Author Archives: homesteadop

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…

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…

Do 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…

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…

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…

Homestead 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…

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…

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…

As 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.

Referrals from satisfied customers stand as one of the most effective tools for growing a business. However, not all contractors feel comfortable requesting them. They don’t want to bother their customers, or they believe it’s in bad form to ask for referrals. If that’s your perception, you may be missing out on new opportunities!  Instead,…