PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & SUPPLIERS
Twin Cities
Dear Readers, we are excited to bring you this New Year’s edition of The Best of the Vendor Guide. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with all of you in 2024, connecting you with the suppliers and service providers who serve the needs of apartment communities throughout the Twin Cities area.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & SUPPLIERS
As for The Vendor Guide and its parent company Planet Media, 2024 will be a year of unprecedented opportunities. Our business exists to help you grow yours, and with that in mind here are three key things to watch for from Planet Media in the first quarter of the New Year:
1. We are launching our online vendor search platform that has been built especially for the multi-family industry. Moving forward, you can visit www.VendorGuideUSA.com to efficiently search for Twin Cities’ area vendors by category, review information about the company or companies you are considering, contact vendors directly, and even send out a broadcast to multiple vendors in a category requesting a quote on your project. To make the most of this opportunity, be sure to visit the Vendor Guide website today and register your property (or properties). Doing so will allow you to access a property (or portfolio) dashboard where you can store your bids and manage responses. P.S. If you are a vendor who is interested in increasing your exposure to property management decision makers, please email us today at info@vendorguideUSA.com for more information on how to get and maximize your online listing.
2. We are expanding our Brand Star footprint by bringing Company Stores to more property management companies. Your custom-built Company Store can offer your team members everything they need to support and build consistent, company-wide brand recognition. Your Company Store is your company’s online destination for all your approved logo-bearing items and can include one or more of the following items: Corporate apparel, promotional items (including move-in gifts for your residents), business cards, brochures, and more. And if you offer a clothing allowance or promotional credit to any of your team members, we can easily incorporate that process into your Company Store payment system. You can provide a link to your Store on the employee resources section of your company’s website. There is no better, more efficient way to bring brand and consistency to your entire organization than with Company Stores by Brand Star. Call us today at 952-460-0305 or email info@planetmediamarketing.com to learn more.
3. We will bring you new, relevant content via the Apartment Insights e-newsletter. Our Vendor Guide team beta-launched the Apartment Insights e-newsletter in November 2023, and the response from vendors and property managers alike has been overwhelmingly positive. We will continue to develop, expand, and deliver this monthly e-newsletter in 2024. Our goal with Apartment Insights is to find the best new products and services available to property managers and bring them to your inbox. If you haven’t been receiving the Apartment Insights newsletter, we encourage you to check your spam or junk mail folder and mark it as safe. Or email us at info@vendorguideusa.com and ask us to add you to the distribution list!
We encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions about or feedback related to the items above, or about any aspect of Planet Media’s service offerings and how we can best serve you. Your opinion matters to us! We are appreciative of your support, and we look forward to growing alongside you in 2024.
Sincerely,
Scott Holgate
PUBLISHERS
Scott
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Cody
HIC DESIGN
EDITOR
Best Of Edition 2024
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Why Choose HOKR?
We are very proud to employ professionally trained, friendly, courteous, hard-working, and responsible painters. Our team is service-driven, and customer satisfaction is our #1 priority.
As a family-owned and operated business, we value relationships. We treat our team like family and our customers like friends. Count on a friendly greeting every time you call our office, and a company that cares about getting the job done right.
“So appreciate all you do. We are finding that it is getting harder and harder to find good quality vendors. Thank you for training your workers on respect, responsibility, and good customer service.”
Jill, Property Manager
40 BRANDS OF APPLIANCES
WE DELIVER NEXT DAY EVERYWHERE
6 BRANDS OF CABINETS
LARGEST THRU-THE-WALL AIR CONDITIONING DISTRIBUTOR
WATCH OUT FOR THE FLAT RATERS!
Plumbers and Drain Cleaners are moving toward Flat Rate Pricing strategies to simplify operations, or is it to maximize profits? The simplicity is nice. McDonough’s refuses to follow this strategy though, we believe it isn’t fair. It’s a terrible idea for the customer!
Flat Rate strategy charges a flat rate for all the potential time and product that might go into a project. Every contingency is considered before settling on the price charged to the customers. Two variations are usually in play. First, the price most always averages dramatically on the high side of potential costs. It’s often a bonanza for the service company. The job goes easier 90 percent of the time and customer pays excessive profits.
In our business, the problem is always out of sight. It’s in a pipe, buried in the ground or under the floor or in a wall, etc. We’re talking about a backup of really soiled water, so most of the time, a camera won’t even show what the problem is. However, once a tech starts working at it and the water drains it would appear the problem is solved. That is where the flat rate ends. Then the upsell. The customer is now told that it is functioning but, they should come back and do a full cleaning for hundreds of additional dollars, to ensure it doesn’t happen again. But in our eyes, the job is not even close to being complete. We finish
what was started right then and there, fully cleaning that drain, not planning or charging for another trip.
Secondly, as a loss leader, knowing they can upsell the customer when the job does not go, quickly. Sometimes the job will go poorly. This problem creates perverse incentive for the tech. He senses he is working harder on these jobs for a diminishing return. First strategy is to renegotiate the pricing. In reality, it isn’t flat rate at all in these cases... Secondly, the tech might determine the plumbing needs replacement. The reality is that companies are rewarded for giving up. The company gains extra revenues by replacing items that would likely be repaired with a little extra time and elbow grease. There is little incentive for these companies to do the right thing when going gets tough. Yet, plenty of incentive to write up a replacement/repair costing thousands of dollars. It’s a bad scenario.
McDonough’s believes in time and material pricing instead. This pricing is inherently fair. Plus, this strategy incents the company to always do the right thing. Customer is only charged for resources spent fixing the problem. If the job is relatively easy the cost is less. If the job is hard and time consuming the price will reflect the extra work. That is fair. That’s what we want, to always be... fair to the customer.
When the going gets tough, our techs receive rewards for doing the right thing. The biggest of which is the pride in knowing they overcame that challenge and fixed the customers problem, the first time, in one visit. We never want to give up on a job. Others companies reward for giving up and quitting early only to come back a second or third time for more money on top of that promised that flat rate. That’s a morality problem for those companies. Beware Flat Rate Pricing!
Custom Company Stores
Planet Media can create an online store specifically for you! We populate your Company Store with your pre-approved merchandise, such as apparel, name tags, promotional items and print products; and provide the online ordering and fulfillment platform. We can set up billing to the recipient or directly to you, and we can even work with purchase allowances.
• Easy Product Selection: No more wading through PDFs and cumbersome back-and-forth with your supplier.
• Easy to Promote: Easy to share with your employees.
