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How A Local Carpet Pro Built Trust, Team, And A Thriving Service Business with Bret Wooton · Epic Entrepreneurs

• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: All right, well, welcome to this week's episode of Epic Entrepreneurs.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: I am Clifford McRae, filling in for Bill Gillan with your local business training and coaching firm, Action Coach Business Growth Partners.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to have Brett Woten on with Heaven's Best Carpet Cleaning as the focus for our Epic Entrepreneurs podcast episode today.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: So, Brett, please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about yourself and your company and kind of what you offer the community.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, like you heard, my name is Brett.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_02: I've been working for Heaven's Best Carpet Cleaners in this temporary job now for about 20 years.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_02: I used to tell people that through a ridiculous twist of fate, I took ownership of the company uh January 1st, 2016.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_02: Uh now I tell people that it was through God's providence that I took ownership of this company.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_02: As it turns out, heaven's best carpet cleaners is my calling.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_02: It's what I was meant to do.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_02: Uh fortunately, the systems and tools that we use are top of the line.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_02: They make it easy for us to do the best, to be the best at what we do.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: And with all our years of practice, we've gotten very good at being the best.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_02: Our market is middle and upper income homes and businesses, and we do a quality job at a fair price.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_02: There's other things that we do besides carpet.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_02: Uh you want to know about that?
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that'd be great.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_02: Uh aside from carpet cleaning, we do upholstery, upholstered furniture, we do leather, tile and grout, uh, area rugs, hardwood floors.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_02: Uh we also do carpet restretching and repairs.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_02: Uh we also clean heating and air ducts and dryer vents.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_02: I think that about covers our our menu.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: Great, great, great.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: So if you had to start your business from square one tomorrow, what would you do differently?
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_02: I wouldn't be afraid to make my decisions and uh I wouldn't agonize over the decisions I made.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_02: I remember uh when I first started, uh every decision I made, I I agonized over.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_02: Uh but as it turns out, all I had to do was just not mess it up.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, okay.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: So you're saying you would dwell on any any is that just larger decisions or every single decision made for the business you used to dwell on?
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_02: Uh when when I first started, I I agonized over every decision who I would advertise with, how I would advertise, uh things like that.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_02: Made a few mistakes, uh learned from my mistakes.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_02: Uh now I just uh make a decision and generally it works out pretty well.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_02: If it doesn't, uh I learn from it.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_02: I call it my expensive education.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: Love it, love it.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: So what have you what would you say are your biggest learnings that you know been as an owner and employer since you started your business?
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: The biggest things you've learned.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um just to do it.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_02: Don't be afraid.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_02: There are a lot of variables in all the things that we do day in and day out.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_02: Uh some of it's guesswork.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_02: Uh that's just how it is.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, there's different different products that we work with, uh different things that we're working on from day to day.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_02: Uh just a matter of doing it, getting the job done.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_02: Completing the job is is everything.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_02: And uh make people happy.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_02: It's not that hard.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, okay.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: Love it.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: So, what are some common misconceptions about running a business and how do you handle those?
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_02: Well, a common misconception is that if you owe the business that you're rich.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_02: That's that's what a a lot of people think.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_02: And uh but uh I'm I'm rich in as much as uh as long as I work every day and do the things that I do at the quality that it needs to be done, uh I'll be able to uh continue to do some of the fun things outside of work that I like to do.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, okay.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: I like that.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: Whatever you attributed to your growth so far in your business, obviously you took it over in 2016.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_02: Well, uh Well, I had 10 years of of training to be an owner.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: Uh not not taking shortcuts.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_02: Don't mess with the system.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_02: If it's working and it's it's working well, don't change it.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_02: Don't try to look for a shortcut if there isn't one.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: You said you had 10 years of training.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: Would you would you attribute that to anybody in particular?
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Like, did you have a good trainer?
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: Anyone that kind of helped you out along the way?
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_02: I was an employee for for 10 years before uh 2016.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and uh the previous owners were very kind to me and generous to me.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_02: And uh they taught me how to be kind and generous to the people around me also.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_02: Uh excellent training.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_02: Uh they they cared about uh about who I was.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_02: They cared about the work I did, and they cared about giving the customers a little bit more than what they bargained for consistently.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_00: So how would you say you balance your personal life with the demands of running a business?
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_02: Well, the business uh wants to consume me, but I've got uh I've got a wife, four kids, and eleven going on, twelve grandkids.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I think uh the balance kind of works itself out.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_02: Uh if I'm if I'm I'm here and uh everybody's here for for Sunday dinner or something like that.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_02: Uh if the phone rings, I'll answer the phone, of course.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_02: Uh that's my that's my job.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_02: Uh but it as long if it's not ringing, like on a Sunday, I'm playing with my grandbabies.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_02: There's nothing like a pile of grandbabies through the house uh causing mayhem.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: Understood.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: How do you handle vacations?
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_02: Uh uh I plan well in advance and uh leave people in charge that are able to be in charge.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_02: Uh people that will do a quality job that I can trust them.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_02: And uh well, uh my lead man now is my my oldest grandson.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_02: Uh he's 19 years old.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_02: Uh he's been out on his own since he was 17.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_02: He's uh very good with the customers, and he knows and well, he knows what I'm looking for because I can speak straight to him and uh he doesn't get his feelings hurt a lot of good like some employees I've had.
• 8:11
  unknown: Yeah.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so so getting into the employees, that's actually the next question.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: Well, what qualities do you look for in employees that you hire, and how do you foster a positive and productive work environment?
