Stuck in Stage 2? Here's Why You're Not Making Money

Clifton Podcast | What Nobody Is Telling You About Trades

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2062001/fan_mail/new] Most contractors think the hiring problem starts with finding apprentices. But according to HVAC education leader Clifton Beck, the real issue is what happens after they get hired. In this episode of ESCO Institute and Trade Traction, we break down why so many young techs leave the trades early, how contractors are failing the next generation, and what companies must do to actually retain profitable employees long-term. From apprenticeship systems and mentorship to company culture, technology, leadership, and the future of the skilled trades — this conversation is packed with insights every plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractor needs to hear. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why contractors keep losing good technicians 00:32 – Introduction to Clifton Beck & ESCO Institute 02:10 – Why most contractors misunderstand apprenticeship programs 05:00 – How contractors can shape local trade education programs 09:12 – The biggest reason young techs leave the industry 10:00 – Creating career paths that retain employees 15:00 – How technology is changing HVAC & skilled trades 20:00 – Why money alone won’t keep technicians loyal 25:00 – The massive opportunity still available in the trades 30:00 – The deeper purpose behind skilled trades work 35:00 – Different career paths inside HVAC & plumbing 37:15 – Final message on building a profitable company that keeps great people #HVAC #PlumbingBusiness #SkilledTrades #ContractorBusiness #HVACLife #TradeTraction #Apprenticeships #BusinessGrowth #HVACTechnician #Tradespeople   The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ [https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice [https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice] Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Don't Take Slow Times Lying Down

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2062001/fan_mail/new] 🚨 Slow Season in Your Plumbing Business? Here’s Exactly What To Do. In this episode, we break down practical plumbing marketing strategies to keep your phones ringing, your technicians busy, and your business growing — even during slow periods. From direct mail campaigns and email marketing to branding, social media, partnerships, and neighborhood marketing, this is a complete playbook for plumbing company owners who refuse to sit back and accept “slow.” If you own a plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or home service business, this episode is packed with actionable ideas you can implement immediately to generate more service calls, improve team morale, and build a recognizable local brand. You’ll learn why successful companies focus on consistency, branding, visibility, and proactive marketing instead of waiting for leads to magically appear. 🔥 In this episode, you’ll discover: *  Why every plumbing business needs 3 calls per tech per day  *  How to market your plumbing company during slow seasons  *  The power of direct mail postcards and local radius marketing  *  Email marketing ideas for plumbing and home service businesses  *  How to reactivate past customers with simple offers  *  Why collaboration with electricians, HVAC companies, and roofers works  *  Social media marketing tips for plumbing businesses  *  Neighborhood marketing strategies that actually get noticed  *  How yard signs, A-frames, and truck placement generate leads  *  The importance of branding in the trades  *  How purpose-driven marketing builds customer loyalty  *  Leadership mindset and responsibility as a business owner  This episode is essential for:  ✅ Plumbing company owners  ✅ HVAC contractors  ✅ Electricians  ✅ Home service business owners  ✅ Trades entrepreneurs  ✅ Service managers looking to improve call volume 📈 If your business feels slow, don’t panic — market harder, get visible, and create momentum. 👇 Subscribe for more plumbing business coaching, marketing strategies, leadership advice, and home service growth content. #PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #HVACMarketing #ContractorMarketing #ServiceBusiness #LocalMarketing #BusinessGrowth #TradesBusiness #PlumbingContractor ⏱️ CHAPTERS:  00:00 Why Slow Seasons Are Dangerous  00:55 The “3 Calls Per Tech” Rule  02:26 Direct Mail Marketing Strategy Explained  04:06 Handling Slow Periods the Right Way  05:23 Email Marketing for Plumbing Companies  07:11 Predicting Slow Days & Seasonal Trends  08:25 Calling Your Customer List for More Work  08:53 Partnering with Other Trades for Referrals  10:54 Social Media & Customer Engagement Tips  12:11 Why Doing Something Builds Company Morale  12:52 Neighborhood Marketing Tactics That Work  14:18 The Power of Yard Signs & Visibility  15:02 Why Techs Need Sales Training  16:59 Building a Strong Plumbing Brand  18:18 “Banana on the Roof” Branding Concept  19:35 Creative Marketing Campaign Ideas  20:23 Creating Social Media Content That Stands Out  20:41 Purpose Partnerships & Sponsorship Marketing  22:31 Using Community Branding to Get Direct Calls  23:45 Collaborating With Local Business Owners  24:26 How to Use Your Service Trucks as Billboards  25:21 Why Owners Must Lead Marketing Efforts  26:17 All Hands on Deck During Slow Seasons  26:32 Final Motivation for Business Owners Source transcript adapted from uploaded script file. The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ [https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice [https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice] Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Your Hiring Problem Has a Solution—Here's What Works

