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Back from World of Concrete

We had a long day yesterday at the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, but we're back in action Thursday! It was a very rewarding trip. We got to talk to a lot of our current partners, including Diamond Products, Bartell Morrison, Husqvarna, IMER, BNC Rebar, Benner Nawman, Dee Concrete, Wacker, Airplaco, EDCO, Construction Electrical Products, AGL, ICS, and many others.  We also had a chance to check out new products, categories, and manufacturers within the industry. Over the next week or so, I'll be highlighting what we uncovered in more detail.  In the meantime, I took quite a few pictures and some videos of the various booths and products, they're displayed below. 

 The New Diamond Products Electric Indoor Floor Saw - When you remove the motor and blade guard, the unit only weighs 75 lbs., perfect for moving downstairs when cutting in a basement

Gomaco Machinery, some pretty large equipment!

The SANY booth was impressively large, here's a picture of one of the Trucks they brought along.

 At this booth, they converted a Bulldozer to a 20 seat Theater displaying products.

 The Hilti Booth outside was a big hit.

Husqvarna had an indoor and outdoor booth, this was their sawing demonstration area.
 

 
Dee Concrete Forms' Booth displayed all the forms that are available. 

Need a huge Masonry Saw?  IMER's got what you're looking for!

The Remote controlled backhoe and demolition unit from Husqvarna.  I'd love to play with this bad boy. 

I got the chance to operate a small ride-on Power Trowel from Bartell Morrison at the show.

Choosing a Diamond Blade

I know there are a lot of questions when it comes to deciding on a specific diamond blade to begin your job. I've put together a few things to consider before making your purchase. A lot of what you decide will be determined by your price point, but no matter your budget, you should be able to find a blade that meets your specs and your job requirements.

1. What are you Cutting?

Knowing what your cutting as specifically as possible will give you the ability to hone in on the exact style of blade you'll need for every job.  No just that you're cutting concrete aggregate, but what the psi rating and composition of the concrete as well. In order to receive the longest possible cutting life from your blade, you'll need to match the material and the blade as closely as possible.  There are times when general purpose blades tend to work better, and can often be more cost effective. Concrete with 3000 psi compression strength and lower is considered by most manufacturers as a soft material.  This would typically be your green concrete blade or asphalt blade.  Strengths of 6000 psi or higher will be considered hard materials; these blades typically have deeper diamond segments and can be more expensive.  Point is, no matter what you're cutting, there's a blade to match your application. 

2. Wet or Dry?

Deciding on whether you'll be cutting wet or dry (with or without water to cool the blade), is a key element in choosing your blade.  Cutting dry will eliminate the necessity of equipping saws with water tanks and hoses, as well as the messy slurry that is created from the water-dust mixture. Many times when working indoors, it is important to keep the work area dry, making the choice of a dry blade a must. Dry cutting is conducive to intermittent cutting at low depths.  Use a wet blade for cutting with high horsepower flat saws and deeper cuts.

3. Compatibility - Arbor & Otherwise

Be sure to check the size of your saw's arbor before purchasing to ensure the particular blade you choose is compatible with your saw.  Also, blades intended for wet cutting should only be used with saws equipped with water tanks and hoses; do not attempt using wet blades for dry applications.

4. Cost vs. Quality

This dilemma comes up in nearly every purchase. Decide whether the initial cost or long life of a blade is more important and purchase accordingly.

Remember, diamond blades are typically your best bet for Asphalt, Concrete, and Masonry cutting with a wide variety of saw types and styles. There may be more considerations to be made depending on your application and many times it is best to contact a specialized sales representative to ensure you select the best diamond blade for your job. For more diamond blade info, take a look at this diamond blade buying guide.

Small Construction Business: Marketing in a Down Economy

So the busy season has gotten well underway, but the market is still struggling.  Have you thought about how you can set your business apart from others within the industry?  Well you should!  In an economy that continues to struggle, creating differences between you and your competitors (at least in the eyes of your customers) can be what keeps you making money and even growing.

First, focus on your brand.  Put your efforts into ramping up recognition and customer retention by associating everything you do best with your brand; in particular, highlight processes and skills you have that your competitors don't, this will give you an edge within your niche market.  Remember, you will benefit most from upholding your talk with your walk. Try not to promise your customers something that you cannot provide on a regular basis at a high quality.

Uphold your brand's position by encouraging employees to be involved in the molding and direction of your company.  There's nothing better for your brand than an employee that feels as strongly about the business as its owners.  By keeping them involved, they can become advocates to your brand and promote the business in more ways than traditional marketing is capable of.

Finally, don't be afraid to utilize online mediums.  At the very least, your business should have a website to allow customers to review your mission statement, find your location, see some of the projects you're working on, and to collect leads (either by phone or online form).  Use forums, blogs, and customer review websites to give your brand more credibility online.  

If you have any questions or ideas to add, please leave a comment below!