Building Relationships and Reputation: Craig McConnell’s Finishing Journey

Episode Summary:  

In this episode of The Bearded Finisher Podcast, host Zach Shrum chats with Craig McConnell from Midnight Finishing about his journey into the world of finishing, which began after his move to Whistler in 2003. Craig shares how he transitioned into cabinet making and finishing, emphasizing the value of building strong relationships with wood shops and contractors in small communities. He discusses his preference for solvent-based coatings and his plans to upgrade his shop with tinting capabilities. 

 

The conversation explores the importance of setting realistic client expectations and the philosophy of under-promising and over-delivering. They also touch on leveraging social media to build a community of finishers, sharing knowledge, and embracing lean manufacturing principles for continuous shop improvement. Craig highlights the challenges of setting up a shop, especially navigating varying regulations. Outside of his work, Craig enjoys snowboarding, golfing, and collecting punk rock records.

 

Key Takeaways:  

- Building solid relationships with wood shops and contractors is key in tight-knit communities.

- Consistency and mastery of specific products or processes lead to quality results.

- Protecting your reputation is essential; delivering work you’re proud of builds trust.

- Shop upgrades and improvements over time can boost productivity and efficiency.

- Choose coatings and equipment that align with your business needs and goals.

- Setting clear client expectations and striving to over-deliver fosters long-term success.

- Social media is a powerful tool for creating a network of like-minded professionals.

- Embracing lean manufacturing principles can enhance efficiency and reduce waste.

- Setting up a shop involves navigating regulations that can vary significantly.

 

Titles:  

- Mastering Relationships and Reputation in Cabinet Finishing

- Setting Realistic Expectations: Under-Promise, Over-Deliver

- Shop Upgrades and Social Media: Craig McConnell’s Journey

 

Sound Bites:  

- "Probably relationships."

- "I protect my reputation pretty fiercely."

- "If you're making a contractor look bad, they're not coming back to you."

- "I try not to over-promise anything."

- "Set expectations you can beat; that way, you win every time."

- "Instagram has morphed into this awesome community of finishers."

 

Chapters:  

00:00 — Introduction to Craig McConnell  

02:57 — Life and Work in Pemberton, BC  

11:10 — High-End Millwork and Ski Resort Projects  

19:06 — Enhancing Shop Efficiency and Productivity  

24:53 — Choosing the Right Coatings and Equipment  

30:55 — Building Relationships and Protecting Your Reputation  

33:41 — The Power of Word-of-Mouth in Small Communities  

33:49 — Setting Realistic Client Expectations  

36:02 — Building a Community via Social Media  

38:33 — Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Shop Improvement  

53:00 — Navigating Challenges When Setting Up a Shop  

58:52 — Snowboarding, Golfing, and Collecting Punk Rock Records