Jim ClareyJim Clarey is owner at Fargo, N.D.-based Natural Accent Hardwood Floors. He can be reached via email.MarketingPerception Rules All: Building an Identity for Your Business, Part 2In Part 1 of this post, we talked about how critical it is build consciously build a business identity based on customers’ perceptions of your business, and how every aspect of every customer interaction with your business builds your identity. Let’s look at a few factors that can have a big impact on your identity:I would argue that there is no better place to start in building your identity than learning to say “no.”October 31, 2017MarketingPerception Rules All: Building an Identity for Your Business, Part 1We all know how important a good reputation, is right? We want customers to understand how great our work is and how outstanding our customer service is. We protect our reputation like a mother bear protecting her cubs, and when we get our first three-star review online, we get red-faced and furious. But your reputation is just one piece to a much larger and more important factor: your business identity. Your identity goes far beyond just your reputation, or what customers think of your “work.” It’s the customer’s perception of who you are, what you do and, most importantly, how you can help them.Everything about your business goes into the perception customers have about it.October 24, 2017ContractingBuilding Your Network: You Can Never Have Too Much HelpWhat does next week look like for you? Perhaps you have an installation with a new prefinished product to start on Monday; you’re thinking it may require gluing, but you’re not sure. And if it needs gluing, what glue should you use? Does your distributor even have it on hand? Maybe a customer wants to see samples of a penetrating oil, and they may want to add some cerusing effects you’ve never tried before. Or, you’ve just added your first employee and you’re worried you really don’t know how to manage, let alone do the accounting, for an employee. And on top of all that, you’ve just purchased a new rotary sander to bring your work to the next level, but now you’ve got to learn a new sanding process. You also don’t want to forget to learn what parts you need to keep on hand for the new machine so you can fix it in the field when it inevitably breaks down. It’s weeks like these that having easy access to a surplus of help is critical to your success, and three areas that you need to start looking to build your network are: local businesses and local competition, distributors/vendors and social media.I would start with the low hanging fruit. How well do you know your local businesses, especially your competition?Industry-specific Facebook groups have become invaluable for creating an enormous network of help for my business.April 26, 2017ManagementStop the Excuses and Take Responsibility For Your Wood Floor BusinessHere's how to stop blaming external factors you have no control over and take responsibility for your business.March 20, 2017Page 1 of 1Top StoriesDesignCraftsmanship Across the Globe: Introducing the Winners of the 2024 WFB Design AwardsHailing everywhere from Italy to Portugal to Cincinnati to Washington, D.C., to Brazil to Chicago (by way of Poland), the recipients of this year’s WFB Design Awards prove, through sweat and creativity, that true craftsmanship has no borders.Machines/ToolsMeet the Repairman Turning Edgers Into ArtworkContractingWhat’s Your Top Advice for When Things Get Slow?DesignWhite Oak vs. Red Oak: As Pressure Increases on White Oak, Red Oak Is a Versatile AlternativeSponsor ContentBona Traffic HD RAW® Damage Mitigation
