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How Burcham's Plumbing Wins With Fair Pricing And Reliable Service · Epic Entrepreneurs

• 0:45
  SPEAKER_01: Hi everyone, welcome to this week's episode of Epic Entrepreneurs.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: I am Cliff McCray with Action Coach Business Growth Partners, where we work with local business owners to turn big ideas into real scalable growth.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_01: Today I'm excited to be joined by Caitlin and Daniel Bertram with Bertram's Plumbing.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: Caitlin and Daniel, thanks for being here.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_01: How are you all doing today?
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: Hi, we're doing great.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for asking.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_01: No, we're very excited to have you.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: So let's go ahead and jump right into things if you don't mind.
• 1:12
  unknown: Okay.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_01: So for those of you who may not know it yet, you know, what is Bertram's Plumbing?
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: What do you all provide for the community?
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: We do plumbing for anyone service, residential, uh, industrial, commercial, gas lines.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: We, you know, uh install your French drains, anything small to new construction.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, there's pretty much not anything we do not do.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, nice, nice.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: And and who are you as a person?
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_01: You know, who is Caitlin and Daniel Birchram?
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: Who are you personally?
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: We, my husband's been doing the plumbing since he was about nine.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: He's worked for numerous plumbing companies.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: His parents owned a plumbing company.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: So we just we've been doing it on the side for about four or five years, and we just decided to go this year and go full time.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_01: Sounds good.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, Caitlin, let's get right into the business side of things.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: You know, what's something about running a business that people think is amazing, but it's actually not when you hear it?
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I wouldn't say nothing's not amazing about it.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: I enjoy running our own business, not just because, I mean, you not really have your own freedom, but I mean, you do, in other words.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: But mainly we went into business to help people.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we were doing plumbing and noticing a lot of companies, you know, charge a lot or they don't show up or, you know, something of that nature.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: So we like to make a living, but we also too understand that, you know, money is hard for everybody.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Not everybody has a lot of bit of money.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: So I wouldn't really say nothing is for us.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's all challenging running a business, but I was I wouldn't say really nothing.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: Our biggest accomplishment is just helping people.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's why we went into business.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: We just we enjoy helping people.
• 2:56
  unknown: Mm-hmm.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and like you said, do you you guys work with people when it comes to, you know, oh, I don't have enough money to do this, this, that, and the other?
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_01: Do you guys kind of work with people on pricing?
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: Or as that work?
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah, yes.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, we definitely do.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: There's people that we, you know, you have no water and they don't get paid for another two weeks, you know, or they can't afford it, you know, the full payment up front.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: So we try to work with people as long as you know our our cost is covered for the parts, we can always work on the rest of the payment for the customer.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, okay, okay.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what would you say was the exact moment where you realized, you know, this business could either really work or it could completely blow up in our faces and we could lose everything?
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, that's always a doubt in your mind, especially because like I said, we we quit our full-time jobs in January and went full-time, and we've been blessed to have our books full since January, since going full-time.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's just you always have it in the back of your mind thinking, oh my gosh, you know, my company might, you know, go down or something like that.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: But as long as you're good to the people and you've got good pricing and good amazing work and you show up when you're going to, I don't see an issue as to why your company can't succeed.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what would you say is the most stressful moment you've had as a business owner?
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: You know, like a how am I going to get through this type of moment?
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: The most stressful thing, I wouldn't, it's mainly just learning it all, you know.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're not born into business, you know, it's it can be a learning curve.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: And that's why it's always great to have a mentor.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_00: So someone who can, we know plumbing, but we don't know the business aspect of it as well.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just it's a learning curve for someone who's never done it before.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: Now, have you ever thought about quitting your business?
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, no, no, no, no.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: I'd like to go nationwide if I could.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: We'd like to get into septic as well.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: So there's we plan on expanding and growing.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: So does that thought never cross your mind at all?
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, no, sir, not at all.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_01: No, that's awesome.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: You know, a lot of times, you know, people run into a little bit of a, you know, a brick wall or they have a hard day and they're like, oh man, what did I get myself into?
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, people question themselves.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: So that is surprising that you never thought that.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure, like I said, I'm sure it goes through everybody's mind and it's very scary, but it's something that we want to do, and we're good at it, we're good with the people, and you know, we've got a great reputation.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: So I think we will be just fine.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: Now, Caitlin, let's say if you could wave a magic wand and instantly fix one part of your business tomorrow, what would that be?
