There are a number of reasons the commercial roofing market is currently down.

Supply Issues.  We are all well aware of the supply chain issues our industry is facing.  Unfortunately, it is not just our industry, but a vast part of the nation as a whole.  Supply issues lead directly to cash-flow issues, particularly with commercial businesses. This is completely outside the control any of us have, and we will simply have to let the issue run its course.

Economic Concern.  Business owners throughout the country are aware of the fluctuations of the economy.  There is an extremely high level of uncertainty about the direction the economy will be moving over the next year or two.  This leads many owners to a decision to hold on to capital and reduces investment in improvements.

Small Business Decline.  As many as 1/3 of all small businesses have closed since the beginning of the pandemic.  Whether a temporary closure due to financial hardship or a permanent loss, the fact remains there are fewer commercial businesses out there.  Fewer businesses clearly mean fewer opportunities for the commercial roofing industry.  A recent study found up to 57% of small businesses still in existence could permanently close due to the Delta Strain resurgence.

Demand.  Years 2018-2019 saw an unprecedented number of commercial roofs replaced or restored.  This high level of work during that timeframe means all those roofs are not in need of service at this time.  This also reduces opportunities for the industry right now.

Ways to Keep Financially Afloat

In spite of all the doom and gloom, one of the strongest assets the commercial roofing industry has is the NEED for roofs.  Every home, business, industrial complex or building of any type requires a roof.  Those roofs must be installed, maintained, repaired and protected.  As a result, we have a built-in bumper against the issues that may plague other, less critical, industries. It’s only a matter of time until service is REQUIRED.

To weather the existing storm requires a re-evaluation of direction, both for your company overall as well as your marketing plan.

Here are a few ways you may consider keeping the income streams flowing in.

Residential.  Yep, we went there.  While the commercial marketplace is staggering, the residential market continues to jump.  With significantly more pent-up demand, a much larger potential client base and the unfortunate recent catastrophic storm events hitting regions of the country, residential roofing may be a direction to move, at least temporarily.

Most commercial roofing contractors began as residential roofers, so the learning curve really isn’t an issue.  The equipment needs are reduced as well, plus the timeframes for roofing materials are not as long as those in the commercial roofing arena.

Diversification is key in many industries, and it may be time to consider diversification in your own roofing business.

Niche Specialization.  Fancy words, but basically, we are talking about finding a specific area and focus your primary attention on that.  For example, if you live in the desert Southwest, combining solar power with roofing services may be a key niche in your area to consider.  Another option might be a heavy promotion of wind-resistant systems in an area recently hit with a lot of storm damage.

This step requires some research on your behalf into your local market.  The most important thing in niche specialization is a true understanding of what needs exist that aren’t being met, then finding a way to meet those needs effectively.

Those companies that meet unmet needs quickly and effectively are the companies that will not only weather the existing storm, but will actually grow and benefit from the situation.  Reduced competition helps ensure more opportunity for you to actually get the project, though there may be fewer projects available.

Marketing.  It is a natural tendency for business owners to pull back on marketing as “unnecessary” when faced with an uncertain time.  Consider this…if your competition is pulling back but you aren’t, which business will reap the benefit when an influx of roofing opportunities come up?

The difference is you need to carefully target your marketing.  Rather than a “here we are” approach, it is crucial your marketing sets you apart from your competition and truly addresses why you are the best choice.

Additionally, if you are expanding your services (such as pursuing residential options) or moving into a more specialized area, your marketing campaign truly needs to focus on those areas.  You want to shout it from the rooftops (so to speak), so anyone potentially interested in those services knows you are offering them.

A few inexpensive ways to increase marketing include:

• Increase the number of blogs or posts you put on your website or social media. If you aren’t a blogger, look through some of the blogs on the Choice Roof Contractor Group and upload to your own social media. You definitely want to show strong activity on social networking platforms. It will instill confidence when building owners research your company.
• Offer a “special” on certain services and promote the heck out of it via an email blast. If you aren’t certain how to do this, reach out to us. We have plenty of tips for you.
• Offer a discounted rate to referred customers and a thank you incentive to referrers. This can be promoted through your website, with 1-page flyers or with a mail campaign.  Give us a call for more ideas.
• Print up some flyers and place them strategically in your area. Quality truly counts when it comes to your flyers.  They will directly reflect on the perception of your business. Don’t take the cheap home-made route.

The good news is the commercial roofing arena is expected to improve drastically in the near term, assuming no additional pandemic issues arise.  Positioning yourself and your business to not only get through this time but be prepared for the upswing is the hallmark of a great businessman.

What is Causing the Material Shortage?

