Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, HVAC and plumbing company operators have had to adjust their business practices drastically. Standard business practices, including customer payment methods and in-home technician protocol, have all shifted to maintain ongoing operations. While some of these changes may have seemed temporary at first, many are beginning to realize that most of these new practices are here to stay. 

In the HVAC and plumbing industry, spring is synonymous with the slowdown of business. But before the start of the season was associated with the dreaded “spring slowdown,” it was actually associated with something far more productive: Spring cleaning! As temperatures across the country become milder and reliance on heating and cooling decreases, for the time being, take advantage of the slow season to deep clean your company.

Efficient marketing tactics are key to maintain, increase, and satisfy your customer base. Of the many marketing tools available to HVAC and plumbing business owners, email marketing is a valuable method to help you do just that. Unfortunately, without a basic understanding of email marketing best practices, you risk a rock-bottom open rate—which can plummet your potential to reach customers and stall your marketing efforts before they even begin.

In this episode of Trade Talk, Brian Bohannan and Tommy Cue talk with Gary McCreadie from HVAC Know It All. Gary shares details about his new HVAC Know It All mobile app, his in the works Blue Collar Guru app, and a lot more about the HVAC tech life. Listen in and learn how his apps will help your HVAC techs and how it is also helpful for HVAC business owners.

How frustrating is it to spend hours of your time developing email marketing materials, just to learn that dreaded spam filters sent your message straight to a junk folder and not your customer's inbox? Rest assured, you're not alone. 

Whitney Haynes has been working in the Claims Department and a part of the JB Warranties family for five years. She excels in problem solving and is always willing to go the extra mile in assisting customers. She serves as a mentor to other claims adjusters and is excellent at training new employees. Whitney truly is a team player in every aspect. We are grateful to have her as an employee and as a friend.

The past few years have seen a rise in “mini-split systems,” ductless heating and cooling systems that act as fantastic alternatives to traditional HVAC technology. Although many industries—including HVAC manufacturing—took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, updated market reports still anticipate significant continued growth in the demand for ductless HVAC systems in the years to come. 

In this episode of Trade Talk, Brian Bohannan talks with Katie Hill from Podium about the new partnership between JB Warranties and Podium. Listen in and learn about Podium and how they are taking contractors to the next level in their businesses. 

Contrary to common belief, the use of print marketing is far from dead. As a matter of fact, incorporating print media into your HVAC or plumbing company's marketing tactics can be more cost-effective, better at targeting local consumers, and more preferred than online marketing. In a recent consumer survey of 1,200 people and more than a dozen advertisement channels, 82 percent of participants ranked print ads as the channel they trusted most to make a purchase decision.

The start of a new year means new trends will soon find their way to your customers. For HVAC contractors and plumbing business owners, the early days of 2021 mark the perfect time to begin researching currently emerging trends to better prepare you and your team for the work year ahead. By incorporating new technology, adopting preferred customer services, and dismissing outdated trends, your company can outshine competitors all year long.