Cleaning Up - Home Services Brand Builder Podcast

While majoring in advertising at the University of West Florida, John Braun started a cleaning business to practice advertising and find out what REALLY works. His ultimate goal was to start his own advertising agency but felt that it would be hypocritical to tell others how to advertise without putting the theories into practice with his own money.

He didn't want to work for someone else, so he started Premium Carpet Care in Pensacola, Florida, and built it up to be one of the most well-known carpet cleaning firms in the area. After building a successful business through effective advertising he began to help other cleaners build their business using these advertising techniques. This leads him to start Hitman Advertising in 2008, an advertising consulting group that caters to the cleaning industry.

Currently, he writes for CleanInformer Magazine and speaks regularly at industry events, both online and offline, on the subjects of internet marketing and advertising. John drops a ton of advertising gold in this episode that you can use to build your business.

Gigi Butler, entrepreneur and founder of Gigi’s Cupcakes, admits her story of success is full of sweet irony. Gigi opened her first Gigi’s Cupcakes location just off Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008. Gigi’s Cupcakes is now the largest cupcake franchise in the world.

With an entrepreneurial spirit that needed an outlet at the age of 15, Gigi opened her first business, Gigi’s Cleaning Company, which she continued to grow once she moved from California to Nashville in 1994. She cleaned houses during the day and sang at downtown Nashville honky-tonks at night. After a decade of pursuing a career as an entertainer, the heartaches of the music industry hit home.

Gigi decided to step back and focus on her financial future. While building a sweet empire was never part of her plan, Gigi realized that her culinary and business skills could take her places she never dreamed about. She decided to take a chance on her other passion – baking.

Gigi’s autobiography “The Secret Ingredient: Recipes for Success In Business and Life” was released in December 2018. Gigi shares her personal success story, her hard-won business acumen, and the life-changing inspiration that she’s gained from a challenging life. Each chapter includes a piece of business advice and a delicious sweet and savory recipe. The book is available at gigibutler.com, or on Amazon, or anywhere books are sold!

John DiJulius is redefining customer service in corporate America today. He didn’t read the books on customer service, he wrote them: Secret Service, Hidden Systems That Deliver Unforgettable Customer Service, What’s The Secret? To Being a World Class Customer Service Organization, The Customer Service Revolution, The Best Customer Service Quotes Ever Said, and The Relationship Economy. One of the most captivating and charismatic speakers today, John’s keynotes and workshops are used by world-class service companies to provide unforgettable customer service every day. In his high-energy presentations, he uses powerful visuals as he discusses the 10 commandments of customer service and explains how to improve the service aptitude of employees at all levels.

Not only is John the Owner, President, and Chief Revolution Officer of The DiJulius Group, he is also the Founder, President, and Owner of John Robert’s Spa; Named one of the Top 20 Salons in America with multiple locations (and over 150 employees), which he uses as living laboratories to test his findings and theories.

Zach Thomas is an entrepreneur, published author (order Leader Farming), blogger, business/life coach, public speaker, and most importantly, follower of Christ, husband, and father of seven children.

He was Eagle Scout of the Nation in 1995, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served his country as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer. He has started multiple companies and been featured in Newsweek Magazine and on Good Morning America. He married his high school sweetheart and they home school their seven children on their family farm where he grew up. His varied interests include studying leadership and entrepreneurship, farming, riding his Harley, working on old cars with his sons and dad, camping, and spending time with his family.

He is the Owner/Operator of a Chick-fil-A franchise in Rockmart, Georgia where he is very involved in his community. Zach is a graduate of Lead Polk and a member of the board of directors for the Polk County Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on Congressman Tom Graves’ Service Academy Selection Board for District GA-14.

He serves as the President of the board of Life Impact, Inc., a non-profit ministry, where he volunteers his time to coach Christian Vetpreneurs (Military Veteran Entrepreneurs). To sponsor a Veteran submit your request to Life Impact.

Being an entrepreneur, building a company, and turning a profit isn’t easy. This is why Craig Handley believes to make it through and turn your business around, you need to create a culture of awesomeness.

He is proud that his company, ListenTrust, was built with a culture that honors personal values, giving back, and allows everyone to pursue their own dreams. His inspiring book Hired to Quit, Inspired to Stay can help you do the same Craig draws upon the trials they faced in order to encourage other leaders to create their own ideal enterprises. With valuable lessons and indispensable advice, the book shows you not only how to establish a culture that inspires employees and customers, but how to survive—and enjoy—the bumpy business ride.

In this episode learn the way to build a company that fulfills your heart’s purpose so you can live your dreams—and take others along with you.