You are probably as tired of these words as we are, but the primary answer is Covid-19. The pandemic, regardless of how you may personally stand politically, caused a widespread shut-down of our economy. Unfortunately, that shut-down included not only the manufacture of the materials we utilize daily in our industry, but also the production and distribution of the raw materials necessary to manufacture them. This double-whammy is the root of our existing situation.

Another side-effect of the pandemic is the pent-up demand. During the 2020 shutdown, many businesses, as well as citizens, chose to let their roof situation wait, rather than address it immediately. No doubt your bottom line reflected that decision. Now, with things getting back to a more normal level, there is a huge pent-up demand for roofing services. Again, we doubt this is any surprise to you. However, when you couple increased demand with decreased supply availability, we are seeing unprecedented price increases and wait times industry-wide.

A secondary issue is the unusual level of storms in certain regions of the country. Whether your region is facing more rain than usual or stronger storm intensity, usual weather patterns have increased roofing service demand beyond the norm.

Another, less recognized issue, is labor. We are all familiar with the shortage of applicants (qualified or not) we are facing for our own industry. However, we are not alone. Labor shortages are rampant in many of the industries we rely on. Distribution, for example, has been hard hit by a lack of laborers, truck drivers, delivery personnel and so forth. All of the labor shortage compounds an already bad situation.

What To Do?

Well, unless you have the ability to manufacture your own materials, your company is stuck with having the manage

Free Guide: How to Switch to Commercial

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Management of Expectations. As Americans, we aren’t very good at waiting. Unfortunately, that is what we have to teach our customers to expect at this time. Clear communication of wait times, with an explanation that those are also subject to change, will at least keep your customer from feeling lied to or betrayed when that roof project takes longer than anticipated.

Research. Perhaps you don’t care for the concept but doing some research into alternative options may help reduce the wait. At the very least, knowing the available options and providing more information to your customers shows you are on top of the situation and underscores your level of professionalism in their eyes.

Plan Ahead. If you frequently use the same basic materials on jobs, such as specific fasteners or a preferred type of adhesive, order a little extra with each job and try to keep them on hand. We aren’t advocating hoarding but having a few extras could be the difference between finishing the job on-time or not.

Cooperation. Working together with your “competition” may be key to saving you both. Try to develop a team mentality with some of your colleagues and, should either of you be in a situation where material help is needed, perhaps the opportunity to share resources will arise.

This “team” mentality is what Choice Roof Contractor Group is all about. Sharing knowledge, experience, strengths and resources in an effort to improve our industry and provide building owners with noteworthy professionalism and quality.

If that is the sort of organization you want your company involved with, or if you would like more information on joining us, please call 800-670-5583 or reach out to us on the contact page.

As a result of hard work and dedication, Conklin Contractors – the preferred manufacturer of Choice Roof Contractors – broke last year’s record for August orders by a whopping 8.8%! Collectively, more than $12.2. million in product was sold in just the month of August! Not only was the monthly record shattered, the Conklin Company also hit a new record for single-day sales. They achieved a $1.4 million day record on Thursday, August 27^th, proving the commercial roofing industry is thriving even throughout a global pandemic.

Choice Roof Contractor Group would like to congratulate all our members who took part in setting the pace for this record-breaking month. We are proud of your dedication to not only to Choice Roof Contractor Group and Conklin, but also to your communities.

Setting the Pace – Proving Hard Work Pays Off

Free Guide: How to Switch to Commercial

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A key part of this success? The cost-saving benefits of Conklin products.

That’s right. Business owners across the country are turning to roofing solutions that not only extend the life of their existing roof but also save them money. Conklin’s roof restoration products are just a fraction of the cost of full replacement, reflect up to 85% of the sun’s UV rays – creating substantial energy savings, and provide seamless leak-free protection that will last for years to come! With the world turning to budget-friendly, energy-efficient options, contractors have been able to save their clients thousands of dollars without the need for expensive tear-off.

Want to be Part of History?

There’s no better time than now! The Choice Roof Contractor Group is here to help:

• New commercial roofing contractors establish their reputation in their local markets
• Residential contractors wanting to make the switch to commercial
• Established commercial roofing contractors provide restorative solutions to their clientele

With the help of our trusted members, you too can be part of history. If you’re ready to learn more, call our team at (800) 670-5583.

However, that worry is now a thing of the past! Conklin Roofing systems reformulated their EQUINOX acrylic roof coating that can be used in temperatures at low as 36°! Extending the roof application season is a benefit business owners throughout the country can enjoy. After all, your roof doesn’t just need attention during the spring and summer. Mother nature is unpredictable, and with EQUINOX you are covered when needed during the cool fall season.