• Easy Control, Easy Approval: Choose from pre-approved items with pre-approved artwork.
• Easy to Order!
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B E A L E A D E R F O R A
G R E E N E R C O M M U N I T Y
Make your mark as the smartest, greenest, property in town. By offering residents and guests electric vehicle charging stations you’ll draw the attractive EV driver demographic and position yourself as a resident-focused building that’s committed to a greener community.
Providing EV charging stations is a natural complement to existing environmental and sustainability efforts and showcases your facility’s commitment to health, well being, and green initiatives in its community.
J Becher & Associates has a dedicated team of experienced, trained, and certified EV Charging specialists focused on providing turn-key charging solutions for our customers. Contact Tom Halek, Business Development EV Charging Solutions, to learn more!
FOUR AMAZING TIME SAVERS
Sometimes, commercial property rennovations are a time suck. Here are four ways to put more time back into your day with very minimal effort.
DO ONE THING AT A TIME HIRE IT OUT
When renovating commercial property, there are many tasks going at one time. At Floors 2 Kitchens, we are your one stop shop when it comes to flooring, kitchen cabinetry and granite countertops. Keep tasks organized with one company handling your full plate of to-dos.
Free up more time by hiring out MANY of your to-dos with one company that will handle a majority of your renovations. This means reducing phone calls, emails, reviews and meetings. Whether you have a small or large project, Floors 2 Kitchens can manage and complete your updates for you.
LIMIT YOUR MEETINGS SET DEADLINES
Conserve your precious time by reducing the number of meetings you have. This means more time for organzing, planning and reviewing other parts of your projects. Our team of designers and project managers take care of the details so you don’t have to (yes, that means no hand holding!).
Retain set deadlines to keep complex, multistage projects on track. Set expectations with our team to make clear what is expected, and we work on your behalf to make sure it’s achieved. Our quality craftsmanship and team efficiency will meet your project needs.
UGLIEST BATHROOM
Is there a bathroom in your community that desperately needs a modern makeover? The Vendor Guide has partnered up with the industry’s leading bathroom experts to bring you an exclusive opportunity to participate in the "Ugliest Bathroom Contest" and win a $7,500 cosmetic bathroom renovation! All submitted bathrooms not selected as the Winner will be eligible to receive a 15% discount on their renovation project proposals through Feb. 15th, 2024 Enter today
Make a Good Impression with Bathtubs that Look Like New, Thanks to Quality Resurfacing
Over time, an apartment bathtub can become scratched, chipped, worn, and stained. When the surface becomes damaged, it can hold germs, dirt, scum, and soap. This creates a potentially unhealthy environment, and it also makes the bathtub unsightly. All of this can lead to issues when you are trying to rent an apartment or keep a resident happy. One solution is to replace the tub, but apartment managers don’t usually have the budget to replace every bathtub with surface damage. Fortunately, there’s a better option. When done properly, bathroom refinishing provides a long-lasting solution, completed with minimum disruption and little downtime and at about half the cost of replacing the tub but with a result that looks like new.
TubFusioN is a family-owned bathtub replacement and resurfacing company that has been serving the multi-family industry in the Twin Cities area since 2006. According to Mike Wall, owner of TubFusioN, “We know the ins and outs of working in apartments, and that’s an important attribute for property managers to consider when choosing vendor partners. We offer exceptional bathtub replacement services, but we know that replacing a tub isn’t always a viable or even the most appropriate option. That’s why TubFusioN has developed a tub resurfacing process focused on quality results, helping ensure that the investment you make will result in tub surfaces that look great and stand up for years.” Specifically, TubFusioN utilizes unique mechanical and chemical techniques that result in up to 400% better adhesion on the resurface of bathtubs versus traditional bathtub refinishing methods. And TubFusioN can refinish surfaces that other methods and products can’t; they can resurface bathtubs made of porcelain, steel, acrylic, and fiberglass.
Wall, who oversees training and quality control for the company, stresses that when working in an apartment home, his team makes sure that the areas around the bathtub are masked up and an exhaust system is installed. This is to protect the bathroom and the entire apartment from dust and overspray. TubFusioN’s resurfacing process usually takes around eight hours to complete, which is longer than other resurfacing companies but with a much better result. The bathtub will be ready to use approximately two days after the process is started.
TubFusioN is so confident in their product and in the customer service they provide that they offer a three-year warranty on all multi-family bathtub resurfacing projects. In fact, quality is at the core of everything Wall and his team at TubFusioN do. Wall says, “We’ve opted to grow more slowly as a company so that we can continue our commitment to high quality service. We take pride in the fact that whatever we do for our customers; whether it be installing or replacing a tub, installing shower wall systems, or any other aspect of a bathtub or bathroom area renovation, we do it very well.”
Wall also stresses that when faced with an apartment bathroom renovation project, no matter what the need may be, TubFusioN can help find a solution. “We offer a free consultation with property managers to discuss their budgets, their short- and long-term objectives, and their timeline. Whether the project is a refinishing of one bathtub or a full renovation and upgrade of the bathtubs, shower walls or related plumbing needs throughout the property, we customize our solutions to meet our clients’ needs.”
Resurfacing the bathtubs in your apartment community may seem like a minor improvement, but it is a transformation that can yield significant benefits for both residents and property owners alike. New residents expect their new bathroom to sparkle, and providing a bathtub that looks like new is one of the best ways to ensure more leasable apartments and more satisfied residents. To learn more about bathtub replacement and resurfacing, shower wall system installation, or other bathroom renovation related solutions, contact TubFusioN today:
• Call 952-220-2604
• Email info@TubFusioN
• Online at www.TubFusioN
Your Trusted Source for Insulation
According to the Urban Green Council, apartment building owners spend an average of $3,400 to heat air that escapes from their roofs each year. That cost can easily exceed $20,000 in the case of taller buildings.
You’ve surely got better uses for your revenue than heating any nests that birds have built on your rooftop. Scott Waste agrees, which is why his team specializes in providing cellulose and fiberglass blown-in insulation for multi-family properties’ attics, walls, floors, ceilings and basements.
“Blown-in insulation works like magic,” said Scott, owner of NES Insulation. “It eliminates air leakage by working its way into even the tiniest cracks – the main reason why it boasts over 20% greater efficiency than traditional fiberglass batting with the same R-value.
“Blown-in insulation’s advantages don’t end there. It significantly reduces the condensation that breeds black mold in the attic. It doesn’t soundproof a building per se, but it does make its interior noticeably quieter. It puts a stop to the heat leakage which causes ice damming. Blown-insulation is also naturally fire resistant. In a best case scenario it can prevent a fire altogether. In a worst case scenario, it can still save residents’ lives by giving them more time to evacuate.
