Tag: <span>RoofersCoffeeShop</span>

RT3 member RoofersCoffeeShop® Announces MetalCoffeeShop™

RoofersCoffeeShop launches second Coffee Shop focused on Metal, brought to the industry by Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings.

RT 3 member RoofersCoffeeShop®, celebrating 20 years as the award-winning website where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business announces a new website for the industry, MetalCoffeeShop™.  Offering the same resources as RoofersCoffeeShop (RCS), the new site will focus on metal construction including roofing, walls, gutters, HVAC and more.

MetalCoffeeShop offers a one-of-a-kind educational, informational and community experience for metal contractors and the metal industry – brought to you by Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings.  This new Coffee Shop delivers the same industry-leading content wholly focused on metal construction while creating a unique online community for metal professionals overall.

“For twenty years RoofersCoffeeShop has offered one of the strongest online communities for roofing professionals,” stated Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS president.  “Working with Sherwin-Williams, we are thrilled to launch MetalCoffeeShop.com for the metal construction industry.  We are proud to have metal associations including Metal Construction Association (MCA), Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and METALCON, the leading metal conference, on the site where we can share their information along with thought leadership from manufacturers, distributors and service providers daily.”

“Sherwin-Williams is committed to helping contractors grow their businesses within the metal market and this new online community is the ideal platform for us to help them achieve success,” said Christian Zimprich, Marketing Manager for Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings. “We were drawn to creating this digital community with RoofersCoffeeShop because of their construction knowledge and expertise, along with their demonstrated ability to bring news, information, education and learning opportunities to the industry. This will be a unique online community that will expand the knowledge of metal building products to the overall market.”

In conjunction with Sherwin-Williams, leading metal construction product and service providers will share information for metal-focused contractors on new products, initiatives and services that improve the industry.  With a focus on providing education for the growth and success of metal construction companies, the site offers thought leadership for ongoing metal construction business success.  Supported by metal-focused social media and eNews, MetalCoffeeShop is opening a brand-new opportunity to build community, business and networking for metal contractors.

About RoofersCoffeeShop

As an award-winning website and online community, RoofersCoffeeShop is committed to being a roofing professional advocate by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all roofing professionals, and especially contractors, while promoting the positive growth, education and success of the roofing industry overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and the overall roofing trade. From the rooftop to the board room, RoofersCoffeeShop is “Where the Industry Meets!” For more information, visit www.rooferscoffeeshop.com.

About MetalCoffeeShop

MetalCoffeeShop is committed to being an advocate and supporter of the metal construction industry.  With Sherwin-Williams and industry thought leader’s contributions, the site supplies consistent information, education and networking avenues for all metal construction professionals.  Visitors to the site will not only find education and information but thought-leading editorial, multimedia and Influencer content that elevates the metal construction industry.  Like RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop is “Where the Metal Industry Meets!”  For more information and involvement opportunities, visit www.metalcoffeeshop.com.

RT3 member RoofersCoffeeShop® Releases Latest Roofing Industry Trends Report

This Trends Report focuses on the labor shortage and top business and contractor needs and challenges.

RoofersCoffeeShop®, the award-winning place where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, announces the release of its latest Roofing Industry Trends Report. This Trends Report, which gathered information throughout 2019 and 2020, focuses on the labor shortage, the top business needs in the industry and contractors’ greatest needs and challenges.

“RoofersCoffeeShop is committed to the roofing industry and the contractors who make it great,” stated Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS president. “We want to know what the industry is seeing and experiencing as they continue to roof and protect buildings across the nation. The strength of the industry lies in the knowledge of the professionals and their ability to network, gain ongoing education and communicate effectively.”

Nearly 70% of respondents identified labor retention and recruitment as a top business issue. COVID-19, product costs, safety, technology and competition also stood out as challenges contractors are facing.  From the information gathered, digital-based marketing is a significant need within the roofing industry with contractors responding that website, digital advertising, marketing plans and content are among their greatest needs.