Durability with Cutting-Edge Technology

EQUINOX was the first acrylic roof coating formulated by Conklin Roofing Systems with the intention of extending the application season. The product allows contractors to complete roof restoration projects during a time that was once too cool for coatings.

The new formulation significantly increases the evaporation time from the acrylic coating. As a water-based product, cold temperatures traditionally limit the application season in many locations across the U.S. However, with the redesigned technology that speeds up the water evaporation, building owners receive all the advantages of a strong, durable membrane in cooler temperatures.

EQUINOX features many great benefits including:

• Designed for application on metal, SPF, and single-ply membranes
• Energy saving top coat that is 85% solar reflective
• Due to higher solid density, EQUINOX required 20% less coating to cover the same application as traditional acrylics
• Flexible and durable membrane is known for superior waterproofing
• 10-year, non-prorated warranty options

More on Conklin Equinox Roof Coating

Since the 1970’s, Conklin has been providing industry-leading coating products. The Equinox system was formulated to be applied as a base coat and a top coat. The quick-dry formula can extend the life of a roofing unit for 10+ years! It provides flexibility that can withstand movements of the building and is durable enough to withstand the elements of nature.

To learn more about EQUINOX and find a member near you, call 800-670-5583.

OUTPOST will round out Conklin’s superior line-up of high performing, extremely efficient single-ply roofing systems, which includes Flexion (a PVC membrane). This new offering will expand the markets available to Choice Roof Contractors, creating new opportunities for additional revenue and providing customers with more options beyond coatings and PVC.

New Market Opportunities With OUTPOST

This is the first time Conklin Company, a recognized industry leader in state-of-the-art roofing technology, has offered TPO among its products. Building owners, property managers, and contractors alike will be excited to discover a new TPO product that combines unparalleled performance with superior value and durability.

Here are just a few reasons why roofing businesses should want to include OUTPOST among their offerings:

• More than half of all roofing in today’s commercial and industrial markets is TPO.
• The global TPO roofing membrane market is expected to reach an estimated $2.2 billion by 2024.
• TPO is an environmentally friendly solution, a factor more and more businesses and regulatory agencies are bearing in mind.

Like many of Conklin’s ENERGY STAR-rated products, OUTPOST meets today’s stringent standards for environmentally friendly roofing materials, keeping buildings cooler by reducing the sun’s heat and UV rays and lowering utility costs and overall carbon footprint.

OUTPOST will be available in 45, 60, and 80 mils and can be fully adhered or mechanically fastened over a variety of insulation types.  

Backed By Industry Leaders

OUTPOST is the product of collaboration by two industry giants. Conklin Roofing Company formulated one of the first acrylic roofing coatings in the industry more than 40+ years ago, and since then has continued to manufacture innovative, industry-leading products that offer superior protection against the elements and provide substantial energy efficiency.

Cooley Group is the worldwide leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative, sustainable, high-performance engineered membranes used in some of the world’s most high-profile outdoor advertising; architectural building dress; environmental protection; water, fuel, and chemical containment; military; and roofing initiatives.

This is not the first time Conklin and Cooley have partnered with each other. Previously, they collaboratively introduced Flexion XL — a ground-breaking 60-mil PVC membrane designed and created exclusively for Conklin contractors.

New Horizons For Choice Roof Contractors

On July 1, 2019, Conklin Roof Company will launch the newly formulated and manufactured TPO membrane, OUTPOST, opening up a multitude of new prospects for Choice Roof Contractor Group members.

“This latest agreement between Conklin and Cooley Group will add TPO to Conklin’s already strong line of roofing systems, allowing this leading single-ply commodity product to open up a multi-million-dollar market for Conklin, especially in the area of new construction,” said Conklin Company, Inc. owner, CEO, and President Charles W. Herbster.

At the 2016 National Convention in Branson, we introduced a number of key changes that raised the standards for ourselves and the industry at large. Everyone involved in fine-tuning the new structure was amazed at how much better things became and were equally impressed by how well accepted it was for a smooth transition. We have such an amazing group of contractors who really care about each other and where we’re headed as a nationwide team.

Today, we take another step further to better focus on what has been most beneficial to the network, while also adding new benefits by introducing a totally new brand: Top Roof Contractors.

On the first of April, we’ll finally be ready to launch everything after having many conversations with both new and original members to ensure maximum benefit across the board. Special thanks to Sam, Jonathan, Will, Andy, Adib, and John!

