Gabriel Sousa, of Admantium CP, attended our Decorative Concrete Training Seminar a few months ago and took what he learned straight to Brazil, where his business is doing well.

Sousa said in a recent email, “Just wanted to send you a picture of our first job using the tools and techniques we learned at the EAC Seminar last May.

“I know it has been a while, but we had such a memorable experience with Brandon and Darrel in particular that we have been eager to show you what we picked up.

“The pictures I’ve posted are of an entrance to a business here in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. We used the Mongoose to engrave the decorative saw cuts in between “planks”, and used the EAC Acid Stains and Water-Based Stains to do all the coloring of the ramp.

“We hope you guys like it and we wanted to demonstrate both our appreciation of the seminar skills and our determination in growing the engraved concrete market here in Brazil! Much more to come!”

We salute Gabriel and his associates for a job well done, and we wish them continued prosperity in the decorative concrete industry!

Over the last decade the number of majority owned women businesses has increased over 42%. There are now over 11 million businesses that are owned or controlled by women in the US.

Engrave-A-Crete has helped contribute to this trend.

Decorative concrete engraving work is easy, highly profitable, in demand and allows anyone to be artistic. In recent years the Engrave-A-Crete Discovery & Training Seminars have experienced an ever growing attendance of women aspiring to enter the Decorative Concrete Engraving Business.

These entrepreneurs enter the trade in many ways: as solo practitioners, as partners with husbands, as partners with sons and as partners with friends.

When asked why they chose Engrave-A-Crete their responses are consistent:

• THE EASE – Women have found that Engrave-A-Crete machines make the work easy and allow nearly anyone to complete every aspect of projects. There is no heavy lifting, mixing of cement and the machines are easy to operate. Specially designed Engrave-A-Crete machines literally do the hard work for them.
• POTENTIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI) -Good business people “run the numbers”and these ladies have identified that the comparatively low cost of entry into the business can yield incredible returns over time.
• THE MARKET POTENTIAL – In our new economy, Americans will own their homes for a longer period than in past decades. This fact will fuel the historic post recession upward trend for home improvement investment. Research also shows that the majority of purchase decisions for home improvements are made by women. Women as entrepreneurs see the opportunity focus on selected markets in selected geographies. They feel uniquely prepared to sell woman to woman.
• THE ART – Decorative Concrete Engraving is ART. Whether a woman feels she is artistic or not, she can be successful with Engrave-A-Crete tools. Women see/have seen the opportunity to be “consultative floor designers”while fulfilling their personal desire for artistic expression.
• NICHE POTENTIAL – Women in the trade we have interviewed clearly identify the opportunity for specialization. Some focus on FAUX finish designs. Others enjoy financial reward with logo reproductions.

If you are a woman looking for a new career, WELCOME HOME is engraved in concrete for you at Engrave-A-Crete!

Bob Nesbitt started Floor Covering Consultants after purchasing Engrave-A-Crete equipment in 1999.

His plan was to grow his new decorative concrete engraving business while continuing to sell other floor covering. The plan quickly changed with the growth of his business and within months he was devoting 100% of his energy to his new enterprise.

Bob attests, “I’m in the floor covering business.” He focuses on inside work because “Everyone needs a finished floor” and because hard surface interior flooring is on a growth trend.

Bob’s philosophy is that outside decorative concrete work may be a luxury while inside decorative floor work is an outstanding option for a necessity.

He has also found that his crews and most importantly his customers enjoy being less impacted by weather because scheduling is easier and more dependable.

Be sure to read the complete Bob Nesbitt Engrave-A-Crete Success Story.

Nancy and Jeff Lee started Etched-N-Concrete in March 2007 as a part time enterprise with hopes of allowing the couple to retire from their prior careers and achieve the dream of self employment. That dream came true in January 2008 as the couple devoted their full time energy to their new business.

Because decorative concrete engraving was new to their area, Nancy and Jeff found that much of their time getting started was spent explaining what they did. However that changed quickly when their local newspaper published a free “New Business Profile” about their new company.

Etched-N-Concrete is now growing at a fast pace. When asked what marketing techniques are making the difference, Nancy noted three:

1. Our trailer sets us apart. We convey a professional image and we have become used to being called on our cells from cars near us on the highway.

2. Promoting our service on Concrete Network .com – our investment in a web ad on ConcreteNetwork has created a situation where customers are looking for us vs. us looking for customers.

3. Customer Referrals from a job at a Health Care Center in their market which sees lots of traffic has helped tremendously.

Be sure to read the rest of this Engrave-A-Crete Success Story at the Engrave-A-Crete website where you can read several more profiles of our successful Engrave-A-Crete University graduates.

Jason Schmidt left the Engrave-A-Crete seminar in April 2008 with a new trailer and a step by step plan to build his new business. Today he is on plan, optimistic about the future and having fun.

Within 90 days of starting his business Jason:

• Created a new web site packed with pictures and information offering prospects a clear description of his new service.
• Prepared all of his brochures and prospect mailing tools.
• Signed up to exhibit at a local fair which immediately secured him 300 leads.
• Connected with all his prior business contacts and friends to share the news about his new business.
• Began a series of promotional direct mailings into targeted neighborhoods promoting his service.
• Volunteered to do a high profile job at a local firehouse which gave him immediate exposure.
• Began meetings with local architects to explain what he can do.

To read the rest of this story, please go to the Engrave-A-Crete Success Stories page.