Toolbox for the Trades

It takes hard work and resolve to succeed in the trades. That’s why the theme for this year’s Pantheon conference is “Journey to the Top.” And to help celebrate this sold-out extravaganza, we’re bringing on some of the top-tier talent at this year’s event!     To kick us off, Brianna Skiffington, Chief Product Officer of Ad Leverage, and Amanda Triolo, CEO of Grasshopper Heating & Cooling, join the show in sunny Orlando, Florida. We talk about the challenges with pivoting to residential services, ChatGPT, and we give a sneak peek into ServiceTitan’s new ad optimization platform. Join us as we discuss: - Pivoting from commercial services and financial hurdles (1:45) - The secret to a well-oiled trades and marketing marriage (10:51)  - Taking in the full Pantheon 2023 experience (15:28) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - CXC.ai - Marketing Pro Ads Optimizer - Craig Groschel Leadership Podcast - Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

“Is There a Killer in Your Basement?” A lot’s changed since Bill Heffernan, President of Master Chimney Sweepers, led one of his customer mailers with that dubious line in the 1990s. But his passion for educating customers on the dangers of neglecting their fireplace chimneys and other vents has never wavered. Bill and his son and Sales Director, Tom Heffernan, give us a peek into the modern-day chimney sweep industry and how much it’s evolved since Bill founded his business in 1977.    Join us as we discuss: - (3:42) How the ‘70s energy crisis influenced the chimney sweep industry - (16:36) Incorporating outside industry tactics into your sales strategy  - (23:47) Why direct mail is still a bona fide marketing tactic - (31:55) The power of collaboration in a small family business You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It’s time for contractors to face a harsh reality. The trades thrived during Covid while many people were trapped in their homes, but now the free ride is over. And home service providers everywhere are starting to feel the impact on their bottom lines. But Tommy Mello, Owner of A1 Garage Door Service, and Al Levi, Founder of The 7-Power Contractor, think this is a chance for owner-operators to grab growth by the horns. Tommy and Al hold nothing back as they explain why now is the time for contractors to improve efficiencies, double down on marketing, and explore acquisition opportunities.      Join us as we discuss: - (2:49) Building on internal processes during the slow times - (7:41) Making tough choices and a common pricing mistake  - (23:17) The keys to smart marketing and branding - (36:21) Why many contractors don’t consider acquisitions Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - The Home Service Millionaire - Elevate: Build a Business Where Everybody Wins - The Home Service Expert Podcast - The 7-Power Contractor: Run Your Contracting Business With Less Stress and More Success - Freedom 2023 You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.    Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Adam Fuseman, CFO of Fuse Service in San Jose, California, left Russia for America in 2017 with the hope of becoming an IT professional. But that all changed after a friend convinced Adam to join his appliance repair business. That experience spurred Adam to start his own home and commercial service company, which has exploded into a $40 million 25-location franchise. Adam and Fuse’s CEO, Stan Pakarin, join us to tell their incredible stories of how two Russian immigrants came together to share an American dream. Join us as we discuss: - (9:51) Immigration roadblocks to starting a new business  - (16:41) How a YouTube channel brought the two partners together - (26:43) Expanding and optimizing new service lines and processes - (34:48) Learning to trust people so you can delegate with confidence Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Praxis  - Adam FUSEMAN  You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

