Masonry Magazine August 2008 Page. 41
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Masonry Computer Estimating
That Does It All... in 3D!
by Tradesmen's Software
Do Faster Takeoffs!
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SAVE S No more walls, bandings, openings or even buildings missed from your estimate.
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Calculates CMU: HALF and FULL BULLNOSE, DOUBLE BULLNOSE, CHAMFER, or SASH for any or all OPENINGS, JAMBS, CORNERS, CONTROL JOINTS and any SPECIAL CUTS.
Integrate with PROJECT COST and DIGITAL PLAN MEASURING SYSTEMS.
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Support available 7 days a week.
Comes with more than 400 items in material database.
Negotiating projects with a 3D image will win you more contracts and enhance your professional image
TRADESMEN'S SOFTWARE, Inc.
1-800-494-4899
See for yourself at:
www.tradesmens.com
CIRCLE 163 ON READER SERVICE CARD
August 2008
Masonry 39
new uses for the Grout Grunt that have nothing to do with the original intent, including gardening, filling sandbags and feeding livestock.
We spoke with Morgan Agazzi about doing business in today's market, including the company's methods for marketing and branding such a specialty product.
"I didn't go to marketing school, so I'm trying my best to do what I can," he says, noting that they maintain a Web site, place a nominal amount of print advertising and rely on distributors and trade show interaction to spread the word about Grout Grunt.
Unfortunately, small businesses are often strained quickest when an economy slows. While Agazzi says they've felt the squeeze, it hasn't been debilitating. About the only sign he's seen is that retailers aren't ordering the product in quantities of 24 or 36 as often. Rather, they're only buying what they need to keep a few on the shelves.
The Agazzis know growth must come slowly, lest they become overwhelmed and unable to meet demand. Last year, Grout Grunt sold 8,000 units, and the owners hope to double that this year.
Grout Grunt's Morgan Agazzi says that while the company has felt the squeeze of a slow economy, it hasn't been debilitating.
Agazzi says the company relies little on technology, though he has had customers inquire about using Pay Pal for transactions and ordering online.
"I'm lucky to get my emails and go on the Internet to get what I need," he admits. "I'm not a computer geek."
As the family prepares for the elder Agazzi to retire, Morgan and Steven are working on their own approaches to the business, looking to the future and hoping to carry on the company's reputation for a quality product for years to come.
A mid-sized company, Waterford, Ohio-based Lang Masonry has been in business for more than 24 years, and owner Damian Lang says the success is based on a solid reputation for safety and quality as well as the company's marketing strategy.
"The companies and schools that hire us continue to do so because we've proven that we are price competitive, and we stand behind our work," he says. "So in terms of direct advertising, we do very little; we focus on our relationship and strive to maintain our solid reputation."
Regarding advertising, Lang Masonry does maintain a Web site and advertises in local and regional publications, something many mid-sized companies mistakenly cut from their budgets
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