Painter's Associations

slickshift

I did a search and was surprised to not find a whole heckofalot about Painter's Associations or Guilds or what not

What's the deal with those?
Do you just get a sticker for your van, or are there other bennies?
You just send them money or is there a test or something?

Are some better than others? Are some a joke?

It seems like it would give my business a more professional appearance to be part of a Painter's Guild
Does it? Is it worth it?
If that's all it does that's fine, it's marketing and the cost should be looked at as such

But if there are other real benefits I'd like to know about them
Thanks for any input, good, bad, or ugly

AAPaint

There's both NAPP and PDCA that I know of. I'm thinking of joining NAPP if for nothing else than to get a look at their estimating software and add more credibility to my company name. I think it just looks good in the customer's eyes.

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

Nathan

I used to belong to the PDCA and I never really got much out of it. I used their logo on some of my advertising and used a mold disclosure form they had in their free documents area.... other than that I got nothing.

I should say that I never went to any of the meetings so its probably my own fault.

The NAPP is a good organization and I've heard good feedback from its members. I've spoken with Mark Havens a couple of times and he seems like a good guy. I think you might get more out of this organization.

I'm not sure it would lead to more credibility though as AAPaint said. I just don't think most customer care about associations. Maybe BBB but thats about it.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

AAPaint

I just think it adds more to the customer's overall perception of your company. It lends credibility in the fact that you are more than just Jim Bob with a paint brush...I think image plays a lot on the customer's decision, and makes a difference when I hand them a portfolio with before and afters, my ins certificate, biz licenses, wood care certifications, and then the nice littel NAPP certificate....Hardly any of my competition it seems has ever done this, believe me I ask. My professional appearance and approach is what's winning me work, and I'm just one man. Many customers have commented that things like this are the reason they chose me over anyone else even at the same or lower prices than me.

__________________
-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

slickshift

I don't suppose "Drunk Guy With A Brush Part-Time Paint Co." would join a Painter's Guild

That's extreme, but that's a good point

So NAPP has some hand-outs?
Now that stuff can come in handy
Some people like to peruse brochures

And some estimating software?

I'll have to look into them
I'm sure I'll find the site, I may have it bookmarked, that may be one I was looking at

Nathan

http://www.thenapp.com/

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

slickshift

Thanks Nathan
Is that front page super-freaky or is that a FF thing?
Maybe I'll dust off and crank up the IE

slickshift

Little of both I guess...lol
I'm off to check that out
Thanks guys

slickshift

...a refferal service for H/Os?
Do any H/Os look to the NAPP for referrals?

And darn, my nifty spell check doesn't work in IE

AAPaint

From what I hear NAPP has brochures, and GeorgeZ should be posting about their estimating software soon, I hope. They give you a nice little certificate when you join too..it'll look good in my portfolio, I'm sure.

__________________
-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

Brian

I hope this isn't viewed as an advertisement. If so, I will understand. Since there is some discussion of NAPP, I would like to offer some input.

I'm the Houston Area Coordinator for NAPP and am responsible for developing many of the training programs offered by NAPP.

NAPP is primarily a sales and marketing organization for painting contractors. Our primary goal is to sell paint jobs, or more accurately, better paint jobs. Better for the contractor in that we help him get the right price, and better for the customer in that they get a better contractor.

NAPP offers nearly everything a contractor needs to grow/ improve his business-- marketing materials and programs, hiring and training manuals, training (on sales, marketing, production management, and more), and much more.

NAPP Area Coordinators provide cooperative marketing under our Painter Connection program. For example, we are doing a 75K piece direct mailing this month and attending a home show. This program allows us to reduce costs through our collective purchasing power. Home owners can also use the Painter Connection web site to request estimates.

Brian Phillips

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Houston Interior Painting
Houston Exterior Painting
Houston Painting Contractor

slickshift

Hi Brian
I can't see an insider's opinion as an ad, but appreciate the concern
I seriously doubt the Mods here would consider it one either

In fact, I'm glad you spoke up
In fact, I hope anyone else with questions about NAPP posts up to ask you

I see you've got your painting biz, and must believe in the NAPP ideal if you've become a coordinator

The thing is, being a mostly one-man show, some of the benefits offered on the website intrigued me

It's mostly just me, I do almost all the work
I just relocated last month, and am starting over again
Marketing, and marketing the right way, is a much higher priority then before
(I had been long-time resident and received a large amount of referrals)

I sincerely doubt I'll have the money for a direct mailing or some such advertising for a year or two
Being new to the area, I can't count on referrals to fill in any gaps either

The statement
sounds like it goes with my philosophy
Could you please expand on that a bit?
Thank you

AAPaint

Hey Brian, just out of curiosity, do you have any experience with NAPP's estimating software? That particular item has me quite intrigued.

