Customers and the Value of a Well Spoken Word!

Customers and the Value of a Well Spoken Word!

We have been listening to the Financial Forecasts then find ourselves Fretting over the uncertainties for many in business.  We continue reading and following the “ups and downs” of the Economy only to find that in the end, all annoy and discourage us.

With each new day we are hopeful for change and I am wondering what methods others

who struggle find to conquer what seems bleak; to turn it into HOPE?

Consider this; 

• What is the source of your fear?  Is it doubting your own ability?  Why?
• Who‘s voice do you seek to overcome in doubt?  Don’t believe untruth?
• When you feel stuck in hopelessness.  Give hope to those around you!

 Why do we give up so easily?  Because we forget  to be CREATIVE!

How many times did Edison try until he discovered the possibilities of a light bulb?

How many times did Bell try until he heard a voice on the other end of a telephone?

Think of the possibilities in Your Work and discover new ways to promote them.

Often people give up just before their situation may have turned around;

Don’t let that be your story!  

You are capable, gifted and unique; use what you have and what you know!

Try these Suggestions they have been a guide for us:

1. Ask questions, rely on resources available like past Customers
2. You put all you have into your work and the majority of Customers realize it.  Get permission to use their project and/or name as reference.
3. Many times the positive “Word of Mouth” opens the door to your next customer.  Contact, Call, Email, or Snail mail what you do.
4. Speak well of others and they most often will speak well of you.
5. If you can’t help a customer explain why, and offer other options or contacts
6. Above All Have Integrity! Your name is Worth Your Effort!

                        

Remember This: Restoration of anything even your Business is not a renewal or re-creation, but a New Plan Strengthened by an Old Vision!

Foam Backing

Foam Backing on Metal Crown Molding? What do YOU think?

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It isn’t too often that we forget to mention a few of the specialty items

that we offer our Customers.
Recently we have had calls asking if we offer foam backing for any of our
Prestige Series Crown Mouldings;          And that answer is YES! 

Actually we have had the option to offer a Foam Backing with each of our custom

finished Prestige Series Profiles for many years. 

You may ask, “What is the Advantage of Foam backing on Metal Crown Molding”?

Advantage really is better said as preference;

1.    An easier installation on certain areas of a project.  Prestige Series Aluminum Crown
      Mouldings are offered and ordered in various aluminum gauges;

             Gauges include .019, .027, .024 .032 (Kynar Painted) and .040.

             Also available is Copper in 16 oz

2.    The lighter gauge aluminums are available in a wider array of color and are

             very popular within the Home/Apartment/Town Home development or planning

             process. Foam backing being offered adds a sense of security when color takes

             precedence over gauge.

Foam Backing does not strengthen the aluminum but it does provide a more firm backing
and allows for easier installation/nailing of a length of Metal Molding.

Foam Backing is not indicated on restoration or renovation; when covering over the

already existing crown trim.

Foam backing is not adhered to the metal crown molding so it can be removed or

cut to fit a specific area.

Of course anytime a question surfaces; We are only an email or phone call away

and always happy to offer our expertise.   

How To Frame Out and end with a Remarkable Application - Prestige III Crown Moulding

Many times a Customer will be in the process of designing/building a new home or commercial project.

Some are sorting out the detail before a new roof installation. 

When addressing the fascia, eave or rake areas they have already found our metal crown molding and refer us to their installer. 

The first question is usually, "How do I build out for Crown Moulding"? 

This {How To} sheet gives a visual description most Builders/Contractors easily follow.

The end of the installation for the Builder/Contractor becomes a job well done;

while most importantly, adding years of enjoyment for their Customer...

Philadelphia Pennsylvania: Homeowners prove," Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"

Philadelphia Pennsylvania  Just the words bring visual icons, to our minds eye …History, Opportunity, Research, Education, and

in this case a reminder of the Buildings that Landscaped the city in the days of yesteryear. 

To even attempt a description of those days gone by of Cobblestone Streets winding in and out of the City, Marble Entrances welcoming all who entered into many a building. As the head raised in awe of the architectural design, a great visual crescendo captivated the eye then became fixed on the magnificent design, Craftsmanship really, that added the character still admired and sought after in what we have come to call, Old Philadelphia.

 

There are many still walking old city streets only to find many a building now left to age.  Crumbled deteriorating exteriors, interiors … a mere vapor of what they were designed to be. BUT alas a new day is rising; a dedication to restoring, recapturing what seemed lost and searching for the resources that can help.

This is where our story begins!

 

In the fall of 2011 our office (American Colonial Crown Mouldings) received a call. 

The voice on the other end said, “I was given your name by an Architect who thought your Company could help us, we are restoring a home in Philadelphia, PA.; we know what we want.”   

