Titan Talks

In this episode of Titan Talks, host Jonathan Stern interviews Cale Schindler, owner of Fayette Property Solutions, a landscaping contractor based in Fayetteville, Georgia. Started in 2018 by Cale and his father, the company offers both residential and commercial services, with many larger scale projects. Cale shares the company’s origin story, noting that it began with him assisting a neighbor at age 17, and eventually evolved into a father-son enterprise. Initially, they invested $40,000-$45,000 in equipment without having any customers. He explains that they manage to perform work equal to a six-eight person crew efficiently due to superior teamwork and communication. The show concludes with a rapid fire round in which Cale shares his plan for the future, champions customer service and open communication as keys to the success, and admits his biggest regret was not quitting his day job sooner.

(00:00) - Introduction: Jonathan Stern and Cale Schindler

(02:24) - Fayette Property Solutions Overview

(05:01) - Starting out in Landscape Contracting

(10:25) - Transition into starting own company together with father

(14:32) - Details on early struggles and reaching turning point 2 years later

(20:15) - Decision to continue through tough times for the love of the job

(25:30) - Dealing with Covid-19 and the unexpected growth

(30:52) - Business partnership with father and managing family dynamic in business

(35:36) - Status of business today and growth strategy

(40:55) - Rapid Fire Round: Teamwork, Biggest mistake and Advice for Pros starting out

In this episode of Titan Talks, host Jonathan Stern interviews Eric van Overbake, the owner of Prime Painting, a painting company in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eric shares his journey to success, starting with his college gig as a painter and eventually branching off to start his own business. He talks about the instant gratification he experiences with painting and how he fell in love with the work. Eric also discusses the biggest mistake he made in his business, which was hiring people without first seeing their work firsthand. He emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity and the need to synchronize the work across all jobs. Eric also opens up about his recent investments in marketing, including TikTok and a new website, and discusses his goals for the future, which involve generating more income while working less by hiring trustworthy employees. He shares his advice for new painters, such as trusting your gut with homeowners and building a social network around your location. Eric concludes by expressing his excitement for future collaborations and the steady growth of his business.

(1:10) - Eric’s college and painting background

(2:10) - Starting his own painting business

(4:00) - Mistakes in hiring and surprises as a business owner

(5:55) - Pricing in the early days

(7:15) - Changes in his painting process

(8:30) - Eric’s proudest project

(9:45) - Charging less for a large project

(11:15) - How his painting skills have improved

(12:30) - Current state of his business

(13:55) - Investment in a website and its benefits

(16:30) - Eric’s experience with TikTok

(19:10) - Goals for the future of his business

(21:15) - Advice for painters starting out

(23:00) - Favorite thing about being a painter

(24:10) - Current challenges and future plans

(00:00) - Introduction to the podcast and guest

(02:04) - Conor's background and how he started Home Hardening Solutions

(05:19) - The need for home hardening services in the area

(07:06) - Challenges faced in the early days of the business

(09:49) - Pricing and how Conor determined the prices for different services

(11:54) - Overview of the four divisions within the company

(15:46) - The duration of projects and the number of jobs at a time

(19:23) - How the company gets jobs

(21:33) - Role of the website and advertising in attracting customers

(24:06) - The cyclical nature of the home hardening business

(26:14) - The decision to stay a quality company and not focus on growing too big

(28:40) - Proportion of jobs initiated by insurance companies vs homeowners

(30:40) - Conor's goal for the business and the challenges faced

(32:33) - Conor's proudest moment as the owner of Home Hardening Solutions

In this episode of the Titan Talks podcast, host Jonathan Stern interviews Mike Blumenthal, owner of Near Media, a research and media company focused on local search. They discuss the importance of Google Business profiles for home service professionals, the factors that contribute to rankings on Google, and best practices for improving online presence and generating leads. Mike also addresses common issues such as the filtering of reviews and account suspension on Google. He advises home service professionals to focus on creating a strong online presence by optimizing their website, collecting customer contact information, and actively managing reviews and customer relationships. Overall, Mike emphasizes the importance of owning customer data and leveraging it to generate business.

(0:00) - Introduction

(0:32) - Talking about Mike Blumenthal's expertise in local search engine optimization and Google Business profiles

(3:17) - Discussion about the importance of Google Business profiles for home service entrepreneurs

(7:14) - How the local algorithm works and the factors it considers for ranking businesses

(13:08) - Tips for improving rankings and conversions on Google Business profiles

(17:58) - Dealing with missing or hidden reviews on Google

(22:36) - The impact of Google Ads on Google Business profiles

(24:38) - The significance of service areas on Google Business profiles

(27:22) - What to do if your Google Business profile is suspended

(32:15) - The evolving nature of Google and its level of transparency

(35:27) - The biggest unsolved mystery in Google's search algorithm

(36:58) - Advice for home service professionals starting out with their online presence

In this episode of Titan Talks, Jonathan Stern interviews Aaron Allred, owner of Hollywood Detail, an auto detailing service in Northport, Alabama. Allred shares his journey of how he started in auto detailing while working at the fire department and how the business grew rapidly to the point where he had to build a shop at his house. The conversation covers topics such as adjusting the business during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on niche services, dealing with dissatisfied customers, and the importance of word-of-mouth marketing. Allred also discusses his goals for the future, which include expanding his team and potentially teaching others in the industry. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire round of questions.