“Our service makes a great product even better. When you welcome my team to your property, we’re going to begin by performing a free 12-point inspection. Part of that exhaustive inspection includes studying every square inch of the building’s exterior with an infrared camera. If air is escaping through insulation or sheetrock, we’ll see it plain as day and know exactly where we can do the most good.
“NES offers spray polyurethane foam (SPF) and batting insulation as well, although those products are both better suited to new construction. Installing either of them demands removing the old insulation, which is a messy, time-consuming and invasive process. It would take about 25 years to recoup your investment if you go that route. Blownin insulation is far superior for retrofitting standing apartment buildings because it sticks to any surface – old insulation included. I can install blown-in insulation as quickly as I can aim a nozzle.
“SPF does figure prominently into the other side of my business: Superior Polyjacking, which provides the best fix for sunken concrete in the Twin Cities. If soil shrinkage, compaction and settling have gradually sunk your building’s parking lot or driveway, give us a call. We’ll bore a 5/8” diameter hole into the concrete, run a nozzle down into it, and let fast-expanding SPF return it to the same level as the day that concrete was poured.
“Mudjacking and sandjacking are also effective, but they’re slow, intrusive and solve the problem for eight years at best. SPF jacking is fast – I’ve personally used it to level a dozen driveways in a single day. You don’t have to ask your residents to move their cars while we’re on-site, and the fix is permanent. We often do multiple SPF jacking projects for the same client, but we’ll never level the same concrete twice.
“I’m so confident in our work that I provide a lifetime guarantee on all of our blown-in insulation and concrete leveling services. To date I haven’t gotten a single callback. And whether you call for NES Insulation or Superior Polyjacking, the voice that greets you will be none other than my own. No answering service, no high-pressure sales pitch; just the guy who gets the job done right!”
Please visit nesbuildingsolutions.com to learn more about Scott’s all-encompassing blown-in insulation services, or superiorpolyjacking.com to learn more about the only concrete leveling service you’ll ever need. And if you’d like to connect with Scott directly, his number is (763) 238-6310.
FREE 12 Point Inspection!
Whether you are looking for insulation for your attic, roof, basement, wall insulation or a commercial building or structure, NES can help!
• Free Infrared Camera Inspection
• R60 Blown-in Insulation
• Air Shoots
• Draft Stop
• Fire Stop
If your building was built prior to 2003, you are not up to the current codes in standards of insulation. We have a 12 point inspection that we perform free of charge including an infrared camera inspection!
Curbs and Gutters • Basement Floors • Pool Decks • Garage Floors • Garage Aprons
• Any Concrete Floor
Complete Christmas Decorating Service Complete Christmas Decorating Service
You don’t want your property’s tenants and guests to think it is managed by the Grinch. But you also don’t want to spend countless hours painstakingly decorating your building and its landscaping with festive Christmas lights – and then taking them down again shortly thereafter. And who is to say your amateur lighting job would even look good? If only there was a better way...
Fortunately, Twin Cities area landlords and property managers have the best solution to holiday decorating at their beck and call: Custom Christmas Lighting!
Custom Christmas Lighting was founded by Rob Schlosser, a Minnesota native who has been serious about holiday cheer since he was a child. Rob first decorated his family’s farm when he was 11 years old. Only five years later, he would win the Albert Lea area’s annual Christmas lighting competition.
“I covered our home and trees in over 10,000 Christmas lights to win that year’s competition,” said Rob. “Back in the days before LEDs, I would constantly trip our home’s breakers and overload its capacity. My dad was a master electrician, and a patient one at that. When one year’s Christmas lighting project blew out our transformer, he just went ahead and installed a bigger one. And I was grateful. I was proud to turn our home into a local tourist destination every year.
“Custom Christmas Lighting grew gradually. As a teenager I only lighted a few homes around Albert Lea, and while attending St. Cloud State I created a small business which I advertised with handmade flyers. Things got serious when I moved to the Twin Cities metro in 2004, where I now decorate thousands of buildings a year including single family homes, duplexes, multi-family apartment buildings, assisted living residences, restaurants, retail storefronts,
office buildings and commercial properties. I also serve municipal clients, and annually decorate the main streets of Inver Grove Heights and Chisago City.
“Convenience and safety are two of the biggest reasons why people prefer hiring Custom Christmas Lighting. I employ dozens of staff throughout the several months leading up to Christmas, so we can spend only a few hours on a project that might have taken our client all week. That’s a huge benefit if your property is heavily traveled and you don’t want to inconvenience your guests and staff. And naturally, our clients would much rather not have their staff climbing ladders in the freezing cold all day.
“But the biggest way we create value – and what I’m most passionate about – is the quality of each project. Whether you give us a schematic detailing exactly how you would like your property decorated, or you’d rather put your trust in our decades of experience, we’re going to make your grounds breathtaking. We offer Christmas-specific decorations as well as more versatile lighting for the entire winter season. And if you need your Christmas decorations gone as soon as New Year’s is over, we’ll return right away to take everything down.
“Our lights are extremely efficient. Modern LED lighting is available in almost every color and style – it also requires about 80 to 90 percent less power than incandescent lights. That means you can have about 10 times as many lights and pay the same energy bill. It also means there’s virtually zero risk of overloading your property’s electrical system.
“Our commercial-grade lights are much higher quality than what you can find in retail stores. We buy in bulk and pass the savings on to our clients, and we’ll even store everything for you once the holiday season is over. In the rare event when something breaks or burns out, we’ll come right back to fix it.
“We’re always happy to work on your timeframe – but don’t wait a day longer to call us than you have to! Business really lights up as the holiday season approaches, which is why we begin decorating in July.”
Custom Christmas Lighting takes all the hassle out of holiday decorating.
Please visit customchristmaslighting.com to get a jump start on this year’s decorating, or go to customeventlighting.com to learn more about their services for weddings and other special occasions.
Revolutionizing Renovations with Curated Solutions, Built for Multi-Family by OneStop Kitchen & Bath
With a goal of making apartment renovations as professional, cost-effective, and efficient as can be, Twin Cities-based OneStop Kitchen Plus Bath has quickly become a leader in multifamily remodeling. OneStop has the experience and expertise to offer industry-specific solutions, implemented easily and at competitive rates, to support the company’s mission, which is to streamline the renovation experience for management companies and their residents.
