Weather-related metaphors are good for capturing the mood of many life experiences, with “gray, cloudy skies” being appropriate for this economy. The natural reaction to cloudy economic prospects is to hunker down and complain about the lack of sun. Then there’s Jim Finlay, owner of Archadeck of Suburban Boston, who recently said “I’m not religious, but thank God for this recession!” Jim is one of those who see silver linings when the skies are cloudy.
Finlay started his remodeling business in 1993, when the country was just coming out of a recession. He recalls some wisdom about how recessions force new business owners to develop frugal practices and watch expenses like a hawk. He was skeptical at the time, but now embraces the concept. “Slower sales have given me the time and the motivation to examine my business closely,” says Finlay. “I’ve shifted and sharpened my marketing, adjusted my sales process to focus on prospects who appreciate (and who will pay for) our services, examined overhead and project costs, and corrected my pricing software to significant bottom line advantage.”
One of example of his analysis relates to job costing. “Jobs that end up with high expenses and low contribution attract attention.” But don’t overlook those that come in at target contribution, he advises. When digging into the details of those projects, he has from time to time discovered some offsetting errors – pricing problems that went in his favor hid pricing mistakes that cost him money. By understanding the errors he can make adjustments, critically important to avoid future pricing mistakes that don’t go his way; especially when business is booming again (because it will someday, inevitably).
In expressing a broader, more philosophical benefit of periodic recessions, Finlay says it gives him a chance to re-learn exactly why he’s in business: “To give our clients the world class service they deserve while giving us the satisfaction of having enriched their lives.”
But there can be very tangible financial benefits when business owners use the slow time to re-evaluate costs. When his office lease was up for renewal, Finlay sent the landlord a polite letter saying “vacancy rates are up, rents are down…can we negotiate this?” He suggested the rate from two years prior, and the landlord accepted it. He wills save $7,700 in rent with his new two-year lease.
Creative cost control can be habit-forming. After feeling increasingly annoyed by the price increases and unreliable service of his concrete supplier (which has a near-monopoly in his area), he learned of an ingenious engineering solution from a fellow franchisee. Now, instead of paying the concrete supplier to NOT deliver three times as much concrete as he typically needs for his deck footings, Jim exclusively uses helical footings. Not only do they cost slightly less per footing, but they give him a measurable advantage in productivity. No longer does he risk the collapse of 17 four-foot-deep footing holes after a heavy rain (which actually happened on one job); no longer does he have to wait for the building inspector’s approval, or for the concrete to set up. The helical system also has just the right documentation needed to quickly satisfy inspectors. “And I get to thumb my nose at the concrete company,” Finlay says with a laugh.
But ultimately, the down time affords him a chance to “push the reset button” on his business to help achieve his personal goals. “What I really enjoy is focusing on the client, determining what he needs and wants, then giving him exactly that – to his absolute satisfaction. I’m in the renovation business to make some money, yes, but also to enrich peoples’ lives… which sounds corny, but that’s part of my compensation.”
Silver linings, enriching lives. Sounds like the kind of business that will thrive in good times and bad.
Rick Provost has more than 20 years experience helping to build the country’s largest design/build franchise network specializing in exterior home improvement. Formerly the President and CEO of Archadeck®, Rick is now a principal in SMI Safety, a safety consulting and staffing business that specializes in industrial construction. Rick also consults with emerging franchise companies to help them develop growth strategies and business systems. He can be reached at [email protected].