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um as far as fixing anything, probably I really wouldn't fix anything.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, we're growing and we still still have a lot to learn.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: But as far as actually changing anything, it like I said, it's it's going phenomenal since January.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: So there's nothing really I would change.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it sounds like I mean, could because you kind of said it a little bit, you know, a little bit ago, kind of because you want to expand across the nation, right?
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: That's kind of the big thing.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_01: I guess maybe having more funds available so you could do that a little bit faster.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_01: Is that kind of maybe the only thing?
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we could most definitely.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you could always use more funds, but um funds will come, you know, with time and stuff.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: So it'll grow.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: You don't want to get too big too quickly.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: So we're we're taking not taking our time, but also too, you know, really thinking about it and just doing what we can, in other words.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_01: No, I gotcha, I gotcha.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_01: And and like you said, you're you're growing at a nice pace, you know, since January.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_01: How do you see, I mean, where do you see your business by the end of the year since you guys are growing so quickly?
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: I hope to see it spread.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: We're uh getting into more commercial properties and we're doing a gym in Yackinville, workout anytime.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we're doing another car dealership out there.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm just hoping our word gets out and that it grows so that people have a trusted plumber because that's that's where people run into the issues too.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_00: People come in and state they are a plumber and they end up making more, you know, more of a mess or something like that.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it's just if you're good to your customers and you have good work, then I think you will be just fine.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, I agree, I agree.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_01: Now, as far as you know, it was there something about you or or Daniel personally that had to change in order for your business to grow, would you say?
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: Not really changed.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um, if not, yeah, I wouldn't really state anything that we would have to change about us.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, if anything, we're just we're learning as we go.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: So you can always learn more about business.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just really just more learning than anything.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_01: More learning than anything.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: Now, and then and this question is kind of hypothetical, but let's say if someone shadowed you and Daniel for a full day or let's say even a full week, what would you say would surprise them the most about how you all operate your business?
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: That we're on time and we state when we're gonna be there, you know, what what we're going to do.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: My husband's very good at he'll come in, state that you know you may need a new sewer line issued, but he's also gonna check your water heater because you know most water heaters need to be changed anywhere from seven to 12 years.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: He's gonna check on other things for you and tell you, hey, you do I would, I wouldn't recommend that you need to change this now, but I would recommend in, you know, in a couple of months, you you probably will need to do this, or I would recommend you doing this.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: He's very good at detailing and explaining if you need something done and not just doing it or doing it, you know, halfway to where you're gonna have more issues because that's where you'll run into too.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of plumbers, you know, they'll only do it halfway fixed, and you know, then they're calling you back, and it's just it can be a hassle.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_00: So my husband's really good at that.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because I mean it, you know, that that prevents you from having to go back out there and redo something over again that you've already done, correct?
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it beats labor, but also too, it that customer can get very irritated.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_00: And people understand, you know, some things happen, we'll fix one thing and you may have another issue that comes about.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: But my husband will take care of you know your issue first time there, as long as you know something else doesn't happen, but then he'll be more than happy to come back out there.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_01: I love that.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_01: I love that.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_01: Now, let's talk about numbers without getting too specific because obviously, you know, you guys just kind of started the business very new still.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_01: What, what, I guess, let's see how I could phrase this.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_01: You know, how many months did it take for, I guess, the turning point to happen where things started to scale and you started to expand and become profitable?
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_01: Did that happen right away or did it take some time?
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: Well, my husband, like I said, we've been doing it on the side for about four or five years.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: So my husband already has a great reputation out here in Yackinville as it is.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: So he's already had his name out there.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: Side business was just picking up really well.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: And we just decided in January that, you know, we've had great customers and we've got a good reputation that we just decided to go out on our own.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: And it's just it's been great ever since.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, we're growing.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what would you say actually moves the needle most in your business right now?
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: Moves the needle.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_00: Well, my husband's name, but also too, just because of his work.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: He's still a we're still a young couple, but we are he's one of the best plumbers that you will find around here.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: And he's had different types of training for gas lines, for the different types of plumbing he's taken.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, he is licensed and insured.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: So he he's really good at what he does for his age.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what would you say is one thing that's, you know, you're doing today that's giving you and and Daniel kind of an unfair advantage over your competitors out there?