When starting a renovation, there are usually many decisions to be made about every aspect of the project. Specifically, this can include selecting countertops, fixtures, wall coverings, lighting, cabinetry, appliances, hardware, and flooring, among others. OneStop Kitchen Plus Bath distinguishes itself by helping streamline this process, offering a curated selection of easy-to-install solution packages chosen specifically for apartment homes, and at a price that competes with, and often beats, the retail giants.
According to Shawn Wilson, Project Manager and Designer at OneStop, “Navigating the choices available in every category related to renovations projects, and understanding the critical time and cost implications of each of those choices, can be a daunting task. OneStop recognizes this challenge and to address it, has created a menu of packages that specifically address the needs of apartment living. We know that by offering these pre-selected packages, and by relying on our well-defined project management process which has been developed especially for apartment communities, we can alleviate the stress associated with apartment renovations. We want to provide property managers with a clear path to achieving the desired remodel at the right price.”
Wilson explains, “OneStop’s approach streamlines everything from choice to installation. It not only saves valuable time but also reduces decision fatigue. Ultimately, all of this translates into
cost savings, as the OneStop’s renovation packages are usually priced more competitively than the sum of their individual components in the retail world.”
Another key competitive differentiator that OneStop offers is the efficiency of its installation process. Designed with limiting turnover time and minimizing disruption to the apartment community, its residents, and its budget, the company ensures that work is completed quickly, with kitchen renovations completed in 2-5 days. But timely completion is not a compromise on quality. Instead, it reflects OneStop’s commitment to providing a hassle-free experience for its customers and its proven installation processes based on experience. It is important to note that OneStop also offers a “drop and go” solution, where it will deliver its renovation package materials to the apartment community for in-house installation, if that is their customer’s preference.
While OneStop offers pre-selected packages, it also understands that each property manager and community may have unique preferences and needs. Because of this, the company seamlessly integrates customization options into its process, allowing customers to tailor their chosen package to suit individual tastes and needs. This ensures that even within the curated framework, customers can achieve a personalized touch when they prefer it. And although the company’s name focuses on “Kitchen Plus Bath” renovations, it also offers installation of flooring, fixtures, and finishes in other areas in apartments as well as common areas.
Wilson emphasizes that OneStop takes pride in the quality of its work. From carefully selecting materials based on their durability and aesthetics, property managers can trust that their investment in OneStop’s remodeling solutions will hold up. The company believes so strongly in its services that it offers guarantees on its quality workmanship, timely completion, products, and overall customer satisfaction.
OneStop has proven that cost-effective efficiency can coexist with quality. If you are ready to start a renovation project at your apartment community, you will want to explore OneStop’s multifamily solutions today. Learn more, schedule a consultation, or request a quote at www.onestopmn.com, or call 763-349-3656 to talk to an apartment renovations expert today. OneStop Kitchen Plus Bath currently serves the Twin Cities and its surrounding areas.
Should You Use AI to Generate Marketing Content? Let’s ask AI!
AI is rapidly becoming a resource for companies looking to develop written content faster and more efficiently. But is it effective? We asked the generative AI tool Chat GPT that question, and here is what it said:
(Here is raw content developed by AI): Using AI to generate content can offer several advantages:
1. Efficiency and Speed: AI-powered content generation tools can produce content at a much faster rate than humans. This can be particularly useful when you need a large volume of content quickly.
2. Consistency: AI ensures a consistent tone, style, and quality across all generated content.
3. Personalization: AI can help personalize content for specific audiences by analyzing user data and tailoring messages accordingly. Personalized content tends to be more engaging.
4. Multilingual Support: AI-powered language models can generate content in multiple languages, allowing you to reach a broader and more diverse audience.
5. Enhanced Creativity: Some AI models are designed to assist and enhance human creativity rather than replace it. They can provide inspiration, suggest improvements, or generate ideas that can be further developed by human writers.
6. Scalability: AI-driven content generation can easily scale to meet the growing demands of your marketing efforts. Whether you’re expanding your product line, entering new markets, or launching new campaigns, AI can adapt to the increased workload.
While AI can be a powerful tool for content generation, it’s important to note that it works best when complemented by human oversight. Combining the strengths of both AI and human expertise often yields the best results in content creation and marketing.
As much as AI can improve the process of content writing, it is important to use it only as a starting point for real life editors who contribute their uniquely human attributes. This includes things like creativity, contextual understanding, voice and tone, and emotional intelligence. These qualities are challenging for AI systems to replicate, so bringing AI and human expertise together often results in content that is not only efficient and scalable but also compelling, contextually relevant, and aligned with strategic objectives. To demonstrate this, we took the above AI-generated content and reworked it using a human touch:
(Below is the AI generated content, edited by a real person): Using AI in your marketing applications can offer several advantages, including producing more content at a faster rate. This can be particularly useful when you need to write prolifically and under tight deadlines. It can also be costeffective, allowing you to create more content with fewer payroll hours. And because needs fluctuate, AI-driven content generation can scale to meet the growing demands of your marketing efforts.
AI also ensures a consistent tone, style, and quality across all applications. This is important for maintaining a cohesive brand image and messaging strategy, especially when working across multiple channels. What’s more, AI models can generate content in multiple languages, allowing you to reach a broader and more diverse audience without the need for translation services.
But at the end of the day, AI models are designed to assist and enhance human creativity rather than replace it. They can provide inspiration, suggest improvements, or generate ideas that must be further developed by real people. Human beings provide the creative flair, emotional understanding, and strategic thinking that AI lacks. Real people can help ensure that your brand is being appropriately communicated using your tone and voice. Combining the strengths of both AI and human expertise often yields the best results in content creation and marketing.
AI-generated content is a valuable tool marketing professionals have at their disposal to advance their strategies, but it needs to be utilized and deployed with a human touch. If you are interested in working with a partner to harness and refine AI generated content, reach out to the Bluebird Marketing Lab today! natalie@bluebird-lab.com, online at www.bluebird-lab.com.
A Top Notch Finish With Unmatchable Service
Two men, a brush and a roller. Finishing Touch Plus wasn’t very much when it first started in 2003 – but in only two decades, it grew into the largest merit shop of its kind in the Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and Iowa area. Today the company offers property managers the fastest, most affordable and most professional solution for all their exterior, interior and turn painting needs.
