The Fire Time Podcast
Tim Reed
Are you tired of presentations that are only half relevant to your business? Many speakers are not practitioners of their material, simply teachers—not so with The Fire Time Podcast. This podcast is for the hearth industry and by the hearth industry. Host Tim Reed has over a decade of experience in the hearth industry, making conversations with guests relevant and extremely practical. In Season One, Tim speaks with twelve hearth industry leaders and provides content relevant to any position, whether on the retail or manufacturing side. Hearth companies everywhere are lost because the landscape of business has changed dramatically in the last ten years. They are trying hard, but they just don’t know what to do. The Fire Time Podcast equips hearth companies to win by sharing ideas and innovation from the best minds in our industry. This podcast will give you the tools to move the needle in your company and win in the changing landscape. This podcast is the first of its kind—specific to the business that you work in every day and simple enough to teach you what’s needed to succeed. Do not miss out on The Fire Time Podcast, available for Apple and Droid devices or at www.itsfiretime.com/podcast. The simple and repeatable steps provided will empower you to grow the bottom line of your company and inspire the team that you lead. ABOUT: Tim Reed is the Retail Sales Leader at Fireside Home Solutions in the Pacific Northwest where he helps his team members make it so stupidly easy to buy from them that there is no excuse not to. Starting as individual salesperson in an empty warehouse, he has grown Fireside’s Retail division by millions (after cutting his marketing budget by 90%). Tim has been invited all over the country to teach companies how to market effectively to their customers and sell more than ever before. His YouTube videos, sales blog, and “Fire Time Podcast” have become a resource for the industry and are actively helping thousands of people rethink their paradigms so that they can grow their businesses in the changing landscape. Tim learned “just enough to be dangerous” about sales, marketing, web development, and leadership from years of playing guitar in a failing punk band—which he swears has uniquely qualified him for his job today. Now considered one of the most innovative minds and compelling communicators in the industry, Tim uses his platform to serve others, helping them create clear messages that are wildly compelling to their audiences. Tim lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Jessica, two children, Olivia and Luke, and his 90 pound Golden Retriever, Walter. He still plays guitar in a failing punk band. CONTACT: tim@itsfiretime.com | www.itsfiretime.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 3, 2020 • 49min
Kevin Obee - Building a Culture of Meetings
Everyday leaders are trying to change their business' momentum because they feel like they're stuck in a rut. Changing the pace of a business to operate proactively isn't difficult, it just takes a commitment. In today's episode, Tim sits down with Kevin Obee (General Manager of Fireplaces & Lighting at Benson Stone) to breakdown the culture of meetings he has implemented within his workspace to transform his business. By the end of this episode you will learn:
How having a cadence of meetings can solve problems permanently (versus always making the same mistakes)
Why meetings allow you and your team to escape the noise and think critically (no more stressful decisions)
How having regular meetings helps you share the load like you never imagined (this the foundation of building a business bigger than yourself)
Don't continue stubbing your toes on the same problems. Instead, implement regular meetings into your workspace and solve problems permanently today. To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime Click here to join The Fire Time Network
Oct 27, 2020 • 52min
Grant Falco - How to Build a Business Scoreboard
How do you know if you're successful or not? Too many business owners base everything entirely off of feel when there is much more to the equation. In today's episode, Tim sits down with Grant Falco (Owner, Falco's Spokane) to break down what a business scoreboard consists of, and why it is an essential element for any leader looking to run a better business and generate more revenue. This episode is going to teach you:
How getting your quote percentage from 20% to 80% will redefine how you go about doing business (this is huge)
Why being transparent about revenue and preformance with your team will make them much more dedicated towards your success (after all they are your team right?)
How building a business scoreboard will allow you to identify issues and prevent them permanently (like a true leader should)
Don't go another day with a business that's out of control when the answer is right in front of you. Invest the time to build a scoreboard and watch things turn around. To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime Click here to join The Fire Time Network
Oct 20, 2020 • 55min
Art Ratcliffe - What Makes a Great Sales Rep?
What is it that makes a good sales rep? Product knowledge? Communication skills? Responsiveness? The truth is that all of these things are needed, but only a few reps have mastered them. In today's episode, we sit down to discuss the value that a good sales rep brings to the table with Art Ratcliffe (Mendota Hearth Products). Art is one of the best in the game and his value to customers is legendary. This episode will teach you:
Why value doesn't exist unless you communicate it (this is something that many salespeople miss)
What successful sales reps such as Art do on a day to day basis (and why that rhythm matters)
Why the sales team is more important than the owner if you are a sales rep (seriously, way more important) This episode is going to help you (a) understand what to expect out of the sales reps that call on you, and (b), help you build a framework to serve customers even better than before. To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime Click here to join The Fire Time Network
Oct 13, 2020 • 45min
Tim Rethlake & Jeni Forman - Let's Talk About IR...
