The plumbing business will always be around because everyday necessities aren’t just going to vanish. If you have a plumbing business, then the chances are that you won’t ever not be in demand – especially if you know what you’re doing and can get the job done for those you’re working with. There will be Read more
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The plumbing business will always be around because everyday necessities aren’t just going to vanish. If you have a plumbing business, then the chances are that you won’t ever not be in demand – especially if you know what you’re doing and can get the job done for those you’re working with. There will be plenty of other competitors about there, though, so you’ll have to do what you can to get ahead of your rivals. Like every other business, you’re going to be competing with people who want to take your spot, so it’s a case of making yourself more desirable.
In order to keep the business going, you’ll need to market yourself well and let people – near and far – know who you are (and what kinds of things you can offer). Expanding your reach is a key part of finding long-term success. Here are a few ways you can do it:
Be Active Online
Pretty much everything is done online in this day and age. If you’re not online right now, then you might need to get a move on and begin. So many working opportunities can be found online. There are, of course, still traditional means, but they are being swallowed up by the new-found styles. You can use your online presence to attract more and more people. Think about the likes of social media and how quickly you can transmit your message to those in need.
You can also use your online presence and skills to network with other businesses, potential employees, and all kinds of different contacts. The fact that you can get in touch with somebody so important, so quickly, makes the need to be online even greater than it already is.
Work On Digital Marketing
Sticking with the theme of working online, it’s wise to market yourself using more modern means. Things like social media marketing, viral marketing, seo company, and plenty of other ways that involve digital platforms are the way forward. Billions of eyes are on computer screens, tablets, and smartphones, so you’ll want to make the most of the opportunity. There are plenty of people just waiting to be wooed by what you have.
Get Your Name Out There Where You Can
Using signs, posters, business cards, vehicle advertising, and plenty of the more traditional methods is still as popular as ever. You’re going to want to make people know that you’re around and that you have something for them. If they see enough of you, then they’ll be more inclined to make a positive decision. Word of mouth marketing is – and has always been – one of the best ways of getting your name out there, so don’t forget about the simpler ways of doing it.
Produce The Best Possible Results
At the end of the day, if you’re giving people what they want, then you’re going to be doing a good job. They’ll always come back if they’re satisfied with you. What you don’t want is to be all bark and no bite. Saying you’ll do a good job and proving a substandard one will just make you look even worse!
There’s no denying that the COVID-19 coronavirus has made life challenging for businesses – especially ones where contractors come into close contact with the public. Nowadays, consumers are more wary about being in close proximity to people outside their families. As a plumber, you still need to operate your business and earn a living. With Read more
There’s no denying that the COVID-19 coronavirus has made life challenging for businesses – especially ones where contractors come into close contact with the public. Nowadays, consumers are more wary about being in close proximity to people outside their families.
As a plumber, you still need to operate your business and earn a living. With that in mind, how can you streamline your plumbing business during COVID-19? Here are a few ways to help create a safer working environment, protecting both yourself and your customers:
Accept Only Contactless Payments
Cash might have been an acceptable choice before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it’s crucial you adapt how payments get accepted by your business. You can achieve that goal by politely refusing cash payments and only taking contactless ones.
These days, it’s easier than ever to accept debit and credit card payments from customers while you’re out on site. Try this point of sale system, for example, to accept card payments using a mobile card reader terminal.
Such solutions can even print receipts out for customers, which they can tear off the mini receipt-printer themselves. Alternatively, you could offer to email your customers an invoice for their payment.
Today’s mobile payment solutions also work with NFC devices like smartphones. They give your customers even more contactless payment options for convenience and safety.
Offer Customers Remote Video Quotes
As a plumber, your work will often require you to visit customer’s homes and business premises to survey any problems or work needed before offering a quote. As you can imagine, it makes sense to socially distance yourself from others as much as possible.
An innovative way to furnish customers with quotes for any non-emergency work is by having a video call with them. You can then ask them to point their mobile device to the areas where work is required so you can do a visual inspection remotely.
Both iPhones and Android devices come with free video call software (FaceTime and Google Duo, respectively). Alternatively, you could both use other methods, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Zoom.