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's still you're still competing.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_00: There's still, you know, other people out there that, you know, have a good reputation with other emplumbers.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, it's just like with a banker, you know, you don't want to move.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just it's just getting our name out there and, you know, doing well with the customers and just letting everybody know that, hey, we are here if you're not happy with your other plumber.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what would you say is the hardest leadership lesson you all have learned since, you know, while growing your team?
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_01: I know you said you have two plumbers or there are two techs that work for you.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_01: Any hard leadership lessons you've had to learn so far?
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: Not really hard lessons.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you end up having some good workers, then you have some bad workers.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: That's just with any job you go against.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_00: But I've got two great guys now, Christian and Wes.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: They're amazing workers.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: So hopefully once I get them trained and you know, they're really well, and then you know, we can expand even more.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_01: Now, is that kind of the plan?
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, is that where you see it going by the end of the year?
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_01: You think you'll be able to get another tech?
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: Or oh yeah, yes, yeah.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: Like I said, those two guys are really well.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: So um, it's kind of hard finding plumbers at times.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: So we may have to, you know, go with an apprenticeship, but they end up being a phenomenal workers.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's how Wes started, and he ended up being the most amazing worker I had or had.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_01: Now, now let's talk about that because you never know who might hear this.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_01: You know, they somebody may hear this a year from now, and you've got a posting up for two techs or four techs or whatever.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_01: What you know, you said Wes is kind of his name is Wes, you said was your best yeah, yeah, was your best tech.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_01: What separates your best employees from everyone else, would you say?
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um, well, Wes and Christian are both really well.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: They didn't know much about plumbing once they first came in.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: Wes was an apprenticeship and he wanted to do plumbing for a living.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: So they have both learned very well and and just I couldn't be more prouder of them.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: They're wanting to do plumbing, and they're someone that we can count on to send to the customer's house and that I know the work's gonna be done.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: But um yeah, Wes and Christian are both phenomenal people.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: I I wouldn't say either one of them's better than the other.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: I just I shout out to Wes because Wes is so much younger.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_00: He's an 18-year-old.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_00: He, you know, yeah, he but he's phenomenal.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_00: He will outwork anybody.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_01: Wow, 18-year-old, yeah.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_01: So shouts out to Wes, man.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_01: That's yeah, that's awesome.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he's an amazing guy.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and Christian too.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_00: Christian's in his 30s, but he's still a um great supervisor and everything.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: So he gets the work done.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_01: Now, and and you know, maybe this, maybe don't this doesn't apply to you all, but I'm still gonna ask it anyways.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_01: Have you ever had to make a tough call?
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_01: Let's say, like, you know, letting someone go that wasn't a fit for the company, or maybe cutting something off, maybe denying a job or or not doing a job that ended up being the right move long term?
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: I wouldn't say I have had to have ran into that any issues right now.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure challenges will come up with, you know, running a business, but as of right now, we haven't had any challenges, which has been a blessing.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's awesome.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_01: All right, perfect.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_01: So let's go ahead and head to to what's called the quick fire round.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_01: So, how this works is I'm going to give you one word, and then I just want you to tell me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear each word in regards to running your business.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_01: All right, and then kind of and when you choose that one word, kind of give me kind of a little blurb, like a like, you know, maybe a paragraph or so of why you chose what you chose, if that makes sense.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_01: The first word is success.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: Success.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_00: Uh first word that comes to it.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, my business.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: I plan on having our business be very successful, not only just the business, but as as humans, you know, as humans, you can always grow as long with your business.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_02: Failure.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, first word that comes with failure.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_00: Nothing really when it comes to failure.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_00: You always have it in the back of your mind, but I couldn't think of one word or anything to go with failure because it's just not in my vocabulary.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_01: I like that.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_01: I like that.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_01: She's like, I'm not even thinking about that.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_01: Burnout.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_00: No burnout.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's very stressful, you know, running a business at times and the hours are long, but I don't see if you love what you're doing and you enjoy helping people, I don't see how we get burned out.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_00: I've like I said, I've got great employees, so we take very good care of them.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: We're always, you know, make sure the guys are taken care of.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: So nothing really as far as that one either.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_01: Scaling.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_00: Let's see.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: I'm always scaling for more opportunities.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: I'm always looking for, you know, to meet new people, to build connections.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_00: You never know who you're gonna meet or who they know.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_00: So always state that be nice to everybody and it'll come back to you.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_01: Hiring.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um hiring can be difficult at times, especially when it comes to a trade, especially plumbing.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: Not a lot of people want to do plumbing for a living.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: So if anybody is looking, please give us a call.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it seems like it seems like I hear that from uh, you know, because like I I talk to a lot of different entrepreneurs uh here on the podcast, and you know, and mostly in the trades.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_01: And it seems like the, you know, I guess maybe the younger generation doesn't really want to go in the trades as much as prior generations did.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_01: Is that have you noticed that?