The first change to notice is that the terms “Endorsed” and “Supported” are going to be retired. Instead, we have “Leader” and “Member.” It’s a simple change where Endorsed Members will be called Leaders, and Supported Contractors will be called Members; but it’s important because of what these new terms mean.

As part of the changes, contractors in the group will need to sign new agreements. The old agreements will terminate in 30 days in order to fully implement all changes and improvements group-wide.

Benefits from *Choice Roof Contractors*      

• Both Members and Leaders:
  • Badges that display your affiliation with the group (Leader or Member depending on level of association)
  • Group support and networking with fellow members and leaders
  • Private access to the Facebook group
  • Presentations, photos, flyers and other marketing material
  • In-depth knowledge and training
  • Affiliation with our nationwide reputation
  • Sales & marketing guidance
• Leaders only:
  • Contractor leads to build your Conklin business (i.e. residual, scalable income from roofs installed by those being supported – rewarding contractors for the strong businesses they help create)
  • Ability to start conversations with those who have requested information on the group in the past
  • No additional cost to be part of Top Roof Contractors if 3-day training completed (otherwise there is a separate membership fee)
  • Personalized webpage to help with explaining what our group is all about to other contractors (see example: http://www.choiceroofcontractors.com/members/rufus-hostetler/)
  • Personalized marketing material for growing your Conklin business shipped free as often as needed

Of course, there are many more than we can list, but these are the main benefits.

Benefits from *Top Roof Contractors*

• Marketing discounts on 15 different items from Top Roof Marketing (many will save hundreds of dollars a year)
• Added credibility for higher closing rates with the Top Roof Contractors badge (logo files and window decal provided free)
• Roofing estimate leads at steeply discounted prices
• Staff will help with the estimate leads by calling them first and being involved in the conversation
• Sell roofing opportunities to each other (we want to make sure you can profit from opportunities you aren’t able to pursue yourself)
• Sell products/equipment/services to fellow Top Roof Contractors
• Personalized flyer explaining how your company meets or exceeds membership qualifications of Top Roof Contractors
• Connections to insurance specialists who understand commercial roofing, as well as others who are coming on board

What’s New

Cost Reduction

• The membership fees for Leaders (previously known as Endorsed Members) has been reduced by more than half!  This is made possible by transferring the building owner requests for estimates to Top Roof Contractors.

Estimate requests transferred to Top Roof Contractors

• Commercial roofing estimate requests have caused misunderstandings for contractors who are not yet part of the group. We have never been a lead generation service, but understand why our website can give this impression. When a building owner requests an estimate in the future, it will now be routed through Top Roof Contractors.

Contractor Sponsorship Opportunities without High Requirements

• The only requirement to be an eligible Leader in Choice Roof Contractor Group is to create a Conklin account with an existing group member. Even if you have limited roofing experience (or none at all), the contractors you bring in will have full support from others who can step in with their knowledge.

New Tools

• Andrew and Max are working on an app for Choice Roof Contractors, Jonathan and Chris are working on a marketplace for Top Roof Contractors, and many new things will be coming down the line as well.

In summary, Choice Roof Contractor Group will mainly focus on building everyone’s Conklin business, while Top Roof Contractors will take on other aspects to reduce confusion of our group’s core focus and introduce new benefits that are now possible by having a 2^nd independent brand.

What’s the Same

• No fee for those who simply want great support (they only need to create a Conklin account with an existing group member to benefit from the amazing platform built over the last 5+ years: http://www.choiceroofcontractors.com/the-first-five-years/).
• We’re still requiring 3 commercial roofing references and insurance verification to be eligible for leads (but there is an added screening process to add further respect for all Top Roof Contractors).
• Choice Roof Contractor Group Members (previously known as supported contractors) will still get assistance from the entire group, private access to the Facebook group, presentations and photos, in-depth knowledge and training, affiliation with our nationwide reputation, approval to use a member version of our logo, and sales & marketing guidance.
• Choice Roof Contractor Group Leaders (previously known as Endorsed Members) will still get personalized flyer, personalized business cards for sponsoring, contractor leads, and personal page on the ChoiceRoofContractors.com website; plus all the benefits listed above that Members enjoy.

What’s going away

• We have contemplated retiring the Lifetime Service Guarantee for quite sometime because it has hardly been used by endorsed members, plus many building owners seem to have a hard time understanding how it’s different from a warranty and none of us ever want a building owner to feel misled when working with our group. Even though it is a value-added benefit, it’s ultimately been decided to retire the guarantee. If you were issued a lifetime service guarantee certificate, please email lifetime@choiceroofgroup.com with a scanned copy and the program will be honored in original form.

