Inefficiency is the biggest challenge facing the window and door industry today, but AI solutions can help companies automate repetitive tasks and respond to customers faster. 

The Industry Insiders Podcast, powered by Paradigm, is where leaders across the industry share how they’re navigating change, building stronger businesses, and setting the pace for what’s next.

Hosted by John Wheeler, a 25-year veteran of building materials and software and sales technician at Paradigm, with season 1 guest co-host Stefanie Couch, founder of Grit Blueprint, a lifelong industry insider and growth strategist, the show takes you inside the strategies, tools, and ideas reshaping how windows and doors get sold, delivered, and experienced.

You’ll hear from manufacturers, dealers, and innovators across the supply chain, offering real-world lessons you can apply to your own business.

In this eye-opening conversation and the premiere episode of the Industry Insiders Podcast, we dive into the most pressing challenges facing our industry today.

• Automating repetitive tasks allows valuable veteran employees to focus on what they do best
• Capturing the knowledge of retiring industry veterans is essential for training the next generation
• Companies are 21 times more likely to convert leads when responding within 5 minutes
• Digital transformation works best when tackling one challenge at a time rather than everything at once
• Costly mistakes highlight why automation matters
• The window and door industry has unique complexities that make knowledge transfer challenging
• AI adoption creates a competitive advantage that will be difficult for late adopters to overcome
• Looking forward, the industry must embrace efficiency through technology while preserving human expertise

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Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

Staying obsessed with the customer and what they care about is how you win long-term in business, as demonstrated by the 92-year-old Zamzows chain of stores in the Boise, Idaho area.

• Finding just 1,000 people who are absolutely obsessed with your company can create viral growth
• Jos Zamzow shares how his great-grandparents started with a small feed store during the Depression
• Passion for your product is more valuable than expensive marketing campaigns
• Regular employee training focuses on providing exceptional customer service beyond expectations
• The 33-year tradition of Frisbee Fest connects the stores with the community while supporting animal shelters
• Product effectiveness matters more than fancy packaging – customers return when products work
• AI phone assistant successfully handles customer inquiries during peak seasons
• AI implementation provides instant answers to complex questions that even experienced staff might struggle with

Ready to turn visibility into growth? Head to gritblueprint.com to learn more and book a call to talk about your growth strategy.

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

Hardware store manager Bryan Scott shares how embracing AI and e-commerce analytics has transformed his small retail business into a competitive, future-ready operation. Using technical skills from his web development background, he's implementing innovative approaches to customer data analysis, store merchandising, and business operations that keep his independent store relevant in a challenging market.

• Bryan manages Southern Tool Supply after transitioning from a web development background
• Analyzes e-commerce data to track customer search patterns, viewing habits, and browsing behavior
• Uses search trend data to inform strategic merchandising decisions in the physical store
• Leverages Do it Best's resources and training programs for independent retailers
• Implements ChatGPT daily for tasks like email writing, data analysis, and sales forecasting
• Overcame initial resistance by framing AI as "just another tool" like the physical tools they sell
• Emphasizes that keeping up with technology is easier than catching up later
• Warns against becoming the "Blockbuster or Kodak" of hardware retail by refusing to evolve

If you're ready to turn visibility into growth, head to gritblueprint.com to learn more and book a call to talk to us about your growth strategy.

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

Jack Redden, Director of Architectural Sales for ES Windows, shares how vertical integration and hurricane-resistant engineering have positioned the company as a leader in the glass industry. With 30 years of experience and a passion for the business, Jack explains how ES fabricates their own glass and extrudes their aluminum to deliver consistent quality products that withstand Florida's extreme weather conditions.

• ES Windows stands out through vertical integration, controlling their supply chain from glass fabrication to aluminum extrusion
• Hurricane impact testing involves shooting 2x4s from air cannons and cycling products through 4,500 positive and negative pressure swings
• Market diversification has been key to growth, expanding from high-rise condos to residential, education, and healthcare projects
• Conducting over 200 architectural lunch and learns has helped build brand awareness in new markets
• Product innovation continues to push boundaries with glass panels now reaching 18-20 feet tall
• GlassBuild 2025 in Orlando will showcase ES Windows' latest products including their new Structural Glass System
• The company recently announced a record-setting backlog of $1.2 billion in projects

Join us at GlassBuild 2025, November 4-6 in Orlando, Florida, where the glass industry will gather to showcase products, provide training, and offer networking opportunities.

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

The building industry is experiencing a massive generational shift as younger leaders reshape businesses with new values and technological approaches, while facing the challenge of navigating rapid change.

• Jay Donnelly has grown Flanagan's Paint and Supply from one to five stores since joining his father's business in 2010
• Making friends is the foundation of the paint business – relationships remain central even as technology advances
• The millennial generation is approaching business ownership differently, prioritizing work-life balance
• Buying existing businesses is often smarter than "greenfielding" when entering the industry
• Industry associations like NHPA and buying groups provide crucial support and knowledge-sharing opportunities
• Inventory management remains a significant challenge for paint and hardware retailers
• Business opportunities are abundant regardless of market conditions when market share is still available to capture
• AI and new technologies should be implemented strategically to solve specific operational pain points
• Creating exceptional experiences for both customers and employees is essential for long-term success

Visit gritblueprint.com to learn more and book a call to discuss your growth strategy.

