It’s Not Too Late to Expand Your Business in 2017!

Thinking Business Expansion? Now’s the time! According to a Small Business Economic Trends Report recently issued by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the significant surge in small business optimism that began in November of last year was still going strong in March of this year. Small business owners are remaining enthusiastic about the future of the economy and the direction of consumer confidence. They are encouraged by signs that this optimism is translating into economic activity such as capital investment and job creation.

2017 is turning out to be a good year for business owners, specifically contractors. According to a survey released by the Associated General Contractors of America, over 70 percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls this year. This is due to the fact that contractors expect private and public sector demand to increase in all market segments.

NFIB’s Small Business Survey also reports that small business optimism has soared to its highest level since 2004.

What does this mean for you and your business?

It means that now is a great time to consider expanding your business in preparation for this economic upswing.  Stay competitive by brainstorming the different ways you can expand!

Following are some tips:

Stay Informed: Consider attending industry specific trade shows/expos to stay current on innovation and trends. Subscribe and read key industry publications. Network through National Roofing Contractors Association, the local chamber of commerce, or other similar associations. This will give you ideas and build relationships.

Crew:  One of the major problems impacting the industry is finding skilled workers. Invest in hiring and training more employees in preparation for larger and more frequent projects throughout the year. You don’t want to lose a project because you didn’t have the required manpower or skill set.

Tools/Equipment:  Replace anything old and outdated with up-to-date quality equipment so you can stay on top of best practices and allow your business to run more smoothly. You wouldn’t want your equipment to break down onsite, or delay a job because you don’t have the most efficient tools.

Update Your Online Presence:  How does your website look? The company website and marketing is too often last on the list of priorities.  If it looks outdated or is hard to navigate, think about outsourcing to a professional website designer to give your business a modern and professional look. A cohesive brand identity is key to a successful online presence. Many times your site is the first impression customers will see, so invest in it to make it stand out.

Don’t Let Lack of Funds Hold You Back:  Many of our clients in the construction industry expressed that having extra cash allowed them to cover upfront costs and take on extra jobs. Being able to cover payroll and start projects when there is no down payment, or there is an unexpected payment delay, can help you benefit from profitable opportunities.

Set yourself up for success! Now is the time and we are always here to help!

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Unfortunately, customer complaints continue to be an area of interest and concern. And in today’s online world, complaints have become even more of a problem as disgruntled customers often post negative comments on social media.

No one likes dissatisfied customers, and most of us take pride in our work in an effort to please our customers. However, it is impossible to please everyone. Hopefully these tips can help you better understand and tackle the problem.

Here are 9 Tips for Handling Unhappy Roofing Customer Complaints!

Tip #1:

Not all customers are good customers. Some are just unhappy in life and no one can please them. It’s fine to fire a customer and agree to disagree.

Tip #2:

No matter how hard we try, things are not as easy to communicate as we hope, and sometimes miscommunication happens. Identify these areas and utilize photos, spec sheets and examples to make sure they are clearly defined.

Tip #3:

Service is about competence, not just being nice. Smile and be pleasant but follow the customer’s lead. Of course always be polite and efficient, but not too talkative or intrusive unless the customer encourages you.

Tip #4:

Train your employees what to do so they won’t try to figure it out as they go along. Make sure your field employees understand it is not their job to solve all customer problems but it is their job to be polite, listen and have the appropriate person contact the customer.

Tip #5:

Complaints are like balloons – when they are full of hot air, balloons and customers are both hard to manage. Once you let out the air, it becomes a lot easier. Listen and let the customer talk. Most reasonable people get upset because they don’t feel heard.

Tip #6:

Writing things down shows the customer you are listening. If you smile or frown, both can be taken the wrong way. If you write things down, people will also be more careful as to what they say.

Tip #7:

Deal with feelings first and facts later. Too often we try to be logical with upset people and we find ourselves going nowhere. Agreeing with their feelings does not mean you are agreeing with their version of the facts. Saying, “I can appreciate how you might feel that way, but …” can be a positive approach to the conversation.

Tip #8:

No matter how hard it is, keep your cool. In most situations, the least emotional person wins. No matter how much you are attached, try not to take it personally.

Tip #9:

The more work you do and the bigger your company gets, the more complaints you will have. It is just math, so don’t be too concerned about it.

The bottom line is that you can’t let a few complaints override the pleasant experience of doing good work and developing a satisfied customer base.