We look forward to integrating all the new benefits on April 1^st, and are very excited to see all the great things to come! 

The group is now well known for uniquely offering support to contractors who wish to expand their commercial business and providing new valuable benefits to building owners.  By delivering a better service, encouraging higher standards, and providing leadership, guidance, and training opportunities, Choice Roof Contractor Group has become a recognized name in the commercial roofing industry.  Members of the group have noticed the increasing credibility on the jobs they’re bidding, and business owners have enjoyed the peace of mind that comes with group-wide accountability.

The last five years have been full of new experiences and a pathway to success for members of the group!  Below, you’ll find a recap of the past five years.  If you’re interested in joining our nationwide network or discussing new collaboration opportunities, give us a call at 800-670-5583.

2013-2018: The Beginning of Choice Roof Contractor Group

The First Contractors to Join Still Thrive Today

In the fall of 2013, Choice Roof Contractor Group was formed. Soon after, the first few contractors joined.  Brenneman Roofing, Mid-West Roofing Systems, Five Star Roofing Systems, A-1 Roofing Systems and Troyer Roofing.  Their stories are all similar and have inspired many struggling contractors throughout the country who wish to break into the commercial field. 

Robert Brenneman, owner of Brenneman Roofing, had been working as a full-time fire fighter with a side business of being a handyman.  He worked day in and day out on time-consuming jobs that did not provide for his family the way he hoped they would. 

John Miller, owner of A-1 Roofing Systems, was struggling to gain traction in commercial roofing and to make ends meet, getting only small jobs for small buildings in a small town. He ended up taking some residential roofing work just to help generate cash flow. 

Samuel Hostetler, owner of Five Star Roofing, was shingling roofs in freezing weather just a few years before starting the group, knowing there was more, but unsure he’d be able to invest.  After all, he had a very large family to provide for. 

Simon Troyer of Troyer Roofing had always worked on various small construction opportunities but was searching for a change.  He began to learn the construction trade, remodeling, roofing, and other carpentry aspects, but after working for others for five years, he knew it was time to make a change and do something of his own.

Rufus Hostetler, owner of Mid-West Roofing Systems, landed his first commercial job prior to joining the group and had early success. But he couldn’t seem to find both the time and money needed to live his dreams.  

When each member joined Conklin and the Choice Roof Contractor Group, they began to see their future change.  They were impressed with the trainings and felt that they could better provide with this new business opportunity.  And over time, they did just that.  All three of these contractors took the time and effort needed to utilize the tools in front of them.  And because of that, they are successful in their local regions, and continue to see the benefits of being endorsed members of the Choice Roof Contractor Group.

To hear, read and watch dozens of other real-life stories, visit our What Contractors Are Saying page.

2013-2014

At the beginning, the idea of the Choice Roof Contractor Group was one of faith. Founding members were on board for something new that could solve the pressing challenges of the commercial roofing industry. And with that came many wins!

The initial group of endorsed members received 100 leads in the first year and we began to see leads continue to increase in size. 

We partnered with Top Roof Marketing to maximize visibility of what we had to offer the industry while ensuring new members had a trusted source for generating more leads.

They also were able to witness some of our first meetings, gained numerous sponsorship/mentorship opportunities over the years, and continually receive special recognition for helping the group concept become a reality.

2015

After the first year was fully under our belt, we discovered what worked best and kept feeding that model. For example, our lead generation service provided over 200 roofing leads in 2015, double what it had the prior year! We also saw a significant jump in the number of leads that were over 100,000 square feet.

The first workshops were also rolled out this year which together had more than 60 in attendance!  The first workshop had over 35 attendees traveling from 9 states.  The second workshop had almost 30 contractors from 8 states!  They all came together to discuss roofing techniques, marketing and sales strategies, and more, really embracing the model that Choice Roof Contractor Group wanted to provide – contractors helping contractors.

Members of the group continued to see rapid growth in their individual businesses, the success stories kept coming in, and new ideas from others joining up took us to the next level.  

To see more details of this year, visit 2015: Year in Review.

2016

The year of 2016 was by far the best on the books at that time.  The continued effort to provide lead generation through the group website enabled endorsed members to share 302 roofing leads with each other! Another 50% of growth!

We also saw the largest attendance ever from our group at the Conklin National Convention, rapid growth in the size of our group across the country, and founder Jonathan Keim was given a prestigious title.

Additionally, like the year prior, the group members came together for another two contractor-led events.  Both workshops completely sold out!

A missing piece to the puzzle in prior years was not engaging in tradeshows.  While the previous marketing strategy was thorough, adding four trade show appearances in 2016 allowed us an opportunity to increase our contractor network by meeting those who were hearing about us online!