Ask Customers to Email Images of Plumbing Issues
Another way to provide quotes to your customers remotely is by asking them to take photographs that illustrate any plumbing problems they are experiencing and email them to you.
You can then use that visual evidence to determine the most likely cause of their problems and provide an accurate quote for any remedial work. If it’s more convenient for them, your customers could send the messages to you via Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
If the problem relates to a leaking pipe or faucet, for example, you could also ask them to take a short video clip of the issue on their mobile device and share that with you instead.
Provide Receipts Electronically
Lastly, if you usually fill out a receipt from a duplicate or triplicate receipt book, it makes more sense to send receipts electronically to your customers. Again, this can get done via email or through one of the various social networking messaging apps.
The plumbing industry has been essential through the rise of the pandemic over the last year or so. Thankfully, this means many plumbers have been able to continue working (while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines) rather than losing out on all essential work. However, because of the rate the virus spreads, there’s also a very large Read more
The plumbing industry has been essential through the rise of the pandemic over the last year or so. Thankfully, this means many plumbers have been able to continue working (while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines) rather than losing out on all essential work. However, because of the rate the virus spreads, there’s also a very large chance that many people have put off plumbing issues in their homes in fear of letting someone new into their homes.
Now there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and vaccines are beginning to be administered into the most vulnerable people, the rate of infection and other statistics should continue to drop. This means the world can get back to some sort of normality, and this means more people will be willing to let plumbers into their homes to fix their problems. However, with so many plumbers like you out there, how are you going to ensure you get your fair share of customers? Take a look at these effective methods to increase your customer base in a post pandemic era.
Show case studies
Case studies are a wonderful way of proving to potential clients that you can do the best work, whether it’s tightening a leaking pipe or fitting a new bathroom. At each project, take plenty of pictures (with the owner’s consent, of course) and use them on your website and at each pitch to help get potential customers on board with you, rather than other plumbers.
Continue to abide by safety laws
Even when everyone has had their vaccines, there’s still bound to be fear for many potential customers that the virus could be spread in their home. Continuing to abide by safety laws in your country or region will help them feel at ease. Many business owners are taking advice from Carlos Ramirez Safety to ensure the work they’re doing is as safe as possible for both themselves, and their clients. A professional plumber is almost always more likely to be hired over someone who’s not willing to put safety first.
Talk about your services on social media
Social media is the way forward in this day and age, and if you want to attract more customers, you should be using platforms like Facebook and Instagram to showcase the work you’re doing. Much like case studies, you can use pictures and videos to show transformations you’ve completed, as well as displaying your contact details and price list. Using the right hashtags will help you reach the right people and doing it consistently will ensure they call you when they have a plumbing issue.
Create an offer that’s hard to refuse
Finally, all plumbers will be looking to increase their customer base once restrictions begin to lift, so you need to get ahead of the game. Create offers and discounts for new and returning customers to help ensure people choose you over your competitors. Remember to always reward loyalty, and welcome new customers differently to make each customer feel as special as possible.
Every day thousands of people across the country deal with unexpected plumbing disasters. Toilets overflow, pipes burst and garbage disposals give out. Because of this, every day local plumbers are answering these calls. They’re showing up, day or night, to help get your home or commercial property back in working order, because as we all Read more
Every day thousands of people across the country deal with unexpected plumbing disasters. Toilets overflow, pipes burst and garbage disposals give out. Because of this, every day local plumbers are answering these calls. They’re showing up, day or night, to help get your home or commercial property back in working order, because as we all know, water emergencies don’t wait for office hours and they don’t respect weekend schedules.
Who exactly are these local heroes answering the calls? In many cases, they’re a small business owner and local franchisee operating under a nationally respected brand.
As America celebrated National Small Business Week, April 30 – May 4, it is the perfect time to spotlight the local plumber franchisees who tackle our dirty jobs.
But aren’t all franchises run by big corporations? They don’t care about our small community. Wrong! One of the most common misconceptions about a franchise brand is that each location is just another dot on a map. In reality, the local franchisee that’s answering your call and getting your bathroom back in working order on a Saturday is more than likely a member of your community. Just because they’re operating under a larger company name doesn’t make them any less of a small business owner than if they had started it all from the ground up.
