Category Archives: Decorative Concrete News

News from the world of decorative concrete.

Decorative Concrete Goes Around the World

Posted on by
Reply

China, here we come!  Wait, wait, wait! Not us…we’re still right here in the heartland of America.  We mean our merchandise.

Today marked Engrave-A-Crete’s entry into the Beijing decorative concrete world.

A truck carrying a large shipping container is shown being loaded with merchandise headed around the world. What an adventure!

We send best wishes to our clients in Beijing. Thank you for your business and we’re working to keep up with your demand.  You are greatly appreciated.

Today’s Decorative Concrete Marketing Tip – EDDM

Posted on by
Reply

Do you ever wonder why you get so much unsolicited mail? Because, according to the US Postal Service, IT WORKS.   The USPS states that 76% of consumers have been influenced to buy through direct mail.

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a new USPS program that maximizes the efficiency of direct mailing at a fraction of the previous cost.  Using EDDM, you select an area, and then send up to 5000 pieces to every address there for as little as 14.5¢ each with no mailing list, no permit and no annual fees.

That gives you the opportunity to target neighborhoods with the highest potential for choosing decorative concrete engraving installations.

Check out the following links to decide if Every Door Direct Mail is a viable marketing opportunity for you.

Footprint Cleanup – Tips of the Trade

Posted on by
Reply

Picture yourself walking up to the basement floor you stained the evening before.  There they are – footprints leading from the patio door to the stairway. Oh,  #%*&!

It can happen, and regardless of who’s to blame, it’s your job to fix the problem.

Chris Mirabal, Senior Tech Advisor, has some suggestions for dealing with the issue.

Reactive Acid Chemical (RAC) stained floor:

  1.  Use a floor machine with a black pad and scrub, scrub, scrub the surface. Your goal is to get as much of the stain off the entire floor as possible.  Yes, it’s like starting all over.  (The footprints will still show up, but will be much lighter.)
  2. Reapply RAC stain using standard procedure, blending in what remains of the footprints.

OR

  1.  Use a floor machine to scrub as above.
  2. Reapply RAC stain using standard procedure.
  3. Use rags, sponge, HVLP or pump sprayer to apply Water Reducible Concentrate (WRC) stain to create a faux finish that camouflages what remains of the footprints.

For a Water Reducible Concentrate (WRC) stained floor:

  1.  Apply more WRC to mask the footprints.  You will likely have to do the entire floor for a consistent look. Faux finishes hide flaws well.

As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  To prevent this nightmare from happening again,…

  • Explain to your customer what to expect during the decorative concrete installation, and the importance of not touching the floor until you give the go-ahead.
  • Use caution tape to block off the entrances or to surround the entire area. Use Keep Out signs.
  • Alert other workers on the job site about the importance of not walking on the surface.

Spring Planting – Decorative Concrete Marketing Tips

Posted on by
Reply

Spring is a season of growth. Take a hint from Mother Nature and use this season to grow your decorative concrete engraving business.

Plant the Seed

We, and you as installers, often tout the ability of decorative concrete engraving to make old concrete look beautiful. This spring, challenge yourself to spend equal time marketing to owners of new concrete.

A Concrete Network article featuring outstanding designs and superior craftsmanship by Designs-N-Crete of Colorado is a perfect example of using decorative concrete staining and engraving as a high-end flooring option in a new home.

Add Fertilizer

Connecting with home builders, architects and homeowners prior to construction should be a top priority in your marketing plan. Point out…

  • Nearly limitless design possibilities. Custom decorative concrete designs for unique options rather than the cookie-cutter designs of hardwood, carpeting or tile.
  • Pet friendly. If Fido has accidents – just a wipe and a swipe and the mess is gone. And, fleas and mites have no place to hide.
  • Not a harbor for allergens.  A picture of a nasty dust mite that typically lives in carpeting can be pretty convincing.
  • A good value.  The design goes in, not on, the concrete, so there’s no chipping. When properly sealed the design stays vibrant. Maintenance is a breeze.

Watch it Grow

It’s a great idea to leave your customer with a copy of our Idea Book to help them visualize decorative concrete floors in their own spaces. And, the pictures often inspire upsells, meaning more business for you.

Reap the Harvest

Success doesn’t just happen – it follows your best marketing efforts and top notch installations. Your harvest is a good income and plenty of satisfied customers who, through word of mouth, do a lot of your future marketing for you.

Don’t Go Empty Handed – Tips of the Trade

Posted on by
Reply

It’s important to maximize the time you spend with your prospective customer during the bidding process.  Chris Mirabal, Senior Tech Advisor, says there are a few things you should always take along.

  • Moisture Meter– determines the amount of moisture in the concrete.
    • Contact the probes to the surface in several areas. The scale should read in the safe zone for stain and sealers to work properly.
    • Readings above the safe zone are a red-flag warning. “Assume moisture is coming up through the concrete,” Chris says, “and then run like hell because the job is at high risk of failure.”
  • Marbles– a perfect indicator for low spots on the surface.  Drop 6 or 8 marbles. They’ll immediately roll to the low areas, giving you a real heads-up on what may happen during the job…
    • During floor prep water will collect in the low areas. Pooling water can be a nasty problem if adjacent to a wall, because the water can run under the sill plate and damage the floor next door.
    • Stain, especially thin acid stain, will naturally flow to the low area resulting in a darker color there.
    • Epoxy will flow to the low area, whether you are using it to backfill cuts or applying it to the entire surface.
  • Tape Measure– choose the type you like best.
    • Measure accurately.  Your profit margin depends on you correctly estimating the amount of supplies and labor costs based on square footage.
    • Remember to measure closets, pantries, and other out of the way spaces that add to your estimate.
  • Marketing Materials– speak to the customer long after you’re gone.
    • Business cards – Be sure the information is correct. Write a personal message on the back thanking your customer for letting you bid.
    • Brochures – Professional looking hand-outs show what you can do. Include testimonials from your customers.
    • Idea Book from Engrave-A-Crete – An ideal and inexpensive way to upsell a project.  Leave a copy with your customers and let them dream.

So when it comes to the bidding meeting…plan ahead, learn as much as you can while you’re there, and leave the customer knowing he’s about to hire a professional who can transform dull concrete to drop-dead beautiful.

To see more Tips of the Trade from Chris, go to the Contractor section of our website.