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we've noticed that quite a bit.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's something sad, but um, like I said, we've gotten with some of our apprenticeship.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_00: So we've gotten lucky, but yeah, it is definitely hard to find someone with plumbing experience or let alone that wants to do it for a living.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's why when you told me about the 18-year-old, you know, about Wes, I was like, oh, that's why I was so shocked.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_01: I mean it's like, man, it's still kids that wanna, you know, want to do this, you know what I mean?
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_01: Because it's kind of it's kind of tough to tough to find nowadays.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: Everybody wants to be a YouTuber or you know, streamer or whatever, you know, everybody wants to do that now.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_00: And there's nothing wrong with that.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that, but we yeah, we need some more trade people, especially the older generation.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, I agree, agree.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_01: All right, sorry about getting off track there, but the next word is competition.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_00: You have competition all the time.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_00: As we went, you know, prior to saying this, there's always going to be somebody out there that will maybe do it cheaper than us, or you know, not as good and cheaper, but in the long run, there's enough plumbing for everybody.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: We work with other plumbers too.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_00: There's sometimes, you know, we can't get to a job, and you know, we'll reference someone else that we trust, and you know, they do the same for us if they can't get it.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't really see competition as a bad thing.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_00: I see it's a good thing, you know, it makes you work harder for your business.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_00: But also, too, like I said, you work with other people in trade.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: So just because you're in competition doesn't mean you have to be enemies.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_01: I like that.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_01: I like that.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_01: And the last word is freedom.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_00: Freedom.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: That is a beautiful word.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_00: When it comes to that, I just I enjoy as far as the freedom, uh, just everyday life, I guess.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_00: You being able to wake up and be able to do what you want to do, go to work.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: Not every person has that opportunity, so it's a blessing for us to be able to have that.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, and it's a huge blessing, like you said, to be able to get up and do something you enjoy.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because you don't dread coming into work every day.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_01: You actually enjoy what you do.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_01: All right, perfect.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_01: I appreciate you getting through that quick fire round there.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, with all of this talk of AI and self-automation, you know, I I talk to tradesmen all the time, like I said earlier.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_01: Where do you think your industry is going?
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_01: What do you what do you see plumbing in the industry in total in the next 10 years from now?
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, plumbing will still be here.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: AI can take a lot, in my opinion, AI can take a lot of our jobs, but when it comes to trades, I don't see how trade can do it.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_00: I just I don't see how AI can take, can, you know, root our sewer line or can unclog a toilet.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: I just, I don't think AI is going to affect the trades as much.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 19:07
  SPEAKER_01: Now, do you do you do you all use it in your day-to-day, like as far as helping out with customers at all?
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: Or no, not AI.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I have my laptop and you know, we use Google and stuff, but as far as using AI, I mean, there's really no need in the for us to use it.
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_01: Now, where do you think your your particular business will be by 2030?
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_01: Where do you guys see yourself?
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, hopefully with a lot of crews, uh expanded, accept it.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_00: I'm hoping, you know, well, not hoping, I know for sure that, you know, we will expand, we will grow, which is the way we're going and how we treat people.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_00: I don't see any issue with it.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_01: So you're thinking, I mean, how many how many crews do you think you'll have?
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_01: How many employees do you think you'll have?
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_01: What do you what do you think?
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I want to go big, but I don't want to go too big.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_00: That's where you run into a lot of the corporation issues with the pricing and everything.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_00: I'd like for us to still stay small, but have small crews throughout the counties or states, you know, still keep it family-owned and small.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_00: But by the time I'm done with it, I would like to have a Bertram's plumbing in every state if I could, along with Septic.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_00: And there are a few other ones we would like, you know, to invest and stuff in later on down the road.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm hoping to have, you know, one in every state by the time Bertram's Plumbing, you know, we pass.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_01: 2030.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_01: So I want you to be as honest and candid as you can on the answer to this next question.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_01: But, you know, Caitlin, let's say if somebody's listening to the, you know, podcast episode with you today, and let's say they're just having a tough go of 2026.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we're almost halfway through the year already.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_01: That's wild because it feels like I just said happy new year's yesterday.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_01: It felt like but let's say if a you know a small business owner, small entrepreneur is listening to the podcast episode today, and they're just not, you know, they're just feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_01: They're just not profitable yet this year.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_01: What's a piece of advice you'd want them to hear from you today?
