CDBI National Design-Build Conference

Le Méridien King Edward 37 King Street East. Toronto, Ontario M5C 1E9, Canada Phone: (416) 863-9700

I am just about done packing for the Canadian Design Build Institutes National Design-Build Conference being held October 1-3 at the Le Meridien King Edward Hotel in Toronto. This is our first year as a sponsor of the event which allows us an opportunity to contact with the people we work with closely throughout the year in our project profiles; general contractors.

My goal for the conference is to meet up with several Generals I have worked with this year putting together feature articles on several projects while building relationships and connecting with existing clients. One of the most effective initiatives I have taken on there year has been working to expand our marketing/branding strategy and participating in an event like this helps establish us as an industry leader for news and information related to the construction industry.

The move towards sponsorship is also part of ensuring that every person in the company gets out and meets people in person in social settings such as this event and not only rely on phone calls and emails on developing relationships. Email and phone calls help to establih early communication but face to face meetings for me over a meal or drink I find are 10 times more effective in the long run.

Check out the Conference Package

Design-Build’s team approach is unique in how it engages all team members in the process. This collaborative environment is essential in finding creative ways to produce great results.

The goal of everyone in the industry should be better, faster, and more resourceful ways to deliver the best projects you can whether they are large or small.

Join us for two days of information packed sessions exploring innovative solutions that are vital in addressing today’s construction issues.

Learn all this and more at one comprehensive conference with an invaluable innovative focus. Come hear from some of Canada’s leading Design-Build practitioners!

If you are hosting a conference or event and are looking for sponsorship please drop me an email chasemarketing@sympatico.ca or call 905-228-1151 so we can meet.

Thank you for the feedback!

I got this message this morning in my Facebook mail. I regularly post my blog address in my status update section when I update my blog.


While sitting here at 5AM on the wet and wild fringe of hurricane Kyle I decided to look in on your blog. I found the piece on container conversions extremely interesting. What a fine idea. Also I found the blog exceptionally well articulated. Being an aged English teacher I always cringe at the grammatical errors so prevalent on the net but absent in your work.

Neatness counts. :-)

Vance Rockwell

Shipping containers could be 'dream' homes for thousands

I came across an interesting article about a a group of men who are turning shipping containers into homes for communities in Mexico that are seeing rapid business development but slum like conditions for the people working there.

As I read the article I immediately thought of the implications of this homes to be used as temporary housing in disaster areas, an economical solution to the homeless here in Canada.

Imagine if major corporations began to donate their used containers as part of a new green iniative. The opportunity for locale companies to get together and trasnform the containers as part of giving back to your community is limitless.

Check out the article below:


It was a side trip through a destitute, ramshackle neighborhood in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that detoured Brian McCarthy from building houses in Albuquerque to an idea to offer the very poor a chance to own a home.

Sharing the Power

Check out this post from Construction Marketing Ideas that discussess an email I shared with Mark Buckshon.

Contrast this note from Chase, attending an evening Barrie Construction Association meeting. (Sure, the meeting is in the evening but everyone attending is there voluntarily!) After the meeting, he emailed our editor:

Customer Care

This morning at the Ontario Home Builders Conference in Colingwood I enjoyed listening to Paul Cardis of Avid Ratings Co present "Ten Top Secrets to Create Avid Customers vs. Satisfied Ones" and two things stood out for me the most.

First was showing your customers you care. He said that your customers would be more satisfied if they thought you cared and made mistakes then being perfect and them feeling you did not care.

Second was instead of telling people there may be a mistake you inoculate them against what may have gone wrong. The example he used was to protect you from getting sick they inoculate you so your body can build up a defence. When you inoculate your customers against what could have gone wrong you build their trust.

My take away from this is to ensure that I am upfront and straightforward with my customers. Ensure they understand the process involved with our relationship and highlight any potential issues. If I do find their could have been a mistake, I make sure I respond to the issue raised write away and escalate it for resolution to make sure the seriousness my client feels is also demonstrated by me.

How do you ensure you are building a model of customer care and trust?

Not much of a salesman?

Here is an interesting post from Contractor Talk that touches on the need to develop a solid sales/marketing approach to expand your business.

From the author of the original post he seems to have the most important aspect working for him which is strong referrals. If his customers are coming back and referring others he must be doing something right as someone who is not satisfied with a job is 10 times more likely to spread the word then someone who is happy.

He actually highlights the next areas he needs to cover which are developing a strong web presence, updating his fleet of vehicles and looking at some targeted advertising. The key to his desire to expand will also hinge on him recognizing if he is the right person to do the sales or look at either promoting an existing employee or hiring externally.

Check out the rest of the thread here:

Not much of a salesman?

Ok, so it's getting clearer to me. I'm not much of a salesman. I've been busy and slowly expanding for the last 10 years, without much in the way of actually "selling" jobs. All referral work and clients who wanted to hire me. Not sure if it's the current economy, or if I've tapped out the pool I had, or if I'm screwing something up or what, but I'm getting calls, just not really selling (maybe 1/4 close ratio). What next?1) Try some advertising? I'm in the yellow pages, and have a half azzed page-holder website that's not done yet- HELLO, GET IT DONE DUMMY!2) Learn how to sell? This almost offends me, as I haven't had to even think about that 'til now. I used to get 90%. Without trying.3) Spruce up the image? I drive older trucks and wear logo'ed t-shirts (usually clean), could use a haircut.4) Gotta run- I'll check back later...

Welcome to the Niagara Construction Association PR Committee

Starting tomorrow at 4:30 pm I will start serving on the PR Committee for the Niagara Construction Association (NCA).

As a lifelong resident of Niagara I have taken a great interest in what is happening in Niagara with the construction industry which lead to the launch of Structures for the Niagara Home Builders Association Newspaper in February this year.

This year we joined the NCA and have provided coverage on an association feature, profiles of members were a media sponsor of the Golf Tournament in August. My goal for joining the PR Comittee is to offer the association more space in the GTA Construction Report and to help shape the association for the future.

I look forward to an interesting list of agenda items and providing updates on what we will be doing.

Stay tuned.