CoatingsPro Magazine

JUL 2016

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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58 JULY 2016 COATINGSPROMAG.COM W hile the Internet is the new standard in business, Tim Seay, co-owner of Decorate Concrete of Virginia, takes it a few steps further. Not only is the company website a comprehensive look at the business, but it's also a future spring- board for education and training tools for the industry as a whole. "We're getting to the point where we're teach- ing people how we're doing things," Seay explained. "And we want to put the information out there and help avoid mistakes. Tere are new people trying to make it, and when they mess up a few jobs, it hurts [the industry] along with the perception of the product." Te closed nature of the industry needs to be shaken up, according to Seay, who openly admits to the strug- gles of starting out in the coatings contracting world. He wants to impart his knowledge and skills to the coatings community. Early Start Seay entered the industry in 2001, focus- ing solely on decorative concrete systems, moving into stamped concrete and resto- ration two years later with his father, who is a builder and general contractor. As the housing market began to fall, Seay focused more on restorative work. Having such a narrow scope wasn't driving as much business as his young company needed to thrive. "We were struggling before we discovered epoxy and polyurethane coatings, since the stain on our decorative concrete work was quickly was wearing of," Seay noted. Once he married durable coatings with his existing work, his business quickly grew — along with his web and social media presence. Having graduated from Liberty University in Virginia with a degree in media graphics, Seay had a huge leg up in developing a website. Tis was in 2001, which was the relative infancy of the Internet. Now, the company regularly updates a robust online catalog of projects, information, and photos that help not only draw new business but answer important questions, saving time on the phone and via email. Seay explained that this is "a necessity because we try not to staf ofce people, and we made the website as in-depth as possible to the point that there should be no questions." Seay isn't opposed to talking to people, but he believes that a robust online presence "gets the infor- mation out there and saves time and resources on both sides." Seay also meticulously tracks lead sources; he sees most coming from his company's website or through referrals. "Just last week, we did a garage for a client who we worked with seven years prior," he said. As far as Seay is concerned, repeat business is something that will always be a pillar of this industry. Reaching their current level of success came with many lessons learned. "We found that we're a better business when we stay within three hours of Lynchburg and not stray too far from our wheelhouse," Seay explained. "We used to agree to do work outside of our niche, which takes longer and leads to less-than-desirable results. Once we learned how to say 'no,' we were able to focus on doing what we know well." Currently, Decorative Concrete of Virginia employs between 10 and 15 people full-time and part-time, depend- ing on the season and workload. Tey're working on a metallic epoxy concrete foor at Seay's alma mater, which is a regular source of large-scale projects for his crew. Balance Act Married with three young children, Seay enjoys regular travel with his family. Tey try to "pick up and go" whenever there is downtime. Although there are industry demands that can take away from family time for the entire crew, Seay tries to ofset that by insisting that Christmas, Easter, and Independence Day remain holidays for all employees, and he believes in compensating when needed. "Tere is a pharmaceutical company that, in the past, had us working Labor Day, Memorial Day, and after Tanksgiving. We know that with these factory shutdowns, we can get a lot done at that time and take time of at another time," he explained. As a result, his employees seem happy to work long hours because they are compensated with time of at a later date. "Family is important," Seay concludes. "In the end, we' ll have a good balance; we may lose a few jobs here and there, but in the end, it works out for the best." CP By Christa Youngpeter Online and Onsite Expertise ProFile: Tim Seay Hard Work & Craftsmanship

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