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
May 26, 2020 • 40min
Casey Harvey - Reacting to COVID-19
When COVID-19 hit, it left everyone reeling. For those of us who went to the HPBExpo in New Orleans, we came home to a whole different world. Every business leader was forced to face the fear of disruption that was forced on them, as the dynamics of their business changed overnight, and find new opportunity. In today's episode, we sat down with Casey Harvey (Director of Sales, Ray Murray) to discuss how he reacted and was able to pivot in the midst of disruption to reach his customers in new ways. Don't miss the wisdom in this conversation and be a business that operates out of short-sighted panic. Rather, face fear head on, and be proactive to grow your company both now and in the future. Falco's COVID-19 Community Response Video: https://youtu.be/o2RnZShihoY Share on social media with the hashtag #SpokaneRises To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
May 19, 2020 • 45min
Ryan Borawski - Master Your Next Zoom Meeting
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, everyone has been flooded with Zoom calls and webinars like never before. Many of them have a speaker stumbling over the technology while their audience is distracted by other things on their computer. Whether you've been the stumbling speaker or the distracted audience, today's conversation is for you. We sat down with Ryan Borawski (Digital Sales Trainer for Liberty Mutual) to talk about how to nail your digital meetings and make a true connection with the people on the other side of the screen. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a Zoom call is the same as regular phone call, or a webinar isn't any different than speaking live—or you'll be sunk. Instead, put these tips into practice to connect with your audience, stand apart from the competition and ultimately make the sale. Click here to connect with Ryan on LinkedIn Click here to follow Ryan on Instagram Click here to listen to the Ryse with Ryan Podcast To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
May 12, 2020 • 1h 2min
Mike Duval and Daniel Hammer - Selling Your Business to the Next Generation
Our industry is at a turning point. All over the country, aging business owners are beginning to think about an exit strategy and wondering if it's too late. In today's conversation, we sit down with Daniel Hammer and Mike Duval (Owner and former Owner | Sutter Home & Hearth, Seattle, WA) to talk about how to transition a business from one generation to the next. In this conversation: Learn when it is that you should be getting your business ready to sell Understand what to look for in a buyer Get insight the documents and conversations that need to happen for a sale to take place Don't get left behind with a business that's not sellable because you waited too long! Take advantage of the wisdom in this conversation so that you can sell your business, retire comfortably, and watch the legacy you created be passed down to the next generation. To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
May 5, 2020 • 42min
Dominique Pagé - Teaming Up to Grow Your Profits
As the crisis rages, everyone is looking for a way to get ahead and the truth is that it's easier to do together. In today's episode, we sit down with Dominique Pagé (Owner, United Buyer's Group) to hear about how two dealers getting worked over by a manufacturer a few years ago was leveraged into a network of hundreds of businesses that combine their buying power—so no one is left in that situation ever again. In many ways, our industry has been built with a tight-fisted mentality of protecting what's ours and never sharing secrets. The problem is that a mentality like that means we have to re-invent the wheel every time we encounter something new. The truth is that what got us here won't get us where we need to go. It's only by joining forces and sharing best practices that we have a chance to maximize our potential.