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: Give it time.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: It will come.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_00: As much as people hate to hear that.
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_00: I also recommend marketing if you can get into different types of marketing, get out and speak to the people.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_00: We are taught in our BI classes that people work with who they know, trust, and like.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: So people can hear Bertram's plumbing, you know, and most people will give us a try, but there's some people that you're gonna work with that, you know, they want to know you more.
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_00: So that's what I state is I'm getting out more now into marketing, getting people to know your name, your face.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_00: Marketing is what helped us the most as long, you know, besides us doing it on the side for four or five years, and my husband already having a good name, to get our name outside of Yackinville, where we're at into Winston, Louisville, Clements.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_00: We've been marketing.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_00: Marketing has been phenomenal.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_00: You can do it on Facebook, you can go to BI, Chambers of Commerce, Home Builders Association.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: There's all kinds of marketing teams to get out there too to help grow your business.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_00: So do not stress about that.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_00: Just you got to get out and be a people person more.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_01: Now you recommended B and I.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_01: I know BI is, I believe it's B and I is a paid subscription, correct?
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it is.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_00: All of them are.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: You do have to pay for all of these, but it is the reason you pay for it is because the outcome is so high.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like it's like they say, right, you got to pay, you gotta pay some money to make some money, right?
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_00: And that's, I mean, it it's it's it's not the best thing when it comes to business, especially when you are a small company and you know you don't have a lot of capital as it is.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_00: So it can be frustrating and kind of scary for someone starting out.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_00: But if you actually put your mind to it and actually do it, it will work out for you.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what's next for uh Bertram's plumbing?
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_01: What should people be excited about coming up in the near future?
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um as far as uh we're doing there's just a few things that we're doing as far as like the B and I's and stuff that we're you know joining.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_00: But as far as exciting things, we're just we're just trying to expand, you know, our commercial properties are going up.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_00: So that's great that we're getting more commercial properties.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_00: I was just hoping Burchins Plumbing just, you know, spreads out and gets the word out more.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay, great.
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_01: And what's the best way for someone to connect with you and learn more about what you all do in case you're interested?
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_00: Uh pleach out to me on Facebook.
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_00: We have Instagram too, Bircham's Plumbing, and that's B-U-R-C-H-A-M-S Plumbing.
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_00: I have you can reach me out on any of my social media.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_00: You can give me a text, a call, 336-941-7579.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: My email is info at berchamsplumbing.com.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_00: They can reach out to me anywhere, anytime.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_00: I would love to talk with anybody.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_01: Perfect, perfect, perfect.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and yeah, that's really that's really any social well.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_01: You did say Facebook and everything.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_01: Do you guys have an Instagram or TikTok?
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_00: We do have Instagram.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_00: I haven't set up a TikTok.
• 24:05
  SPEAKER_00: I do need to set up a TikTok, but I do have Instagram.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, TikTok is is huge.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_01: Like that's man, I've we've had some people start up TikToks, and they're like, man, I doubled my business within a month.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_01: So uh yeah, TikTok is huge.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_01: It just it just seems like everybody's on TikTok now, especially the younger generation, definitely.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_01: So all right, perfect.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_01: So you know, Caitlin, this has been fantastic.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your story and your perspective.
• 24:28
  SPEAKER_01: I'd really love, you know, to have you back on maybe as a repeat guest, maybe in two or three years.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because I'm sure you would have a lot more to talk about because you do have a bunch of crews and maybe some people drive, you know, driving your nerves and everything.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you maybe have a little bit more, you know, as far as the you know, stories to tell and stuff like that, as far as your business.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_01: So love to have you on, but you know, that's up to you.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_01: But I re yeah, but uh really appreciate you giving your real behind the scenes of building your business.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_01: Any last words you'd like to give to the audience before we let you go?
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_00: No, I really appreciate all the time help, and please give us a call if you ever need a plumber.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_00: We are open 24 hours, seven days a week, and we do get free estimates.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, perfect, perfect.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, thank you for everything you're doing for the community, and we wish you continued success in the future.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.