Since 2016, RCS has surveyed contractors in the industry and developed three Trends Reports to date that focus on the challenges faced by contractors, their likes and the tools they are using to build their businesses.

Download the 2019-20 Trends Report today!

About RoofersCoffeeShop

As an award-winning website and online community, RoofersCoffeeShop is committed to being a roofing professional advocate by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all roofing professionals, and especially contractors, while promoting the positive growth, education and success of the roofing industry overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and the overall roofing trade. From the rooftop to the board room, RoofersCoffeeShop.com is “Where the Industry Meets!” For more information, visit www.rooferscoffeeshop.com.

RT3 member Named in 2021 Top Women in Media

Heidi J. Ellsworth was an honoree in the Changemaker category.

RoofersCoffeeShop®, the award-winning place where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, announced that Heidi J. Ellsworth was named in Folio: and AdMonsters’ 2021 class of Top Women in Media as a Changemaker. 

Each year, an elite group of women who have made a lasting impact on their brands, organizations and markets are recognized for spotlighting the diversity and progress within the media industry. The Top Women in Media class recognizes an impressive who’s who of noteworthy women from the dynamic media community.

“This is an incredible honor to be recognized among these powerful women in media,” stated Ellsworth. “The team at RoofersCoffeeShop has been incredibly supportive of bringing our industry-changing ideas to life so that we can better serve our roofing contractors and industry partners to elevate the professionalism of the roofing industry. We are committed to always being a changemaker and delivering the best information, tools and experiences to our roofing community.”

“Women are a mega-force behind today’s growth and innovation in media,” said Bill Amstutz, group publisher of Folio: and AdMonsters in a statement. “It is our honor to highlight the tremendous impact of the many brilliant women leading our industry forward and inspiring what comes next.”

See the full list of honorees here. 

About RoofersCoffeeShop
As an award-winning website and online community, RoofersCoffeeShop is committed to being a roofing professional advocate by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all roofing professionals, and especially contractors, while promoting the positive growth, education and success of the roofing industry overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and the overall roofing trade. From the rooftop to the board room, RoofersCoffeeShop.com is “Where the Industry Meets!” For more information, visit www.rooferscoffeeshop.com.

RT3 Member RoofersCoffeeShop® is a Winner at the 2021 Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards

RoofersCoffeeShop®, the award-winning place where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, announced that it is a winner of the 2021 Folio: Eddie Award for Social Media / Online Community.  Having won honors for B2B Construction Website and honorable mention for Social Media in 2019 along with honorable mentions in 2017, RoofersCoffeeShop continues to make an impression on the publishing world.

As a 2021 winner, RoofersCoffeeShop is recognized with an elite group of editors, journalists, designers and publishing professionals who were honored on October 14, 2021 at the Eddie and Ozzie Awards Gala, held at New York City’s Metropolitan Pavilion. The Eddies and Ozzies recognize excellence in journalism and design across all sectors of the publishing industry. As one of the broadest and longest-running competitions for editors and designers, winning an Eddie or Ozzie comes with the added honor of being judged exceptional by one’s own peers — this year’s winners were determined by 82 judges, all of whom are experts in journalism or design.  

The 2021 winners list features the crème de la crème of content creators and designers—a pool of more than 200 winners narrowed down from over 1400 entries. For more than 25 years, the Eddie & Ozzie Awards have recognized excellence in uncompromising journalism and gorgeous design across all sectors of the publishing industry.

“We are incredibly proud,” stated Heidi J. Ellsworth, RoofersCoffeeShop Partner.  “Our team has worked very hard to create strong content and interesting information for our social media channels and online community that helps roofing contractors every day run a better business.  We believe it is critical to celebrate the roofing industry and the professionalism and character of the men and women who make this trade strong.  To be recognized for that by Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards for the third time is a great honor.”

About RoofersCoffeeShop.com

As an award-winning website and online community, RoofersCoffeeShop is committed to being a roofing professional advocate by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all roofing professionals, and especially contractors, while promoting the positive growth, education and success of the roofing industry overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and the overall roofing trade. From the rooftop to the board room, RoofersCoffeeShop.com is “Where the Industry Meets!” For more information, visit www.rooferscoffeeshop.com.

