Summary:

Jim Carrigan, owner of Jeco Finishing, shares his journey into the world of finishing and the benefits of pre-finishing cabinets. He emphasizes the importance of systemizing processes and using a consistent product line to maintain high quality and craftsmanship. The conversation covers various topics related to the woodworking and finishing industry. Some of the main themes include the challenges of moving to a new location, the importance of building relationships with clients, the shift towards stains and away from paint, the use of Vero and other special effects in finishing, and the potential of micronized pigment stains. The conversation also touches on the benefits of making your own colors and the need for a larger skilled finishing base in the industry. In this final part of the conversation, Jim Carrigan and Zach Shrum discuss the challenges of stain matching and the preferences of North American customers. They also touch on the importance of continuous learning and the need for more training and accreditation in the finishing industry. Jim shares his advice for those wanting to get into the finishing game and emphasizes the importance of staying teachable and finding a niche. They also discuss the role of social media in the industry.

Keywords:

finishing, pre-finishing, cabinet finishing, wood finishing, solvent 2K coatings, craftsmanship, quality, systemizing processes, customer expectations, woodworking, finishing, challenges, moving, building relationships, stains, paint, Vero, special effects, micronized pigment stains, making colors, skilled finishing base, stain matching, North American market, continuous learning, training, accreditation, finishing industry, social media, coaching

Takeaways:

Pre-finishing cabinets can shorten the construction cycle and improve overall project efficiency.

Systemizing processes and using a consistent product line are key to maintaining high quality and craftsmanship.

Solvent 2K coatings offer flexibility and durability, making them a preferred choice for finishing cabinets.

Building strong relationships with clients is crucial for maintaining goodwill and customer loyalty.

Vero and other special effects in finishing are becoming popular, allowing for unique and creative designs.

Making your own colors can significantly reduce material costs and provide more flexibility in color matching.

Continuous learning and staying teachable are crucial in the finishing industry.

More training and accreditation are needed in the finishing industry.

Social media can be a valuable tool for learning and connecting with others in the industry.

Titles:

Managing a High-Volume Finishing Shop

The Benefits of Pre-Finishing Cabinets The Shift Towards Stains

The Benefits of Making Your Own Colors Jim Carrigan's Involvement in Coaching

Transitioning Customers to DIY Staining

Sound Bites:

"Pre-finishing is the way to go. It shortens the construction cycle and improves efficiency."

"Systemize, systemize, systemize. Follow the same steps every time for consistent results."

"Solvent 2K coatings are a game changer. There's no better product for finishing cabinets."

"Your clients probably don't even consider going anywhere because it hasn't changed anything."

Chapters:

00:00

Introduction and Personal Background

03:03

Getting into Finishing and the Transition to Pre-Finishing

11:58

Systemizing Processes for High Quality

18:58

Managing a High-Volume Finishing Shop

31:12

Building Strong Relationships with Clients

33:35

The Shift Towards Stains

39:09

Exploring Vero and Special Effects in Finishing

52:39

The Need for a Larger Skilled Finishing Base

55:08

Continuous Learning and Staying Teachable

01:03:36

The Need for More Training and Accreditation & Social Media

01:15:17

Jim Carrigan's Involvement in Coaching

Summary:

Robert Chickey shares his journey in the coatings industry and how he got involved with Vero Metals. He started as a painting contractor and transitioned to wood finishes, specializing in historically accurate coatings. After a career-ending injury, he shut down his company and became a consultant. He later became the trainer for Vero Metal and worked on getting the product spec'd by architects and designers. He emphasizes the importance of learning the language of architects and designers and building a certified application specialist program. In this part of the conversation, Robert Chickey discusses the importance of community and knowledge sharing in the finishing industry. He emphasizes the need for finishers to invest in their own education and skill development. Robert explains the features and applications of VeroMetal, a liquid metal coating, and how it offers advantages over traditional metals. He shares lessons he has learned in business, including the importance of knowing your costs and pricing your services accordingly. In this final part of the conversation, Robert Chickey emphasizes the importance of mindset and willingness to change in achieving elite-level success. He encourages finishers to invest in themselves and seek guidance from coaches or consultants to accelerate their growth. Robert also discusses the need for training and education in the coatings industry. The conversation concludes with Robert sharing his social media profiles for those interested in following his work.

