While some use small jobs as a gateway to larger projects, many remodeling companies continue to focus solely on smaller jobs, and still others maintain separate small-job divisions to keep from turning over these jobs - and profits - to other remodelers or handymen. More
Anyone who has ever paid attention to the growth of a child knows they go through growth spurts. The process can be uneven: They sometimes grow up before they fill out or vice versa; they're alternately awkward or sturdy. It's similar for a business. The idea of upward and outward growth is one way to frame a discussion about growth strategies for your company, says Mark Richardson, vice president of Case Remodeling and a REMODELING columnist, who considers a company's growth as vertical or horizontal. More
Punch lists and skilled retirees are a match made in heaven -- or at least in Cape Cod. Dale Nikula, president of Encore Construction, says "Our need for workers varies at times, depending on the number of jobs in progress and the stage each is in." His $8 million company takes advantage of its retiree-rich location by advertising in local newspapers for "individuals with years of experience in building and remodeling who are interested in working a flexible schedule on an on-call part-time basis." More
Production goes from sales through the last check or warranty item. More
Several years ago, Dale Nikula's Encore Construction laid a tile floor in a client's first-floor entryway. The client had picked out the tile with Nikula, who was then in sales. Construction began, and the client decided on a different tile. She and Nikula spoke about the change but never communicated it to the project lead carpenter. The team had to rip up the tile and start again. This error ó as well as several other costly mistakes in other jobs ó stung. More
Dale Nikula, president of Encore Construction Co., knew that he wanted to grow his $1.2 million company into something much larger. More
