State of the Industry: The Remodeling Outlook in the Post-Pandemic Economy

Monday, November 16 @ 10:30 AM EST

Like all other sectors of the economy, the home improvement industry has been affected by the pandemic. In what ways has the industry been permanently changed? How do households view their homes differently now? Which sectors will suffer and which will thrive in this evolving economic environment?

Keynote

Kermit Baker, Chief Economist, The American Institute of Architects

What You Don’t Know About Modern Sales & Marketing Strategies Could Lead to Your Downfall in 2021

Dave Yoho, the President of Dave Yoho Associates (www.daveyoho.com), discusses the need for advanced sales/marketing tactics in today’s challenging environment. Based on our industry survey, most home improvement companies and remodelers do not currently create a methodology that responds to the prospect’s needs. Due to this, there is a need for customer satisfaction selling methods which can be described as a problem-solving discussion between the business representative and the prospect that leads to a meeting of the minds and deepens the dependence of each on the other.

Speaker: Dave Yoho, President, Dave Yoho Associates

Going Clear: Making Transparency Work for Your Business

When it comes to remodeling, the word "transparency" is used often, yet has no clear definition. In thinking about revealing actual costs in a project bid, what is truly transparent to one remodeler is opaque to another. This panel discussion will feature varying perspectives from three company owners. Each one has embraced the concept of transparency, yet each handles it differently. 

Speaker: Erika Taylor, Director of Content, ProRemodeler Magazine & SGC Horizon Building Group

Emerging Trends in Luxury Kitchen Design

In this course, trade professionals will experience a unique education as we showcase award-winning kitchen designs from around the world highlighting form, function, and features for popular trends in today’s luxury kitchens. 

Speaker: Amy Gaeta, Sub Zero Group-Mid Atlantic

Preparing for a Softer Market

The remodeling market is still strong and all companies (even the biggest) have only a small fraction of the total remodeling market spend. While I am not an advocate of living in fear, I do believe you need to be smart if you want to remain strong and healthy in the future.

Speaker: Mark Richardson, Author/Speaker/Advisor, MGRichardson LLG

Transitional Trim Details: When Less Can Be More

There is a strong demand today for Craftsman style millwork.  Many clients today are seeking simpler trim details. They describe it as uncluttered, clean lines or less fussy. I like to think of it as East coast traditional meets West coast contemporary. No matter what you call it getting the proportions right is critical. When there is less going on the details must be right. The good news is that gives you a great chance to show off your skills. If you want to stand out in the crowd custom-made and precisely installed transitional trim details are the way to go.

If you want to be known as a true Craftsman and use your skills to build a brand for yourself, you won’t want to miss this session.

Speaker: Gary Striegler, Owner, Streigler and Associates

Panel: Succeeding in a Post COVID World

Tuesday, November 17 @ 10:30 AM EST

The COVID Pandemic has had a significant impact on remodeling and home improvement businesses with over 80% of firms indicating sold projects were stopped or delayed in the months directly following the pandemic’s spread in the U.S.. While business has started to improve, and expectations call for continued improvement moving forward, some things will be impacted longer-term and perhaps even permanently. This panel discussion of leading remodelers will discuss long term changes brought on by COVID and how these firms have adjusted their business and jobsite practices to succeed in a post COVID world. Attend to glean insights on what you can be doing within your business to be successful.

Panel

Kermit Baker, Chief Economist, The American Institute of Architects
Rick Strachan, VP-Business Development, Informa Markets
Bruce Case, President/CEO, Case Architects & Remodelers
Chris Landis, Principal, Landis Architects & Builders
 

Hitting Net Profit in The Field: It’s The Little Things that Count

The ultimate goal of any company is to make a profit! In some companies, the conditions are very controlled and managers can easily see the slippage and correct it. In a remodeling company, this is a real challenge: it is up to the staff actually working in the field to help control expenses and therefor slippage. The reality is that many do not understand what net profit truly is, how they impact it, or even why they should care. Tim has been extremely successful connecting with the field staff and helping them answer these questions.

Speaker: Tim Faller, Senior Consultant and Master of Production, Remodelers Advantage Inc. 

Trends in Backsplashes

Backsplashes in the past were known to provide an easy to clean moisture resistant surface. Over the years that has changed, what was once a basic backsplash has now turned into wall art, setting an ambiance of unique styling to fit the environment, whether in a kitchen or bath setting. There is no limit to the imagination but what about the installation? In this presentation we’ll discuss the changes and what to expect on the installation to make a backsplash transform into wall art.