Keywords:

coatings industry, Vero Metals, painting contractor, wood finishes, historically accurate coatings, consultant, trainer, spec'd, architects, designers, certified application specialist, community, knowledge sharing, education, skill development, color skills, business principles, VeroMetal, liquid metal coating, advantages, lessons learned, costs, pricing, mindset, elite-level success, investment, guidance, training, education, coatings industry, color matching, stain clarity, Adler, grinding pigments, social media

Takeaways:

VeroMetal offers advantages over traditional metals, such as the ability to create complex shapes and lighter weight options.

Knowing your costs and pricing your services accordingly is key to running a successful business. Mindset is crucial for achieving elite-level success in any industry.

Investing in oneself and seeking guidance from coaches or consultants can accelerate growth and success.

Training and education are essential in the coatings industry, particularly in areas like color matching and stain clarity.

Titles:

Advantages of VeroMetal as a Liquid Metal Coating Investing in Yourself for Accelerated Growth

The Power of Mindset and Willingness to Change

Sound Bites:

"The community aspect is super important to me."

"Investing in yourself is a gauge for me to say, you are worthy of my time."

"Lots of people are good at building shit and suck at finishing."

"The difference between average or above average and elite is not skill set. It's mindset."

"We need more women to want to come in this space."

Chapters:

00:00:00

Introduction & Part 2 Intro

01:17:01

Advantages of VeroMetal as a Liquid Metal Coating

10:15:20

Lessons Learned in Business: Knowing Your Costs and Pricing Your Services

25:22:32

The Power of Mindset and Willingness to Change

40:45:01

Advancements in Grinding Pigments for Better Coatings

Summary:

Robert Chickey shares his journey in the coatings industry and how he got involved with Vero Metals. He started as a painting contractor and transitioned to wood finishes, specializing in historically accurate coatings. After a career-ending injury, he shut down his company and became a consultant. He later became the trainer for Vero Metal and worked on getting the product spec'd by architects and designers. He emphasizes the importance of learning the language of architects and designers and building a certified application specialist program. In this part of the conversation, Robert Chickey discusses the importance of community and knowledge sharing in the finishing industry. He emphasizes the need for finishers to invest in their own education and skill development. He also highlights the significance of color skills in finishing and the value of understanding business principles. Robert explains the features and applications of VeroMetal, a liquid metal coating, and how it offers advantages over traditional metals. He shares lessons he has learned in business, including the importance of knowing your costs and pricing your services accordingly. In this final part of the conversation, Robert Chickey emphasizes the importance of mindset and willingness to change in achieving elite-level success. He encourages finishers to invest in themselves and seek guidance from coaches or consultants to accelerate their growth. The conversation concludes with Robert sharing his social media profiles for those interested in following his work.

Keywords:

coatings industry, Vero Metals, painting contractor, wood finishes, historically accurate coatings, consultant, trainer, spec'd, architects, designers, certified application specialist, community, knowledge sharing, education, skill development, color skills, business principles, VeroMetal, liquid metal coating, advantages, lessons learned, costs, pricing, mindset, elite-level success, investment, guidance, training, education, coatings industry, color matching, stain clarity, Adler, grinding pigments, social media

Takeaways:

The importance of having separate skill sets when starting a business partnership

The value of learning from failures and being willing to take risks

The significance of being able to control the outcome in the wood finishing industry

The challenges and rewards of working at an elite level in the coatings industry

The need to adapt and persevere in the face of obstacles

The importance of learning the language of architects and designers to establish credibility

The process of building a certified application specialist program

The significance of getting the product spec'd by architects and designers

The role of social media in promoting and growing a business Investing in education and skill development is crucial for finishers in the industry.

Color skills are highly valuable in finishing, and understanding business principles is essential for success.

Titles:

Becoming the Trainer for Vero Metal

Growing a Business through Social Media The Significance of Color Skills in Finishing

Sound Bites:

"You can't have two people to do the same thing. You have to have two people that have separate skill sets that can play nice together."

"I started my second company in 1991 and we started out as painters, painting contractors. We did mostly paint, but back in the 90s, at least in Minnesota where I'm based, everything was white."

"The path for getting wood to look like that was not possible with what was in the marketplace. So I pretty much disregarded what was in the marketplace and went kind of down the rabbit hole."

Chapters:

00:00

Introduction and Background

10:19

Challenges and Perseverance

30:37

Building a Certified Application Specialist Program

39:24

Advantages of VeroMetal as a Liquid Metal Coating