Are you struggling to keep track of your inventory and spending too much time and money on purchasing materials?

Inefficient inventory management and purchasing processes are common challenges faced by skilled trades businesses, especially in HVAC and plumbing. These issues can lead to significant financial losses and hinder business growth… but not when you use Ply!

Tune in to hear from David Wigder, co-founder of Ply, about how their innovative solution simplifies materials management for contractors.

Did you know that a $5 million/year contractor could be losing up to $100,000 annually due to poor inventory management? That's a staggering amount of money that could be saved with the right tools and processes in place!

Today, Dave reveals Ply's four-phase approach to implementing their inventory management and purchasing solution, and how it can help trade businesses like yours save time and money.

On this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Dave discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

By implementing a comprehensive inventory management and purchasing solution like Ply, trade businesses can streamline their processes, reduce costs, and ultimately improve their bottom line. 

Don't let inefficient materials management hold your business back any longer – take action today and start your journey towards a more profitable future!

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Are you leveraging the latest advancements in AI to transform and future-proof your trade business?

In an era where digital transformation is pivotal across all industries, staying updated with technological advancements is crucial. The same is true for the trade industry, where integrating AI can bring about unprecedented efficiencies.

In this episode, you’ll learn about the evolving landscape of digital marketing for trade professionals. Lynn is joined by Andrew Jenkins, Founder of the digital marketing agency Catalyst RVA, to explore the impact of AI on marketing strategies for trades business - like plumbing, heating, and electrical.

From leveraging AI tools to optimizing search engine results, Andrew sheds light on practical tips and strategies that can help your trade business stay competitive and efficient.

This episode is packed with actionable advice for small business owners looking to make the most of AI in their operations. Don’t miss these insights… or you may soon be left in the dust!

On this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Andrew discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net/.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Have you ever wondered how a single negative review could impact your business's bottom line and what you can proactively do to protect your reputation?

In today's digital age, the reputation of skilled trades businesses, including HVAC and plumbing, is more critical than ever. Potential customers often rely on online reviews to make their decision before they even make contact. Is your business prepared to manage its online reputation?

Tune in as Lynn speaks with Cassandra Webster, Sr. Director of Home Service Sales at Consumer Fusion, an online reputation management company. Cassandra leads their home services division and brings a wealth of experience in enhancing the online reputations of trade businesses.

Did you know that Consumer Fusion has successfully removed hundreds of thousands of illegitimate negative reviews in their 13 years of business? Cassandra's expertise is a game-changer for businesses struggling with unfair online reviews.

Listen in to learn her strategies for improving and protecting your business' online presence!

In this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Cassandra discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net.

More from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheTradesPodcast

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com

AI has the potential to save HVAC technicians up to five hours per week, ultimately boosting productivity and profitability! Not only that, but real-time data and AI integration can transform the way technicians and distributors handle inventory and procurement problems.

How? Tune in to find out about one of the most revolutionary apps in the HVAC industry!

In this episode, Lynn sits down with Matt Case, SVP of Growth at Bluon, an app empowering the HVAC industry through time savings, data, and innovation. Today, Matt and Lynn explore the transformative impact of technology and AI in the HVAC industry. They highlight how synchronizing databases and roadmaps can solve pressing inventory and procurement challenges, emphasizing the necessity for real-time pricing and availability in our ever-dynamic world.

Matt also discusses Bluon’s strategic integration with ServiceTitan — a key player in the residential tech sphere — and how it can revolutionize the efficiency of technicians by automating administrative tasks and increasing revenue.

Stay tuned to learn about Bluon’s intuitive software solutions tailored for seasoned technicians, the seamless onboarding experience, and more revolutionary changes coming to the HVAC industry.

Whether you're a business owner, contractor, or technician, this episode is packed with crucial insights and practical solutions to empower you to do your best work!

In this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Matt discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheTradesPodcast

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com/

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

If you’re feeling stagnant in your trade business and need a boost, or you’re feeling like your company isn’t receiving the attention it deserves, public relations should be your next area of focus.

With the right PR, your company can go from being easily forgotten to never forgotten again. It can provide you with the exposure you need to attract new customers, position your company as a trusted local expert, and give you tools to grow and scale for years to come.

In this episode, Lynn welcomes Heather Ripley, CEO and Founder of Ripley PR, a public relations agency serving national B2B clients in construction, franchising, healthcare IT, home services, manufacturing, and technology. Heather has been in the skilled trades industry, specifically HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, for 16 years, which has given her a strong passion for helping business owners like you thrive.

PR is a totally different ball game than marketing and advertising. It tugs on the heart strings of your local community and shows them a different, more relatable side to the people behind your business. These are the stories that can elevate contractors like you and position you as a reliable expert in your community.

In this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Heather discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheTradesPodcast

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

As technology evolves and becomes more vital to trade businesses’ success, don’t fall behind and get lost in the dust of companies who are adapting and growing WITH technology!

Today, you’ll learn exactly how technology is advancing the trades like never before AND how you can use technology to pivot, grow, and transform your trade business.

In this episode, Lynn is joined by Jason Abbott, Head Business Coach at Business Development Resources (BDR), a coaching organization on a mission to help companies become more profitable through better culture, efficiencies, technologies, and more.

Jason has been in the trades for 35 years, so he’s bringing to the table a wealth of knowledge on how to grow and develop an efficient, profitable trade business in 2024 and beyond.