The reality is that franchises are a network of small business owners that come together to champion the same brand. And together, they make a huge impact.
In fact, small businesses make up the majority of plumbing services in the U.S. Local franchisees, like ours at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, are part of the nearly 90% of American businesses that employ fewer than 20 workers.
Individually they may seem small, but these so-called small businesses are a mighty force, celebrated each year by the U.S. Small Business Association during National Small Business Week.
As they continue to answer the call to handle “dirty jobs,” a plumbing franchise has staying power in the small-business realm. Able to weather recessions, plumbing has proven to be a need. No matter the economic conditions, plumbing services are always in demand.
As U.S. homeowners face more pressing water-related issues, including environmental impacts like water quality, professional plumbers are ready to jump in and get their hands dirty. Be it leaky faucets, running and/or overflowing toilets or tree root removal, no job is too large or small, or too dirty, for a local plumber.
So, as we celebrate National Small Business Week, I urge everyone to see the bigger picture and appreciate the local heroes that show up each day to answer our plumbing disaster calls. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. And we’re glad to be that solution.
Gary Findley is the CEO of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain headquartered in Waco, Texas.
#WeMeanProgress and #TheQuestforProgress were prominent hashtags and underlying themes at the this year’s Uponor Convention in Las Vegas. “I like the word ‘quest,’ because it represents a journey,” says Bill Gray, president, Uponor North America. “We are on a never-ending journey to bring solutions for everyday problems to our customers. Uponor is never going to Read more
#WeMeanProgress and #TheQuestforProgress were prominent hashtags and underlying themes at the this year’s Uponor Convention in Las Vegas. “I like the word ‘quest,’ because it represents a journey,” says Bill Gray, president, Uponor North America. “We are on a never-ending journey to bring solutions for everyday problems to our customers. Uponor is never going to stop striving to get better and better.”
Getting ready for the keynote.
The biennial show continues to get better, and impress. What began in March 2000 as a customer appreciation event for a couple of hundred radiant installers has grown into one of the industry’s largest networking, educational and advocacy events for professionals who install, design and specify PEX in the residential and commercial building markets. Uponor customers, including wholesale distributors, home builders, specifying engineers and plumbing and mechanical contractors, as well as Uponor personnel, independent sales agents and media from both the U.S. and Canada were in attendance.
Today, more than 1,200 participants learned, connected and were entertained. The framework of the show features a one-day, all-in educational experience to not only learn more about Uponor’s direction in North America and across the globe, but also features breakout sessions taught by some of the best in the industry.
A few of the educational break-outs I attended included Milwaukee Tools’ Increasing Productivity Through Innovation, where senior product manager, Alex Boll, showed off some of Milwaukee’s latest products and discussed advancements in batteries, motors and electronics, and how Milwaukee is revolutionizing the industry with innovative, trade-specific solutions.
Milwaukee Tool senior product manager, Alex Boll, discusses the latest product offerings from the company.
In addition, it is always a good listen to sit in on anything Robert Bean—the comfort guru—teaches. Bean, president of Indoor Climate Consultants Inc., teaches courses related to the business and engineering of buildings, indoor climates and radiant-based HVAC systems. He shares everything he knows at www.healthyheating.com. The breakout, “Designing with Distinction: Strategies for high-performing radiant systems,” was a welcome addition to this year’s Uponor Convention line-up.
In addition to educational seminars, Uponor features a “mini” trade show with industry partners, with Taco, Milwaukee Tools, Navien, Grundfos, Rinnai, Greyter Water Systems, Trimble, among others.
But front and center of the trade show floor was Uponor’s Phyn Plus, which protects your home from leaks the moment it is connected. It then begins to learn how your family uses water as you go about your routine. Over time it gets smarter, unlocking new capabilities and offering you insights. And in the future, it will help you understand and better manage your water.
https://youtu.be/4fvecIjHpSY
The convention was the site of the first official training session for an initial group of 100 professional plumbing installers who qualified to join the Uponor Pro Squad. More than 2,500 additional plumbers will participate in training in coming weeks via online and in-person sessions.