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_02: Wow, I'd I I don't know, it might just be dumb luck that I've hired uh some quality human beings uh to work with me.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_02: Uh some good and godly young men uh that understand that it we can't say we're the best if we're not the best.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_02: And so that's what we give our customers.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_02: We give them the best.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_02: And uh if they if they have a question about something that goes on, they could always give me a call.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_02: I'll do my best to answer for them.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_02: And uh they need to be able to hear what I'm saying.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_02: It's if uh if I'm critiquing something, it ain't because I'm trying to hurt your feelings, it's because I'm trying to convey what I'm looking for and convey how to get what I want, which is what the customer wants.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_02: Uh customers call us back all the time.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_02: These are these are excellent compliments in my mind.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_02: When a customer calls you back and says, Hey, you cleaned my carpet or furniture or something last year, I want you to come back and do it again.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_02: That's that's a compliment in my book.
• 9:26
  unknown: Okay.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: And what part do you play in fostering a positive and productive work environment?
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_01: I treat my employees uh like the quality human beings they are.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_02: I give them respect and I tend to give them more than what they bargain for, also.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I'm well blessed to have good employees that uh that will do a good job, that can do a good job, and understand the system and understand that there are no shortcuts in our system.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: All right, perfect.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll go ahead and move on to the quick fire round.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: So basically what this is, I'm just gonna say a word and you just let me know what that word means or or basically the first thought that pops into your head when I when I say that word in regards to how it it matches up with your business.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_01: First one is education.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_02: Well you you I've learned uh uh I've had I have expanded my education through every mistake I've ever made.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_01: There's value.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_01: There's value in making a mistake as long as you learn from it and don't do it again.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_01: Planning.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: Well, work the calendar.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_02: Uh know what you're gonna need to do tomorrow.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_02: Uh the last job of tod of today begins the first job of tomorrow.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_01: Inspiration.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_01: Inspiration.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_02: I'm inspired by my God loving me when I wasn't unlovable, giving me a chance when I didn't deserve it.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_02: I'm also inspired by uh my employers, the previous owners of this company, who treated me so well and are still my best friends to this day.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_01: I still have breakfast with the owners uh once a month.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_01: Commitment.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_01: Well you got you gotta have a sense of commitment to do anything well.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_02: You've got to be committed to be the best.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_02: You gotta do the best to be the best.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_02: And we are the best.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_02: We're committed to being the best, and uh that's why we excel in the market we're in.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: Alright.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: So what words of advice would you offer to other business owners who are looking to grow?
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_01: Keep going.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_02: Even when the phone doesn't ring, there's a reason for that.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_02: It's God's in charge of when the phone rings and when it doesn't ring.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_02: Keep working, keep doing what you know to do.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_02: Don't give up, don't stop.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_02: If you get knocked down, get back up.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_02: That's the mark of a true winner.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_01: Anything you'd like to highlight about your business?
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_01: Uh highlight heaven's best carpet cleaners.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_01: It's the it's the best system, uh, the best franchise out there.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_02: I've done the research.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_02: What I'm telling is the truth.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_02: People don't always believe it.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_02: They think I'm trying to sell them something, but those people they if they can't believe that we're the best, then they're they are not our market.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_01: And what would you say is the next big thing for having best carpet cleaning?
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_01: Probably expanding into another state.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_02: If you're talking about my business.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_02: Uh guys, uh they are they are getting pretty innovative with uh some of the tools they're coming out with.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_02: The new one, newer tools seem to be of better quality uh than and I've worked with some of the stuff in the past.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_02: Uh they're they're being they are being quite innovative in their in their development.
• 13:44
  unknown: Okay.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_02: Giving us access to better products and tools.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_00: So to expand upon what you were saying there about the franchise.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_00: So you're looking to expand to different states?
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: Is that what you're saying?
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_02: Um that's what I'm thinking about.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_02: That's what I'm praying about.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_02: Uh we'll see how that goes.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_02: Uh looks like that could happen uh probably in the spring, is what I'm looking towards.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I've got a I generally work up to about an hour and a half from the house, western North Carolina.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I live three miles from the Tennessee line, going north.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_01: And uh uh seems uh seems like uh uh the right thing to do would be to be an hour and a half in a full full circle around my home.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I've got people that are wanting wanting to uh work that area with me.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_02: So so I'm uh I'm looking into that uh fairly close.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's a it's a good plan.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, that is a good plan.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_00: Hour and a half from this Tennessee border would be would put you probably right in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Georgia or South Carolina.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_02: I've got Western North Carolina here.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_02: And uh that that's a pretty big market right there as it is, and I feel like I'd probably end up going uh into Bristol, Tennessee, working uh west to Newport, is what I plan on uh looking at.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_02: That's uh that's considerable.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_02: I probably won't go an hour and a half that direct north, but uh I'll have a considerable footprint.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: Sounds great.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: Great.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: And lastly, what's the best way for someone to get a uh get a hold of you if they wanted to?
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_02: Um I like the phone call best, uh, or you can book online on our website, heavensbest of wnc.com.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_02: Uh those those are the best ways to reach me.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: What's the phone number?
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_02: 828-380-0092, but we have several other phone numbers also.
• 16:02
  unknown: Okay.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: Any social media?
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Facebook, uh, Google My Business.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I don't know what else we do.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_02: I'm I'm the carpet cleaner guy.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_02: I've got an IT guy that works on the social media stuff.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: All right, perfect.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, fantastic.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, thank you so much for what you know for being a part of the community and thank you for everything that you're doing, Brett.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we really appreciate you having you on.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you very much.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_02: You're welcome for the opportunity.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_02: Appreciate it.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.