The Fire Time Podcast

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, every sales rep is wondering how they can give value to their customers. In today's conversation, we flipped the tables so that Craig Newby (Owner, Associated Energy Systems) and David Rosvold (NW Stoves) could grill Tim Reed about what makes a sales rep valuable to a retail business.

In this conversation:

If you're stuck at home, brainstorm this conversation and what it would look like for you to put into practice. Don't be a "Typical Sales Rep", selling a PO and then getting out of town, rather, become a trusted advisor to your customers and sell more than you ever thought possible. 

To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime

• The similarities of family business regardless of the size of your company
• What kinds of boundaries should be set up to protect your family from being run over by the business
• How to harness the relationships within your family to take your business where it’s never gone before

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The HPBExpo is just around the corner and it's going to be amazing! In today's bonus episode, Jerry Isenhour (President, CVC Success Group) sits down to talk about his education sessions at the trade show.

This conversation will help you:

• Learn why selling high end outdoor living is a must (and a huge profit center) for every fireplace retailer
• Understand where the weak points are in the big box store model of grill sales
• Discover how to build a training center in your business to grow and retain top talent

Don't miss this the end of this conversation where we let you know what to expect in Season 4 of the podcast which will debut with a live episode on Friday, March 13th at the HPBExpo!

In the finale to Season 3 of the Fire Time Podcast we hosted a Q & A session live on Instagram and it didn't disappoint! These episodes are amazing because they give us a chance to get extremely specific into the context and situation of your unique business.

In this conversation we answer:

• How do you scale a Service & Installation department to ramp up in-season and survive when it's slower?
• What do you do when you are in a business where ownership and management are competing with the salespeople?
• How do you build a compensation plan for salespeople when you've never paid on performance before?

The truth is that it is only business leaders who have humility to ask questions like this that have the potential to take their business to the next level. 

We are standing on the edge of a precipice looking around at the disruption that's happening in nearly every other sphere of business. Understanding this, we can either continue to stay segmented and blindly hold onto what has worked in the past or we can come together to figure out this new landscape of business together.

In today's episode, I sit down with Pete Schoenfeld (Senior VP, Fireplace Warehouse of Denver, CO) to have an honest conversation about the state of our industry and what we need to be thinking about as we look toward the future.

In this conversation:

Don't miss out on the opportunity to hear this authentic and honest conversation about the state of our industry right now—and what you need to be thinking about for the future!

Show Notes:

Most companies go to the HPBExpo every year because "it's what we've always done", but they don't attack it with intention and focus. The result is that they spends thousands of dollars to wander around or aimlessly show products during the day so they can go out and party at night. The truth is that's not how you win a trade show.

In today's episode, I walk you through each day of the HPBExpo coming up in 2020 and give you an agenda that's guaranteed to win.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What courses you have to be in if you want to move the needle in your business
• How to organize your time on the trade show floor to get results
• Exactly what to do to put things into action when you get home

Don't make the mistake of going through the motions for another trade show—stand out from the noise by attacking this year with focus and intentionality... Your business (and your wallet) will thank you for it.

Show Notes:

There is going to be a Fire Time Podcast meet up on Wednesday, March 11th from 5pm-6pm at Public Belt (in the 2nd floor of the Riverside Hilton in New Orleans).

If you are interested in coming, please send an email to [email protected] to RSVP.

To receive a copy of my 2020 HPBExpo Agenda make sure to email [email protected].

As the digital age is coming into full focus, brick and mortar businesses everywhere are trying to figure out how to stay relevant. While some traditional retailers have been swept away like the dinosaurs, many have stood firm and even gained ground by rethinking their value proposition for their customers.

In today's episode, I sit down with Elyse Rethlake (Fireside Hearth & Home, daughter of the legendary Tim Rethlake) to talk about what brick and mortar businesses can do to take advantage of the moment we are in right now (as well as prepare for the future).

In this episode you'll learn:

Your customers are expecting you to bring more and more value as things in every other sphere are getting easier and quicker—don't miss the opportunity to do just that!

This conversation will give you a filter to use as you rethink your business in light of modern consumer expectations so that you can take control, have happier customers and sell more fireplaces than ever.

In today's market, everyone is looking for people who can move the needle—but there aren't many of them. The truth is that if you want your business to attract "A" players, then you have be an inspiring leader with a playbook to grow the people around you.

That playbook is EntreLeadership.

In today's episode, I sat down with Alex Judd (Entreleadership Business Coach @ Ramsey Solutions and Host of The EntreLeadership Podcast—one of the biggest business podcasts in the country) to talk about the building blocks that have helped Ramsey Solutions become the standard of company culture and leadership that it is.

In this episode, learn:

Don't miss the chance to understand what it takes to grow your company longterm and attract the best talent. Rather, become the leader your team needs, communicate the vision that you have for your company, grow team members who rally to your cause, and create a legacy that lasts beyond yourself.

Most hearth companies know that social media is important, but can’t figure out how to use it effectively. This episode with Grant Falco (Falco's & @falcobbq | Spokane, WA) is going to give you an understanding of the basics that every company needs. Even though social media can seem complicated, the concepts that you need to grow your business are easier than you think. 

This episode will:

Don’t risk missing out on what social media can do for your company, instead, you can master the basics of social media, grow your business, connect with more customers and save money on marketing longterm.