Garage door industry magazine for garage door dealers, garage door manufacturers, garage door distributors, garage door installers, loading docks, garage door operators and openers, gates, and tools for the door industry.
Issue link: https://idoi.epubxp.com/i/105596
DOORDEALERDIALOG (continued from page 18) Regarding Habitat for Humanity, the company provides an average of 12 to 15 doors per year. In addition, the business works closely with fire and police departments. According to John what he witnessed was rather strange. The doctor had several mannequins 'residing' throughout his house. John serviced the man's door and left as promptly as he could. Dealers have shared some funny or unusual stories with me in the past, but John topped them all with his. Seems he made a service call at the home of a retired doctor. When he went to the front door to acknowledge his presence he noticed a person seated on a couch near the door. Although he knocked several times, the person never flinched. Eventually the doctor came to the door, and invited him in. As we talked more about business practices, John shared with me that in almost all his residential installation jobs the company utilizes two personnel. He noted that the dual staffing provides assistance to the lead installer, and training for the level one guy and teach him a trade. "In addition, we experience very few injuries and maintain an extremely low workers' compensation experience mod," he stated. "It is important to make your employees accountable…" John expects a lot from his door technicians and closely monitors their work. A call back report is maintained along with customer feedback. "I pay my guys well, cover 100% of their health care, match up to 3% of wages contributed to a simple IRA plan, provide them with a pair of steel toed shoes (annually), and expect them to represent the company as a professional," he stated. "I pay them hourly because I never want to put them in a position where they would profit from selling a customer a product whether it is a door, an opener or a roller. Most times they inform the customer what they feel may be needed, but encourage them to visit the company's showroom to see what is available," he added. I found it interesting that John never gives a man less than 40 hours a week. If they return to the office earlier than normal, they are expected to stock their trucks, wash their vehicles, change the oil, mow Continued on page 22 V O O U U M E 4 6 6 I S S U U E 1 1 2 0 1 3 3 2121 V L L M E 4 I S E 2 0 1