“After two decades in business, we understand exactly what property managers are looking for,” said Tony Huot Jr., president of Finishing Touch Plus. “You want a painter whose quality of work will impress your residents and your ownership. You want a painter who will get the job done on time or faster. You want a painter who will do everything they can to complete the work under budget. Underpromise. Overdeliver. That’s the Finishing Touch Plus creed.
“We have almost 50 full-time painters on staff, many of whom have been with us for over a decade. Our men are thoroughly trained in proper painting techniques and qualified to perform any drywall and textured wall repairs. A lot of people think anyone can paint. They are wrong. The level and volume of work we do could only be achieved by a team of seasoned professionals who have already mastered their craft.
“Our management team makes the most effective use of our painters’ skills. When you hire Finishing Touch Plus, you can trust your project manager to pick the best products and techniques for your property. They’ll assign the crew members who are most familiar with your type of property, and coordinate with your staff to ensure that the whole project goes as smoothly as possible.
“Your project manager will also continue to assign the same crew members to your job site throughout the entire duration of the project. Your residents will appreciate seeing
the same familiar faces every day, and you will appreciate the consistency that can only be achieved when the same guys perform the work from start to finish.
“Efficiency means everything to our team. Our streamlined process means that we can complete most projects within 24 hours, which is crucial to our clients who have to turn units as quickly as possible. We recently painted 100 units in a single day – a feat we only pulled off thanks to our clear communication, accurate scheduling, and absolute commitment to getting the job done right the first time.
“We do everything within our power to keep our prices low as possible, and we pass those savings on to our clients. No other painting company in the Twin Cities purchases more paint than Finishing Touch Plus. Our suppliers rely on our business, and dramatically lower their prices in order to keep it. When we need enormous quantities of paint to complete an unusually large project, all we have to do is make the call. And because our suppliers value our partnerships with them, they’re always eager to share their expertise. The industry’s leading experts are right there to guide whenever we’re asked to do work we’re unfamiliar with – which, in all fairness, does not happen very often.
“Everyone on our management team comes from a painting background. We know the importance of painless invoicing, so we have a CPA dedicated to that part of our business. We also know how to put together an accurate and comprehensive proposal. But in the highly unlikely event that anything goes wrong, we’d much rather lose money so long as that’s what it takes to make our client happy. If it’s best for you, then it’s best for both of us!”
Please visit finishingtouchplus.com to learn more about Finishing Touch Plus’s wide range of services and request any of them at your property.
ABOUT US
Founded on the hard work and dedication of its owner, Finishing Touch Plus was established in 2003 with a brush and a roller. Built on relationships, the company has grown exponentially year after year.
Specializing in managing multi-family housing for over 17 years, Skyline Real Estate Services can offer fee management services, property renovation and the navigation of value add projects for common areas and occupied units
We’ll Respond Quickly and Get the Job Done Right!
All Ways Drains will clean your drains, but it isn’t a drain cleaning company. All Ways Drains will remodel your units’ kitchens and bathrooms, but it isn’t a remodeling company. All Ways Drains will scour your sewer line completely free of limescale, but descaling is also just one facet of their services.
Justin Moe and his team are the heavy hitters –plumbers in full, who are just as eager to extract a minor clog as they are to replace an entire apartment building’s plumbing. When you call All Ways Drains, you’re always assured the expertise and the tools it will take to get the job done right.
“I grew up working on multi-family properties alongside my father Wayne,” said Justin. “He was my hero, so I didn’t think twice about joining the United States Army just like he had. That put a temporary pause on our work together, needless to say, which is why I was so grateful to enter the Army Reserve once my active duty ended in 1993. I finally had the freedom to do what I’d always dreamed of: founding a business with my dad.
“We lost my father to cancer in 2009. Today my wife Amy and I are proud to honor his legacy by upholding his values of honesty, integrity and respect with each job we undertake across the Twin Cities metro.
“I don’t mean to disparage companies that solely specialize in drain cleaning. A lot of them do a really good job. I would just encourage property managers to appreciate the value in partnering with a fully licensed and bonded plumbing company which offers expert drain cleaning as one of their many, many services.
“Oftentimes our clients ask us to clean a drain, only for us to discover that the problem runs much deeper. We make their lives easier by taking care of any repairs and replacements needed to fully restore their plumbing systems. Conversely, if you only called a drain cleaning specialist, the best case scenario would be if they told you to call us instead. Worst case scenario, they would clean the drain and the underlying problem would remain. That’s what happens when you only have a hammer – every problem looks like a nail.
All Ways Drains, a member of Trust Vets, proudly provides a 10% labor discount to all veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
“Our team isn’t just versatile. We are also dependable, and fast to respond to plumbing emergencies before they can cost you thousands of dollars and frustrate your residents. True to our name, All Ways Drains always has two drain technicians and one licensed plumber on call. If your plumbing freezes or bursts on Christmas morning, call us. The right man will arrive to make the problem disappear.
“We keep our prices reasonable thanks to our low overhead and constant search for great deals on materials. Most importantly, we only provide free quotes once we have fully assessed the job site. That’s a deviation from the norm nowadays. Several of our competitors provide free estimates before they’ve laid eyes on the property. If they discover that they underbid, they won’t hesitate to explain why they’ll have to charge more. But if they find out they overbid, they’ll be far less likely to lower their price for the actual work they have to do – and you’ll have no way of knowing it.
“Many of our competitors are also more than happy to accept large-scale jobs at multi-family properties despite lacking the qualifications to do them. After two decades in the business, I can confidently say All Ways Drains can tackle any issue our property manager clients could face. Invite us to install a sink, or eliminate the roots intruding your sewer line. Once you’ve witnessed our speed, price and professionalism, you won’t want to hire anyone else.”
Please visit allwaysdrains.com to learn more about Justin’s services, or call 612-922-9422 to speak with a live representative 24/7.
Expert Maintenance Techs at Moment’s Notice
BMM is the property manager’s solution to – well, almost everything, really. When you see one of BMM’s blue and white vans parked outside a multifamily community, its driver could be inside checking smoke detectors, clearing out dryer vents, servicing MagicPaks, cleaning the pool, turning an apartment or renovating it floor to ceiling. If a property manager wanted to eliminate maintenance from their job duties altogether, they would only have to call (763) 5414886.
But BMM hasn’t remained a fixture in the Twin Cities since 1987 solely because it is a property manager’s Swiss Army Knife. The locally owned business owes its competitive edge to innovation. For example, BMM was one of the first companies of its kind to develop its own proprietary software, which gives clients an all-encompassing overview of their properties’ maintenance needs in real time. And when a shortage of qualified maintenance technicians threatened to grind their clients’ operations to a halt, BMM’s management devised the perfect fix: qualify more maintenance technicians.
