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Staining Quick Tip
Have you been feeling blue because your blue RAC stains (Acid Stains) don’t give you much blue color?

Supercharge them! Adding some Miracle Grow plant fertilizer seems to give your blues a boost. Either sprinkle directly on to the concrete (for a spotty look) or mix in with your stain (more consistent color). Multiple coats and plenty of time to react (bare minimum 4 hours after final coat) will help you achieve nice colors.
 

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Missouri 2008 Outstanding Older Worker Award – EAC nominee is a Regional Winner PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by JudyAnn Lorenz   
Monday, 14 April 2008

Engrave-A-Crete®, Inc, nominated both Duke Dunbar and Ralph Dunbar for the Missouri 2008 Outstanding Older Worker award in March, 2008.  Selection committees in fifteen Missouri regions selected a Regional Older Worker to send on to the Missouri State competition. 

 

Duke Dunbar was selected to represent Region 10, a 12 county region, in the state competition and acknowledgement activities in Jefferson City on May 1 & 2, 2008.  The Dunbar brothers were recognized by fellow workers at an ice cream party during breaktime last Friday, April 11.

 

 

Finalists will meet with Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and state legislators, tour the State Capitol and attend a banquet in their honor.  One regional finalist will be named Missouri’s Outstanding Older Worker during a luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion on May 2, 2008 and will represent Missouri during Experience Works Prime Time Awards in Washington DC on September 1, 2008.

 

The contest format included some employment information and a narrative regarding the Dunbar brothers’ successful employment at Engrave-A-Crete.  Darrel Adamson, owner of Engrave-A-Crete commented, “Duke and Ralph came to the rescue when we had a spouting sprinkler leak. I couldn’t see any way to fix it that wouldn’t be an enormous project.  They took a look at the situation, offered and completed a quick, effective solution.  I determined at that moment that I would do my best to keep Duke and Ralph on staff.”  Each nominee must have a separate nomination package. The nomination narratives for the Dunbar brothers (condensed here) noted:  Duke and Ralph not only brought their skills to the job, but they share them with younger workers.  The brothers carry their positive attitude, smiling and joviality, with them everywhere, on the job or off.  Additionally, they share a strong work ethic, the benefits of a team process, and positive attitude with co-workers.  Their integrity has been a role model for the entire company. These qualities and leading influences are of high benefit to Engrave-A-Crete.  Ralph and Duke have a reputation that is valued and respected in the community as well as at Engrave-A-Crete. The brothers share an enthusiasm for golfing that reflects their understanding of balance for excellent dedication to the project at hand, yet to be able to enjoy recreation.

Duke Dunbar commented, “I appreciate the layout of this project. It is planned, thought out and works.  Those things make it a pleasure to show up for work.”   Ralph added, “I like this job. I appreciate the goals of this business and the things Engrave-A-Crete can do for Mansfield. They are good people to work for.  I sure don’t want to be sitting at home running a remote all day!”

 
Client Referrals - Silk Purse or Sow's Ear PDF Print E-mail
Marketing
Written by JudyAnn Lorenz   
Wednesday, 12 March 2008

The principal of “Give to Receive” applies for your referral plans as no other can. Give something of value to receive something of value.  You will be ‘giving’ your client exceptional service plus support and guidance on how to ‘give’ a referral back to you. You will receive more business from clients just like her as she refers you to associates. Remember the old adage that you get what you give.  When you give your client ‘silk purse’ information and quality performance, you can expect to receive ‘silk purse’ referrals of similar caliber instead of the “sow’s ear” – barebones, or not qualified types that will be very difficult to develop from prospect into customer.


Your initial meeting to discuss the concrete engraving project is the time to begin training a client about how to give good referrals. Explain to the client that her comments of satisfaction with you are an important part of your marketing plan. Ask if she will be willing to give you a referral, reference or testimonial when the project is completed to her satisfaction. The client will nearly always agree to this preliminary request.


