BUILDER MEMBER BLUEPRINT GERALDINE SMITH ALL INCLUSIVE CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING LLC www.allinclusivenj.com Houzz: All Inclusive Construction
FB allinclusiveconstructionnj IG allinclusive_construction_ 732-484-9008 allinclusivenj@gmail.com
to prove myself. Most customers do appreciate the different approach, the different communication style. I’ve also learned I don’t need to know it all, I just need to have the right people on my team. Funniest customer interaction? I was on an estimate with my project manager (a big burly construction type guy) and the customer told him to make sure his “secretary” took notes on something. He laughed and said “she’s the owner, I am the secretary”. What differentiates you from others in your industry? I have a very different background than most in the industry and I bring a unique perspective to my projects and my business. Best Advice you have received? Did you follow it or realize it in hindsight? Understand your financials!!! Unfortunately I did NOT follow it right away but am learning more now (and stay tuned for some great presentations from the Remodelers Council on Job Costing & Profitability and more!!! Favorite Mentor? Frank Coppola of Coppola Brothers and a Metro Past President has been instrumental in helping me! What do you believe are the most important issues in the construction industry today? There are so many issues we are facing – Rising prices (materials, home prices, interest rates, labor rates) The lack of skilled labor. So many of the experienced people are retiring/aging out of the business and the younger generation is largely not interested in our industry.
Years in this business: 8
How did you get into this business? I spent 15 years in corporate HR with Bear, Stearns and Verizon. I have a BS in Marketing and an MBA in Human Resources Management. I handled many different aspects of HR, including recruiting (from entry level technicians to executive level officers),
payroll, employee issues, representing the companies at job fairs, labor relations disputes & testifying at arbitrations, handling benefits, terminations, coaching employees and giving presentations on career development. I worked closely with the Labor Relations and Legal departments on a regular basis. In 2015 I decided to make a change. I resigned from Verizon with no real plan other than to figure out what I wanted to be “when I grew up”. I met someone with a small handyman business, and I saw the potential that this small company had. I handled all of the licensing, insurance, marketing, advertising, recruiting, payroll, health insurance, and a lot of the customer interactions. Sales increased over tenfold once I came on board. All Inclusive Construction & Building went from doing 1-2 day small projects to doing ground up construction, additions, complete renovations, kitchens, baths, carpentry, masonry, etc. When my former partner decided he wanted to do something else, I took over the reins completely at the end of 2019. What products and services does your company provide? We do remodeling, additions and new builds. We do a lot of kitchens, bathrooms, decks and basements but my favorite projects are the unique ones – renovating a pole barn into a sound studio, and ariel yoga studio, etc. Most challenging problem & how did you solve it? I took this business over knowing very little about it (I mostly handled the administrative side before) and I did this right before covid shook up the industry and the world. I threw myself into the business and I networked. I realized there were so many people within my reach who could help me learn and grow. I had to face people (customers, suppliers, subcontractors, and more) who didn’t think I could do this as a woman so I did – and still do – have to work a bit harder
What advice do you have about marketing/social media to build business and reach customers? Word of mouth has been my biggest source of leads. I need to follow my own advice here and do it more – but the more posts and visibility you have the more your name gets out there! Any strategies about employee retention & reaching future employees? I really try to listen to my employees
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