To see more details of this year, visit Strong 2016 Success Builds Powerful Momentum for 2017.

2017

Continuing the upward trend, our endorsed members yet again saw an increase in the number of lead opportunities generated.  This year a whopping 427 roofing leads came in! Other highlights include reaching 197 blogs, 263 comments, and 1000+ subscribers to our weekly newsletter.

We also added additional success stories from our members, arriving at 20 different examples brought to life via videos, recorded calls, and articles. Notably, Sam Hostetler was given the opportunity to share his personal story to nearly 1,000 people in Branson, Missouri.

The national workshops in 2017 were held in Cleveland, Ohio and Tyler, Texas, and the strong attendance numbers once again proved that we were quickly becoming a leading educator in the commercial roofing industry.  The comprehensive roofing event gave contractors of all experience levels hands-on training, sales and marketing strategies proven to work in the field, and an open panel to discuss tips and how to overcome common obstacles!

We were even more excited to see various members of the group rise up and commit to hosting their own local hands-on events on the first Saturday of each month. Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas roofers were now able to learn directly from successful commercial owners and train their crews with life-like mockups without having to leave their state.

A nationwide coatings magazine, CoatingsPro, began to recognize the group, and in October 2017 Jonathan Keim provided our first contribution to their magazine which then became the top cover story! Since then, we’ve been given additional opportunities to submit content.

To see more details of this year, visit Exciting Achievements of 2017.

2018

The Choice Roof Contractor Group saw an impressive year in lead generation with another record number of roofing leads achieved!

One of the largest roof leads yet came in – touting an impressive 430,000 square feet!

The group welcomed its first female contractor to the members, hoping to add more in years to come.

And the brand recognition continued, being contacted by over 450 other contractors throughout the nation. Through a new marketing program, we were able to gain placement of our ads on some of the most prominent websites and mobile apps.

To see more details of this year, visit The Excitement Continues – 2018 in Review.

On to the Next Five!

The formula of contractors helping other contractors to give better service to business owners is not common.  However, because we have the right group of people with genuine team spirit for this shared brand, we have been able to share some incredible highlights:

• 366,782 page views from more than 120,000 visitors to the site
• 4,000+ project photos available to share with contractors in the group
• 1,655 followers on various social media channels
• 1,646 commercial roofing leads were generated
• 1,263 subscribers to our weekly newsletter
• 209 blogs that continually pull in traffic and provide open educational material
• 72 commercial roofing companies that have joined
• 68 videos on YouTube that feature various testimonials, tips from the field, and more
• 21 timeless recorded calls with first-hand contractor knowledge

As our first five years come to a close, we continue to focus our efforts on what will help our members and the building owners they serve the most.  We will continue to improve our brand recognition, help our members close more sales, and welcome new contractors who share our values with open arms.

If you are interested in learning more, or joining the group, reach out to us at 800-670-5583 or via the contact page.

Highlights from 2018

428 Leads for Members

One of the main reasons we’re now well known is because the many online marketing initiatives. Our endorsed members this year were able to benefit from our strategic marketing programs by receiving a record number of roofing leads! Our focus will not waiver for 2019 as we will continue to focus efforts on the most effective marketing strategies!

430,000 Square Feet

No, that’s not the amount of roofing our members installed this year, it’s the largest roof lead of the year! That’s right, 4,300 squares for just one lead! The ongoing effort by Top Roof Marketing continues to rank us on the first page of Google for hundreds of keywords, sometimes even in front of the manufacturers themselves! These big fish just keep coming!

456 Contractors Interested in the Group

Our brand continues to be quite popular with contractors throughout the nation. With quality resources like our eBook geared towards educating contractors who are interested in switching to commercial roofing and the group connections with experienced contractors willing to help others, it’s no wonder we’ve had so many contractors reach out! And, in case you were wondering, this number is up almost 50% from the prior year!

The Added Credibility Makes a Big Impact

With their endorsement through Choice Roof Contractor Group, John Miller and his team at A-1 Roofing Systems were able to gain the trust needed from a large company that they have been trying to get an appointment with for a long time. The 40,000 square foot roof lead was just one more perk to their endorsed membership this year!

First Female Contractor Joins Up

We are excited to announce that this year we welcomed our first female roofing contractor to our ranks! Her initiative and drive makes her a perfect addition to our group. We appreciate Samantha joining the group, and hope that it will inspire other trail blazing women to join what is currently considered a male dominated industry.