Don’t get left behind! It’s time to hop on the bandwagon and get learning. Tune in now to learn how to level up your business today and keep serving your community for years to come.

On this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Jason discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net/.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net/

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheTradesPodcast 

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com/

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Today’s guest has grown his plumbing and excavation business by 400% in the last 5 years, putting him in a great position to scale. How? Through intensive training and education. Now, he’s ready to add electrical, HVAC, and more training programs to his academy so he can keep transforming the trades in his region.

In this episode, Lynn speaks with Richard Hart, the Founder of Harts Services and Harts Academy, about how he’s inspiring innovation and leadership in the next generation of trades professionals.

Harts Academy is teaching plumbing, electrical, and HVAC apprentices the leadership skills, technical skills, and customer service skills needed to succeed in the trades. Above all, they’re training apprentices to show up professionally and thrive both independently and as part of a team.

Richard is an innovative leader that exudes genuine servitude. So you’re in for some fantastic insights. Listen in to learn how Harts Academy is transforming the next generation of tradespeople in Washington!

On this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Richard discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net/.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net/

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheTradesPodcast
Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com/

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Are you a service-based business that’s struggling to develop great leaders and retain employees? We have the advice you need to start making a change! To optimize your company’s future leadership takes specialized training and personal development, which today’s guest is an expert in.

In this episode, Lynn speaks with Clifton Savage, CEO and Founder Service Leaders Society, who’s dedicated to helping you become a great leader, and attract, train, and retain the best people for your company.

Service Leaders Society’s mission is to transform executive-level leaders and help them develop effective leaders in middle management and frontline management. Whether you own an HVAC, roofing, or manufacturing company, you can certainly benefit from the leadership tools and training that Service Leaders Society has to offer.

Listen in to learn the tricks of the trade and start multiplying leadership throughout your company!

On this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Clifton discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Trades Operators:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@transformingthetradespodcast

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

How often do you find yourself making assumptions about your customers instead of asking the right questions to truly understand their needs?

In an age where the skilled trades industries like HVAC and plumbing are facing demographic shifts and increasingly informed consumers, businesses must innovate by engaging meaningfully with their client base.

On this episode of Transforming the Trades, we're excited to have Mike Simmons, founder of Catalyst A.C.T.S, join us to dive into the importance of strategic questioning over assumptions in business operations.

Mike brings a remarkable blend of operational expertise and innovative sales tactics, having rebranded his company to broaden appeal and emphasize action—an approach that could revolutionize the customer interface in the trades.

On this episode of the Transforming the Trades Podcast, Lynn and Mike discuss:

- Mike Simmons' diverse background and how it applies to the trades

- The structural integrity of business aligned with customer integrity

- The impact of demographic shifts on customer engagement

- Redesigning customer experience by reverse engineering from desired outcomes

- The power of asking questions to prevent assumptions in customer service

- The link between operational leadership and frontline customer interactions

- Preventative maintenance as an opportunity for enhanced customer relations

Key actionable takeaways for the Skilled Trades Businesses/HVAC/Plumbing Industry:

- Design your business strategies and customer interactions with intentionality for standout experiences.

- Empower both leadership and frontline team members to ask more strategic questions.

- Consider preemptive services to become the "right before" solution for customers.

- Evaluate whether existing industry playbooks are truly serving your business’s unique goals.

If you're in the trades and seeking to build a business that not only stands the test of time but also stands out for its customer satisfaction, this episode with Mike Simmons is your blueprint for change.The resources mentioned in this episode are:

Remember, when it comes to customer service—ask more, assume less, and always be ready to innovate.  Tune in for an insightful discussion on how the trades can leverage sales thought processes and Mike’s unique strategies to enhance problem-solving and customer experiences.

Keep transforming your trade with us here at Transforming the Trades.

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net/.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net/

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@transformingthetradespodcast

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com/

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Ever wondered how the evolving trends in marketing strategies are shaping the success of skilled trades businesses in today's competitive landscape?

Today, we're delving into the shifting dynamics of marketing strategies and their impact on the success of skilled trades businesses, particularly in the HVAC and plumbing industry.

Our discussion provides real-world insights into adapting to market changes to ensure sustained growth and success.

We are thrilled to welcome Katie Donovan, CEO of Camp Digital, a premier partner agency with deep expertise in innovative marketing strategies specifically tailored for the skilled trades industry.

We've brought Katie on the show to shed light on the evolving marketing landscape and the crucial role it plays in the success of businesses in the skilled trades sector.

Katie Donovan has managed over a billion dollars in ad spend, positioning herself as a trailblazer in the marketing world. Her expertise provides invaluable insights into the changing marketing paradigms impacting the skilled trades industry.

In this episode, listeners can expect an in-depth exploration of the current and anticipated changes in marketing strategies, focusing on how to sustain success amidst industry shifts.

On this episode of Transforming the Trades, Lynn and Katie discuss:

Actionable Key Takeaways for Blue Collar Businesses:

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

As the skilled trades business landscape continues to evolve, it's crucial to stay ahead of the curve by adapting marketing strategies to align with changing consumer behaviors and industry dynamics. 

Join us as we navigate the evolving marketing landscape with Katie Donovan, providing actionable insights to ensure sustained success in the skilled trades industry.

👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net/.

More content from Lynn:

Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net/

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@transformingthetradespodcast

Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com/

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.