Page 48 - BusinessWest March 3, 2021

Backyard
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heaters. Schwein said he took many calls from exasperated parents who bought a heater and opened their pool earlier than usual to get their kids out- side and squeeze a few more months out of the swimming season. That logic was fine until manufacturers ran into COVID issues and Schwein could no longer get them.
“The demand was high, and the supply was low,” he said. “Heaters are something that would normally take six days to get, but last year we ran into three-month delays.”
The pandemic also forced several contractors to find new ways to do business. A summer ritual for many involves periodic trips to the local swimming-pool retailer with samples of pool water to make sure the chemi- cal balance keeps the water clean and safe. When COVID first hit, Schwein said, customers were no longer allowed into his store. “We had to change our business model.”
Specifically, customers left water samples outside the door where employees would test the sample and call the customer with a list of what chemicals were needed. After complet- ing the transaction over the phone, an employee would deliver the chemi- cals to the customer’s house. Schwein admits it put a strain on his staff and customers, but everyone adjusted well.
“Our customers were able to get what they needed, but the way we had to do everything was different.”
When the pandemic first hit, Rudd and his staff were forced to become familiar with 10 years of new technol- ogy in less than three months. Beyond Zoom meetings, Vista consultants used satellite technology to measure houses for roofs and siding when they could not visit a client in person. While skep- tical in the beginning, he now calls the technology “amazing.”
“I’m from the days of using a tape measure and a pencil, so at first I took comparison measurements to make sure the satellites were accurate,” he
CET
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we work with everyone,” he noted. ”As long as we keep that focus, we will be successful.”
Elaborating, he said the key is to meet people where they are and help them either solve a problem or achieve a goal.
“If you’re a small business, your goal may be to save money and have your business perform better. Energy effi- ciency, as well as waste and recycling management, can help you reach that goal,” he said. “A homeowner might want to be more comfortable or lower their electric and fuel bills. We can do that for you, and it doesn’t matter what you think about climate change.”
For all the energy-saving opportuni- ties out there, Majercak understands
said. “It’s scary how accurate they are.” Rudd enjoys
using computer- design tools to give homeown- ers a good idea of how their space will look with improvements.
“We take a pic- ture of the house, upload it into one of our applica- tions, and change the house right in front of them,” he explained. “It leads to great interaction with the client and lets them have con- trol of their pur- chase, with us there to guide them.”
Campedelli said
it’s difficult for cli-
ents to envision a dramatic renovation of their backyard, so computer design goes a long way toward sealing the deal.
“Once they see the design, they want to move forward,” he noted, add- ing that, once the job is done, he enjoys how thrilled customers are with the result. “It changes their lives in a posi- tive way.”
Getting Ahead
With spring around the corner, contractors are preparing for another busy year. Schwein pointed out that his phone is ringing now because custom- ers have learned from the pandemic.
“Last year, people were patient and understood slowdowns due to COVID issues, so they are calling now because they don’t want to hear the COVID excuse this year,” he said.
After a busy 2020 as both a contrac- tor and a retailer, Graziano’s main take- away from last year was that people want to make their properties into their own oasis.
“Whether they do it themselves or
that spreading the word about what CET does and how it can help is essen- tial. “Even when people are aware and want to do something to save money or save the environment, we still do a lot of hand holding to get it done.”
Spreading the word through work- shops and social media definitely helps to engage people. Majercak pointed to one effort in which EcoBuilding Bar- gains runs a “Reuse Rockstar” contest on social media that encourages peo- ple to post the creative ways they have used items from the store.
“It’s inspirational to see how people apply their creativity and elbow grease to make beautiful houses and rooms for a fraction of what they would nor- mally cost,” he said.
Dave Graziano says his garden center sold out of many popular plants last year.
they hire a landscape professional, I think that trend will continue through this year,” he said.
In the meantime, he’s got what he called a “good problem” — figuring out how many more shovels and watering cans to order for 2021. u
Going for the Green
Because climate change is a global problem, it’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed and doubtful they can make a difference, said Majercak, who assures them that they do not have to solve climate change all by themselves, and shows them different ways they can have an impact.
“When someone switches out their lightbulbs, buys an electric vehicle, or installs used cabinets, these are not overwhelming actions,” he told Busi- nessWest. But when CET helps tens
of thousands of people do these little things, they start to add up.
“Consider that people across the state, the country, and the world are doing similar things, and it’s easier to see how each effort contributes
to making a real difference. We are firm believers in little things with big payback.”
In addition to turning new approaches into normal processes, Majercak looks forward to the growth potential for EcoBuilding Bargains as it sells more products to people through eBay and, soon, through its own e-commerce site.
When he considers CET’s 45-year history, he appreciates how far the organization has come, but he’s even more excited about the near future.
As much as we’ve done, I think we will really accelerate and see much more progress in the next 10 to 15 years,” he said. “It’s an exciting time to be doing the work we do.” u
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