Home Improvement

Rock Stars of Remodeling

Sept. 29, 2022
3 min read

“Dedicated to delivering a five-star red carpet experience.” That’s the maxim by which Pittsburgh-based Energy Swing Windows employees operate every day. How do I know?

As director of marketing at Energy Swing for the past 13 years, I coined this company motto to convey how we were going to make our customers feel from their first call to the install (and beyond)—they were going to be the stars of the show.

Along with several members of our leadership team, I helped ensure this motto was put into practice across all departments, from marketing and sales to installation and service. The Energy Swing installation teams literally roll out red carpets in homes when they arrive to complete projects.

Since launching the Red Carpet campaign six years ago, Energy Swing’s sales revenue tripled and its online reputation grew increasingly solid, with more than 450 Google reviews and a 5-star rating. Not bad.

Now, I’m bringing that same mindset to you, the Pro Remodeler audience. I’m thrilled to join this immensely talented team as the director of home improvement. And my greatest asset is that I’m one of you.

I helped pull Energy Swing Windows through the Great Recession, with unique relationship marketing initiatives designed to increase repeat and referral business.

I see our Pro Remodeler audience as the rock stars of remodeling, deserving of a stage to showcase talents and share knowledge

When tornadoes ripped through western Pennsylvania in March 2011, and window and door leads dried up due to increased demand for siding and roofing, I was tasked with shifting the company’s marketing focus and helped to temporarily reinvent the business as a roofing and siding contractor. Eighteen months later, it was all windows and doors again.

And, when COVID-19 took its toll on small businesses, including shutting down Energy Swing Windows’ operations for six weeks, I met virtually with the leadership team every week to develop new strategies for customer communications and virtual sales processes, which we would use for the next 12 months. Similarly, I worked to revise many of our customer communications when supply chain issues arose.

All that to say, I know the obstacles business owners and employees across all departments face every day in this industry. I’m committed to creating print, digital, and in-person content that helps you navigate these challenges. And, together, we’re going to build a collection of resources you can always turn to for guidance.

I see our Pro Remodeler readers as the rock stars of remodeling, deserving of a stage to showcase talents and share knowledge with like-minded industry standouts. If this sounds good to you, you’re going to love what’s on tap.

In addition to holding first-class in-person events, we’re going to deliver more digital offerings such as podcasts, videos, and—my favorite—Remodeling Mastery Forums. I’ll moderate some of these monthly peer-to-peer virtual events, but this is where you’ll get to share your struggles and successes with people in the same area as you. These roundtables are broken down by department: leadership, marketing, sales, and operations. We will learn from one another.

I’m honored to begin this journey with all of you rock stars.

 

About the Author

Drew Barto

Drew Barto is director of home improvement for Pro Remodeler. He most recently served as the Director of Marketing at Energy Swing Windows in Pittsburgh. Contact him at [email protected] or 412-607-7820.

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