Partnership with Dunn & Bradstreet

In order to continue to offer our members the best resources, we have partnered with Dunn & Bradstreet. This new partnership allows us to offer our members quality contacts for more than 75% off the retail costs! These resources allow our members to effectively reach out to business owners in their area for a fraction of the cost they could get elsewhere. Direct mail, email campaigns, and cold calling just got even easier for our group!

Strong Gains from Our Preferred Manufacturer

$50 million in sales was reached by a record number of Preferred Contractors as well as others who chose Conklin to protect the roofs they service. Also, as of the last official count, there are currently more than 1,090 who have reserved their seats for the 2019 Conklin National Convention next month. We’re all looking forward to celebrating the manufacturer’s 50th year anniversary and all the success each of us achieved this past year.

Continued Relationship with CoatingsPro Magazine

CoatingsPro Magazine continues to enjoy the relationship and expertise provided by the Choice Roof Contractor Group. As an industry leader sourcing quality content, they trust our group to provide reliable information about the roofing industry. A new article will be featured in their upcoming January edition about the past, present, and future of the coatings industry.

If you are interested in learning more about the group, or about becoming an endorsed member, call us at 800-670-5583 or reach out to us on the contact page. We’d be excited to tell you how to join the ranks of the independent contractors that make up our group!

P.S. If you’re interested in seeing the past five years at a glance, check out our Five-Year Recap blog!

Although it takes many hours to go through everything that happened, we do a recap every year to remember how big of an impact we’re making across the country. To see how our group did last year, feel free to read the previous recap “Strong 2016 Success Builds Powerful Momentum for 2017”.

Every year just keeps getting bigger and better!

Key Stories and Highlights

Many New Success Stories Added

The “What Contractors Are Saying” page now has 20 examples of videos, recorded calls or articles featuring contractors across the country that experienced strong commercial growth after joining the group. Highlights include Rufus Hostetler starting at 22 years old and is now full-time in commercial, Andrew Near who closed 14 jobs in his 1^st year, and John Miller who went from a struggling contractor to landing an 80,000 sq. ft. job (among other commercial projects) with expectations of doing twice as well next year.

427 Roofing Leads due to Multiple Website Upgrades

We spent more money on our website than ever before, which is possible because of the expanded budget resulting from successful events and an increased number of endorsed members. Not only are we on a dedicated SSD server, but site-wide improvements led to faster speeds, better messaging, and added features to increase everyone’s success.

Member Shares Story with Audience of Nearly 1,000

Sam Hostetler, one of our members, was invited to share his story to hundreds of people in Branson, MO. If you haven’t heard it before, his framing business was devastated during the great recession of 2008, which nearly took him under. But, after his cousin introduced him to roof coatings and helped him get started in commercial roofing, Sam ended up closing $1.3 million in signed contracts just 18 months after starting his marketing strategy. View the recording yourself here: Convention Recording.

Three Members Independently Host Monthly Trainings

Andrew Near of Empire Contractors, Amos Byler of CV Roofing Systems, and Sam Hostetler of ECO Commercial Roofing early this year started putting on local hands-on training events at their businesses on the first Saturday of each month. They went all out with life-like mockups of actual roofs and everyone who attended learned a lot. We absolutely love the incentivized mentorship program in place to reward members who help others get into commercial! View pictures: Facebook Gallery.

29 New Contractor Relationships

The size of our group continues to expand! This is good for everyone since it means more experience, greater connections, larger market presence and more contractors to help complete jobs. Nearly all the relationships were made because endorsed members and supported contractors in the group told others about what we’re achieving as a nationwide team.

Workshops Keep Getting Better and Better

Word spread fast from the prior workshops we did! Our January workshop in Cleveland was quickly sold out and we did another one just weeks later in Tyler, TX. There’s simply no other commercial roofing event this comprehensive that is led by successful commercial roofers. There is no better way to receive hands-on training and insider info on sales and marketing than from the ones who are doing it successfully themselves. For more info, visit: Nationwide Workshop & Forum page.

Top Cover Story of CoatingsPro Magazine

Over the year’s we’ve enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Stephanie at CoatingsPro Magazine. In the latest edition, founder Jonathan Keim’s article was the most prominently featured in the roof coatings supplement released back in October. The article was written to help contractors consider a few important items before accepting work on a large roof. Having the right resources and proper preparation is key to ensure things go well. To read the article visit: October 2017 Digital Magazine.

197 Blogs, 263 Comments, and 1000+ Subscribers

As everyone knows, content is king and so we’ve always made it our core focus! This year we put up lots of new content and the community keeps amazing us with their engagement. Our group literally has hundreds of comments from others on various blogs and now delivers the weekly newsletter to more than 1,000 contractors across the nation. We’re excited to see where some of the new relationships will take us in 2018!

