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
Feb 25, 2020 • 28min
BONUS EPISODE - Selling High End Outdoor Living
The HPBExpo is just around the corner and it's going to be amazing! In today's bonus episode, Jerry Isenhour (President, CVC Success Group) sits down to talk about his education sessions at the trade show. This conversation will help you: Learn why selling high end outdoor living is a must (and a huge profit center) for every fireplace retailer Understand where the weak points are in the big box store model of grill sales Discover how to build a training center in your business to grow and retain top talent Don't miss this the end of this conversation where we let you know what to expect in Season 4 of the podcast which will debut with a live episode on Friday, March 13th at the HPBExpo!
Dec 17, 2019 • 1h 17min
Q & A - Season Three Finale
In the finale to Season 3 of the Fire Time Podcast we hosted a Q & A session live on Instagram and it didn't disappoint! These episodes are amazing because they give us a chance to get extremely specific into the context and situation of your unique business. In this conversation we answer: How do you scale a Service & Installation department to ramp up in-season and survive when it's slower? What do you do when you are in a business where ownership and management are competing with the salespeople? How do you build a compensation plan for salespeople when you've never paid on performance before? The truth is that it is only business leaders who have humility to ask questions like this that have the potential to take their business to the next level.
Dec 10, 2019 • 57min
Pete Schoenfeld - It's Time to Think Differently
We are standing on the edge of a precipice looking around at the disruption that's happening in nearly every other sphere of business. Understanding this, we can either continue to stay segmented and blindly hold onto what has worked in the past or we can come together to figure out this new landscape of business together. In today's episode, I sit down with Pete Schoenfeld (Senior VP, Fireplace Warehouse of Denver, CO) to have an honest conversation about the state of our industry and what we need to be thinking about as we look toward the future. In this conversation:
Understand why building relationships with competitors will help serve your company (this is something that many people don't take advantage of)
Learn who is to blame for the EPA 2020 lack of sell through (it may not be who you think it is)
Understand how to get involved in protecting our industry and moving it forward (this is something that every business should do)
Don't miss out on the opportunity to hear this authentic and honest conversation about the state of our industry right now—and what you need to be thinking about for the future! Show Notes:
Click here to find your HPBA Affiliate group (and send them an email to get involved). Join us on March 11th for the first ever Fire Time Podcast Meet-Up at HPBExpo in New Orleans! Here are the details: Date: Wednesday, March 11thTime: 5pm – 6pmLocation: Public Belt (2nd Floor of Hilton Riverside)2 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Click here to RSVP!
Dec 3, 2019 • 42min
Tim Reed - Winning the HPBExpo
Most companies go to the HPBExpo every year because "it's what we've always done", but they don't attack it with intention and focus. The result is that they spends thousands of dollars to wander around or aimlessly show products during the day so they can go out and party at night. The truth is that's not how you win a trade show. In today's episode, I walk you through each day of the HPBExpo coming up in 2020 and give you an agenda that's guaranteed to win. In this episode you'll learn: What courses you have to be in if you want to move the needle in your business How to organize your time on the trade show floor to get results Exactly what to do to put things into action when you get home Don't make the mistake of going through the motions for another trade show—stand out from the noise by attacking this year with focus and intentionality... Your business (and your wallet) will thank you for it. Show Notes: There is going to be a Fire Time Podcast meet up on Wednesday, March 11th from 5pm-6pm at Public Belt (in the 2nd floor of the Riverside Hilton in New Orleans). If you are interested in coming, please send an email to tim@itsfiretime.com to RSVP. To receive a copy of my 2020 HPBExpo Agenda make sure to email tim@itsfiretime.com.
Nov 26, 2019 • 56min
Elyse Rethlake - Rethinking Retail
As the digital age is coming into full focus, brick and mortar businesses everywhere are trying to figure out how to stay relevant. While some traditional retailers have been swept away like the dinosaurs, many have stood firm and even gained ground by rethinking their value proposition for their customers. In today's episode, I sit down with Elyse Rethlake (Fireside Hearth & Home, daughter of the legendary Tim Rethlake) to talk about what brick and mortar businesses can do to take advantage of the moment we are in right now (as well as prepare for the future). In this episode you'll learn:
Why most companies have things backwards when they think about the "retail experience" of a customer (because we are too entrenched in what is familiar to us)
How a company's digital and physical presence need to work together to serve today's consumers (this is especially true in the hearth industry)
Why brick and mortar businesses are more viable than ever if they are thinking holistically about the customer experience (this is only going to be more true as the digital age rounds out)
Your customers are expecting you to bring more and more value as things in every other sphere are getting easier and quicker—don't miss the opportunity to do just that! This conversation will give you a filter to use as you rethink your business in light of modern consumer expectations so that you can take control, have happier customers and sell more fireplaces than ever.