Speaker: Jon Namba, President, Namba Services

How to Take Your Digital Marketing Game to the Next Level

In this presentation learn 5 myths you need to get past and 5 proven steps to take your digital marketing game to the next level. You'll learn from the President of a regional remodeling and nationwide building material wholesale business who is knee-deep in making digital results happen in their business today. This presentation is filled with real-life examples.

Speaker: Mike Foti, President, Innovate Building Solutions & Innovate Home Organization

Stop Losing Leads By Thinking They Are All Ready to Buy Today–Build Today's & Tomorrow's Pipeline

Today, the way people shop and buy has changed. Today's consumer loves to do her own research and starts their process early! If you're treating all the leads that enter your sales pipeline equally, you're losing out on a lot of business. Learn the 4 buckets leads fall into and how to adjust your sales strategy to meet them where they are. Not only will you close more business today, but you'll build your future pipeline as well. This session will encourage you to embrace the tire kickers, help them along their journey and show you how to close them when they are actually ready to make a decision.

Speaker: Spencer Powell, President, Builder Funnel

Color Narratives 2021+

Colors inspired, narratives revealed, directions determined. Join Mark to discover the “whats and whys” of emerging color, design and pattern. Color, texture and pattern directions arise from myriad stories. Viewed from a unique perspective, everything from cosmetics to transportation, cuisine to technology, offer a sense of inspirational and influential ideas of what’s up for design, decoration and color. 

Speaker: Mark Woodman, Principal/Owner, Mark Woodman Design+Color LLC

Town Hall: The Pulse of the Industry

Wednesday, November 18 @ 10:30 AM EST

No one has a finger on the pulse of the industry more than the editors of our industry media  – Professional Remodeler, Remodeling, and Qualified Remodeler. 

These editors, Erika Taylor, Clayton DeKorne, and Patrick O’Toole, are, by the very nature of their professions, exposed to the most important stories affecting you and your remodeling company. This is your opportunity to hear from these deeply invested individuals as they share their insights on your business today, and well into the future. 

Panel

Clayton Dekorne, Chief Editor, JLC Group, Hanley Wood
Victoria Downing, President/Chief Inspiration Officer, Remodelers Advantage
Pat O'Toole, EVP/Owner, Editorial Director, Sola Group Inc.
Erika Taylor, Director of Content, SGC Horizon Building Group
 

Advanced Window and Door Installation

“From receipt of delivery of the new door to final finish, as contractors, we OWN every aspect of the door installation. Starting with site and door inspection through rough opening prep, to final door installation, tune into this demonstration for tips and techniques to ensure the best possible result - including a worry-free night's sleep...”

Speaker: Peter Heard, Owner, North Country Carpentry & Restoration

Design Your Way to Success

Chris Landis will review how design/build firms can set up a design as a profit center, which will also set production up for success. Company managers will understand selling the value of design, how and what to charge, and the importance of tracking and analyzing design profitability. The seminar will address setting up a creative experience for the client and using virtual reality for a more efficient and streamlined process that flows into production.

Speaker: Chris Landis, Principal, Landis Architects & Builders

Plugging the Leaks in Produced Gross Profit: A Forensic Approach

Slippage is rampant in remodeling companies and we all like to think that it is the production folks fault, or a random occurrence and since Stuff happens we accept it.  We grin and bear it, yell about it and keep on keeping on, just faster, or harder, or with less quality or with a poorer customer experience.

We will show how to capture data on job profitability in a format that can highlight likely locations of slippage. We can use these variance patterns to pinpoint them as a sales issue, production issue, an employee issue, client issue & more. Once identified they can be minimized and what is just “stuff” happening can be integrated into the pricing strategy.

Speaker: Alan Hanbury, President, House of Hanbury Builders, Inc. 

The Future of Sales: “The Future Ain't What it Used to Be”

While many are chomping at the but wanting to get back to normal we are going to see a lot of change is remodeling sales.

In this session we will look at how the consumer has changed and what they expect moving forward. We will also share how the sales process is shifting from high touch to high tech.

What are the sales tools and skills required to close remodeling sales in the future and what old techniques will become obsolete.

Speaker: Mark Richardson, Author, Speaker, Advisor, MGRichardson LLG