Trade Secrets

Trade Secrets Archive

2007 Trade Secrets

• 

  Bruised by the downturn, builders turn to the fundamentals of the construction game.

  For builders, the current market conditions are no game and the stakes are nothing less than survival. You can't afford to drop the ball because there just aren't that many opportunities right now to put points on the board. That's why it's critical to master the fundamentals of the business: hiring and hanging on to good employees, holding a customer's hand through the sales process, controlling your jobsite, and building customer satisfaction through warranty service.

2006 Trade Secrets

• 

  It's Time To Get In Fighting Form

  The mark of a true contender is how he or she performs under duress.

• 

  Shadow Boxing

  Funny how second-hand doesn't seem so bad when times get tight.

• 

  Up Against The Heavy-Weights

  Remember the story of David and Goliath? Based on all the standard external measurements—size, track record, market position, etc.—Goliath should have cleaned David's clock.

• 

  Toe To Toe

  Now for what may be the toughest part of your fight in a downward market: Knocking out other small builders on your home turf.

2005

• Simply Irresistible

  It's time to crank up the volume. This year's Trade Secrets focuses on how new homes can become more competitive, stand out from the crowd, and be simply irresistible.

2004 Trade Secrets

• The X Factor Files: For Your Eyes Only

  These Trade Secrets will help your company find, keep, and manage the right people.

• 

  Get Smart

  Any way you look at it, finding quality people to fill construction jobs is getting harder, and the problem is getting worse daily.

• Intelligence Report

  By far, the technology person who can have the most impact on your company is the product-specific consultant who manages a back-office deployment.

• 

  Unlock the Secrets

  To find the best practices for employee retention, BUILDER looked at Baptist Health and insurance underwriter ACUITY, two companies that overcame high turnover, poor morale, and subpar performance to become leaders in employee and customer satisfaction.

• Gadgets and Gizmos

  Kim Haegele, design gallery manager at St. Louis-based Taylor-Morley, is a testimonial to how technology can influence employees' attitude toward their job.

• 

  Secret Guidance Systems

  Every one of your employees plays a critical role. But perhaps the most challenging positions to manage and retain are your site superintendents.