This Project was located in South Philadelphia. (it was part of the military housing in the 1800’s associated with the Naval Yard).  This couple wanted to reface the exterior of the home which would involve tearing down the old brick which had worn with age. It also involved restoring the cornice. Much of the Old City Cornice was made of copper or galvanize then hand crafted into the beautiful crown molding detail; often dentil molding and corbels were incorporated onto the cornice. 

The Question was, Could we help?  The Answer was, YES!

 

We met with our prospective customer, listened to their ideas, took photos of the old cornice detail they wanted and discussed reproducing them with Aluminum.

Next we built a mock up and presented that to them with the design plan.

We met and spoke with their Contractor, discussing our customer’s ideas and his questions for site work and installation.

Using the photo of the old/rusted galvanize cornice we began to create. First the Aluminum Crown Moulding in a seamless length and then Custom Corbel’s on both ends.

The finished Cornice was just as our customers envisioned and installed with perfection by their own Contractor.

Together with their Architect’s research and knowledge, our Customer’s vision/focus and effort to contact us; add our creativity and desire to work with each person involved, then designing a 16’ Cornice System in Aluminum, and ending with the perfection and expertise of the Contractor/Installer. 

Truly a Great Visual Crescendo that will please the eye of a new generation.

 

**Photo’s - Before and after project photos**

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Got Miter Fear? Working with Aluminum/Metal Molding is easier than you think!

While the concept of using Metal verses wood or plastics has caught on in the Green World not to mention the value of less Maintenance on the selling points list. There are many who have a phobia or fear if you will, when faced with cutting an aluminum or copper miter or inside/outside corner.  Just as any journey into learning; we are always surprised at Projects End just how easy it was and how unfounded our fears were. 

Time and Time Again we are able to conquer the concern and offer help. Years of experience in the Art of

Metal Fabrication have allowed us to transform questions into answers that work.  A Potential Customer will

call and literally rave about our Aluminum and Copper Crown Mouldings and Trims and just before the conversation ends the big question is asked, "What about the Miters"?  It has been our policy to provide any customer who asks with a template for the miter situation that their project calls for, along with detailed instructions.  Set up photos are an option easily sent by email.   Photo's similar to those pictured below were provided for a recent customer, once in hand they are used like flash cards as we give personal coaching tips.  

Set Up Options

 

Miter Example

SUCCESS!

American Colonial Crown Mouldings and trims have added a "Crowning Touch " to numerous projects whether Interior, Exterior, Design/Build or the Recapturing of Historic Ambiance. This is just one success story.  Photo provided by our Client in British Columbia.

Excerpt from Crown Quarterly

Crown Quarterly

LEAD STORY

HOW ACCM BEGAN

It was 1971 when Roy Brown an evening student at the Philadelphia College of Art, and a full time employee in a local art company found it very hard to make ends meet for his wife and then two small children, on a salary of $86.00 a week.

Offered a job to install asbestos and aluminum siding Roy made the decision to leave the career in art that he dreamed of, and meet the needs of his family, little did he know where that decision would lead.

In 1972 Roy began a small roofing & siding company.  It didn’t take long before Roy saw many beautiful homes lose a part of their Character, the very detail that made them unique.  WHY?  because the original wood crown moldings were being boxed in, or covered with flat rippled aluminum.  The Dentil trim and Corbels were being jumped over, hidden, and what once caught the eye of passers by for its beauty no longer even required a glance.

Never feeling content with giving his customers anything less than his best, Roy began to experiment with ideas until he founded a system to custom design crown moldings out of aluminum. 

Once he had the idea in process he began to produce “Crown Mouldings” in custom lengths.

By the late 1970’s he was known locally as a source for those customers wanting to duplicate the wood moldings they admired on their homes, yet have a virtually maintenance free exterior.  

In the early 1980’s Roy designed the idea for his first roll-form machine running at 29’ per minute (a speed surpassed many times in this day and age but back then it was worthy of mentioning), he could now offer Crown Moulding to all contractors who wanted to give their customers a quality option.  In 1985 the name of American Colonial Crown Mouldings was registered, in 1999 a Corporation.  The years since then have offered change, growth, unimagined opportunity; grafting together the experience of new horizons and continued vison for what can be.

From one brake in the basement of his Bucks County PA home, to a variety of roll-formers with numerous metal crown moulding and trim profile options now being offered across the USA & Canada. Roy willingly attests to the fact that his journey has been a life lesson.  Ultimately any success has largely been in pleasing each customer one project at a time which has become his pleasure and the Company Goal.

God truly had a plan better than he could even imagine when in 1971, he left what “he thought” was the job of his dreams.

     americancolonialcrown.com