“The labor shortage has been ongoing for quite some time now,” said Tammy Anderson, CEO of BMM. “We decided to address the shortage head-on by opening our own on-site training center. The facility includes a model apartment, which is complete with functioning electricity, plumbing, appliances, heating and air conditioning. If someone needs hands-on experience developing any property maintenance skills, our model apartment and expert instructors provide it.
“We welcome new techs who have past experience, but we do not require it. So long as someone has the aptitude and the right attitude for maintenance – and
they’re willing to master a new trade – we welcome them to our training facility. Most of our trainees spend two full weeks at the model apartment, after which they enter the field to shadow one of our seasoned pros. That’s how they fine-tune their mechanical ability, as well as the customer service skills which truly set BMM’s techs apart.
“We offer truly flexible schedules based on your needs, so you can turn your fixed in-house maintenance budget into a variable expense that you control. You may choose to have our techs come out full-time, part-time, or to supplement your existing staff. One of the best things about BMM is the fact you are hiring an entire company, not just one person. If one of our technicians comes across an issue they are unfamiliar with, they only need to call their manager who will back them up with a wealth of knowledge.
“No job is too big or too small for BMM. If you just need light bulbs swapped out, plumbing issues addressed, or closet shelving installed, we’re the ones to beat. We also leave no stone unturned during apartment turns. Properties which aren’t sufficiently staffed often fall behind on the little touches which put pen tips on leases. If one of your units’ paint, flooring, countertops or bathroom tile leaves anything to be desired after a move out, you can count on us to make it market ready in no time.
“We’re currently expanding our renovation services as well. If you want to update your apartment community to compete with the newer facilities around town, we’re standing by to deliver. Whether you just want to put a splash of new paint on the cabinets or completely overhaul every square inch of multiple units, our full-time project managers will work within your budget to deliver a turnkey service that makes your life easier.”
Don’t view the next maintenance issue in your apartment building as a setback. View it as an opportunity to see BMM in action!
Call (763) 541-4886 to request on-call maintenance, or learn more about BMM’s complete line of services at www.BMM-Pro.com/Multi-Family
Mid Continent Management offers full service multi-family property management with an emphasis on exceeding clients’ financial goals and objectives.
Mid Continent Management has the building operational knowledge and industry experience that positions them to do the right thing at the right price at the right time on behalf of their valued clients.
Let our unparalleled experience, expertise and passion for success work for you!
‘Instinctually’ accurately describes how property management magic is spun at Mid Continent Management. The wealth of experience the team has to offer, combined with their excellence in customer service, and true passion for being the best property management company around are the key ingredients for their success.
Mid Continent Management has made a name for itself in the property
management world for the past 50 years and is going strong. Specializing in providing full-service, professional apartment, townhome, condo, and commercial property management, the company currently manages over 40 properties. From small maintenance projects, to leasing up an entire community, Mid Continent’s diligence for excellence makes them the right choice for property owners and professionals looking to partner with the best.
Parkwood Estates - Woodbury, MN
The Bluffs of Burnsville - Burnsville, MN
Floored by Excellence: Satoree Elevates Multifamily Spaces
Satoree, a distinguished woman-owned company specializing in cabinets, countertops, and flooring, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence in the multifamily industry since its establishment in 2010. Boasting a proud legacy, Satoree is renowned for delivering comprehensive design, project management, and installation construction services that significantly enhance the value of multi-housing properties.
At the heart of Satoree’s diverse portfolio lies its Flooring division, a powerhouse dedicated to transforming rental units and common areas into stunning, functional spaces. Sarah Woxland, the Flooring Sales Manager, shares insights into Satoree Flooring’s approach, emphasizing the simplicity of reimagining spaces with their expertise.
Satoree Flooring is a vital component of Satoree, contributing to the esteemed legacy of top-notch remodeling services for Twin Cities properties. The process begins with a collaborative consultation involving clients and, if applicable, their designer. This interactive approach ensures a thorough understanding of their vision, timeline, and budget, enabling the crafting of distinctive proposals that consistently surpass expectations.
Commitment to delivering value is amplified through strategic relationships with supplierpartners, resulting in a competitive edge in the marketplace. Woxland notes, “Our massive material quantities empower us to offer clients more from their budget than they anticipate. It’s a testament to the strong partnerships we’ve cultivated over the years.”
The installation teams at Satoree Flooring play a pivotal role in realizing clients’ visions. Collaborating with dedicated subcontractors, Satoree Flooring ensures projects are executed with speed, skill, and versatility. “Our teams understand the importance of durability in multi-family flooring projects,” Woxland explains. “Beyond functionality, we infuse creativity into common areas, leaving a lasting impression on potential renters.”
Satoree excels in delivering durable and longlasting solutions, focusing on enhancing spaces to elevate the overall living experience. The team’s expertise lies in creating attractive accents that bring life to various environments. Demonstrating a commitment to prompt and efficient project completion, Satoree ensures timely satisfaction of clients’ needs, particularly on quick turnarounds for rush projects.
To explore the comprehensive remodeling services offered by Satoree, visit their showroom at 5806 West 36th St, Ste B in St. Louis Park or contact them at (612) 823-0044. Elevate your multi-housing spaces with Satoree—the unrivaled choice for quality, innovation, and exceptional remodeling solutions.
Multi-Family Home Services: Simplified
Renovation Systems was founded in 1996 with an ambitious goal: to provide the best floor covering solutions in the Twin Cities area. The locally owned company now installs over 20 million square feet of flooring yearly – the equivalent of over 11 U.S. Bank Stadiums.
But not all of Renovation Systems’ over 65,000 annual orders are solely for flooring. Over the past two decades they broadened their focus by adding new divisions dedicated to carpet cleaning, 24/7 emergency restoration, resurfacing and interior renovations. They also modified their original goal by adding satellite locations in Fargo and Des Moines, with partnerships in Chicago, Atlanta, and Orlando.
What Renovation Systems is doing is working quite well for them. Whether you need simple carpet refreshment or concept-to-completion total turnkey unit upgrades, it will work great for you too!
“I saw Renovation Systems’ results firsthand long before I began working here,” said Michelle Jakobs, vice president of business development for Renovation Systems. “I’ve been in the multi-family industry since college. Once I learned how much time, money, and hassle Renovation Systems could save me, they became my first choice for flooring. I jumped at it when I eventually got the opportunity to join this team.”