Nov 19, 2019 • 54min
Alex Judd - Becoming an EntreLeader
In today's market, everyone is looking for people who can move the needle—but there aren't many of them. The truth is that if you want your business to attract "A" players, then you have be an inspiring leader with a playbook to grow the people around you. That playbook is EntreLeadership. In today's episode, I sat down with Alex Judd (Entreleadership Business Coach @ Ramsey Solutions and Host of The EntreLeadership Podcast—one of the biggest business podcasts in the country) to talk about the building blocks that have helped Ramsey Solutions become the standard of company culture and leadership that it is. In this episode, learn:
Why vision is the critical to the foundation of leadership (and what you can do to communicate it clearly)
The kind of leadership your team needs to keep them aligned (and not take their eyes off of the prize)
The common denominator between most successful people that Alex talks to on The EntreLeadership Podcast (these are world renowned thought leaders)
Don't miss the chance to understand what it takes to grow your company longterm and attract the best talent. Rather, become the leader your team needs, communicate the vision that you have for your company, grow team members who rally to your cause, and create a legacy that lasts beyond yourself.
Nov 12, 2019 • 55min
Grant Falco - Social Media 101
Most hearth companies know that social media is important, but can’t figure out how to use it effectively. This episode with Grant Falco (Falco's & @falcobbq | Spokane, WA) is going to give you an understanding of the basics that every company needs. Even though social media can seem complicated, the concepts that you need to grow your business are easier than you think. This episode will:
Help you understand why mastering social media is more important now than ever (and how you can begin to do that in your company)
Showcase the real world results that Grant has personally seen (and how exactly you can do the same thing)
Teach you what kind of messaging will engage your audience (everyone is looking for this)
Don’t risk missing out on what social media can do for your company, instead, you can master the basics of social media, grow your business, connect with more customers and save money on marketing longterm.
Nov 5, 2019 • 42min
Eli Rosa - How to Build Process from Chaos
Most businesses in our industry are living in a constant state of chaos. Every day they push and push to put out fires, but never think about building processes to grow their company longterm. In this episode, I sat down with Eli Rosa (VP of Inside Operations, Fireside Home Solutions) to talk about how to build process in the midst of chaos. Her journey to Vice President is an uncommon one and she brings some amazing insight into what it takes to run a huge organization. In this conversation, you'll learn:
Why process is the bedrock of growing your business (this is seriously the key to everything)
Where to start if you want to build something bigger than yourself (a lot of companies miss this)
Where to go for council in making the right decision (this isn't the answer that you think)
No one wants to wake up in 15 years to a business they can't sell because everything relies on the owner—process is the answer! This episode will help you learn exactly where to start building a business that will stand the test of time.
Oct 29, 2019 • 52min
Rick Vlahos - Educate Your People
Everyone wants to grow their business from where it’s at now, but many business owners miss the fact that educating their team is the best(and cheapest)way to get there. In this conversation, I sat down with Rick Vlahos (Executive Director | Hearth, Patio & BBQ Education Foundation) to talk about what leaders in our industry can do to educate their team members. In this episode:
Disarm the “if I educate my people they’ll just leave”mentality (this kind of thinking will cripple your company)
Understand why investing in education is critical if you want your team to grow (many companies miss this)
Learn why certifying your installers may become mandatory in the near future (it’s happening all over the country)
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your company by training your team members. Longterm, the people you invest in with education will go to the wall for you, represent your brand and make you a ton of money long before they ever leave you. Show Notes: Sign up for the Education Passport at the HPBExpo this year: https://hpbexpo.com/register/
Oct 22, 2019 • 1h 2min
Tim Rethlake - Show Gratitude (Step 7)
Most companies are so focused on getting to the next sale that they forget about the person who just purchased from them. Don't leave your customers in the dust! To cap off our series on the seven-step sales process, I sat down with Tim Rethlake (Hearth & Home Technologies) to talk about Step 7: Gratitude. In this conversation:
Learn why showing gratitude towards past customers sets you up for future success (this "says" easy, but "does" hard)
Discover some practical ways that you can show gratitude to past customers (these are super practical and don't take a lot of time)
Listen to TR tell a story about gratitude that paid off 10 years later (seriously, this is crazy)
Having a heart of gratitude towards your customers will set you up for success in ways that nothing else will—so start building practices in today. You can build an army of brand ambassadors who are an (almost) free marketing department everywhere they go by being generous and gracious towards them after the purchase. Don't miss out on the HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT that I teased back in Season 2! Free video course: 3 Reasons Your Website is Leaking Money
