Sponsored by Ferguson Enterprises

Breakfast on the Level

April 16, 2010

 

The University of Cincinnati will conduct instruction at Miami Valley NARI's two Repair, Renovate and Painting (RRP) classes. EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Final Rule (40 CFR 745) requires that renovations conducted for compensation, must be performed by Certified Firms using Certified Renovators.

 

Renovation firms that wish to work in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities must apply to EPA and pay a fee in order to become certified.  Renovators seeking to become Certified Renovators must successfully complete an EPA-accredited renovator course or a course accredited by an EPA authorized State or Tribe.  This course is the EPA model course for Certified Renovators and as such meets all requirements in 40 CFR 745.90.

These classes will be conducted at the Miami Valley NARI offices at 136 South Keowee Street in Dayton. The cost for this program is $179.00 for members and $229.00 for non-members. Note class size is limited to 24 students and will be done on a first come, first serve basis.  Additional classes will be scheduled as needed to accommodate all members. Register today at www.naridayton.org or call 1-800-498-NARI and RSVP Today!

Luncheon

May 13, 2010

Miami Valley NARI is researching the possibility of securing information to discuss the upcoming RRP Lead Rule administered by the EPA. We will obtain a legal point of view as well as the potential impact from an insurance aspect. More information to come.

The breakfast will take place at the Ramada Plaza North on Wagner Ford Road. Registration and Networking begin at 7:00a.m. Breakfast and the program are from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Register today at www.naridayton.org or call (937) 222-6274 and RSVP today! 

May 25, 2010

Join us as Mike Wilson of Vectren talks to us about Gas Safety and Efficiency as well as new marking standards that will be implemented in April.  We can all afford to learn ways to be safe as well as ways to help conserve energy to cut costs and to protect our beautiful planet.

The luncheon will take place at the Ramada Plaza North on Wagner Ford Road. Registration and Networking begin at 11:00 a.m.  Lunch and the program are from 1130 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Register today at www.naridayton.org or call (937) 222-6274 and RSVP today! 

By Morgan Zenner

If someone were to glance at your brochure or magazine ad, what would they infer about your company in less than 10 seconds? As an owner, being involved in every aspect of your company may block you from seeing an outsider's perspective. That's why it's always a good idea to take a step back and try to imagine your branding through a client's eyes and align your messaging with your company's future goals.
 
This is easier said than done. Bob Gallagher, chief operations officer of Sun Design Remodeling Specialists Inc., found this out nearly nine months ago when he decided to put his company through a complete re-branding effort in the middle of a recession.
 
Gallagher explains how the re-branding effort was strategic because the company wanted to attract a higher-end market through promoting an improved area of the company. "Over time we felt the market we had started out with (i.e. small to medium-sized jobs) was not where we wanted to be today," he says.

To attract a higher-end market, Gallagher and his team felt that the brand needed to reflect the professionalism and creativity his company is capable of, especially in his design staff.
 
Over the last 22 years, Sun Design has accumulated six in-house designers that have turned a remodeling company into a full-service design/build firm that needed some attention. "As our projects and our staff improved, this became our way of turning the internal reality (of the company) into an external reality to the public," Gallagher says.
 
Sun Design hired a reputable advertising agency that specializes in the real estate companies. "Their award-winning track record in a similar industry and their reasonable price made it an easy decision," Gallagher explains.
 
The advertising agency helped Sun Design identify their goals and their messaging through the new branding and helped them make the transition from the old brand to the new brand.
 
"This was a company-wide effort by everyone (sales, marketing and design staff), but the final decisions for the logo and the messaging were left up to the owners," he says.
 
Once the decisions were made, Gallagher started to roll out the new logo slowly, at first by combining both the old logo and the new logo on advertisements in Shelter magazine and in their newsletters.
"We used both logos in everything for the first two to three months, including a couple ads in Shelter, our Web site and e-newsletters," Gallagher says. The e-newsletters explained the concept behind the new look to allow people to understand and embrace the change. He also combined the new look into all of the open house seminars and new jobs.
 
After three months, Sun Design changed over to the new logo on everything, including their Web site, business cards, marketing materials, letter head, contracts, job signs and e-mail taglines.
"I think the transition was smooth, but what was most interesting is the fact that past clients who already knew us hardly noticed the new logo," Gallagher says. However, the new logo was appealing to the new higher-end market that Sun Design was trying to attract.
 
Some might think that a re-branding effort taking place in a down economy may be a risky move, but Gallagher disagrees. He sees the downturn as a great opportunity to show off. "We made the decision early on to increase our marketing efforts, and the re-branding was thought to reach the wealthier clientele that were less effected by the recession, or at the very least, maintain the revenue stream that we had."
 
So far, Gallagher has noticed a number of positive reactions from new clients and old clients. People are excited that Sun Design is putting added energy and creativity into their branding and their company-it gives off an impression of strength and vitality as an organization despite the economic conditions.  

In a slower economy, the strongest survive. Publicly investing into your company helps motivate people to put their money into a successful organization rather than a struggling organization.
 
Also, Sun Design was able to level the playing field with competitors that were receiving the majority of the higher-end jobs. "We established ourselves as a player in that market and proved that our company could do it just as well if not better."
 
For now, Gallagher is taking things one day at a time. He continues to convert the old logo to the new logo where needed. He has maintained his revenue stream and job size and is predicting an increase come spring. He recently hosted an open house event at his showroom and received two signed agreements on the same day of the event.
 
"The lack of dramatic improvement could be a product of the extreme weather conditions in the Northeast, but we are confident with our positioning right now and excited to see what's to come this spring and next year," Gallagher says.
 
According to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies' Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), home improvement spending is predicted to increase by second quarter 2010. To Gallagher, the investment of his re-branding efforts will help him create a fresh start just in time for the upswing in home improvement spending.