2018 is Expected to be Even Bigger!

We’ve never had so many pages on the first page of Google, so many contractors who further the group cause, or the amount of experience that we do today. At convention in February, we’re going to announce something big that is expected to unlock a new level of opportunity for our members! Stay tuned as we continue to find ways to improve the commercial roofing industry for both contractors and building owners.

If you would like to learn more about joining the group or receiving service for your commercial building, you can reach us at (800) 670-5583 or use our Interactive Member Directory to talk directly to a member.

In a kick-off call, we reflected over the prior year and discussed how to make 2017 the best year yet for each of our individual businesses. It was a great call where contractors openly discussed what worked best and what should be avoided next year.

It is truly a blessing to have such a dedicated, passion-filled, and supportive team that makes up the Choice Roof Contractor Group. With all that being said, here a few of the highlights throughout the first group call of 2017.

“New Roofers on Track to Beat Prior Records by Large Margin!”

With dozens of up-and-coming contractors across the nation joining Choice Roof Contractor Group for first-rate support, the future has never looked brighter for all of us! Early activity points to a banner year in 2017, with more sq. ft. expected to be serviced in the first two quarters than all of 2016. With much encouragement from the rest of the members on the call, the feeling of camaraderie could be felt between everyone! This just shows that even the younger contractors can achieve great goals with the backing of such a reputable and experienced team.

“We’re Going to Incredible Heights this Year!”

Following estimate requests from companies as big as Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) last year, we’re entering big leagues and Sam Hostetler knows that we can dominate.

Sam, an original member of Choice Roof Contractor Group, is passionate and excited to reinvest into this group because he believes in the team’s readiness and ability to hit new levels.

Sam understands reaching loftier goals will take a substantial amount of money in the marketing side of Choice Roof Contractor Group, but he is committed to the cause and committed to investing his personal funds to help us grow!

“I Want To Be More Efficient In Closing Leads, Too!”

Lively chatter and feedback was heard throughout the call as members shared what they wanted to change this year. It’s a beautiful thing to see veteran contractors help each other grow while also assisting newer contractors and encouraging them to take their roofing business to the next level.

When we openly share what works best, everybody wins! This is the biggest key behind our success and why contractors in the group are achieving far greater success.

“You Can’t Lose When Investing In Yourself At These Events!”

Choice Roof Contractor Group is encouraging all members and supported contractors to visit the events being held in this first quarter of 2017. The Annual National Convention put on by our preferred supplier is being held February 2^nd-4^th, which will host a bunch of seminars and knowledge-filled talks that are there to help bring about motivation, confidence and excitement. We will also be having our Nationwide Workshop and Forum in Cleveland, Ohio, which is being held January 20^th-21^st, as well as a second one in Tyler, Texas, March 3^rd-4^th. These comprehensive workshops will help arm members with the tools and methods to succeed in 2017.

“We Are Becoming The BBB Of The Commercial Roofing Industry!”

Jonathan Keim, the individual who heads up all our marketing, has some amazing plans and changes for 2017 and was excited to share the good news on the call! Jonathan wants to reinforce the foundation of the Choice Roof Contractor Group by setting the group up with all the tools necessary to dominate the roofing industry. The website has been structurally improved so potential customers will be more willing to stay on the page and learn more about CRCG. We’ve also improved the mobile site for the large amount of mobile users there are these days. Additionally, with the help of a software engineer, we made changes to the quote module so there are more conversions (i.e. more leads per website visit).

As far as projects currently underway, we’re most excited about implementing a membership directory. It will be used by members within the group to build even more trust and unlock more success by enabling contractors to quickly see who has necessary skills to assist them on a job. How does this work? Contractors with “too much work” will be able to take on more projects by offering the extra work to those who may be in a slow season or want to live in a different state for a while. Also, fewer jobs will be turned down due to inadequate experience since a fellow member with the right experience can be easily brought in to assist with a project.

This is Our Year!

Choice Roof Contractor Group has main two objectives this year: better capitalize the resources we already have and reach more business owners. The whole group of contractors on the call was fired up and ready to make 2017 their year, and we believe that stands for all the members of the group.

As with every year prior to starting this group, we will reach higher heights, help more contractors, provide better service to building owners, and service more roofs. The best part is that we have this group of passion-driven contractors who are ready to make that happen. We are excited to see what happens in 2017 and we are privileged to have so many leaders in the group willing to help others succeed in the commercial roofing industry.

To a great year of success, we wish all Choice Roof Contractor Group members and all future members a very productive and positive year.