31. Hiring? Reach out to local employment organizations that work with military veterans. The teamwork, discipline, and accountability taught among the ranks are qualities on which to build a business.
32. Not all of your employees need to be full-time. If you’re looking to grow your team but can’t afford full-timers, consider bringing in contract workers—i.e., temps —for just about everything but inside sales and manual yard labor.
33. New hires aren’t the only employees in need of safety training. Be sure to offer existing staff a yearly refresher course as well as hard copies of your policies for reference.
External Relations
34. Trying to track your team’s marketing efforts? Ask new customers how or where they found your business and keep a running tally of their responses.
35. Do you speak Spanish? If you don’t, start learning basic phrases used daily in your yard. In the meantime, make sure you have a few fluent speakers on staff.
36. Consider upgrading your website to include a log-in for contractors. The portal should sync with your ERP and let them check what’s in stock, place orders, connect with the sales staff, pay bills, and monitor deliveries on their own time.
37. Read up on the latest energy-efficient building systems and construction techniques. Topics such as Energy Star and new legislation concerning the Environmental Protection Agency’s lead-paint rule are likely on your customers’ minds, which means they should be on yours, too.
38. Send handwritten thank-you notes or small gifts to customers after a big sale or just because they’re a loyal regular. It’s nice to know you’re appreciated.
39. Help your contractor customers (and other local businesses) advertise their services. Use a recycled paint chip display to sort their business cards by category and make them easily accessible to individuals coming into your store.
40. Set up a customer rewards program that offers points for certain purchases. Let customers rack up their points and cash them in for discounts, gift cards, tools, or even airline tickets. It’s a unique way to cement your sales team’s relationship with their top customers.
