Building a business from the ground up is a difficult endeavor and obstacles are inevitable. Ultimately with the right mind set and qualifications anything is possible.
Being both business savvy and resourceful, Bobby Blackburn has climbed the ladder of success by grappling every opportunity that has come his way. Having enlisted in the army in 1989, Bobby served eight years in the military where he acquired valuable organizational and leadership skills. He eventually took interest in home improvement sales and began working for a national company known as Pacesetter where Bobby achieved top sales for several years. His extensive sales experience led him to open his own business Pro Roofing USA.
Wanting to land a larger clientele, Bobby decided to enroll in a local community college in Huntsville, Alabama to further develop his skills and qualifications. From there he obtained his home builders license for the State of Alabama and began constructing houses which ranged from 2000-5000 square feet in size. Pro Roofing USA has grown immensely and now has locations in multiple states including Indiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and soon to be Florida.
Where did the idea for Pro Roofing USA come from?
Having worked in the construction industry for over 28 years, my qualifications range from basic home improvement to home building. I am considered an expert of my trade and I knew with the right amount of drive and motivation I could turn my passion into a lucrative business endeavor. Pro Roofing USA has provided me the opportunity to improve my skills and gain a committed client base that continues to make my company grow.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
Strong customer relationships are the foundation of Pro Roofing USA. Ensuring the unique needs of the client are met is imperative to gaining return customers. I closely monitor the quality of roof installations and encourage open communication so all projects are completed in a timely manner.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I am constantly inspired by the newest innovations in roofing and am always looking to implement the latest design concepts. Pro Roofing USA provides top quality service that you will not find anywhere else.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Solar shingles are a trend I find extremely exciting as they would minimize the amount of maintenance required as well as lower the cost of utilities. Although it is still a relatively new concept I look forward to the day I can begin to implement environmentally friendly products.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I am a firm believer that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. I value physical activity and do my best to keep a balanced diet. I keep a regular sleep schedule which provides me with sufficient energy for the day.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself not to ever be discouraged and to give 100% in everything I do. Building a business from the ground up is a difficult endeavor and obstacles are inevitable. Ultimately with the right mind set and qualifications anything is possible.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
Most people would never assume that I did not graduate high school and I started my business completely on my own back in the early 90s. I was the only salesman, I did all the advertising and the installations. I was very self-supportive and self-sufficient.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
It is important to lead by example and execute each project to the best of your abilities. I treat each job the same and ensure all deliverables are met to the highest quality standards every time.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
A great deal of my business is referral based due to our high customer satisfaction rates. We play to our strengths while simultaneously looking for new ways to deliver the highest quality standards.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I consider myself a risk taker and unfortunately the consequences of such are often high. There were times where I put a lot of faith in individuals who were not invested in the company and lacked commitment. I am more careful now with who I trust when it comes to making critical decisions which affect the overall success of the company.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One business idea would be an automated service that could take the place of field sales representatives. This type of service would certainly make operations go a lot smoother with less room for error.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
A $100 referral discount to a customer which has paid off tenfold. It is essential to give back to regular customers and let them know you appreciate their business.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
One piece of software that helps me be more productive is called Xactimate. This software helps to produce a fair market price for estimating all phases of construction. It is very detailed, thorough and accurate. I have not experienced any issues with this software and have been using it for roughly 10 years.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Zig Ziglar-“See You at the Top”; It is a powerful self-improvement book which focuses on the importance of honesty and integrity, two virtues which Pro Roofing USA prides itself on.
What is your favorite quote?
“It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life“. Pro Roofing USA strives to be the best in roofing by going beyond what is expected of our service. I took a risk starting my own company and it has paid off significantly. I look forward to the future and seeing how else we can gain devoted clientele and improve the lives of our customers one project at a time.
Key Learnings:
- Pro Roofing USA is an industry leader and promotes a strong customer experience which is the foundation of their business.
- The professionals at Pro Roofing USA are committed to delivering top quality service at the best possible price with no surprise costs.
- Bobby Blackburn and his team value transparency and will work with clients to execute a plan that is specific to an individual’s unique needs and requests.
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Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.