RT3 members team up to talk bi-directional API technology

Join RT3 members JOBBA and RoofersCoffeeShop on June 30, 2021 at 2 p.m. as they team up for a webinar to discuss bi-directional API technology and how streamlined workflows can help contractors get their software to work for them.

With so much new technology and software applications out there to help, it is easy to end up with a system that is siloed and unconnected. Copying data from one system to another can take hours and cause delays, errors and ultimately affect the bottom line.

Scott Keith, Eugene Zukowski and Steven White from Jobba will help us understand API Technology and how to customize these systems to work for your business.  They will walk us through some of Jobba’s essential software tools as well as updated functions to the platform.  

Join us for a discussion on how their contractor-driven approach streamlined the workflow process and gets software to work for you. Jobba is more than a roofing CRM that helps you optimize your business; they seek partners who work with you to ensure you are getting the most out of your investment.  

This RLW will touch on the latest API, how essential it is to customize functions and tools around the customer, updated functions and Jobba customer support. You won’t want to miss out on this great opportunity to learn how to get the most out of your software and painlessly unify your data on one powerful platform. 

Register now for this RLW to learn API technology, customizing systems that work for your business and how to unify your data.  

Roofing industry seeing material prices rising

By Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS Partner. 

Prices are expected to continue to rise through 2021. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the U.S. in spring of 2020, the roofing industry had to adapt and adjust their business operations. As manufacturers were forced to slow or stop production and shipping became a challenge, contractors found it harder to get much-needed materials. Now, roofing companies are experiencing price increases for all types of building and roofing products.   

The lumber industry continues to see price increases and according to the National Home Builders Association, “Lumber prices increased 14.9% in August, marking the largest four-month gain since such data was first recorded in 1949 and the second-largest gain since seasonally adjusted data became available in 1975.” 

Shingle allocations and price increases have also been prevalent throughout 2020 due to high levels of storm-related re-roofing and limited raw materials. According to a roofing contractor’s website, “This week a roofing manufacturer put out a 4-6% price increase effective August 17 which follows two other shingle manufacturers with 2-7% increases and a fourth manufacturer following with their increase.” 

A key component used by most manufacturers is asphalt which is seeing its own price increases. According to Bud Polston of United Asphalts, there are widespread price increases with asphalt due to how it is processed. The demand for gasoline has been uneven in 2020 and jet fuel has seen a huge decrease in demand. According to Deloitte Insights, “Demand for gasoline has risen as more cars have returned to the road and as shops, retail stores and restaurants have reopened. However, demand for jet fuel has remained anemic, with U.S. demand still half of its pre–COVID-19 levels, as many people defer air travel.” 

The lack of demand for jet fuel has a trickledown effect on the amount and cost of producing/refining asphalt. According to information gained by United Asphalts from a refinery source, “Covid related lockdowns nationwide are impacting primarily gasoline and jet fuel (both lower demand and lower pricing). Most refineries cannot make asphalt and resid (oil products that remain after petroleum has been distilled) without also making gasoline and jet fuel and it appears that black oil production across the U.S. has decreased as a result. This is leading to higher market prices for resid and asphalt on account of the decreased production and to incentivize more production. Although the market price has increased, it is still not high enough to offset our incremental production costs of asphalt and resid.” 

This is not something that roofing manufacturers are pleased about but it is a fact that there will be price increases and roofing contractors should be aware. The Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist, Anirban Basu stated in a recent press release, “This dynamic (of building material price increases) is already observable, for example, in the prices of softwood lumber. As America’s single-family housing construction boom continues, many builders are ordering softwood lumber. With suppliers collectively lacking the near-term capacity to easily fill these orders, prices were spiking for much of 2020. Similar conditions may influence other commodities later this year as global growth accelerates. This means that contractors need to think long and hard about the existence and structure of escalation clauses as they negotiate future work.” 

