps to take at each stage of business.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
Kronus Soft
Ardex Americas
TileTools.com
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
How do you grow an installation company to more than just installation? You get into the retail side of things and start selling products. It’s as easy as building a relationship with a local store for a kickback to being as complicated as opening up your own store from ground zero and building it up. There is a middle ground of finding a store that is for sale and buying a client base and some systems and processes to help make your life slightly easier.
Donald Perkins and his wife, Emily, purchased Carpetland of New England when they were presenedt an offer they couldn’t turn down. While selling material wasn’t exactly new to them, having a sales staff, retail location and subcontractors to complete more installs than they could handle was. It was a step up for them in their business journey that hasn’t come without a few surprises.
Listen in as we discuss what challenges they have faced acquiring the store, how it has changed their business logistically, and what the future looks like.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
Kronus Soft
Ardex Americas
TileTools.com
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
How do you choose the right software for your business? Recommendations? Trial and error? Research? There are plenty of ways to attack it but one of the most important things to consider is whether or not it fits your business model. Not all software is created equally nor is it created to function as part of every industry.
Tom Strachan is the CEO of Service Buddy, and leads a dedicated team in transforming the way flooring companies manage their operations through technology.Their software platform is designed to simplify operations, enhance customer communication, and boost overall business efficiency. By focusing on customization, we empower our clients to reclaim valuable hours each week, allowing them to concentrate on what truly matters—providing exceptional service. Our software helps drive better profit margins for our clients.
Listen in to this week’s episode as Tom and I discuss how you need to vet software for your business before choosing a platform for the long haul.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
Kronus Soft
Ardex Americas
TileTools.com
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
It’s not uncommon for me to hear from the audience or clients that they are technology adverse. With the average age of an installer in the industry being over 50 years old, it’s really no surprise that technology is not a major part of their business model or life. Couple that with the fact that technology and hand skills do not always go together and it’s a modern day recipe for disaster. There are simple and easy to use tools readily available to make your business more streamlined and user friendly. From booking software, measuring software and customer relationship management software, there is no reason to be afraid of your computer when you can save hundreds of hours of time a year with a small up front investment.
Victor Milazzo is the CTO of Kronos Software and IT/Ecommerce manager at Carpet To Go. He has helped develop the systems that have made flooring businesses run more efficiently through the simple use of technology to automate receptive tasks. This has allowed him to not only increase revenue through more sales but increase profit by reducing overhead costs as well.
Listen in to this week’s episode as Victor and I discuss some simple but very effective ways you can increase your productivity with some simple technology for your business.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
Kronus Soft
Ardex Americas
TileTools.com
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
It’s not easy to grow a business and make it efficient. Many of us struggle to make it happen and it doesn’t help that the trades are full of guys with lots of pride and stubbornness. We often times get the mindset that we have to do everything on our own and that because we know our trade well, that we know how to run our business well. Knowing your trade and knowing how to run a business are two separate skills though and we have to normalize this.
Mike Somodean is the owner of MSCS Inc in Roswell Georgia. After moving from Romania in 2003, he started MSCS Inc in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. Along the way he has gotten married, had a son, made the NWFA 40 under 40, and even won NWFA Floor of the Year. Mike is also a NWFA certified installer, sand and finisher, sales advisor, and regional instructor. All of these accolades help push his craft and business forward but along the way he realized he couldn’t figure it all out himself and needed some help. Mike had to get out of his own way and let others step in with doing what they are best at.
Listen in to this weeks episode of the Floor Academy podcast as Mike and I discuss why he hired a business coach to move his business beyond where he was at. What changes he had to make before coming to that decision, and how it has impacted his professional and personal life.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
Kronus Soft
Ardex Americas
TileTools.com
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
What is it that you actually sell as an installation contractor? If your answer is installs, you are dead wrong. That is what you do but it is not what you sell. You are selling a solution to a problem that someone has and providing them with value. Think about it, if you had a $100 bill in your hand, what would you trade it for? The value of the proposed trade would need to be worth more than the $100 bill or you wouldn’t make the trade. How can you present value to your prospects beyond the fact that you can install something?