Anyone involved with new construction work has been seeing incidence rates (the % of fireplaces being installed into new construction homes) free fall over the past 10 years—and if you haven't then you've been living under a rock. In today's episode, Tim sits down with Tim Rethlake & Jeni Forman of HHT to discuss possible ways to stop the bleeding and grow Incidence Rate back to where it has been historically. This episode is going to teach you:
Why builders haven't upgraded to the fireplaces buyers want to see (and how you can push them to)
Why we need to start looking at our industry differently if we want to see things change
How the hearth industry can come together as a whole and face the banning of natural gas in new construction (it's going to take everyone to do this)
Don't continue watching the incidence rate drop (and your profits along with it). Rather, grow your sales and impact with builders by helping them spec what's right for their client. To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime Join The Fire Time Network at: http://www.thefiretimenetwork.com
Oct 6, 2020 • 46min
Nick Bauer - Legacy Business and Acquisitions
Everyone wants to be part of something that matters, but most people don't have the endurance to get there. The truth is that creating a legacy is something that takes laser-like focus day in and day out at the goal at hand. In today's episode, Tim joins Nick Bauer (the owner of Empire Comfort) to discuss what it is like to be a family member in a legacy business, along with what goes into acquiring other businesses (Empire recently acquired Primo Ceramic Grills). By the end of this episode you should be able to walk away with knowledge on the following: What it's like being apart of a legacy business (and how to set up the next generation for success) All the moving parts that go into a business acquisition (and why growth has to be controlled) If you want to be in charge of everything you have to be willing to not be in charge of anything (more business owners need to know this) Stop ignoring the shift occurring in your industry today, and start looking at possible opportunities to increase your business's long-term stability. Business acquisitions tend to scare off many owners, but little do they know if they play their cards right acquiring another business could drastically increase their performance. To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime Click here to join The Fire Time Network
Sep 29, 2020 • 60min
Alex Judd - A Path For Growth
Many businesses today exist for themselves when in reality they need to be operating for the sake of others. In today's episode, we examine the major benefits of what happens when you begin using your strengths not for yourself, but rather for service. A weekly Zoom Call Community focusing on generosity, gratitude, and growth was a silly thought Alex Judd had one night when the effects of COVID-19 were just starting to be visible in the day to day. We sat down with Alex (the former host of Dave Ramsey's Entreleadership Podcast) to discuss how much this 'silly' idea has swiftly turned into his new business. In this episode, you will gain value in the form of: Learning how strength is ultimately for service (and how this core value can drastically improve your life) Understanding how your habits are a crystal ball to your future self (and how to to change that if you don't like what you see) Destroying the lie that walking around with a big to-do list is a badge of honor (it's actually crippling your potential)
Don't continue living the life you weren't meant to live. Learn to work on your internal strength, and then use it to serve others today! Watch the full-length uncut video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/g6qw-gH88hs To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime Click here to join The Fire Time Network
Sep 22, 2020 • 52min
Taylor & Zack Estes - Finance 101
Many businesses today can't tell you if they're making money or losing it every month. Not tracking your business expenses and revenue line-by-line will never allow you to get ahead—and it always results in getting dragged by your business instead of driving it. In today's episode, Taylor and Zack Estes (Owners, Barncat Financial) lay out the basics of what your business needs to understand about finance in order to win. In this episode you will learn: Debt makes you drive faster, but it does not make you drive better. Many people have the notion that business is a race against competitors, when in actuality you should be prioritizing your efforts on how you can best serve your customers in the most profitable way possible. If you don't allow debt to be an option, you will learn much faster (more people need to know this!) Treating your business as if you are always looking to sell it is a great practice (Avoiding as many taxes as possible may not be the best route after all...) Don't continue blindly steering your business in an uncertain direction. Get on top of where you're going today by creating a dashboard outlining everything you need to know in terms of finance! To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site. Click here to join the Fire Time Network.
Sep 15, 2020 • 57min
Henry Hall - Economics 101
With COVID-19 taking its toll on business owners of all sizes it is interesting to look at what allows some companies to continue to thrive while others have begun to nosedive. Being prepared for the worst sounds like something that every business owner would take as a given, but after further examination, most people still miss it... In today's episode - recorded prior to COVID-19 - Henry Hall (President, Skytech Control Systems) talks all things economics. As part of the executive committee at HPBA along with having an extensive background in business, Henry explains the basics of what you need to understand about economics today. This starts with making sure that you are fully supporting every person under your companies umbrella —if you want to build a team that can handle the worst. Tim reflects on this episode at the end by explaining how he was able to leave his job about mid-way through 2020—even with the uncertainty of the economy with COVID-19—because he has applied many of the principles discussed today with Henry to his own life allowing for stability in all of this uncertainty. If there is one thing we want you to walk away from this episode it is: "What do I need to do to be prepared?" Buckle up as Henry and Tim discuss everything you need to know to answer this very question! To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime Click here to join The Fire Time Network
Sep 8, 2020 • 1h 21min
Bill Lentz - The Art of Sales
When a customer makes the effort to make it all the way to your showroom floor, you better understand why they are standing in front of you. Understanding the customer's intentions without bias, and then finding a polite way to eventually ask for the sale is the key that so many salespeople are missing out on. When selling fireplaces, BTU's aren't everything—the experience the product will deliver to the customer is. In today's episode - the debut of Season 5 - we sit down with Bill Lentz, the author of The Art of Sales (a series of articles that was very influential in shaping how Tim has gone about his career in the hearth industry).We are not trying to make the customer a fireplace salesperson, we are trying to show them how it could make their lives better is a big takeaway listeners will gain from this episode. The content matter discussed can be applied to all aspects of life beyond the showroom floor! Not being afraid of being assertive and asking the customer for the sale is a daunting task at first, and it will sometimes result in failure. However, getting knocked down is key to finding your true self, and not being afraid of posing more inquisitive questions toward customers down the road. Click here to read "The Art of Sales" & "The Heart of Sales" by Bill Lentz. To support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out our Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretimeClick here to join The Fire Time Network
Aug 11, 2020 • 1h 16min
Q & A - Season Four Finale
Every season of this podcast wraps with a Q & A episode—and this is no different! In today's conversation, Tim Reed and Grant Falco (Falco's | Spokane, WA) sit down to answer questions like: How do you actually execute on the information you learn in a podcast? What is the best way to spend my time if not all of my accounts want to get better? Should a salesperson be a project manager or is that a role for a different team member? Don't miss this season finale episode!