Apr 28, 2020 • 45min
Wayne Visbeen - Understanding Architecture Makes You Money
This week, we sat down with world famous architect Wayne Visbeen (Principle, Visbeen Architects) to discuss how an understanding of architecture can help your retail space stand out from every body else. Wayne uses a "live design" process that creates an amazing customer experience and forges and instant connection between him and his clients. He's designed retail spaces all over the world for companies like Target, Banana Republic and even Martha Stewart. Don't miss his attention to focus and clarity when it comes to a retail space—this can make all the difference in the world with your customers. Don't miss this video of Wayne's live design process: https://vimeo.com/138230559 To help support The Fire Time Podcast financially, check out https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Apr 20, 2020 • 51min
Ryann Blake - Fighting a Culture of Burnout
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, our industry was fighting a culture of burnout... Phone calls are always coming in, emails never stop, and customer expectations are higher than they've ever been. Combine that with the guilt of seeing people who "hustle" on social media and it's easy to feel totally spent. In today's conversation, Tim Reed sits down with Ryann Blake (Owner of Chimney Techniques) to talk about how to fight burnout for yourself and your team members in today's culture. In this conversation, you'll learn:
How to set up boundaries for yourself to protect against burnout (this is something that everyone needs to do)
What you need to be pouring into your team for them to stay engaged (it's easy to put this off if you're not careful)
Why it's more important than ever to find community to support you (most people that flame out miss this)
Don't go another day thinking that pushing harder will solve your problems. Rather, build a framework that gives you life, set your team members up to win, and create a business thats a joy to come to every day. To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Apr 14, 2020 • 56min
Bridget Brennan - Winning Her Business
If you want your sales team to simplify their process so they can connect better with their customers, then you have to listen to this conversation! In today's episode, Tim Reed sits down with acclaimed author and keynote speaker (Bridget Brennan, CEO of The Female Factor and author of "Winning Her Business") to talk about connecting with today's female consumer and building a sales process based on simplicity, clarity, and understanding. In this conversation, you'll learn:
The four motivators that a woman needs from your company in order to buy (you don't want to miss any of these)
Why there's no such thing as a "tire-kicker" in today's market (customers are way more serious than you think)
Why making is easy to buy from you is the foundation to winning her business (this is more important than ever)
Don't write this conversation off if your company mostly sells to men, because even if it for them, women have the veto vote on any major purchase. If you put these ideas into practice, your business can create an amazing customer experience and a tidal wive of referrals that you can ride for years to come. To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Apr 7, 2020 • 53min
Craig Newby and David Rosvold - Sales Rep, Don't Waste My Time (Part 2)
In part 1 of our conversation with Craig Newby (Owner, Associated Energy Systems) and David Rosvold (Owner, NW Stoves), we laid out the basics of how a sales rep can deliver value to their customers. In part two, we bring the conversation home with tangible things you can do to move the needle with our clients. In this conversation:
Learn how good reps make a plan for their customers (and their customers follow it)
Discover how most reps don't understand the problems of their customers (you don't want to fall unto this trap)
Understand how to grow unquestioned loyalty from your customers (most reps think they have this and they don't)
Everyone has a lot of downtime during this COVID-19 crisis so don't waste it by sitting around! You can put the principles in this episode to use right away and make your customers more loyal than ever by helping them win during this unprecedented time. To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Mar 31, 2020 • 43min
Craig Newby and David Rosvold - Sales Rep, Don't Waste My Time (Part 1)
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, every sales rep is wondering how they can give value to their customers. In today's conversation, we flipped the tables so that Craig Newby (Owner, Associated Energy Systems) and David Rosvold (NW Stoves) could grill Tim Reed about what makes a sales rep valuable to a retail business. In this conversation:
Learn why sales reps have to make an appointment every time with their customers (even if they're already friends with them)
Discover what most sales reps don't understand about their customers (but they think they do)
Understand what retailers are looking for their sales reps to do for them (most reps miss this)
If you're stuck at home, brainstorm this conversation and what it would look like for you to put into practice. Don't be a "Typical Sales Rep", selling a PO and then getting out of town, rather, become a trusted advisor to your customers and sell more than you ever thought possible. To support the podcast financially, check out our patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Mar 24, 2020 • 1h 4min
Live from HPBEXPO - The Dynamics of Family Business
Most of our industry is made up of family businesses—which can be both a blessing and a curse. In this episode, Tim Reed sat down at the HPBExpo with Stephen Schroeter (co-CEO, Napoleon) and Grant Falco (Owner, Falco’s) for a live conversation about the dynamics of family business in today’s market. This conversation will cover: The similarities of family business regardless of the size of your company What kinds of boundaries should be set up to protect your family from being run over by the business How to harness the relationships within your family to take your business where it’s never gone before Don’t miss the wisdom in this conversation... Family businesses are tough, but, if you apply these principles and apply them, you can see results like never before. To support the podcast, check out our page on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