In November and December of 2020, United Asphalts was hit with significant increases to the price of raw materials. They recently announced, “We are forced to increase our prices by an average of 10% in all markets for many reasons, including the ongoing ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

So, although many manufacturers must pass on price increases, they are more committed than ever to extreme customer service. “We are working with all of our customers for long-term forecasting our roofing asphalts so they can bid and complete jobs profitably,” stated Polston. 

And this is being found in the metal industry too. Roof Hugger recently announced, “As most of you are aware, several costs increase in steel have been announced in addition to some constriction in material availability. Roof Hugger, like many other fabricators, has found it necessary to pass along a portion of these material increases. We have done our best to minimize the increase and we are carefully monitoring our inventory levels.”  

They continue, “Please take note that with the uncertainty of steel costs, pricing will be good for a period of 14 days from the quote date and subject to review, thereafter, please qualify your proposals to reflect these limits. Roof Hugger is still committed to providing the best customer service and product quality as we have always been known.” 

Now more than ever a strong relationship with your manufacturers and distributors is essential. Good communication on upcoming material shortages, allocations or price increases is crucial to roofing contractor’s business.  

10 Questions Roofing Companies Need to Ask When Looking for New Software

By Karen L. Edwards.

With so many software solutions on the market, it can be hard to figure out which one is right for your business.

So, you’re at the point where your business would benefit from implementing an estimating software solution. How do you know which one is the right solution? We turned to experts from RT3 member Estimating Edge to offer some tips on what you should be looking for and what questions you should be asking.

Adam Oaks, CEO at Estimating Edge, said, “Some solutions will portray that they can do just about everything.  That of course is never the case.  Some solutions try to be everything to everyone, but that usually means they are just OK at a lot of things, but not that great in any one area.”

He advises that you look for best in breed solutions – ones that work well with the other software that you might be using to run your business while steering clear of those that offer add-ons. “A good example might be an HR solution that also tries to handle your accounting with an add on module.”

Adam says that contractors should ask the following questions when selecting a solution:

  1. Is this software the best for my company’s specific need?
  2. Does it have an open scalable platform?
  3. Is the software scalable and does it allow employees to access and work virtually?
  4. Does it fit the roofing company’s employees, processes or workflows?
  5. Does the software company have experience in commercial roofing?
  6. Does the software company offer knowledgeable support teams, training and service?
  7. What does the industry say about the software?
  8. Does the software company have a history in the industry?
  9. Will the software fit our budget?
  10. Is it Best of Breed?

In their free e-Book, Estimating Edge dives deeper into each of these questions to help you understand why you should be asking a question and what each one means for your business.

Download your copy of “10 Questions Roofing Companies Need to Ask When Looking for New Software.”

Learn More about Estimating Edge, visit their RCS Directory.

Get the latest industry news delivered to your inbox when you sign up for the SmartBrief e-newsletter. 

Source: RoofersCoffeeShop

3 Tips for Helping Your Teams Work from Home Successfully

By Karen L. Edwards.

As a seasoned work-from-home professional, I wanted to share some tips to help teams stay productive during this uncertain time.

After joining a roofing tech startup back in 2010, I made the transition from going into an office every day to working in my home office (when I wasn’t on the road). It can be isolating and make you feel sometimes like you are on an island. After 10 years of being a remote worker, I’ve learned some tips and tricks that can make it a rewarding and productive experience.

1 – A Defined Workspace

Decide on your workspace. If you already have a home office, that’s great! Now is the time to clean it up and put it to use. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, as you will find yourself not walking around like you used to for chatting with co-workers. Determine a dedicated workspace where you can limit the noise and interruptions that may occur from other household members. I also recommend using a Bluetooth headset for talking on the phone as it frees your hands for note taking during a call.

2 – A Daily Structure

It’s important to stick to routine. If you normally start your day at 8 am, keep doing that while working from home.  I recommend not working in your pajamas, but rather get ready for your day just as you would if you were going into the office. Be sure to take a lunch break. That’s a good time to stretch your legs and take a walk; get the circulation flowing since you aren’t walking as much as you would in an office setting.

