Design and accounting software are well known throughout the kitchen, bath and remodeling industry; but as anyone who has tried to run a business using just those two tools will probably tell you – those are just two small ingredients in the pie mix. Great,...
The sales process for a remodel is one that easily gets too complicated for the customer, and they back out before you even get a chance to show them a design. This is partly because there is a lack of communication between you and your potential customer, and that...
Homebuilding and remodeling are on the rise, so what does that mean for your business? Hopefully by now you are feeling the effects through an increase in sales, but how is your team handling that new business? Hiring binge Typically, when times are good, management...
It’s no secret, dealers and remodelers are jumping onto the blogosphere in droves for 2013. As buyers start their journey online up to two years in advance of their purchase, these savvy businesses are generating leads from their website before they ever walk into...
The kitchen and bath industry is full of artistic souls who create beautiful problem solving solutions through their designs. The problem is, they can’t always sell those wonderful spaces. It’s tough to accept that you are the most talented designer in your company,...
Every day, we make it our mission to brainstorm and present news to the industry that is found interesting or educational. Since there’s never enough time in the day, we also compile the most popular new content into a convenient newsletter, which you can sign...
Recently, we posted an article about why choosing software is so difficult. You, as a business professional, are not alone when it comes to decision anxiety. We’re all human – and we all want to make the right choices – your clients included. When...
Back in April, I attended Tammy Erickson’s KBIS presentation, “The Influence of the Generations on the Kitchen & Bath Market.” In part one of this post, we discussed how she broke down five generational groups and the influencers of each time period. Since...
We’ve talked a bit about Frugal Fatigue, or that pent up demand that consumers will be looking to release once the sun and the moon align. Recent solar events indicate that the time is near for that demand to be released. When it hits, will you be ready on every...
Let’s face it – rekeying customer, sales order and purchase order information into accounting systems is annoying, a waste of time and costly…so why do many dealers put up with it when there is no longer a need? Equilibrium now bi-directionally...
When you try to implement change at your business is there pushback? If not, consider yourself lucky. Often, when businesses make alterations that affect the daily tasks of their employees, those affected aren’t so welcoming of that change. But change is...
In part one, we discussed how too many choices dooms us to be unhappy. We left off with you making a list of everything you need your software to do…and that’s where things got ugly. Your list of twenty-seven high level things you need your software to do is about to...
Have you ever had a customer who just wouldn’t take no for an answer? They just didn’t understand that you couldn’t provide them with something – crazy right? Everyone has dealt with a customer like that. It’s the name of the game, and you’ve got to find a way to tell...
Well, another month came and went, but not without making a mark. Usually, April is just full of showers (or so it seems), but this year, alongside the showers, April brought lots of new educational content for kitchen and bath dealers and remodelers. But...
We equate choices with freedom. But we have so many choices these days that things are ridiculously debilitating. Just check out your local grocery store or electronics center. Choices produce paralysis. With so many options to choose from, people find it very...
The Dow hits 15,000 for the first time ever. Jobless reports point to continued economic growth and indicate 165,000 jobs added last month alone. Even the dollar has strengthened recently. What does all of this mean? We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired Our...
Technology – one could argue that it has made aspects of life less personal – facebook “pokes” replace actual reunions, half-assed emails took over handwritten letters, and texts have become the new phone call. It’s no surprise that some people aren’t willing to...
Running a business is a costly experience. There’s no doubt about that. But does it have to be an experience that leaves you feeling like you’ve put every dollar you’ve earned right back into the business so it will stay afloat? The answer is no, it doesn’t. You might...
I had the pleasure of attending Tammy Erickson’s presentation on “The Influence of the Generations on the Kitchen & Bath Market” last weekend at KBIS. Ms. Erickson sure knows her stuff. She broke down five generational groups and tied them back to a marketing...
As this year’s show kicked off, optimism seemed to be the keyword. From Gary Vaynerchuk’s opening address on “The Thank You Economy” to the New Orleans marching band and ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees were upbeat. Walking through the exhibits, I even overheard...
For those of you who have been reading avidly, you should have a pretty good idea of where we have come from and where we are going. For those of you who are new to the industry, or just to this blog, you can see that there is a need for businesses to learn how to...
Last year, we talked about reasons why you should attend industry trade shows. This year, we still believe they are worth your time. With good news from the housing segment, remodelers seeing more activity and cabinet dealers starting to struggle to keep up, things...
Let’s just say you’re at a crossroads. You’re in your customer’s shoes and you have a choice to either do business with a company who looks like they’ve got their shiz* together and one who says there will be nothing to worry about, but...
“Silence is a source of great strength,” said ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. If you take time to ponder that (in silence), you can see clearly why the thought developed. While it’s great to brainstorm with others and to duke things out (maturely) as needed,...
“Changing in the cabinet industry is hard.” We can’t tell you how many people we’ve heard this from. We remember when we first heard these words from a cabinet dealer owner years ago. He was so afraid of changing things because he was worried his salespeople might...
