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Ahh, the simple joys of sketching
By Todd Mather - Sunday September 9, 2012
As an architect and designer, the skill and/or talent of sketching is paramount. However, not all need this skill. I am reminded of so many positions within the profession of architecture and building for which the need for using a pen and paper is limited. To me, though, it is invaluable to be able to quickly sketch the essence of an interior, a change to an exterior under construction, or to take their idea of a fireplace detail, for instance, and translate my client’s words into a picture on paper. They appreciate this. Contractors appreciate it, as well as the structural engineers with whom I work. The ability to take mental pictures or words from a discussion and create a three-dimensional image allows design solutions... -
A Serial Entrepreneur's Common Sense Advice
By Victor Green - Thursday September 6, 2012
It’s true that many factors contribute to an organization’s success, but in the end it all comes down to this: how will your business be better, or different, than what is already available? Will you provide a better service than anyone else? Will you offer something that will improve your customers business and make them more money? The answers to one—preferably both—of these questions should always be a resounding, “Yes!” This article assumes you have done the research and built the product. You have found a gap in the market that you can fill. Now, you’re tasked with building or managing an organization that already exists. You may find the tips below are obvious or common sense. I would argue that these days, common... -
Swinging Hammers
By Laurie Banyay - Friday August 31, 2012
I’m in the middle of a visit to my family, who live north of Pittsburgh. I worked out of their home office for a while, anticipating a quiet work time that would be productive. Although the latter occurred the former did not. Their house is in an area once country that’s slowly being developed. Behind their house, a rooster cock-a-doodle-doos from about 6 a.m. through sunset. When the rooster isn’t stealing the show, I can hear goats. If the breeze is blowing the right way, I smell cows. The noise I noticed the most, however, was that of construction. My parents live in an almost fully developed neighborhood. Right now, they’re having a deck addition put outside their sliding door where a patio formerly stood. Across the... -
Using Moulding to Enhance Spaces
- Monday August 27, 2012
Editor's Note: This is the first in a five-part series about mouldings, taken from a whitepaper by Fair Lawn, N.J.-based Kuiken Brothers Co. Inc. titled "Using Moulding to Enhance the Beauty and Elegance of a Space and Create New Revenue Streams." As a professional interior designer, you have a keen eye for detail. You understand and appreciate things like structure, concept, hierarchy, continuity, history and tradition. You recognize quality and craftsmanship. You also want to improve your bottom line. Most interior designers have three options for making money—hourly rates, flat fees for project work and industry-standard products and services mark-ups. As a small business owner, you’re on the never-ending search for new... -
Can good customer service make you better?
By Bonnie Pickartz - Friday August 24, 2012
You know your trade. You know that you offer quality and value. So how do you define that in a way that the client will understand? That you are their best choice? You enhance your service and/or product by backing it up with customer service that goes above and beyond. Customer service often takes a back seat. The salesmen sell your services, the craftsmen do the work (and often both of these are done by the same people), but the person who backs everything up and answers all the questions is secondary. However, great customer service is usually the best sales tool you have. When a potential client makes contact with you, you aren't selling, you are providing information and assistance. The client is either impressed with your... -
Keeping Employees Motivated in the Dog Days of Summer
By Jeff Kaliner - Monday August 20, 2012
It’s easy for even the most high-achieving employees to languish when the kids are out of school and vacation is just around the corner. Keeping employees motivated in the dog days of summer can pay productivity and efficiency dividends for your company year-round. A careful balance of positive reinforcement and flexibility, with a little tough love, will help reenergize employees and keep them focused when the mercury rises. Our company has been named a top workplace in major cities up and down the east coast, and we attribute that primarily to employee satisfaction. We do our best to help our employees realize they’re an important part of the Power family. Knowing how much their role in the company is valued across all departments... -
Know Your Process
By Daniel Wolt - Monday August 13, 2012
Why are window sales pitches usually more than two hours long? Most people I know think a movie is too long if it goes much more than that. If movie stars, superheroes and Hollywood magic can’t keep us enthralled for much more than two hours, who really wants to listen to a sales pitch for that long? For years I worked in the world of appointment setters, a commissioned sales team with a churn rate that was in the double digits and a constant need to sell, sell, sell. It was the industry standard way of selling replacement windows. Many people go into business for themselves after working for a boss for years and thinking they can do it better. That would have been my story too, except it was my company. When I walked away, I swore... -
Surveys, Collaborations and more: August on FRP
By Andrea Girolamo - Thursday August 9, 2012Our editors never rest, even in the summer time. This month, all three magazines feature top professionals dishing out advice to help you build your most successful businesses. The centerpiece of Kitchen & Bath Design News' August issue is an in-depth survey of the design desires and buying preferences of Gen X & Gen Y -- KBDN editor Janice Costa writes it best : Generations X and Y, for example, seem to have a number of design preference commonalities, from a love of color and texture to a desire for clean, simple and modern designs. Some of these come from necessity, as this generation tends to have less... Qualified Remodeler 's Laurie Grant profiles a remodel that is totally in season, and brings the beach life to a... -
Building loyalty, trust on social media
By Todd Vendituoli - Thursday August 9, 2012
Almost everywhere you look there is something that mentions social media or Twitter or Facebook with people telling you that you should be part of it. Yet, for many small businesses it can be daunting. It’s a new idea of sorts and it’s so different than just placing an ad in a paper and hoping for results. There are so many things to learn and new ways of promoting your business, and many of us know we should be using it but are secretly hoping it fades away so we can silently say, “Wow, I’m glad I didn’t waste my time.” Yet I don’t believe that it will just fade away, and the longer you procrastinate using social media the harder it will be to get a foothold later. So, let’s take a look at what you could do to... -
Talk to Someone Today
By Kenneth W. Betz - Monday August 6, 2012
Asked about his favorite thing in his office, Tim Swafford of Swafford Construction in Chattanooga said it was his telephone. “It’s the cheapest and most effective tool I own,” he said. The question was part of an interview of Swafford as NAHB’s Remodeler of the Month to be published in the September issue of Qualified Remodeler , in case you were wondering if I routinely go around asking aimless questions of busy remodelers. But I liked Tim’s answer. It addresses, I think, the frustrations and pitfalls I’ve observed resulting from over-reliance on technology like email and texting, not to mention attempts to communicate via social media. My response to tedious and imprecise emails frequently is: “Oh, for heaven’s...