3 – Hold Video Meetings

Don’t just hold conference calls to meet with the rest of the team working remotely. Video meetings are great for morale and eliminate the ‘working on an island’ feeling. There are a number of free video conferencing services and some companies are expanding the free versions of their services in light of the shift to a virtual workforce. It also helps to ensure that you don’t multi-task during a meeting because everyone can see what you are doing!

Making it work

It’s important for you as an employer to trust that your employees are committed and dedicated to getting the job done – no matter where they are working. It’s equally important for you as an employer to be understanding. There may be dogs barking, or cats appearing on a video call when they jump on the desk or table (just happened to me the other day!).

Also realize that schools are closed; there might be children in the background. Depending on their age, children can have a hard time understanding that just because mom or dad is home, doesn’t mean they aren’t working. Expect there to be interruptions from time to time.

Together we will get through this!

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Source: RoofersCoffeeShop

 

The important questions to ask when selecting roofing software

By Heidi Ellsworth, RCS Partner.

The question is – are you asking the right questions about potential roofing software?  Every day contractors encounter companies selling the next best thing to grow their roofing business. Sure, it can sound great, but it’s so easy to get lost in the minutiae of choosing a software and end up going down several trails that really do not pay dividends for the big picture – a stronger, more profitable company. The right software can relieve many of your pain points, like labor tracking, productivity, diversification, job profitability and more.  But, you need to ask the right questions to ensure you choose the right product.

As roofing companies are looking for the right software there are many questions to consider. Here are 7 tips and questions to help:

1. Labor Tracking
You will want your roofing software to include labor tracking features. This will not only help with getting invoices out faster, but it will assist you with having a clearer understanding of your job ROIs.
Question – Does the software track labor?

2. Customer Data
There are several Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and many of them integrate with project management software. Some systems offer customer portals where you can share data, photos, job progress, inspections and invoices with customers at their convenience.
Question – Does the software offer a customer portal?

3. Mobile and Table Use
It does not seem possible to survive in today’s world without a smart device and that is especially true when it comes to business. Smart phones allow contractors to be in touch with their customers immediately – giving them a clear edge when it comes to customer service.
Question – Does the software work on all mobile and desktop platforms?

4. Cloud-based Access
Today, it’s all about communication.  Progressive contractors can operate and communicate with customers and employees from anywhere, anytime. This is only possible with cloud-based solutions. Every step of the process is at the fingertips of management, crews and the sales team. The ability to communicate across numerous, if not all employees, allows for strong communications that correlates into a great customer experience.
Question – Is it cloud-based and available to all employees, anywhere, on any device?

5. Aerial Measurements
Aerial technology has been in place since 2008 and it just keeps getting better. Gathering roof measurements traditionally was a time-consuming process prone to mistakes such as mathematical errors or simple human error, but has now become a quick, easy and reliable technology.
Question – Does the software integrate or include aerial measurement technology?

6. Estimating
Advancements in estimating software, as well as the introduction of cloud-based access, enables strong estimating technology for virtually any size roofing contractor. Not every solution will fit every business right out of the box so it’s important to understand your company’s needs, how the technology fits into your existing processes and what new efficiencies can be realized through the implementation of an estimating tool.
Question – Does the estimating software fit the business needs?

7. Implementation
The most important thing you can do before purchasing any new technology is to take the time to do your research. Talk to other contractors you find through roofing associations or networks and see what has worked for them. You can also look at online reviews and utilize free trials to try out and get a full understanding of the options that are out there and how they are implemented.
Question – How will this work for the company/employees and how easy will it be to implement?

Jobba Trade Technologies and many other technology companies are also members of Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), an organization, which RCS is a part of, that helps roofing contractors understand  important questions to ask about technology.

Stay up to date on the latest roofing industry trends when you sign up for the RT3 Smart Brief e-newsletter. 

Source: RoofersCoffeeShop.