Toolbox for the Trades

When Spencer Tippetts, Director of Business Development at Rainforest Plumbing & Air, joined the family business in 2019 to help expand their residential unit, he knew they had opportunities for improvement. Employee turnover, mismanagement, and outdated processes were all pain points that were impacting their bottom line… not to mention the company’s culture. So Spencer got to work on helping his dad and brother turn things around with some tricks he learned from his corporate days. Spencer gives the inside scoop on bringing commercial and residential services together in a family business by building them around the customers they serve.   Join us as we discuss: - (6:58) Encouraging dissenting opinions during family “rumbles” - (12:46) The cashflow advantage to operating multiple services - (21:01) Scaling a new division with universal business practices - (27:32) The cultural impact of giving your employees a voice Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Let’s Rumble by Brene Brown  - Tony Robbins Results Coaching 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 on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Contractors across the country continue to struggle with putting technicians in their trucks. But Ryan Englin, CEO of Core Matters, believes those entrepreneurs don’t have a hiring problem. They have a retention problem. And it’s because too many employers focus on showmanship over substance in job postings and interviews. Drop in to hear Ryan dish out some hard-hitting truth about why owner-operators need to be more authentic in their recruitment processes if they want to hire better people faster. Join us as we discuss: - (5:07) The marketing issue behind recruitment and retention  - (10:31) How authenticity can make or break working relationships - (19:14) Intangibles you actually should be looking for in new candidates - (30:45) Proof of concept mistakes to avoid during interviews Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Talent Tackle Box  - PDP Global ProScan 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 on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you couldn’t make it to the incredible Pantheon 2023 conference in Orlando, then don’t worry — we’re bringing the party to your ears! We sat down with over a half dozen incredible men and women in the trades, who each gave us a little taste of their experience at this year’s event. From networking tips to new tech teasers, you won’t want to miss these insights from some of the finest minds in the industry. Join us as we sit down with: - (1:35) Mary Anglen, Executive Director at Lightfoot Mechanical Services  - (9:51) Rick Vines, Master Plumber at Vines Plumbing and Water Restoration  - (16:44) Lincoln Walpole, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Office Operations at Any Hour Services  - (23:41) Justin Tarr, President of Daffy Ducts  - (33:08) Aizik Zimmerman, CEO of J. Blanton Plumbing  - (41:18) David Brewster, Owner of Aqua Clear Water Systems, and Lydia Brewster, Warehouse and Marketing Manager at Aqua Clear Water Systems   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 on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.