Take pride in what you do and don’t let those few exceptions spoil your attitude or those of your employees.

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We had dynamic, expert speakers and hands-on training from veteran metal roofing installers. Over 100 people from about 30 companies attended the conference, and we got to chat with almost everyone. We couldn’t ask for more. When it comes to metal roofing, Florida is full of dedicated professionals.

We’re always excited for the Metal Roofing Conference because it’s full of people who want to learn, hone their skills, and provide even better service for their customers. They’re our kind of people. Nobody’s ever done learning– and that definitely includes roofers, distributors, and manufacturers. No matter how good we are, we can always get better.

Though we loved the entire conference, there were definitely some favorite highlights.

The Most Frequently Asked Question

Far and away, solar panels got the most attention when it came to questions. Roofers were curious about their viability– both for their businesses and for homeowners. More homeowners are asking about solar panels now, and our clients want to pass on correct information to help those homeowners make informed decisions.

We refer out our solar panel materials, but we spend a good amount of time talking about them and thinking about them. Sun is abundant in Florida, and homeowners are increasingly interested in renewable energy and lowering their utility costs. It’s a trend we don’t see ending anytime soon.

We even dedicated some time to solar energy during our expert panel. Roofers are buzzing about the possibilities.

Our guess is, solar panels are here to stay, and they’re only going to become more popular in the next few years. The Solar Energy Industries Association website is full of great information for both roofers and homeowners, and it’s a great place to start if you’re curious about solar panels.

If you want to ask us, we’re happy to point you in the right direction, too. Solar panels are a hot topic, and we’re glad to help.

The People

The quality of attendees at a conference can make or break the event. Luckily for us, the Metal Roofing Conference is always full of great people. From roofers to sponsors, you never have to walk more than a few steps for a great conversation.

The networking is great. Roofers share advice and war stories in between speaking and training sessions. Office professionals swap stories and best practices, too. We had great discussions about production, sales, marketing, and life in general.

When you don’t see a client face-to-face for several months, it’s like seeing an old friend when you meet at the Metal Roofing Conference. Catching up with our favorite clients is something we always look forward to. The only sad part is there’s not enough time in the day to talk to everyone as much as you’d like to– if we had our way, we’d book a whole extra conference just for chatting and catching up.

We also got to spend some time with the dynamic couple who run Flynamics. Flynamics is an amazing company that produces breathtaking aerial photography and videography, and they were a huge hit at the conference. It was great to meet the people behind such innovative and useful technology.

The Education

The Metal Roofing Conference is all about education, and this year didn’t disappoint. We’ve been getting great reviews from our attendees, who took home tons of useful information. We learned a lot, as well.

Our hands-on training is always the most popular and most useful part of the event for most roofers. This year, we structured it a little differently. We dedicated special attention to the beginners’ roofing installation process. The entire first day was designed just for people with no previous experience in metal roofing. We were very pleased to see that our trainees left with the confidence and knowledge they need to install high-quality metal roofs for their clients.

Human Resources might not be the most popular topic in the world, but this year we had an opportunity to learn from the best. Marilyn McFarlane’s time on stage was extremely valuable– she spoke about key HR factors that can either sink a business or make it successful, and she also provided useful tips we can implement in many other aspects of our business. We know other attendees felt the same way, too. HR might not be glamorous, but it’s important for any successful business.

Scott Siegal from Certified Contractors Network gave a showstopping presentation, too. His session, The 7 Keys to Contractor Success, was a huge hit with our attendees. He spoke about the real issues roofers experience and identify with on a daily basis. Scott showed these roofers their problems have real solutions, and he gave insightful answers to a ton of great questions. Scott is a living example that a roofing business can be successful if the correct approach is taken.

The Highlight

Our attendees learned a lot and had a great time networking, but if you asked anyone what the highlight of the conference was, they’d respond with just one word– Flynamics.

We raffled off two Flynamics aerial photography drones. When the Fylnamics team came in and started flying one of their drones around, the excitement in the room was palpable. Everyone stayed for the demonstration and the raffle, because they were so captivated. It was amazing to see everyone go crazy for a small flying drone– but it’s easy to understand why they were so interested.

Flynamics drones are an amazing tool for roofers. Drone photography is an increasingly popular way for roofers to showcase their work with dazzling photography and videography. Homeowners are drawn to those images, and they really do an excellent job of presenting a roofer’s craft to their prospective clients.