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:00) - Aaron Allred's origin story and how he started in auto detailing

(03:30) - The early days and getting the business off the ground

(06:15) - Transitioning to a brick and mortar shop and adapting to COVID-19

(09:35) - The impact of COVID-19 on the business

(12:30) - Learning that not all customers are good customers

(15:15) - How most of the business comes from word of mouth and having a strong online presence

(19:00) - Aaron's future goals for the business

(20:40) - Rapid-fire round: biggest challenge, number of employees, surprises, proud moments

In this podcast episode of Titan Talks, host Jonathan Stern interviews Marco Tardio, the owner of Tardio Home Improvements, a construction and remodeling company in Savannah, Georgia. Marco shares his journey of starting his own business in 2018, initially focusing on flooring but gradually expanding to include painting, showers, and full home renovations. He discusses the importance of hiring specialized employees and creating a well-organized team. Marco also emphasizes the significance of his online presence, including a website and strong social media presence, which has helped him attract clients. He recommends Topline Pro, a platform that handles website design, marketing, and reviews. Marco's goal is to be the best in Savannah and hopes to have multiple warehouses and stores in the next five years. His proudest moment so far has been reaching a point where he can relax and let his team handle the work.

(0:00) - Introduction

(0:30) - Marco Tardio's Origin Story

(5:05) - Expanding Services

(7:18) - Hiring Employees

(9:38) - Biggest Influence on Work

(12:10) - Online Presence and Getting Jobs

(16:20) - Importance of a Website

(18:22) - Business Tactics and Advice

(20:07) - Goals for the Future

(21:15) - Proudest Moment in Running the Company

(22:58) - Closing Statements and Farewell

In this episode of Titan Talks, host Jonathan Stern interviews Shawn Perillo, owner of Perillo Property Maintenance. Perillo discusses how he got started in the landscaping industry and why he decided to start his own company. He shares the ups and downs of running the business, including the importance of route density and the challenges of finding good help. Perillo also emphasizes the impact of having an online presence, with 85% of his leads coming from his website and social media. Perillo’s ultimate goal is to have more time and money for his family and personal pursuits. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on quality work and not to get caught up in having fancy equipment when starting out.

(0:00) - Introduction

(1:00) - Shawn’s origin story

(3:08) - Starting his own company

(4:40) - Initial challenges and mistakes

(6:45) - Current state of the business

(8:25) - Adding services and the website’s impact on revenue

(10:50) - Importance of online presence and social media

(12:25) - Challenges and plans for the future

(15:30) - Winter months and diversifying income

(17:08) - Transition to weed control, fertilization, and mosquito control

(19:10) - Personal goals and family time

(21:15) - Obtaining a pesticide business certification

(22:50) - Advice for business owners starting out

(24:10) - Importance of quality work and equipment recommendations

(25:25) - Proudest moment in business

(2:00) - How Shawn got started in construction

(7:50) - Why Shawn started Built to Build academy

(11:00) - The benefits of building an email list

(14:10) - Contractors often don't charge enough for their services

(17:30) - The value of charging for consulting work

(19:30) - Selling the process and knowing your worth

(22:38) - Leveraging technology and automation in the construction industry

(24:37) - Tools for automating the construction process

(25:00) - Rapid fire round

(28:40) - The importance of becoming an excellent employee before venturing out on your own

In this episode of Titan Talks, Luke Hansen, founder and CEO of CompanyCam, discusses the origin of the company as a solution to organizing job site photos, the challenges faced in the early stages, and how the platform has evolved since its founding. Hansen also shares his thoughts on the balance between adopting new technology and focusing on the core work in the trades, why the future is bright for the trades, and the key advancements in technology that will affect the industry in coming years.

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:50) - Luke’s journey from family roofing business to CompanyCam founder

(08:30) - The balance between technology adoption and focusing on the work

(08:45) - The bright future for trades

(12:10) - CompanyCam’s evolution and pain points

(17:30) - Meeting changing homeowner expectations

(20:10) - CompanyCam’s evolution and pain points

(23:30) - Meeting changing homeowner expectations

(28:30) - The balance between technology adoption and focusing on the work

(30:45) - The bright future for trades

(32:20) - Using technology to save time and improve customer experience

(37:15) - Rapid fire round

This episode of Titan Talks features Steve Lockwood, the owner of Lockwood Finishes, a successful painting company located in Springfield, Illinois. The show discusses his start in the industry, how he came to realize that he was a professional, and how making 100 phone calls a day helped boost his business and client base in the early days. Steve shares insights on the importance of job costing, his pride in carrying the name Lockwood, and how having a website has transformed his business and brought him in front of people that didn’t know about his services. Steve aspires to further grow his company and eventually have a consistent crew of seven to ten employees focusing on painting full-time.

(00:00) - Intro

(03:30) - Steve's Start in the Painting Industry

(08:15) - Making 100 Phone Calls a Day: A Unique Approach to Building a Client Base

(12:45) - The Importance of Job Costing in Maintaining a Sustainable Business

(15:55) - The Benefits of Having a Website for Your Business

(24:40) - Rapid Fire Round: Constant Growth and Looking to the Future