WoodDefender Newsletter
December 2006
Excellent Turnout For The November Training Class:
Congratulations to the attendees at our November training class. This class had an exciting mix of people from various backgrounds. In attendance were realtors, decorative concrete installers, fence company owners and other entrepreneurs. The group as a whole really fed off of each others differing views and ideas of approaching different situations.
With less than ideal conditions (slightly windy) we were still able to complete a 233 ft. fence including cleanup in just under an hour with $529.60 in profit priced at .28 cents a sq. ft. It is always exciting to show a class how efficient you can be on a jobsite when using Wood Defender equipment, stains and clean up procedures. As always, we appreciate you taking the time to travel to Mansfield, Texas to attend.
Standard Paint’s News:
We are currently in the planning stages of our first "Wood Defender Convention". In an effort to increase the networking of the Wood Defender applicators we have decided to plan a National Convention in which everyone will be invited to attend. We have witnessed the regional success with a couple of our customers who talk on almost a daily basis; grow simply due to being able to bounce ideas off of one another and sharing marketing successes. More to follow…
Competition
In our conversations with individuals interested in the Wood Defender business opportunity one topic is always brought up…..competition. It seems that in most cases, people are concerned that someone else in their area may also start staining fences and hurt their opportunity. This simply isn't the case. In fact, it has the exact opposite affect on their success. Much like if you see a Home Depot more than likely you will see a Lowes across the street. Competition creates demand for a service or product and the fence staining business is no different.
A start up business in a new area with no competition has a much more daunting task with regards to marketing than the same business in an area with a few competitors. What we mean is, without competitors you will have to first sell your potential client on your idea before you can sell them on the service. Standard Paints has no interest in flooding a market with individuals applying the Wood Defender product because we realize that wouldn't help anyone, but on the whole COMPETITION isn't always a bad thing, in some cases it makes your job easier.
Growing Your Business..."Take it to the next level!"
As we talked about in last months newsletter, set a goal for your company and success will certainly follow. However, depending on how ambitious those goals are it will require some changes within your organization to achieve.
Hire an assistant:
For example, if your goal is to grow your company by 50% over the next fiscal year, we can almost guarantee that you will need to spend more time selling. Therefore, you will need to hire and train an assistant to stain the fences. This will free up valuable time to knock on neighbors doors and distribute door hangers. One excellent way to ensure that your assistant is working at a pace your happy with is to pay him by the square foot. This is an incentive for him to work diligently and earn more than just an hourly rate. The profitability of this business allows you to pay a worker a great wage and receive top notch work in return.
Upgrade your equipment:
We all know that you must sell yourself before you can sell the service. Nothing helps you do this more than a professional appearance which in this business includes your equipment.
If you currently own a ST-250 you have the best stain application machine money can buy but it may be time to consider placing it in an enclosed trailer and having a vinyl wrap installed. The vinyl wraps for less than $2000.00 pay for themselves in a short amount of time because they serve as a mobile billboard and increase awareness of your company and service within your community.
You may consider adding a Bleach Package and Double Hose Reel to your ST-250 to aid in those jobs that require cleaning prior to staining. Remember, this system can be plumbed to your ST-250 which will also give you the ability to spray stain with two guns on large jobs.
Tech Tips
In this months "Tech Tips" we will discuss how to clean the tanks and lines on the machine. As mentioned in the November Newsletter, the lack of scheduled maintenance on the ST-250 in some cases leads to neglect.
First, a little trouble shooting is necessary. If the machine is not showing pressure on the gauge is the inline filter clean? If the filter is clean we need to figure out why the pump is not getting product. To do this, close all valves and place a rag under the filter before removing it. With the filter removed and the line open, we can check to see if a hose is clogged not allowing stain the reach the pump. To do this, slowly open valve #1 (tank #1) and see if stain comes out the open filter. If stain doesn't flow out of the open filter then the line is clogged at some point between the valve and the tank. If you have access to an air compressor you can simply insert the air hose into the open filter, open the valve that has the clog and blow the clog back into the tank.
This will be a temporary fix until time is taken to thoroughly clean the tanks eliminating any skins that may be present. To do this you will need to drain the tank completely. Then take some rags and mineral spirits and scrub the inside of the tank removing all traces of dried skins. Unless this step is taken a clog is inevitable.
As mentioned in last month's newsletter, "Tank Maintenance" is the key. If you will rinse the inside of the tanks with mineral spirits on a regular basis you won't have the down time associated with a clogged hose.
Update:
Last months class attendee Josh Amaton with Cobalt Stain & Seal is well on his way to meeting his goal! In less than a month Josh has used the 100 gallons that came with his package purchase and has since reordered an additional pallet. Glad everything is going as planned and we are looking forward to seeing pictures of the boat!
T-Bar Fence Inc. - Brad Smith
Brad Smith, Production Manager for T-Bar Fence Inc. in Arlington, Texas has been a customer of ours for the past two years buying stain for their pre-dipping operation. They have been very successful offering pickets stained prior to the installation of the fence but Brad saw the opportunity for the post stained market and purchased the ST-250. He installed the machine in an enclosed trailer, had logos placed on the trailer and was in business. Now, T-Bar Fence has increased their revenue by not only staining the fences that they construct but also get to capitalize on fences that their competition build.
Brad started like our other successful applicators, with a door-to-door marketing campaign. Now that he has established his business in a few neighborhoods he relies on the door hangers to keep the business rolling. Brad has mentioned on more than one occasion that his presence within these select neighborhoods drives his business more than anything. His past customers call him by name and refer him to other home owners in the area. He has taken the time to build a rapport with the citizens of the community and it has paid huge dividends for his business.
Shortly after Brad had his staining business running he purchased his 2nd ST-250 and helped another employee of T-Bar Fence Inc. get started in the business on a part time basis. He recently told me that he had plans of buying his 3rd ST-250 and getting it on the streets in the spring 2007.
Brad Smith is a very goal oriented individual. Nearly every time he calls to place an order we visit on the phone about what he is working towards. He has recently purchased 15 acres south of Ft. Worth with the intention of building a nice home for his family. Our last conversation ended with Brad stating that he was planning on having the land paid for in less than a year.....and fence staining was going to pay for it.
Congratulations on your success keep setting yourself goals and you'll always have something to work towards.