Andrew Acker is the Director of Education for Schluter Systems and has been with them for 27 years. Previous to that he was a C54 licensed contractor and tile setter for 20 years. Andy also sits on the bored of directions for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. Part of being the director of education for Schluter involves Andrew creating content that empowers contractors attending workshops to be better positioned than their competition in their market. This comes in the form of providing value behind using the Schluter name such as receiving a comprehensive warranty, products that provide solutions to common installation issues, or getting the contractor up to speed with industry standards to allow them to provide quality installs that last a lifetime.
Listen in to this week’s episode of the Floor Academy podcast as Andy and I discuss why you have to stop selling installations and learn how to solve problems by presenting value beyond an exchange of goods for money.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
Kronus Soft
Ardex Americas
TileTools.com
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
Do you ever worry about the tax man coming after you? What about any other government agency? Do you even know who can and what it truly takes to avoid getting in trouble? I’m sure most of us pay our taxes correctly enough to remain under the radar but what about OSHA, or the Department of Labor or the Environmental Protection Agency? I never really thought to personally worry about it, but then it came to my attention I may not need to worry about myself or my team. It could come from a client or team members significant other. How are you staying protected and from who?
Pandy Pridemore is the Principal Consultant and Mediator for The Human Resource USA. With over 44 years experience including corporate and public sector human resources work, she even had a stint at her father’s small flower shop. The Human Resource USA offers short term, long term, and on call HR Services to small businesses. Pandy is not only a sought after speaker for human resources but also hosts a weekly cable television show and podcast where she discusses Ohio state and Federal level HR guidelines and practices.
Don’t miss this episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Pandy and I discuss who you need to be looking out for, what documentation you need to protect yourself, and why HR is more that harassment complaints and even small businesses need some form of it.
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Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
TISE Resource Book
Kronus Soft
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
How many times do you follow up with a potential client before you move on? What kind of follow up system do you have? Does any of it involve education? Did you know that the average buying cycle for flooring is 6 to 12 months? How are you staying in front of your prospects so they will use you when they are finally ready?
Chris Frate, owner of Pasquale Floors in Cleveland, OH, has grown his business to have multiple crews offering sand and finish services. Started in 2001, its been a journey to get the system and processes in place that allow Chris to now focus on the business instead of the sanding and finishing. Wanting to develop a better way to close leads and stay in front of clients Chris went looking into drip campaigns to have an automated way to educate his prospects as well as stay top of mind with them.
Listen in to this week’s episode of the Floor Academy Podcast as Chris and I discuss what a drip campaign is, how to set one up, and some ideas to get you started on your own.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
TISE Resource Book
Kronus Soft
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
Send us a text
Struggling to manage just the field operations? What’s it like to add on the books, marketing, scheduling, deliveries, and bidding? Wearing all the hats is a difficult task that is only multiplied by the facts that we are not good at everything and we don’t enjoy everything. Did you know that you don’t have to do it all? Did you know that your struggles are not unique and many other owners are just like you?
Doug Howard is President of Growth Team Strategies, a consulting company specializing in growth planning, succession planning and business improvement.
For more than 30 years, he has worked with owners of growing businesses to help them overcome challenges and develop strategies for successfully navigating growth. He does this through training, webinars, writing, facilitated meetings and one-on-one consulting.
Doug is known for his entertaining yet informative approach to business ideas and strategies. He likes to bring complex business concepts into clarity with real life stories and recognizable examples.
Doug is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business. He previously owned a small business consulting company for 17 years with offices in Alabama, Arizona, Virginia and Maryland. He served as a Carroll County Commissioner for 8 years and even worked as the Director of Miller for several years.
Discussed this week on the Floor Academy Podcast, Doug and I break down how owners don’t need to wear all the hats and how to escape that trap.
Check out our sponsors
Johns Manville
Schluter Systems
The International Surfaces Event
TISE Resource Book
Kronus Soft
Check out our website and store
Support the Show.
The podcast currently has 278 episodes available.
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