I make sure that all our staff is involved. Every morning, when the brain is fresh, I sit them all together for a quick meet and greet and talk about random creative ideas and get in some early morning jokes. I believe that good results come from early starts that begin on a positive note of laughter.
Erin Belmore is an insured contractor and the founder and General Manager of Washington State Kitchen and Bath. He has been in the home improvement, residential and commercial building, and contracting businesses for over 20 years.
As General Manager of Washington State Kitchen & Bath, he uses a full breadth of experience to manage over bathroom remodels, kitchen upgrades and other home remodeling services. In addition, there are several divisions of his business that compliment traditional home remodel and building services, including windows, siding, roofing and replacement, solar hot water systems, and more.
“We have a totally different philosophy: Finding home improvement the way you want it, with no high-pressure sales,” says Erin Belmore. He continues. “We buy directly from the manufacturers. We are a part of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, as well as an A with Angie’s List. We operate under strict professional guidelines and we work hard at revolutionizing the home improvement industry to make the process painless and enjoyable for our customers. We’re out there to work hard for them and towards their complete satisfaction.”
His upbringing and dedication to residents of Washington is unparalleled. Through his business he often donates supplies, money, or time to Washington causes.
Where did the idea for Washington State Kitchen and Bath come from?
I was the son of a General Contractor who specialized in commercial building. This is where I learned the trade. After college, I owned and operated a company that specialized in framing, siding, and interior trim.
Wanting to learn more of the estimating end of the industry I worked for a few different companies. The companies included roofing, window, and kitchen/ bath companies. I took the best of each company and expanded on it. I knew before hand that I wanted to start my own business with my own vision of wanting to elevate the industry. I took all the best pieces from each of those most celebrated companies and put them together and formed Washington State Kitchen and Bath.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I work directly with the office, and project managers, as well as the customers. I always believe in leading by example. I make sure that I show up early, stay late, and do my part in each deal.
I make sure to check in with the team each day. Not so much as a check-in, I guess, but more of a pep talk to make every day the best. I instill positivity in every employee to bring about their creativity and thus propelling them towards a productive day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I make sure that all our staff is involved. Every morning, when the brain is fresh, I sit them all together for a quick meet and greet and talk about random creative ideas and get in some early morning jokes. I believe that good results come from early starts that begin on a positive note of laughter.
When I run into more complex issues it helps to take a walk. I like to let my surroundings inspire ideas.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
In any company, one has to continuously innovate in order to stand out from the competition. I’m always on the look out for new trends or better ways of doing things.
For example, I’m excited about new efficiencies that we’ve put in place. Our Wedi and Quartz Lock systems are a great example. These systems combat toxic mold in all wet area projects and I made the decision to solidify the company’s commitment to maintaining high-quality projects for all customers by going exclusively with these options.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I’ve learned that it pays to pay. What do I mean by that? By paying others to do what they do best frees up my time to do what I do best, and that is remodeling and helping customers build their dreams.
You don’t find me personally creating our educational videos, but we have in-depth videos from others that we’ve contracted with to make them. You don’t fine me working on our website, personally, but we have an amazing website. Those kind of things. Free up your time to focus your energy where you are most productive.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I take experience from everything and always keep the lessons I learned from every venture to help me grow as a person and as a professional. I can’t say there have been any jobs “worse” than others. There’s certainly been some that were more challenging, but those are often the jobs that I learned he most from.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t get to where I am now if things were done differently. It’s always about learning. Similarly to not having any “worse” jobs, I haven’t had any “worse” situations in life. Again, there has certainly been more challenging times in life but that’s how you grow and become a better person.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
The end game of a business is always the customer. Our mantra is all about adjusting the business based on customer input. We always prioritize customer feedback. It is what brings us forward. Customers are always the reason why our business grows so we take it very seriously. With that, I’d suggest that all entrepreneurs make their customer input #1.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
I believe that choosing the right business partners and the right staff helps any company achieve greater heights. If a team is able to share the same vision, they always find ways through any challenge or road blocks. It may take longer to find the right people, but it is worth it. The business won’t be where it is today if not for the staff and the partners we work with.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I’ve always dreamt about building my own company and creating a bigger impact with my vision. Over the years, I have learned that the best way to be successful is to take on less. The more projects you start at the same time, the less you get done. The formula to success for me is very simple: Stay focused with one task at a time.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
It is always best to be the trusted advisor that your customers are expecting. It does not take the fanciest equipment or most up-to-date software to be successful. Success is born out of great customer service. Clients need to know that you are dependable and that you offer what is best for their needs.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 recently spent was on a dinner with old friends. It’s nice to play catch up more often. It allows you to look back on the good times as well as see how far you’ve come.
The nostalgia can be inspiring. You’ll be able to talk about those “Remember when’s” and the “I can’t believe I made it…” type of conversations. Everyone can work for the dream, but it is important to take a pause and live the dream and soak it all in.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
Sales Force and 20/20 Technologies. Sales Force helps us properly manage our customers. 20/20 Technologies helps us efficiently manage those customers’ projects.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Blue Ocean. It’s a refreshing perspective on balancing business hours and personal hours for overall happiness + productivity.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Richard Branson. I know I’m certainly not the first person to find him to be of interest. His business acumen is inspiring. What is more inspirational is his eternal youth-like approach to life. And we need that more than we think we do.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.