__________________
-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

slickshift

It has me intrigued that the NAPP estimating software has you so intrigued AA
I also found no mention of it in my NAPP site perusal last night
This I also find intriguing

I have tried a few types of software and haven't been impressed yet, I'd like to find out more about the NAPP software also

Nathan

I don't view it as an ad at all. We had questions... you had answers, THANKS!

In fact I thought about emailing Mark Havens to clarify but since you posted I'm sure that will be good enough.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Brian

I will try to address the questions asked, but if I overlook something, feel free to ask again.

Slickshift asked about my statement that "Our primary goal is to sell paint jobs, or more accurately, better paint jobs. Better for the contractor in that we help him get the right price, and better for the customer in that they get a better contractor."

This is one of the primary purposes of the Area Coordinator. I offer sales and estimating services for our local Member Contractors. I estimate and sell the job for them, and then it's theirs. I am a representative of their company, and all paperwork has their name on it. All checks are made out to them. This allows the contractor to focus on production, instead of running around to give estimates.

While this service isn't available everywhere, NAPP can still help a contractor improve his sales skills and professionalism through training programs, the available materials, etc.

I have seen the estimating program in question. It is quite good, but I do not think it is going to be available. There are a lot of support issues involved in releasing software, and they can be quite time consuming.

As a sales and marketing organization, we spend a lot of our focus on lead generation. We use a wide variety of advertising to generate leads, and many are inexpensive. Customer retention programs and proximity marketing are two methods that can be very effective and not be cost prohibitive for even the most modest budget. The most important aspects of marketing are: a marketing plan, a good message, and consistency.

I'll be happy to answer more questions.

Brian Phillips

__________________
Houston Interior Painting
Houston Exterior Painting
Houston Painting Contractor

slickshift

Thanks for the info

I didn't realize NAPP was, in some areas, an estimating and sales service

Paul Burns

Umm, I don't really have much more to add about NAPP and it's owner/president, (Mark H.) except that Mark H. has worked harder than ANYONE that I have ever met or known. NAPP has put together just about every program, form, training, and other systems of all sorts designed specifically to help paint contractors.

Of course a lot of things that will work for one trade will work for another, but that's adifferent subject.

I can still remember the first post that I ever read from Mark H. It was instantly OBVIOUS to me that Mark was a peson who knew his sh**, or trade in a BIG way! After meeting him in person several times, and looking him in the eye, I was pleasently pleased to find out how much he CARES about the business of painting, and the contractors especially. I don't fully trust anyone until I've looked them directly in the eye.

I mean this guy spent YEARS before and after that first post, just putting together a lot of what NAPP now offers. That is a looong time before he ever started charging a nickel for any of it. I stil don't think he charges enough!

Oh, and he is a helluva a nice guy also. I mean he will actually get on the phone with you and talk for as long as it takes to expalin something to you, or just share ideas about different ways of doing things. And, you can almost hear the smile on his face during the whole convrsation because he actually ENJOYS talking to and/or helping other contractors.

I hope that I'm not posting something that I shouldn't, about the pone calls, but that has been my experience with him and I've read about others saying the same thing about him.

Other than being a member, I am not nearly involved with NAPP as I should be. But that is just because I am an old, burnt out contractor without much getty-up in my get go any more. I do use some things that NAPP offers, but like I said, not nearly as much as I should. I guess what I am trying to say is that any contractor out there in any stage of their business or life can use things that NAPP has to offer and make it worth MUCH more than the price of admission.

I'm pretty sure that a first year contractor could join NAPP, use everything that they offer, and build a great business for themselves within just a few years. It took people like me almost a quarter of a century through trial and error to get anywhere. Fortunatley, contractors these days have much more availability to already proven sytems, and if they are smart, they will use them. That's MHO anyway.

Regards,
Paul

slickshift

Wow that's quite a testimonial
Thank you

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paintergirl

Brian could you tell us what areas NAPP does have an Area Cordinator?


Thanks!
Donna