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2062001/fan_mail/new] If you're tired of hiring people who say they know the trade… but then you realize they only know one small part of the job, this episode is for you. Most contractors aren’t struggling because of lack of work… they’re struggling because of bad hires, weak training, and no real pipeline of skilled labor. In this episode, you’ll learn how top contractors are fixing that, by actually knowing who they’re hiring, building stronger training systems, and creating a reliable workforce that drives profit instead of killing it. Jennifer Wilkerson from NCCER breaks down how standardized training, real skill assessments, and national programs are changing the game for contractors across the country. If you want better people, better systems, and better profit, this is the blueprint. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – The Hiring Problem Every Contractor Faces 02:29 – Why “Skilled Workers” Aren’t Actually Skilled 04:36 – The Real Reason Contractors Lose Profit 06:40 – Labor Mistakes & Weak Training Systems 08:35 – How Smart Contractors Fix Hiring 10:27 – Building a Reliable Skilled Labor Pipeline 12:27 – Inside NCCER & Standardized Training 15:10 – How Skill Assessments Actually Work 18:03 – Programs Contractors Are Using Right Now 20:55 – Future of Hiring & Why This Matters  Podcast: Trade Traction Host: Dennis Hamon Guest: Jennifer Wilkerson (VP of Innovation & Advancement, NCCER) The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ [https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice [https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice] Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Stuck in Stage 2? Here's Why You're Not Making Money

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2062001/fan_mail/new] If you own a plumbing business and feel like you're working hard but still not making money, this episode explains why most plumbing companies get stuck before reaching real profit. In this Trade Traction episode, plumbing contractors will learn the 4 stages of plumbing business growth and why many plumbing business owners look successful while still struggling financially. Many plumbing business owners stay busy, run trucks every day, and still feel pressure around payroll, cash flow, and profit. The truth is that every plumbing company moves through predictable business stages, and only one stage creates consistent profit, stronger teams, and peace of mind. In this episode, we cover: * Stage 1: surviving as a small plumbing company * Stage 2: looking successful but still struggling financially * Stage 3: relying too heavily on plumbing sales * Stage 4: building a plumbing business around training, options, and trust If you are a plumbing contractor trying to grow your plumbing business, improve plumbing sales, increase profit margins, or build a stronger home service business, this episode will help you identify what needs to change next. Trade Traction helps plumbing contractors stop working for free, improve profitability, and build the business they once dreamed of. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why most plumbing businesses struggle 01:05 Stage 1 plumbing business survival 04:10 Stage 2 plumbing company growth problems 07:05 Stage 3 plumbing sales focus 10:45 Why sales pressure creates problems 13:20 Offering options in plumbing sales 17:10 Why training creates profit 21:05 The profitable plumbing business stage 24:10 What stage is your plumbing business in? #PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingContractor #PlumbingCompany #HomeServiceBusiness #ContractorProfit #TradeTraction The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ [https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice [https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice] Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Tired of Being Busy and Broke? Here's What To Change

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2062001/fan_mail/new] If you're a plumbing contractor staying busy every day but still wondering why there’s no money left at the end of the month, this episode of Trade Traction breaks down exactly why busy does not always mean profitable. In this episode, we cover the 3 biggest profit mistakes plumbing companies make that keep contractors stuck working hard without building real financial freedom: * Why charging more is necessary if you want to stop working for free * Why offering more options increases profit on every service call * Why paying yourself first changes everything in a plumbing business Too many plumbing business owners believe that full schedules automatically create profit—but without proper pricing, upselling, and profit discipline, even a busy plumbing company can stay broke. If you want to build a profitable plumbing business, improve plumbing sales, and finally create the company you once dreamed of, this episode will show you where to start. Chapters 00:00 Why busy plumbers still stay broke 01:12 Why customers always say “that’s expensive” 04:08 Why plumbing contractors must give options 07:25 Charge for the truck you actually want 10:14 Why correct pricing still leaves you broke 13:05 Sell more than they called you for 17:42 The hidden profit in offering upgrades 21:18 Why paying yourself first works 25:07 Profit First for plumbing contractors 28:44 Small price increases that change everything 32:10 Why plumbing is worth charging more for If you're serious about growing a plumbing company that produces real profit, subscribe to Trade Traction for weekly strategies built for plumbing contractors. #PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingContractor #ProfitFirst #ServiceBusiness #TradesBusiness #PlumbingSales The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ [https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice [https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice] Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.