“When it comes down to it, the only way you can make money in the multi-family business is by putting heads in beds. If there’s a way we can help you put heads in beds faster, more affordably, and with greater convenience to you and your residents, we’re going to do it.
“And our service is fast, in no small part because our emergency restoration division demands it. We fulfill
almost ten percent of the orders we receive on the same or the following day at no additional cost to our clients. I believe we’re the only contractor in our area to do that. But even when our workload does require us to schedule service a week out, our huge roster of installers ensures we’ll still make short work of that project.
“We have an enormous warehouse filled with an equally enormous amount of high-grade materials. Carpeting, hard surface options, cabinets, and countertops – we have everything we need to supply complete unit upgrades as easily as snapping our fingers. Keeping lots of products on hand is especially important these days when a reliable supply of materials is seldom assured. It also means we always have suitable materials to meet our clients’ budgets and unique goals.
“We carry flooring products by ‘The Big Three’: Mohawk Flooring, Engineered Floors, and Shaw Floors. We have assessed those products’ capabilities with the help of professional third-party testing, which is how we know which ones will create the greatest value for our clients. We enhance that value even further by enrolling our installers in continual education and training.
“Our growth and diversification over the years have helped us better serve our clients. Even if we didn’t install your carpeting, we already know the best way to clean it. Our hot water extraction trucks work miracles, but if you find out that your carpets were irredeemable after our clean, we’ll waive the full cost of cleaning when you use us to replace them. That’s just part of the way we build lasting trust with our clients.
“Our resurfacing service helps our clients save even more money. When countertops, bathtubs, and showers only have cosmetic damage, we can make them look brand new again for a fraction of the replacement cost. On the flip side, if a fire, flood, or biohazard destroys a unit entirely, our restoration division will make it ready to show again in no time. And if any work we do for you shows any signs of error, our lifetime workmanship warranty means we’ll immediately return to fix it.”
Please call 763-551-3500 today to schedule Renovation Systems’ service at your multi-family community, or visit renovationsystems.com to learn more!
WALKER ROOFING
“Out of sight, out of mind” is a disastrous mentality for a property manager to settle in to. Letting the maintenance of your property’s important features fall by the wayside simply because they’re not evident from street level will cost you greatly in the long run. This is particularly true in the case of your roofing: Soggy occupants are never, as a rule, happy ones. Your roofing may now be in greater need of replacement than ever thanks to our cold and relatively dry winter. Shingles crack, curl, and crumble when bared to such elements, and other roofing materials fare little better. If the telltale signs of roof failure are apparent, or if you feel it would be prudent to have that vital part of your property checked out, then you’re fortunate to have the experts of Walker Roofing on your side.
Walker Roofing has been owned by the same family since Mike Kohler bought the operation in 1963. It started out small, and was set upon by all the usual problems which small businesses must endure in order to succeed. (The energy crisis of the 70s was exceptionally cruel to businesses that require heavy trucks.) The Minnesotan work ethic persevered, however, and Mike built his operation up into a very substantial one. The busy roofer’s back eventually demanded that he focus on other things -- which require lifting nothing heavier than a fishing pole, one hopes -- so his daughter Stacy Reese now runs Walker Roofing in full. It is the only job she has ever done, so she naturally manages her full-time staff of 25 and bevy of loyal subcontractors.
“Unfortunately, the roofing business isn’t well-known for its upstanding business practices,” Stacy explained. “There are too many in this industry who are out to make a quick buck on a slapdash job and then disappear the next week. I think that’s Walker Roofing’s biggest strength: When you work with us, you’re dealing with someone you can rely on. We’ve been here forever, and we’d like to stay around for just as long.
Only high quality work can get you that!”
Stacy must orchestrate a number of elements to produce such high quality roofing. Her two cranes, six dump trucks, and regular armada of pickup trucks ensure that her people
and materials can reliably go wherever they’re needed. Her permanent warehouse assures that no deficit of materials can ever hamper productivity. Walker Roofing’s staff all possess incredible experience in their sole area of expertise, although they labor under the guidance of seasoned supervisors nonetheless. Those supervisors not only make certain that the work always meets Walker Roofing’s lofty precedent, but also serve to provide immediate lines of communication to the company’s numerous clients. Having your project’s status as easily as making a phone call is always of tremendous relief!
Walker Roofing is also a certified contractor with GAF, the leading roofing manufacturer in North America. The materials they use are the standard for their industry and accompanied by the best warranty they can be backed by.
Such a thorough approach to business has earned Walker Roofing some very prestigious clients over the years. They did the roof on the Wells Fargo Center, that beautiful art deco pillar of light that defines the Minneapolis skyline. They have also replaced the roof on the Better Business Bureau’s regional headquarters. (If the BBB is unable to identify the best candidate for a job then they’ll not have a roof over their heads for much longer.) Walker Roofing has even been called upon to do work as far away as Florida and Arizona.
Walker Roofing represents exceptional value for multi-family projects in particular. Their size and efficiency enable them to finish massive projects relatively quickly, so you needn’t reserve all summer to have your apartment building or townhome complex reroofed. Their fleet of trucks means that they don’t store materials or waste in great quantities at job sites, so your tenants won’t feel intruded upon by endless rows of equipment and dumpsters. The members of their staff further conduct themselves with the utmost air of professionalism, so the tone you have worked so hard to establish in your community will not be lowered even for an instant.
Walker Roofing represents a complete approach to property maintenance. As such they will not only tend to any roofing project imaginable, but take care of soffits, fascia, chimneys, and all manners of exterior work as well. It’s all part of their effort to be the only company of their kind that you could ever need.
“We only do the kind of work that should earn us a referral,” said Stacy. “I believe that mentality has really helped to set us apart from our competition. As of right now, we have a 42.86 percent return and referral customer rate. Knowing that your past clients would rehire you and recommend you to their friends is the biggest ribbon you can wear around your neck when you do business. I’ll be proud to pass that on to my sons one day!”
Please visit walkerroofing.com to learn more about the great value our preeminent local roofing company can bring to your property.
Start 2024 Fully Staffed*
• Temp-to-Hire Options
• Direct-Hire Programs
*All staff is industry experienced, KK-vetted, fully insured and available for FT hire.
Stormproof Your Staffing Needs
During those times you as an apartment property manager are behind dozens (hundreds?) of work orders or dozens of showings, you’re probably so frantic addressing the catastrophe at hand you can’t even think about this situation happening again. Even though you know it likely will. But what more can you do?
