Smarter Building Materials Marketing

The future of architecture and construction feels a little unpredictable right now, so this week we talked with someone on the inside of the industry. John Crosby is with the AIA, and he joined us to discuss building better partnerships with architects and how manufacturers can stay ahead of more industry shifts.

It’s no secret that demand is high in the building materials industry today, so why are so many manufacturers losing sales? We talked with one of the construction industry’s biggest names, Matt Risinger, about how manufacturers can stay successful in such a fast-paced environment. You’ll want to check this one out.

Our celebrity guest this week shares his insights on how today’s manufacturers can address the supply shortages and project delays plaguing the industry. 

We’re going deep into the way your audience — architects, designers, builders, contractors and DIYers — researches, finds and buys building products.

This week, Zach and Beth talk with Grant Farnsworth, president of The Farnsworth Group, about some of the key takeaways and surprises from the recent pair of 2021 Building Products Customer Guide: Audience Breakdown webinars. Plus, the trio discusses the following hot topics: the future of the DIYer, channel conflict and which brands are winning customers.

Lumber prices have been skyrocketing over the last year, and this week we’re talking to someone who has a unique perspective on how the construction industry got here. For an inside look at what's happening to lumber prices and how it's impacting all of us in the industry, this episode is worth it. Let’s nerd out about lumber, shall we?

We’re thrilled to have had Stinson Dean on the show this week. He’s kind of a big deal on Twitter, and also the CEO of Deacon Lumber Company. Stinson was recently interviewed by Bloomberg about the high cost of lumber right now, and he took some time to chat with Zach and Beth about the ins and outs of lumber and why it’s such a hot commodity.

You might have a marketing plan in place for your building materials brand, but are your products capable of exciting your audience? We talk with a designer, who also works for a manufacturer, about an effective yet overlooked strategy that can keep your audience truly engaged and excited about your products.

In this episode, Zach and Beth talked with Richard Anuszkiewicz, Lead Designer at Design Galleria and Creative Director at Monogram Appliances, about product marketing, plus how manufacturers can capture their audience and build longevity into their brand. He also shares which two manufacturers are experts at romancing their audiences that you can take inspiration from.

One developer has improved their customer experience and increased sales after implementing digital tools to virtually sell new homes during the pandemic. Now that restrictions are being lifted, we discuss if virtual selling will last and why it should.

This week, Zach talks with Kris Maher, an architect who is also Vice President of Design at Rancho Mission Viejo, about how transitioning to selling virtually drove home sales. They also discuss how building materials manufacturers can reach more developers and builders, plus why you should consider B2C and not just B2B marketing.

For building product manufacturers, being innovative in your business is the only way to stay relevant and ahead of your competition. But “innovative” can be a little vague, right? We were excited to break that down on the podcast, so manufacturers can approach innovation in the construction industry with confidence.

In this episode, Zach and Beth talk with Peter Jacobson, a Business Designer at Panasonic, about how to stay competitive in building materials and making sure your products are both innovative and successful.

One question we hear from manufacturers all the time is, "Should I be on Houzz?” If you’re wondering about having a presence on the incredibly popular global platform (and if you’ll see results), this episode is for you.

This week, Zach and Beth chat with Liza Hausman, Vice President of Industry Marketing at Houzz, at length about how manufacturers can make the most out of being on Houzz. Whether you’re launching a new product or want to reach more homeowners and professionals, Liza has some strategies for manufacturers who want to grow their business this year

Manufacturers today have a lot of competition. They have to market themselves strategically so that architects and designers will specify them on a project. But with the right tactics, you can stand out from other building materials brands and keep your products in the spec.

In this episode, Zach and Beth talk with Brooke Collins, the Regional Manager for the Florida division of Builders Design, about housing trends and product specifications in the building process, and how manufacturers can play a bigger role in the design decisions she makes.

The construction labor shortage is one of the biggest problems we’re facing in the building materials industry today. But there’s one manufacturer who has tackled that issue head-on, and their sales have grown exponentially because of the solutions they’ve come up with.

This week, Zach and Beth talk with Jay Small, President of Precision Building Systems (PBS), a manufacturer/installer hybrid with locations in Colorado and Utah. PBS provides turn-key construction solutions for the builders and contractors they partner with, and Jay gave us some insight into how they make it all work — and how they’re so successful.