Author Archives: homesteadop
Business-Building Breakfasts
December 7, 2022SAVE THE DATES! Beginning in January: Business-Building Breakfasts Plan to join us on the last Friday of each month from January through May 2023 for learning sessions over breakfast at New Holland Coffee Company. Various vendors are lined up to talk about new products, installation techniques, and much more. Stay tuned for more details soon!
Tips for Using Winter Downtime to Boost Productivity Year-round
Winter’s threats of inclement weather often leave contractors with lulls in work. But even with less demand for decks, fences, and other outdoor projects, you can still strengthen your business. 1. Fine-tune your systems and processes. While you have some breathing room, look at your internal operations to find areas needing improvement. For example, if…
What It Takes to Go From ‘Good’ to ‘Great’
The Flywheel Effect This last article in our series featuring wisdom from Jim Collins’ book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don’t discusses how transformation occurs. Collins points out that good-to-great transformations don’t happen in “one fell swoop.” He shares that there is a pattern of building…
The Benefits of Post-job Follow-ups
September 28, 2022Do you think of following up with customers as a path to “opening a can of worms”? We challenge you to see it differently! Why Follow Up? 1. Following up allows you to learn what customers like most about your work—that’s valuable information you can use to set yourself apart from other contractors. 2. What…
Three Things Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Want Contractors to Know
1. We like feedback. We want to know how we can improve your experience. For example, if we can package things differently to make your life easier, let us know. Your feedback helps us understand things from your perspective. The more we know, the better we can be of service. 2. Eleventh-hour orders carry a…
What It Takes to Go From ‘Good’ to ‘Great’
Discipline & Technology In the book “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don’t,” Jim Collins describes the traits of successful companies. We’ve covered several of them (humble yet driven leaders, the right people, and confronting reality, a hedgehog mindset) in past articles. Now, we continue our series…
Product Spotlight: Evolve Stone® Mortarless Series
August 2, 2022Homestead Outdoor Products now carries Evolve Stone®, a high-performing, simple-to-install stone veneer with the look and feel of natural stone. Evolve Stone delivers premium quality, aesthetics, and ease of installation: More impermeable to moisture than other stone veneer products on the market because it doesn’t hold moisture against the structure Exceptionally durable to withstand the…
Four Tips for Working Safely in the Heat of Summer
Summer brings the perfect storm of heat, humidity, and the hot sun. It’s prime time for dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, so it’s important to make sure workers know the first signs of heat-related problems. Early Warning Signs Excessive thirst Dry mouth Fatigue Muscle cramps Dizziness More serious symptoms—such as rapid heart rate, no…
What It Takes to Go From ‘Good’ to ‘Great’
A Hedgehog Mindset Jim Collins’ book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don’t describes the six traits of successful companies. Our past articles have discussed three of those characteristics (humble yet driven leaders, the right people, and confronting reality) as they relate to contractors. Now, on we…
Beginning in May, Key-Link™ Railing products will be locally distributed through Wolf® Home Products.
June 1, 2022As pleased customers of both Key-Link and Wolf, we anticipate a smooth transition, with a seamless experience for Homestead’s customers. We expect an improved, more robust supply channel for all.