“This training was an exciting and important milestone in the launch of Phyn Plus,” said Dena Mayne, vice president, Marketing & Customer Experience, Uponor North America. “Not only did it mark the official commercialization of the device in North America, but the session also enabled us to help this network of professionals advance the plumbing industry into the digital era by using data and insights to change the way consumers think about the water in their homes.”
The Uponor Pro Squad
One of the newest participants in the Uponor Pro Squad network is plumbing and HVAC contractor Rich Trethewey, the plumbing and heating expert on the national home-improvement show “This Old House” and its two popular spinoffs, “Ask This Old House” and “Inside This Old House.” Trethewey, who attended the training session in Las Vegas, will feature the Phyn Plus device on a This Old House episode scheduled to air in the fall.
The Phyn Plus display at the Uponor Convention held at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas.
While spending most of the immersing myself in keynotes and breakout sessions, one thing was abundantly clear, the future is coming, and in many cases, it is already here.
Duh, the future is coming, no kidding! In any event, things like driverless cars to artificial intelligence and robotics to augmented and virtual reality are here already or not too far off in the distant future.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it,” said keynote speaker, Jack Uldrich, a leading global futurist, as he was quoting management consultant Peter Drucker. “The world can change quickly and we need to be aware of it,” continued Uldrich, addressing the convention crowd on the ever-evolving construction industry.
What will the future look like? “Predictably unpredictable,” says Uldrich. The key is embracing paradox, learn to unlearn, recognizing failure as a key to one’s success and understanding that an awareness of one’s experience is a key component to true wisdom. Experience doesn’t really mean a thing if you continue to work or view the workplace the same every day, suggests Uldrich. For example, “Reverse mentor someone with less experience than you to help you see the world differently.”
An attendee goes virtual during a demo at the trade show, donning VR glasses.
As leaders, says Uldrich, we need to be adaptable and be flexible to change, and it’s time to start thinking about the future. As professionals, we need to—what Uldrich calls—“jump the curve” to understand how the following trends are transforming the economy and altering our future:
• Artificial Intelligence: SmartVid.IO built out its technology which applies sophisticated algorithms to study video footage of construction sites, says Uldrich. For example, if a worker isn’t wearing a hard hat or a set of stairs doesn’t have a safety railing, the system alerts the site supervisor. “The technology is like having a job site inspector who never sleeps. Even if it prevents one accident, the technology more than pays for itself,” said Uldrich.
• Robotics: One innovative application comes from Built Robotics which uses its ability to excavate foundations. “Instead of using equipment operated by human drivers, why not employ a system that can work around the clock without sleeping or taking coffee breaks?” said Uldrich.
• Virtual Reality: “We need to leverage virtual reality to train the next generation of workers,” says Uldrich. Mortenson Construction is already employing Daqri Technologies’ “smart helmet” technology to allow construction workers to overlay digital information onto actual construction site locations. In a hands-free manner, the technology allows pipefitters, electricians, plumbers and other construction professionals to better understand how to most efficiently complete their jobs.
The ever-charismastic Wes Sisco, senior training manager for Uponor, engages with attendees.
• Prefabrication: Industry leaders are using innovative technology to inspire collaboration and design, says convention breakout speaker, James Benham, CEO, JBKNOWLEDGE. For instance, “Prefab is the future of construction,” says Benham.
Tom Palange, J.C. Cannistraro, has said, more and more projects have creative applications for prefabricated components, and the company is well-positioned to adapt as a result of years of training, planning and process improvements. “We’ve fully embraced the modular movement and have made significant investments in equipment and facilities to maximize our capacity to produce modular bathrooms, piping systems, mechanical rooms, hospital headwalls, pump skids, and more … the possibilities are endless,” says Palange
According to Uldrich, these examples are the not only ones revolutionizing the construction industry. 5G technology, social media, Internet of Things (IoT) and big data will continue to converge and, in the process, transform the construction industry.
The message was clear at this event: in terms of tool innovation, construction disruption and high-performance radiant and water systems, it’s time to start looking to the future and think about “jumping the curve.”
For a recap of the convention, check out this link to the video:
https://vimeo.com/265202186/ba1ec09f5c