The Fab Lab

Episode 18 - 7 Dangers of Dealer Work There are 7 distinct dangers inherent in all dealer work, so keep these in mind as you pursue profitability and prosperity in your stone shop! 1. Low Low Margin 2. Volatile 3. Dictating Schedules 4. 30-60 Day payment terms 5. All or Nothing 6. Square Foot Simplicity Trap 7. Communication and Education Breakdown Watch Video Series: Radical Retail Sales - downlo...

Blue Ocean Strategy & Direct to Consumer Models 1. Yellow Tail Wine case study 2. Unconventional Thinking 3. Direct to Consumer Model for fabricators. Watch Video Series: Radical Retail Sales - download 3 video series now on fabricatorsfriend.com and select "Sales Seminar" tab at top of the homepage.   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help...

Happy 4th of July! In this episode we celebrate the freedom we have to start and run businesses. We also discuss the opportunity to free ourselves from our companies thru effective delegation. Download the first 3 chapters of Less Chaos More Cash here: www.fabricatorsfriend.com/the-process   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce...

Aaron sits down with Eric Rolseth (of www. FillAChip.com ) for a great interview.  You won't want to miss this episode.  Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. www. FabricatorsFriend.com   Less Chaos More Cash is Aaron Crowley’s “how to” book on using a simple PROcess that shows...

3 tools to ensure financial health In this episode we discuss simple yet critical tools that successful companies use to maintain profitability and a firm grasp on their financial health: 1. Budget Forecasts 2. Financial Statements 3. Accounting Systems and Software   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase...

Budgets Beat the Feast or Famine Cycle 1. The Problem with the Feast 2. Why the Feast or Famine cycle happens 3. How Budget forecasts fix the Feast or Famine cycle Many small businesses suffer the roller coaster of either having too much work or not enough. In this episode of the Fab Lab podcast, we learn why and what to do about it!   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricator...

Scheduling Dollars not Square Feet In this episode we discuss the 3-D View and why it is a superior approach to the most common fixation on "Square Feet". 1. Determine Your Daily Dollar Demand (3-D) 2. Contribution Dollars 3. Increase $$$ without increasing Sq/Ft     Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase...

The Problem With People Dependency and What to Do About It. Relying on Rockstars in your company works until it doesn't...until they develop the rockstar attitude or leave. The only answer to this problem is to become PROcess dependent instead of people dependent   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase pr...

Ep: 10 - "The Best Book on Business Management Ever!" This is our 10th episode!  Head over to www. FabricatorsFriend.com   and receive an MP3 of the first 3 chapters of Aarons book (Less Chaos, More Cash) for FREE!   In this episode, Aaron talks about: 1. Franchise Prototype 2. Split Personality of Owners 3. The Hotel Story   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend o...

Episode 9 - "4 Advertising Mistakes You Must Avoid"  1. Emotional Decisions 2. Not Enough Frequency 3. 1 and Done "Event" Advertising 4. Over Measuring PLUS 1 Bonus Principle on how to crush it in radio advertising.   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. www. FabricatorsFriend...

In Episode 8, Aaron Crowley continues on the topic of successful advertising. Aaron discusses his 7 Essential Steps to Advertising for Stone shops: 1. Establishing an ad budget 2. Evaluating Channels 3. Determine minimum frequency 4. Re-Evaluate your budget 5. Create your message 6. Commit with escape clause 7. Measure You won't want to miss this episode.     Running a stone shop is hard.  We make...

Advertising 101 For Stone Shops In this episode we discuss the 3 foundational principles for successful advertising: 1. Who is your Target Market 2. What is your Message to them 3. How will you get your Message to them   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. www. FabricatorsFri...

In Episode 6, "The M.A.P. to Full Potential," Aaron challenges common owner belief systems and explains the 3 most powerful assets an owner can acquire.  He encourages owners to not settle for where they are, but instead to pursue their full potential and to persevere until it is realized.   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce...

In Episode 5, Aaron Crowley talks about "The Three Meetings you MUST have."  If your goal is to have lower frustration and increase profits, you have to listen to this episode.       Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. www. FabricatorsFriend.com   Less Chaos More Cash is Aaro...

In episode 4, Aaron finishes up his 3 part series on "Increasing Profits and Reducing Mistakes".  In Part 3, Aaron talks about the importance of "checklists"  Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. www. FabricatorsFriend.com   Less Chaos More Cash is Aaron Crowley’s “how to” boo...

In episode 3, Aaron continues with part 2 of his 3 part series titled "Increasing profits and reducing mistakes." Part 2 of the series talks about the PROcess and the importance of clearly establishing expectations.  Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. www. FabricatorsFriend....

In episode 2, Aaron kicks off a 3 part series titled "Increase profits by reducing mistakes."  Part 1 of the series is titled "Why do employees fail?." Tune in and find the answer to that question.  Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. www. FabricatorsFriend.com   Less Chaos M...

In this episode of the Fab Lab podcast, Aaron gets into why he started Fabricators Friend. He explains how he stumbled into the stone industry and where his business is now. You will also get an overview of what you will get out of the podcast, book, and website.   Running a stone shop is hard.  We make it Easier.   Fabricators Friend offers resources to help you reduce frustration and increase pr...