If you want to see why these Flynamics drones were so popular with our roofer attendees, check out this gallery on their website.

Putting on the Metal Roofing Conference is a ton of work for everyone involved, but it’s all worth it when our attendees express their satisfaction. Everyone came out of the event with new friends, newfound knowledge, and maybe even a Flynamics drone.

The conference is always full of dedicated roofers who want to provide even better service for their clients, and they know the only way to do that is through continuing education. When it comes to providing great metal roofing, Florida is full of the best contractors in the country. We put on this conference for them, and we don’t plan to stop anytime soon.

If you’re looking to improve your roofing services, we hope to see you at the next event. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions or if you need a quick quote for your next metal roofing project.
~J.C.

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Ahh, the dog days of summer where baseball rules the calendar and you’re busy hustling and bustling with all your roofing projects. Our theme for this conference celebrates America’s pastime: baseball.

If your year is going well, that’s fantastic. We want to help you make it even better! Our three day conference is centered on showing you how to increase your sales and profits through metal roofing training.

The metal roofing business has grown into a $13 billion dollar industry. Come get your piece of the pie! At July’s conference you will be given the tools and tricks to make your roofing business flourish that much more.

Hands-on Training & More, but You’ll Have to Attend to Find Out!

Bring your entire crew! Over the three days we will have roofing training seminars focused on marketing, sales, human resources, ethics, and productions.

We will also take your installation crew and offer hands-on-training on how to properly install metal roofing.

The classes are small enough so you receive the best roofing training insights in the business. You’ll also be able to meet and share ideas with other roofing contractors and rub elbows with other successful minds in the business.

Even if you’re an experienced metal roofer, come polish your skills and learn some new tricks of the trade.

A Little Taste of What You Missed

As always, our conferences are fun, engaging, informative, and beneficial. Here’s a few photos from January’s conference.

We hope to see you at our next roofing training event this summer! Click below to register and hit a grand slam with your roofing business!

~J.C.

The post A Rendezvous of Roofers & The Best Training Around appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Gathering together as contractors, as business owners, as roofers, we always have a whole lot in common with each other, and we know how to have fun together. But, our main goal is to make sure that everyone who attends, walks away receiving valuable information that they can implement within their own businesses.

We Can Learn A Lot From One Another

We actually took the time to interview every single person in attendance about their experience at the conference. By far, the best feedback we’ve received was for the hands-on-training days themselves.

Of course, people loved the overall experience, but days two and three of the conference were spent getting our hands dirty. Gotta love it! Here’s a recap of what we covered!

Day Two

On the second day we covered:

• Roof layout and preparation
• Eave edge detailing
• Rake edge/ Roof to Wall detailing
• Soldering
• Q & A

And then, we came back for a third day!

Day Three

On our last day together, we finished up with:

• Even more soldering
• Cross Seam Detailing
• Pipe flashings

Then, we reviewed everything we went over and spent some time answering questions.

We noticed that both business owners and their installers attended the hands-on-training sessions. Some had never touched metal roofing before and were learning to install it for the very first time. By the end of the last day, they had a new found confidence in their metal roofing skills.

Planning for 2016

It’s great to learn new things and add value to your business at the same time. We feel grateful that we can be a source of support for you and your business in this way. We love this part of our job.

If you are interested in attending next years conference, visit our website. We are already throwing around theme ideas, but I can’t give that secret out just yet!

~J.C.

The post South Florida Metal Roofing Conference: The Key Takeaway! appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

For three days, we raffled off prizes, hired a DJ for break times, gave goodie bags to our VIP clients, (all while learning a lot as well) and everyone seemed to have a great time!

In all, we had about 80 people attend the first day of discussions which focused on marketing training. For days two and three, the hands on training sessions, we had about 25 people. It was awesome!

A Huge Thank You To Our Sponsors

Our fantastic sponsors really helped us take this conference to the next level! Triangle Fastener Corporation, Furman Insurance, Certified Contractors Network, G4 Marketing Group, Peterson Aluminum, Tarco Roofing, and ABC Supply: You guys rock! Thank you!

A Panel of Experts

And while we are thanking people, our expert panel has received rave reviews.

Frank Istueta of the wildly successful Istueta Roofing right here in Miami, Florida, led the group. Scott Siegal, the CEO of Maggio Roofing and President of Certified Contractors Network, added invaluable expertise. Alex Tejera, the Roofing Product Control Examiner for Miami (Dade County) brought tons of knowledge to the discussion. And, Bryan Kaskavalciyan, President of G4 Marketing, had great insights on the marketing end of any contracting business.

