Toolbox for the Trades

Private equity is a hot topic in the trades, especially for family-owned businesses. But how can business operators know when it’s the right time to sell — and when not to? To help answer that question, we talked with Amber Gaige, Founder of Saber Marketing Group. From growing up in a family of contractors to selling her own business to private equity in 2018, Amber has seen it all. Amber shares how she’s helping prepare other owners for their transition into the world of private equity and streamlining marketing efforts for family-owned businesses.   Join us as we discuss: - (9:24) The culture shock from partnering with private equity - (18:15) How to determine if you’re ready for a PE partnership - (25:03) Why marketing should be one of your critical systems Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Benjamin Franklin Plumbing  - Potty Talk: Why Some Marketing Works and Some Should Just Be Flushed 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.

Hello, Contractors! For your holiday enjoyment, we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations starring Keith Mercurio. Keith is the Senior Director of Executive Success at ServiceTitan and founder/CEO of Ethical Influence Global, and his insights on leadership, training, and mindset are a goldmine for entrepreneurs. So as you’re prepping your grill this 4th of July, tune in to hear one of our industry leader’s thoughts on overcoming your business’ biggest hurdle for growth… YOU! Join us as we discuss: - (6:02) Deconstructing preconceived notions around the trades - (16:08) How owners can be their own worst growth constraint - (28:52) Personal development and resetting your mindset - (39:24) Transforming false positivity into powerful thinking Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell - The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miquel Ruiz - Making Sense podcast by Sam Harris - The Tim Ferriss Show podcast by Tim Ferriss - Ted Radio Hour on NPR 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.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A lot of contractors don’t spend much time thinking about how their personal branding may reflect on their business. But as Eric Thomas, President of Rival Digital and Host of the Smart HVAC Marketing podcast, reminds us in this episode, people buy from people. Everything you say or do in digital channels, especially social media, impacts your reputation for better or worse. And if you don’t take control of your narrative, then others will eventually define it for you. Eric breaks down personal branding in the trades while reminding contractors who the real heroes of their stories are. Join us as we discuss: - (6:42) Multiplying your networking reach through podcasting - (13:22) Why contractors need to stop trying to be the heroes - (20:06) Mastering your digital footprint in personal channels - (25:08) How Red Robin became a part of Eric’s online persona Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Facebook   - Rival Digital - Smart HVAC Marketing - ServiceTitan Referrals 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.

Mike Rudolf, COO at Sila Services, and his colleagues knew they needed to form valuable partnerships if they were going to fulfill their vision for growth. So they teamed up with ServiceTitan and private equity to step up their expansion efforts. But now they had a new problem. How would they efficiently integrate these new best practices in 23 locations? Thus, Sila’s Center of Excellence (CoE) was born. By funneling their subject matter experts through the CoE, Sila is continually evolving to keep up with their incredible growth. Mike and the CoE’s director, Marisa Samuel, gives us an exclusive peek into how the CoE makes their people and processes better, stronger, and faster by bringing creative champions together. Join us as we discuss: - (6:17) Sila Services’ partnerships and rapid two-year growth - (9:54) Identifying the need for the Center of Excellence - (18:07) Maintaining the CoE and measuring practical benefits - (25:07) A business-in-a-business structure for subject matter experts Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Mike Rudolf - Sila Services - Pantheon 2023 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.

Jason Rich joined the family business as a wrench-turner like his father, but the GM of Paradise Plumbing & Air Conditioning in Broward County, Florida, steadily morphed into an operations guru. After spending his early years wearing many different hats, Jason realized they needed to fuel their operational and marketing efforts if they wanted to kick their growth up a notch. Jason shares how a private equity partnership and a renewed focus on technology and brand awareness are securing their family business for generations to come.    Join us as we discuss: - (8:59) Ensuring legacy through a private equity partnership - (16:41) Boosting online presence and operational tech - (21:07) Why the call center is the heartbeat of operations - (25:18) Promoting short-form videos on social media Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Jason Rich - Paradise Plumbing & Air Conditioning - Legacy Service Partners 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.