“Good help sure is hard to find” is a familiar rallying cry for contractors these days. Now, consider this… What if you had plenty of eager young talent waiting right outside your door but were legally bound not to hire them? Believe it or not, it’s a battle that Matt LaMartina, President and GM of Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company, and his fellow contractors in St. Louis are fighting today. Hear how Matt has been leveraging partnerships, including the competition, to continue scaling his business as they fight for the right to employ more local apprentices. Join us as we discuss: - (7:45) Trying not to “grow broke” while meeting customer needs - (18:18) Why you need to offer customers more than a phone number - (24:23) How a partnership with a local school evolved into a fight for labor Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Nexstar  - Ranken Technical Institute You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Finding and implementing new business insights can be one of the biggest challenges for owner-operators and managers in the trades. Who’s got time to chase new ideas when you’re constantly “putting out fires?” But when Blake Wiltshire, Director of Residential Services at Althoff Industries, and his fellow leaders left town for a three-day business planning and budgeting seminar, everything changed. By taking time to separate himself from the everyday chaos, Blake’s outlook on strategic growth completely shifted. Blake drops by to share his insights on business planning, budgeting, and why prioritizing goals is key to not breaking your processes during insane growth. Join us as we discuss: - (2:15) Rising from entry-level office grunt to an operational lead - (8:08) How moving training off-site can boost learning input - (15:52) Why business planning and budgeting are in separate buckets - (22:40) Advice to owner-operators who are considering big changes Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - EGIA You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Home services is bound by a universal truth — homeowners reach out to contractors when they have a problem that needs to be solved. So when people see or hear your ads, the chances are they don’t need you at all… yet. Then how do you make sure you’re the first person they think of when they need help? You guide your marketing to make them feel something. Ryan Chute, Partner at Wizard of Ads, explains how neuroscience in branding can help you tell a story that empathizes with your target audience so you’re top-of-mind in your market. Join us as we discuss: - (3:44) Why home services is such a challenging industry to market  - (6:16) The neuroscience behind successful brand storytelling - (18:27) The “magic” behind ad spend in local markets - (25:40) An example of a wildly successful ad campaign Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - WizardofAds.Contractors  - The Wizard of Ads: Turning Words into Magic and Dreamers into Millionaires (The Wizard of Ads Series, Volume 1) by Roy H. Williams  - Drain Magic  - KickCharge Creative  - Wizard Academy You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Tasha Roberts knew she had a lot to learn after suddenly having to step in to lead her parents’ business, ASAP Commercial Doors, in 2016. But thanks to her relentless drive to learn from industry leaders across different trades, she’s helped triple the company’s growth in that time. Now the president of ASAP, Tasha has led the company through a rebrand, gone all in on the commercial sector, and built an apprenticeship program that champions values over experience. Hear how Tasha navigated the early years after her unexpected transition into the trades and why she believes attitude can make or break a family business.       Join us as we discuss: - (1:45) Being thrust into the trades after a serious life event  - (8:54) Making space to learn the business by delegating - (17:02) A dramatic rebrand and committing to commercial services - (28:01) An apprenticeship program built on core values Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - The Ed Mylett Show - Prolific Brand Design You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Lamont Page, a service technician at Worley's Home Services in Yorktown, VA, is no stranger to long days with nonstop work calls. But soon after starting at Worley’s, his bosses told him to do something extraordinary — stop working so hard. That’s when they shipped him off to Arizona to work with Derrek Hofrichter, Business Coach and Trainer at Service Business Evolution (SBE). SBE works with technicians to up their sales game by building real relationships with their customers. And it starts with listening and asking questions. Tune in to hear Lamont’s story and coaching insights from Derrek as we unpack a human-to-human approach to the technician sales process.    Join us as we discuss: - (10:10) How focusing on relationships builds customer equity   - (23:45) Why techs need to ask good questions to gain trust - (33:37) What sets the sales experts apart from the amateurs Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz  - The HVAC Apprentice podcast Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Lots of marketers have shifted their focus from the mailbox to the inbox, but the numbers don’t lie. Direct mail is still one of the most reliable vehicles for customer engagement. As Guy Fashano, Sales Manager at MSI Mailing Systems, points out — digital marketing isn’t the only player in town that can harness data to track ROI and open rates. Hear how direct mail marketing can help you retain customers and build brand equity for your business in 2023 and beyond! Join us as we discuss: - (5:13) The tangible benefits and staying power of direct mail  - (14:05) How direct mail can help boost your brand equity - (30:17) Practical tips for starting your first direct mail campaign Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - guy@msimail.net  - Call or text Guy with your questions at 916-769-5200 - Raiser’s Edge NXT  - Marketing Pro Direct Mail Tool You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.