Archive for October 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, American Home Improvement & Re-Bath of West Texas celebrated their anniversary with a big sales event. With over 33 appointments set within 5 hours, the amout of traffic, and the optimistic mood I almost forgot we were in what many are saying “a depression”. West Texans still have homes and still see the need for companies like Re-Bath to offer such an affordable way to “fix” up their homes.
Bathrooms continue to be considered a necessity and will weather the “storm” better than many other high item purchases that are considered luxuries. Rodney & Karen Martin bought a siding and window company almost 15 years ago. Today, American Home Improvement has grown to include quality products that are designed to improve homes to fit lifestyles, including sunrooms and patios.
Re-Bath, a national franchise, caught Rodney’s eye 4 years ago. “I began to see that bathrooms was a necessity and a room that showed wear and tear fast,” explained Rodney. He bought the West Texas franchise territory and with an overwhelming response from his customers. Saturday’s turnout confirmed this. Almost everyone who walked into the doors wanted to see our “bathrooms”.
American Home Improvement still sells siding and windows, in fact it is their core product. However, the Martins will continue to explore bringing on new products and services that are important to homeowners. In fact, be on the lookout for something new and exciting in January. Hint: your new year’s resolution, to be more organized, will love this product!
Congratulations American Home Improvement & Re-Bath of West Texas!
—Hillary Kilpatrick
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Re-Bath of San Angelo
- Open House Success
Oct 11th turned out to be a perfect day. Re-Bath of San Angelo hosted an Open House event at their newly remodeled showroom from 10 to 3 and gathered 32 set appointments from it. I think 4 of those set appointments were made the week before off of the Event Advertisements so Clayton (owner) included these in the final count.
After organizing over 17 of these “showroom” events, I have never seen such team work and preparation from a client to ensure a successful day. To say I was impressed just doesn’t cut it. I was proud. Clayton, Randy, Peggy and ALL their installers & salesmen were ready and WILLING to do everything and anything to make this event work for them. I arrived Friday night at 9pm in San Angelo and headed straight out to the showroom. They were still working to set up for the big day. In the parking lot, stood an enormous tent housing rows of tables and bathroom displays.
I didn’t really have to do anything, these guys knew the drill. They had already organized the “cooking”, the balloons, the signs, and the people. Two things they did that really impressed me were 1.) had the installers be the primary people to talk to customers to get an appointment. 2.) they had door prizes from businesses all over town that were FREE.
Having the installers talk to the customers was perfect because they did NOT know pricing but knew the product. A monetary incentive to get that appointment set was given and they were able to make some extra money that day. I thought this was a great idea and could be used for my other clients. It also, creates a sense of “team” when everyone is working for the same goal.
I saw a well organized “team”, however, according to the head installer, they were a family. Before the day began that Saturday, everyone came together to give the Lord glory for the day. I was proud to be apart of this family and look forward to watching them grow this next year
Congratulations Re-Bath of San Angelo!
-Hillary Kilpatrick
—Hillary Kilpatrick
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thank you Mr. Godin.
When times are good, buying things is a sport. It’s a reward. The story we tell ourselves is that we deserve it, that we want it and why not?
When the mass psychology changes and times are seen as not so good, the story we tell ourselves changes as well. Now, we buy out of defense, to avoid trouble. Or we buy because something will never be as cheap again. Or we buy smaller items for the same sense of reward.
Of course, the two different extremes can lead you to buy the very same thing. It’s not the thing so much as it’s the story.
Starbucks was the indulgence of a confident person happy to blow $4 on a cup of coffee. Starbucks can become the small indulgence for the person who just traded down to a small rented apartment.
The challenge for marketers is to figure out how to change the story they are living so that their customers can change the story they tell themselves. What you make, where you make it, who makes it, how it’s priced and sold and … it all adds up to a perception. If you change these elements the story will change too.
—Hillary Kilpatrick