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

Dalton Meny shares his journey as a fifth-generation hardware store owner, combining his computer science background with traditional retail to modernize his family's business while maintaining its community-centered values. 

• Originally had no plans to join the family hardware business after graduating with a computer science degree
• Stepped in temporarily to help open a third store location and never left
• Created custom software for inventory management across three rural Indiana locations
• Implemented consistent pricing systems and reports to ensure customer trust
• Built the business on flexibility: "You have to do what your customer needs"
• Serves unique customer segments including farmers who purchase products like 40-gallon buckets of fly killer
• Community involvement distinguishes them from big box competitors: "We're not Home Depot, we live here"
• Family business history dates back to 1881, starting as a general store selling everything from hardware to dynamite
• Advises gradual change when entering family business leadership: "You can't change everything all at once"
• Excited about future technology integration while honoring the business legacy

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

Megan Menzer, a fourth-generation hardware store owner of Newton's True Value in Cherryvale, Kansas, shares her journey in the building industry and perspectives on mentorship, technology, and business transitions. Breaking barriers without even realizing it, she discusses how growing up watching her great-grandmother run their hardware store shaped her view that the industry has no gender limitations.

• Fourth-generation hardware store owner whose family business started in 1924 in a small Kansas town
• Never considered hardware as a "male's world" since her great-grandmother ran the store while her great-grandfather handled contracting
• Created mentorship programs teaching basic skills beyond hardware knowledge, including face-to-face communication
• Believes AI adoption is inevitable and will transform the industry at unprecedented speed
• Values authentic human connections that will become even more important as technology advances
• Appreciates industry networking opportunities that allow independent retailers to share knowledge
• Recently transitioned from True Value to Do it Best, finding their member-focused approach refreshing
• Represented the hardware industry during bankruptcy proceedings, gaining unexpected legal knowledge

Ready to turn visibility into growth? Head to gritblueprint.com to learn more and book a call to talk about your growth strategy.

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

Randy Andes of Randy's Do it Best shares his journey from sweeping floors at 18 to winning the Beacon Award and running four successful hardware stores in Virginia. His story includes overcoming a devastating store fire in 2022, rebuilding in just 100 days, and developing innovative strategies to compete with big box retailers.

• Starting in hardware at 18, working at True Value and American Hardware stores before opening his own business
• Competing with Walmart by scouting their weaknesses and building strategic alliances
• Rebuilding after a devastating fire destroyed their Mount Jackson store to the ground
• Understanding your market's specific needs and being willing to pivot when necessary
• Creating an innovative "train in the moment" employee development system that shares knowledge across all stores
• Working alongside his wife Shirley, whose meticulous approach to operations complements Randy's customer service focus
• Planning for retirement while ensuring a smooth transition to the next generation

For more tools, training, and industry content, subscribe to the Grit Blueprint Podcast and follow us on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Check us out at gritblueprint.com.

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

The co-op model empowers 9,000 independent hardware retailers to compete against big box stores through unified strength and comprehensive support systems. Jason Stofleth, VP of Merchandising at Do it Best, shares insights on how the recent acquisition of True Value is creating new opportunities for members.

• Merchandising at Do it Best covers vendor relationships, product selection, promotions, market events, and supply chain management
• Co-op model unifies independent retailers into a collective strength that helps them thrive in competitive markets
• Fall Market focuses on preparing retailers for spring season with emphasis on lawn, garden, and grilling products
• New partnerships with grill manufacturers Broking and Napoleon offer North American-made products with better margins
• Power Preview event allows retailers to experience outdoor power equipment and grilling products in action
• Marketing services help independent retailers create effective displays and signage for improved customer experience
• Combined strength of Do it Best, True Value, and United Hardware creates unprecedented scale for vendor partnerships
• Local retailers don't need national advertising—they need targeted strategies to win their specific communities

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.

Matt Spinks shares his journey from growing up in a family lumber business through the recession's hardships to becoming an award-winning young retailer at Lumber King in Danville, Kentucky. His story demonstrates how personal resilience and strategic innovation can transform traditional building supply businesses for modern consumers.

• Growing up in the lumber industry as the son of an 84 Lumber manager
• Experiencing the collapse of the family business during the 2008-2010 recession
• Developing a leadership philosophy that balances growth with stability
• Creating a work environment where employees feel valued rather than managed by fear
• Implementing a "Milwaukee Red Zone" strategy that increased inside sales from $10K to $350K
• Navigating generational differences in communication and buying preferences
• Leveraging strong brand partnerships to drive local store traffic
• Building a cohesive company culture within an employee-owned business model
• Finding purpose in continuously improving both personally and professionally
• Investing in self-development through education and industry resources

If you're ready to turn visibility into growth, head to gritblueprint.com to learn more and book a call to talk about your growth strategy.

👉 Subscribe to Built to Win

Real talk, strategies, and tools from Stefanie.

👉 Book a Strategy Call

Ready to grow your brand or business? Let’s talk.

Connect with Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

Grit Website: GritBlueprint.com
YouTube: Stefanie Couch
Instagram: @StefanieCouchOfficial
LinkedIn: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie’s Website: StefanieCouch.com

👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.