Beginning early avoids the need to invent a request for a referral in the rush of project completion. Plus, your client will not be taken by surprise by such a last minute request; she will have been crafting her comments all through the project. While the client will surely appreciate your quality service; referring business to you is much easier if she is primed and has time to mentally organize her script for speaking well of you.


Are you aware that the process of referral training began for the client long before your first meeting? When she read your ads, saw your work, or heard others saying good things about you, she was beginning to build her knowledge base. Your website, phone response, or professional presentation of the sale and the contract are additional effective tools in your marketing plan Your marketing kit, delivered at the sales encounter, will provide a back story about you that the client can blend with the impressions and evidence she is receiving from your other marketing tools.


Of course, to even dream about earning a referral, you are expected to deliver over-the-top, exceptional product and service. Your responsibility doesn’t stop there; the product can’t speak loudly enough by itself. Everything about your business – person, place, or item, that a prospect or customer comes near, is a contact with you and is working as a marketing tool. These contact items pool together with your work to decide your referability. The things listed above are pre-project contacts; there are more contact opportunities to come in the construction of your reputation and qualification for referrals.


Plan to shoot photos of the project in progress. Ask the client to be in the photos at every opportunity. Stage some of the shots and give her copies. Share information about the steps as you go along. You needn’t worry about giving too much away. Your skill and ability to make something work are the attraction for customers, not the basic knowledge of how these things work. The information you share becomes part of the client’s story; she wants to be able to discuss her new project intelligently. By working with the client to build her story, you are reinforcing the conditional commitment she gave you at the beginning of the project; to give referrals, testimonials and references.


Before the project even begins, you will have a package ready for the client referral or testimonial that includes:

  • A format that can be applied to both written referrals or references
  • Your contact information
  • A brief description of your business

You will give this to the client at your final meetings for signing off on the project. She can use these things to craft a well-rounded, informed, and effective reference for your work. Even the most articulate person can benefit from an honest, simple script. If you plan to publish customer testimonials on your website, brochure or other publications, make sure she understands this. Discuss your privacy policy. Best etiquette at the final meeting will be to ask if the client is still willing to give you the references as agreed at the beginning of the project. You can be pretty certain when she has expressed approval of your work, but your extra practice of courtesy will be another shining part of your marketing.


After asking for and receiving her referrals, you have yet more responsibility. You are obligated to contact the referred prospects promptly. Your client has stepped out to admit to her associates that she knows and values you. Early contact reinforces your client’s opinion of you and moves the new prospect toward you.


Now that you have a plan in place to train your client as a resource for referrals, you can concentrate on the deal you made in the beginning. You will produce results that earn the referral. When you train and communicate with your client, plus produce quality product, you will have all of the referrals you can handle.


Your pre-planning will make the conditional commitment experience pleasant for the client permitting her to become a long-term client. Who speaks and writes about you frequently because she has had you do more than one project, each one of which has given her testimonial content featuring the high quality of your product. Who talks about you voluntarily because you are worth it.


Every day, your actions in business production and networking civility are constructing and reinforcing the foundation of reputation that you’ve been working on since you started your business. Your reputation represents you in the business community market place, showcasing your quality and vision, and attracting clients who are eager to give you “silk purse” referrals, testimonials, and references as well as more of their own business.

 
A Decorative Concrete Engravers Marketing Quiz PDF Print E-mail
Marketing
Written by Paul DelFino   
Thursday, 11 October 2007
How Do You Score?

There is little question that consumers and most businesses are more selective in spending decision these days. Nearly any publication you read will offer some “scare” statistic about; consumer confidence being down, housing markets eroding, and fears of recession growing. In this environment it is easy to lapse into a depressed melancholy about future business opportunity and justify doing less to get less.

However there are always winners and losers in every economic cycle. The winners seek to find the opportunities presented by the cycle and adjust marketing tactics and business behaviors to the environment. It may be time to revisit and refresh some old ideas and to consider some new approaches. Below is a 10 question quiz with a simple YES or NO for you to answer regarding the marketing of your Decorative Concrete Engraving Business.

