http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com Business Tips for the Residential Service Contractor Fri, 18 May 2012 20:11:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/pricing-response-charges-part-1/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/pricing-response-charges-part-1/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 18:13:56 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1941 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/pricing-response-charges-part-1/feed/ 0 The fastest way to a strong bottom line is to build the top line. While the small business owner must always watch expenses, no one can save their way to prosperity. The surest way to build the top line is good marketing. The four P’s of marketing are product, price, place, and promotion. Over the rest of this series, we will deal with each, but will start with pricing. For service companies, pricing breaks down into four areas... http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-feather-or-the-brick/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-feather-or-the-brick/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 16:09:58 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1933 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-feather-or-the-brick/feed/ 0 Motivation is what causes us to take action. What motivates you is different from anyone else, though there are some commonalities. You can’t make someone learn. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. And if the student isn’t ready, well, the teacher may hit a brick wall. This applies to you, too. Sometimes the reward is so enticing you’ll do anything to get it. Bring on the feather. Sometimes the pain gets so great you will do anything to make it stop. Be grateful for the brick... http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-ultimate-pl-statement/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-ultimate-pl-statement/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 15:58:17 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1929 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-ultimate-pl-statement/feed/ 0 Imagine bidding a job to supply and install the plumbing, heating and air conditioning for a new home or building, without any drawings, plans and specifications to go by. The owner just says, “Oh, it will be a two-story dwelling with a bunch of rooms.” Nobody in his or her right mind would take on such a job. But guess what? Most PHC contractors do something just as silly when it comes to running their businesses... http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/order-up/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/order-up/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 18:48:28 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1922 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/order-up/feed/ 0 I am a restaurant person. My first job was handing out cheese samples in the mall for a gourmet cheese company. That was my first job serving food and making sales. I love restaurants…and have worked in virtually every position on the org chart. Perhaps I would still be in the restaurant business if my husband hot rod’s partner had not died. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-plight-of-our-trade/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-plight-of-our-trade/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 18:07:47 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1917 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/05/the-plight-of-our-trade/feed/ 0 I have received numerous letters more or less along the same lines, but none as eloquent as what you are about to read. Please excuse it’s length, but it is the heart-felt story of a plumber’s career and he deserves to be heard. It requires no further commentary from me. It speaks for itself... http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/pin-it-to-win-it/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/pin-it-to-win-it/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:47 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1911 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/pin-it-to-win-it/feed/ 0 From a business standpoint, Pinterest may be the next best social media community and an opportunity to connect with your customers in a powerful way. If women are your target market, you are in the right place. A flat out sales pitch is not a good first approach. Consider instead how to make friends and influence people. Social media is replacing the backyard fence. Relationships first. Then, add some relevant, entertaining images of what you do, why and how... http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/birds-of-a-feather/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/birds-of-a-feather/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:00:03 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1904 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/birds-of-a-feather/feed/ 0 For 20 years I traveled all over this country attempting to stamp the message of profitability into the lives of the wonderful people in this great industry, and teach them self-respect for the indispensable work they do. It has been a burning passion of mine. At various times I tried to enlighten, cajole, embarrass or do whatever else it takes to get the message across. I made numerous friends along the way – as well as a few enemies. What is frustrating to me, however, is knowing that my articles and seminars are not enough. If a seminar was all it took for a contractor to turn his or her life around, you would find me presenting them every week of the year. A seminar helps, but it takes more... http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/just-sprinkle-on-salesmanship/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/just-sprinkle-on-salesmanship/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:30:58 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1893 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/just-sprinkle-on-salesmanship/feed/ 0 As many of you know, Bio-Clean® is one of the best add-on sales products available to service plumbing contractors. This environmentally friendly biological drain cleaner, which comes in powdered form, is a trade exclusive sold directly to plumbing contractors. This little gem is key to upping your average ticket and showing your clients that you do more than just install and repair. But, how do you get your service techs to sell it? http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-manager/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-manager/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:47:25 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1889 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/04/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-manager/feed/ 0 What does it Mean to be a Manager… Today, let’s embrace the Manager position. Stephen Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.” The “end” or the goal of the Manager is to have the people who report to you performing at or above minimum standards of performance. It’s an awesome responsibility and it can be a super satisfying career. The problem with the word “Manager” Have you ever noticed this: Someone gets promoted to manager because they are a fireball of energy and productivity? Then, he or she becomes a chair-bound bossy-pants who never seems to actually do anything. http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/03/cultivating-leaders-for-the-future-leaders-from-within/ http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/03/cultivating-leaders-for-the-future-leaders-from-within/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:17:06 +0000 caryn.ethridge http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/?p=1874 http://www.shubeebusinesstips.com/2012/03/cultivating-leaders-for-the-future-leaders-from-within/feed/ 0 Leadership is an important component of all successful HVAC, plumbing, and electrical independent contracting companies. But a strong and mature leader is one who desires to mentor, grow, and cultivate future leaders that are following in their footsteps. While recruiting great coworkers is always an important part of growing a company, it is also vitally important that leaders cultivate leadership skills in longtime and loyal coworkers that have been part of their company team through good and bad.