Alyssa Rogers, Vice President at Rogers Heating & Cooling, is the ultimate hype woman for her team. Alyssa first dipped her toe into the trades by using her sales and marketing background to help her husband give their small-town family business a much-needed facelift. Now, she’s pushing people to “grow out of their seats” by giving leadership opportunities to anyone who wants to achieve bigger personal goals. Alyssa tells us how they grew their South Boston, Virginia business tenfold through branding, mentorship, and speaking business objectives into existence. Join us as we discuss: - (5:52) Branding and finding leaders in a small town - (14:40) Why personal goal-setting matters for your team - (20:10) How networking opens up new opportunities - (30:40) Podcasting as a local recruiting tool Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Alyssa Rogers - Rogers Heating & Cooling - Rogers Radio podcast 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.

How many hours do you spend monthly, or even weekly, on mundane tasks like creating SOPs or typing emails? ChatGPT and other AI tools are revolutionizing industries by taking the busy work off professionals’ plates, and the trades are no exception. The technology has made believers of Brianna Skiffington, Chief Product Officer of Ad Leverage, and Amanda Triolo, CEO of Grasshopper Heating & Cooling. They’re using ChatGPT to take their time back so they can focus on productivity and profitability. Brianna and Amanda talk about their marketing match made in heaven and how AI is impacting their respective fields for the better. Join us as we discuss: - (4:05) Leveraging marketing agencies to help grow your business - (9:04) How ChatGPT is impacting the trades industry - (16:52) Using AI and automation tools to streamline mundane work - (27:04) Empowering female leadership in the trades Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Brianna Skiffington - Ad Leverage - Amanda Triolo - Grasshopper Heating & Cooling - Open.ai - CXC.ai - Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals 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.

Angie Snow, our Principle Industry Advisor here at ServiceTitan, is one of our industry’s top experts on CSRs and call center culture. Leaning on 15 years of experience at Western Heating & Air Conditioning in Orem, Utah, Angie has trained many companies on customer call etiquette and sales tactics. So, of course, she was the top choice to answer your burning questions on the subject in this episode of our Toolbox on Call series. Tune in to hear answers to your burning questions about upselling memberships, customer reviews, booking rates, and more! Join us as we discuss: - (3:47) Justifying your value proposition in customer memberships - (9:01) Why customer reviews are essential to continued growth - (17:34) Qualifying customers by asking the right questions - (28:18) Basing CSR incentives on your desired outcomes Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Call 818-600-7185 to have your questions answered on a future Toolbox on Call episode!  - Western Heating & Air Conditioning 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.

The water treatment industry is booming in the home services market. Just like with HVAC or plumbing, the competition can be fierce. So how do Jonathan Brewster, VP of Business Development at Aqua Clear Water Systems, and his family stay ahead of the pack? They look outside their industry to find new perspectives so they can set themselves apart from the crowd. Jonathan spills the secret sauce on his water treatment company’s dynamic marketing tactics and how they build client relationships for life. Join us as we discuss: - (4:08) Being part of a father-son tag team in the trades - (8:45) Standing out with the Nightingale Principle - (14:19) Breaking down a dynamic sales presentation - (18:56) A golden opportunity for plumbing businesses Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Jonathan Brewster - Aqua Clear Water Systems 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.

When a client approached Stephanie Postell with a job offer in HVAC marketing during her time as a personal trainer, she had no idea where this journey would take her. Today, about ten years later, she and her husband own and operate Anchor Heating and Air in Charleston, South Carolina. The road to get there wasn’t easy, but the former kindergarten teacher stuck to a principle that she’s paying forward to other prospective business owners — be stubborn. Stephanie shares how she planned for Anchor’s success from day one by creating foundational procedures, pricing appropriately, and keeping a teaching mentality. Join us as we discuss: - (6:26) Pivoting a teaching background into technician training  - (15:20) Pricing, appearance, and leaving a lasting impression - (22:48) Why you need to plan for success from day one - (28:29) Owning mistakes and empowering a teambuilding culture Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Stephanie Postell - Anchor Heating and Air - Nexstar Network - Torch Network 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.