These guys did an awesome job getting everyone engaged and involved with every session, which really added to the experience! With such a wide variety of knowledge, there was great dialogue centered on so many aspects of implementing metal roofing into a business model, practical applications of metal roofing, marketing, and running a contracting business.

Don’t Miss The Next One – Reserve Your Spot for Next Year!

This conference was such a success that we already have people signing up for next years round! And we are already making big plans for it! For more information and to make a reservation, visit our website!
~J.C.

The post The South Florida Metal Roofing Conference was a Knockout! appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Meet Brian

We have a great lineup for you, and we are pretty excited to announce that Brian Kaskavalciyan will be our key speaker. He is an author, entrepreneur, and marketing strategist. His book How to Double Your Profits in 6 Months or Less is a bestseller.

His specialty is relationship marketing in the home improvement industry. We can’t wait to hear what he has to say.

And no, Oprah won’t be joining him.

Register Today

Here’s what we know so far: the first day of the Metal Roofing Conference is free of charge and will be packed with information on marketing, selling, and implementing metal roofing in your business.

The next day will cost $550 and will be loaded with hands-on training and practical how-tos.

You really don’t want to miss this! Last year’s conference was so much fun, and really helpful. We’re planning to make this one even bigger and better!

We hope to see you there!

~J.C.

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When: January 21-22, 2015

Where: The Double Tree MAC Center

How much: FREE

While we need your credit card information to reserve your spot – admission is actually free! It’s truly a bargain!

Day 1

The first day is filled with guest speakers and training on how to market metal roofing. Basically, it’s all about making more money off the products you are selling! Win!

Day 2

The second day of the is devoted to hands-on training. You will leave our conference with all sorts of new information to take your business to the next level. You’ll also receive an actual certification in metal roofing installation!

Let us know if you have any questions! We are looking forward to seeing you in January at the South Florida Metal Roofing Conference!

~J.C.

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These are photos from the conference and some hands-on training we did with Drexel Metals. Enjoy!

Thanks for all of your interest in the South Florida Metal Roofing Conference. We’ll see you all again in the fall!

~J.C.

The post Some Photos from the South Florida Metal Roofing Conference! appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

The whole event was geared toward learning how to grow your business by selling metal roofing in the South Florida area.

In case you weren’t there April 16 and 17, we wanted to go over what you missed.

Of course, whether you attended or not, you can always show up for the next one. That’s right – because of the outstanding reception this conference received, we’re already planning to do another one in the fall, around October or November!

What You Missed on Day 1

If you didn’t attend the first day of the conference, you missed some amazing presentations by impressive experts in the roofing industry. They included:

• Brian Partyka – Executive Vice President of Business Development at Drexel Metals
• Alex Miranda – Founder of The Creative Complex, a direct marketing agency in Miami
• Kevin Jimeno – Partner of Alex Miranda at The Creative Complex marketing agency

You would have heard what makes metal roofing better than other types of roofing, particularly in the South Florida area. You also would have heard how to sell the benefits of these metal roofs to your customers.

And in perhaps one of the most eye-opening parts of the day, you would have discovered how to brand and market metal roofs to your current customers, as well as how to get new clients through social media and online marketing channels.

Demand was high for this first day, with every seat filled, plus a few extras from people who wanted to attend and wouldn’t take no for an answer!

What You Missed on Day 2

The first day of the conference was free to reserve a seat, while the second day was $525.

Why did we charge a fee on the second day? It’s because we were able to offer hands-on training through Drexel Metals, a multi-national company, that included a certification in metal roofing!

Along with the certification was a 25 year warranty backed by Drexel Metals for the installers and contractors who attended. This unprecedented offer makes it much easier for roofers to sell the idea of metal roofing to their customers.

As it turns out, demand for this training and certification was very high as well. On the second day, we were supposed to have 8 installers, but we ended up with 12 because of the demand!

Bright Future for Metal Roofing

Overall, it was a fantastic showing and a wonderful event! We’re excited to see that so many roofing installers, contractors, designers, and homeowners in the South Florida area are getting interested in metal roofing.

We’re planning another conference in the fall. While the topics aren’t decided yet, you can be sure you’ll get some excellent value from it as well.

We hope to see even more of you then!

~J.C.

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