How to Build a Successful Installation Business

Ken Rhodes Group

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Ken owns the Ken Rhodes Group in Wickford, a family business he took over from his parents in 2016. They recently moved from two separate sites to one premises with office, showroom and warehouse under one roof. In a tough market, they’ve focused on efficiency over volume, reducing from six fitting teams to three and getting tighter on operations. Ken’s big message: don’t ignore old school marketing. Everyone’s doing email. You’ve got a bigger share of the postman now.

Growth

Tough times mean focusing on efficiency, not just revenue
Consolidated two sites into one. Better for team and customers
Weekly meetings to review what’s working and what isn’t

Visibility

Daily dashboard showing who owes, pipeline, and profitability
Track leads week on week. Compare to last year
Know your seasonal patterns. Plan installations around the dips

Cash Flow & Margins

One rent instead of two
Reduced from six fitting teams to three. Fewer things to go wrong
Work with suppliers, not against them. They need margin too

Expert Tips

Don’t ignore old school marketing. Flyering, local bulletins, mailouts
Everyone does email. You’ve got a bigger share of the postman now
Use your existing customer database. They may not know what else you can offer

Technology

System is only as good as you use it. Put the data in
Before: paper files, Access databases, Excel sheets
Now: type in postcode, everything is there. Like another employee

Quick Takes

Play

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