  1. I maintain an organized and continuously update list of e-mail addresses of prior customers, prospects, and referral sources and diligently e-mail photos of my most recent jobs to all contacts. YES or NO

  2. I conclude every job with a personal walk through with my customer where I provide a care and maintenance tips handout and request referrals of someone they know who could use my services? YES or NO

  3. In the last 12 months I have volunteered to engrave an emblem or design in a high profile civic project supported by the majority of my community and have issued a press release to the local paper and business magazines about my effort. YES or NO

  4. I have developed and sent a mailing to all Real Estate Brokers in my community reminding them of my service while emphasizing that external landscaping enhancement increases curb appeal and is considered one of the higher ranking improvements a property owner may undertake to increase perceived value and asking price for their home. YES or NO

  5. I have participated in no less than one Home Improvement Show at my local civic center in the last year. YES or NO

  6. I have surveyed the pricing of my competitors in the last 12 months and adjusted my pricing accordingly if appropriate. YES or NO

  7. I have asked each prospect where they found out about my service and then increased my attention/investment in the media/referral sources that has generated the largest DOLLAR VOLUME to my business. YES or NO

  8. I have targeted neighborhoods where I have done work and generated a direct mail promotion into the neighborhoods where I have work that is visible. YES or NO

  9. I have updated my brochures and web site with fresh pictures of my most recent work in the last 3 months. I have also then mailed the new brochures or e-mailed links of my new web site to all my prior customers and referral sources as an update and reminder. YES or NO

  10. I am now devoting 1 hour each week to calling prior prospects who have not purchased (old estimates) and prior customers. YES or NO

If you have not answered YES to 7 of the 10 questions above it may be time to refresh your marketing plan. Take on new marketing initiatives one at a time. Consider approaching the initiatives above not as one time projects but rather as implanting a continuous and perpetual marketing discipline into your business.

Paul DelFino is an independent consultant who has worked in assisting numerous concrete contracting businesses and entrepreneur through various hurdles of business growth. Go to www.opportunity-inc.com
 
Back to Basics Marketing - Word of Mouth PDF Print E-mail
Marketing
Written by Paul DelFino   
Friday, 23 March 2007

The Internet continues to redefine marketing.

How powerful is the internet?

Consider these facts:

  • It took 38 years for the telephone to reach 50 million users
  • It took 13 years for television to reach 50 million users
  • It took the internet 4 years to reach 50 million users
Read more...
 
COMING SOON: Concrete Resurrection RAC Stains and Sealers PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Brandon Adamson   
Friday, 23 March 2007

Engrave-A-Crete to be exclusive distributor of a growing line of ideal concrete stains and sealers from Concrete Resurrection.

In mid 2006, Engrave-A-Crete introduced the Concrete Resurrection line of water based pigmented stains. With over 34 colors available, the reaction of decorative concrete specialists has been nothing less than extraordinary.

 

Read more...
 
New Midwest Facility- Early 2008 PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Darrel Adamson   
Friday, 23 March 2007

Engrave-A-Crete to Open Midwest Facility in Early 2008

We are growing and expanding to better serve you.

 

  • Lower Shipping Costs
  • Faster Product Delivery
  • Greater Training Capacity

 

Read more...
 
Introducing Sandroid PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Brandon Adamson   
Friday, 23 March 2007

A Recirculating Sandblasting Tool Specially Designed for Efficient Decorative Concrete Engraving - Indoors or Out

The Sandroid is an innovative tool for blasting decorative designs into existing concrete. It creates a fine impression in the concrete slab by blasting away the top surface of sealer, stain and concrete. Sandroid can create very delicate images as well as distinguished designs.

Read more...
 
Specialist Locator - A Reminder- Act Now PDF Print E-mail
General
Written by Paul DelFino   
Friday, 23 March 2007

New Pricing To Take Effect April 1, 2007

Reminder, effective April 1, 2007, an annual fee of $180.00 will take effect for you continue to benefit from a listing on the Engrave-A-Crete Specialist Locator Web Page.

Read more...
 
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