You can make sure you’re set up before you hit defcon 5 the next time. With precontracting handled – and a relationship with CityView Staffing Services established in advance of emergencies – you give tenants and existing staff access to resources when you need them. Think about it: companies that have paperwork ready and agreement terms in place get priority allocations over those who reach out ad hoc at the last minute.
We at CityView Staffing have been serving the needs of local property managers for over a decade with interim, temporary, and temp-to-hire solutions, and we do it better than anyone. The benefits to our customers are legion, but here are a few:
1) Minimized disruption in service levels.
2) More stability among tenants/residents.
3) Protection of management time and resources.
4) Protection of the asset itself.
In the current residential housing environment, plenty of opportunities exist for management companies to build their portfolios, and if real estate and demographic trends continue as predicted, they/you will have the ability to expand as much or as little as capital and appetite allow. As your operations grow, however, we encourage you to give thoughtful consideration to how you plan for sufficient staffing and how you will be perceived during periods of high workload and stress in this area. We at CityView know what you need and all that you’re protecting – property retention, tenant/resident attraction, and the ability to attract and keep talent.
CONTACT POINT
• Generate leads
• Capture information
• Communicate using multi-channel automation
• Close, and access valuable analytics
Streamline and grow with Contact Point, our fully customizable SaaS solution.
Whether you need to develop a new website with builtin CRM capabilities or prefer add select services to complement your current approach, Contact Point can build a package to meet your needs
An Advertising Challenge: Balancing Brand Consistency with Dynamic Messaging
In today’s modern marketing environment driven by dynamic content, it’s crucial for brands to evolve and adapt to stay relevant. However, maintaining brand recognition and consistency is equally important to ensure that customers can still identify and connect with your brand. Striking the right balance in your advertising between familiarity and innovation is the key to sustaining a strong brand presence. In this article, we will explore strategies to maintain brand recognition and consistency in your advertising while also infusing freshness into your messaging.
First, before making any changes to your ad strategy, it’s essential to understand the core elements that define your brand. Start by identifying the key values, personality traits, and visual elements that customers associate with your organization. Keeping those elements consistent will form the foundation for maintaining a recognizable brand while allowing room for innovation. To this end, establishing comprehensive brand guidelines; which cover visual elements such as logos, color schemes, and typography, as well as messaging tone and style; is a good place to start. By providing a clear framework, you empower your team to make creative decisions within defined parameters, ensuring consistency across all ads, communications, and other customer touchpoints. Consistency builds familiarity, reinforcing your brand’s identity in the minds of consumers.
Next, while change is inevitable and even essential, making abrupt or radical transformations to your advertising can alienate existing customers. Instead, opt for a gradual evolution that allows your audience to adjust to the changes. This could involve subtle updates to your logo, a refreshed color palette, or a modernized ad design. Your new look should still be recognizable, and your innovations should also align with your consistent brand identity and values. In other words, you can strive to enhance your brand’s relevance without compromising its core essence. For instance, if your brand is known for
environmental consciousness, implementing sustainable practices in your operations can be a meaningful change and bringing that messaging into your advertising and communications will enhance your current brand identity rather than detract from it.
There are several examples of consumer brands that have managed to successfully walk the line between brand consistency and innovation in advertising, including these well-known companies:
• Apple has consistently maintained a sleek and minimalist design across its marketing channels, creating a seamless and recognizable visual identity even when promoting new and groundbreaking technologies.
• Nike has maintained its brand image centered around athleticism, empowerment, and innovation. The iconic “swoosh” logo and the “Just Do It” tagline are instantly recognizable worldwide. But Nike has also reinvented itself by staying on top of social issues of the day and building messaging into its ads with the intent of resonating with a changing target audience demographic.
• Google utilizes a clean and simple design, represented by its uncluttered homepage and colorful logo. Although the Google logo is a little different today than it was at its inception, and it has gone through many iterations over the years, it has slowly evolved and never compromised on its recognizability. Even as Google has expanded its product and services offering, its brand remains strong.
These examples highlight how brands can strike a balance between consistency and innovation, leveraging their core identity while adapting to changing market dynamics and consumer preferences. Their identity is not limited to their logos, although their logos are central to their brand. But for these companies, every ad and outreach mechanism is carefully designed to adhere to a set of standards that include tone, voice, colors, and style.
The Vendor Guide is committed to helping our advertisers put their best foot forward, creating a recognizable and consistent brand presence among their target audience in the multi-family industry. If you would like help in developing an ad that captures your brand identity while also incorporating relevant messaging for our changing industry, we can help. For more information, contact the Vendor Guide at 952-460-0305 or email us at info@ vendorguideusa.com.
VendorGuideUSA.com streamlines engagement to benefit both vendors and property managers:
Vendors who advertise at VendorGuideUSA.com enjoy the benefits of visibility and engagement with decision makers in the multi-family industry. Property management professionals can easily find the suppliers they need, gather information about each company, and can send quote requests to individual vendors or an entire vendor category.
VendorGuideUSA.com includes custom dashboards for property management professionals and vendors: Go to VendorGuideUSA.com today to sign up!
• Submit bids to property managers
• Access to quote requests and ad management through your vendor dashboard
• Priority positioning in search results
• Up to 12 photos
• Your logo
Your brand is your most valuable asset. Trust real people to help you promote it.
In a world dominated by technological advancements and automated solutions, the role of real people in deploying your promotional brand is more important than ever. When it comes to producing your printed materials, corporate clothing, and promotional items, using an online platform can be a tempting option. However, the human touch offers irreplaceable elements of creativity, strategic thinking, and personalized engagement.
Real people can tailor designs, messaging, and promotional strategies to fit your brand’s unique identity and will have a deeper understanding of your values and goals. This knowledge is crucial for creating promotional materials that accurately reflect your brand and resonate with your target audience. What’s more, working with real people allows for greater customization and flexibility. Your human partners adapt to changes, feedback, and evolving marketing strategies more effectively than automated systems can. They also provide valuable insights and recommendations based on their experience and expertise, helping you develop a comprehensive promotional strategy that goes beyond simply creating branded items, and considering factors like target audience, market trends, and competition.
Perhaps most importantly, human beings can ensure the quality of your materials, especially when it comes to reviewing designs, checking for errors, and ensuring that the final products meet high standards. This level of quality control cannot be achieved with automated tools alone.
When it comes to finding the best real people to help you promote your brand, choosing a local partner that specializes in multi-family will ensure that you stay updated on industry trends, design aesthetics, and best practices. Since your goal is to make a lasting impact and establish a genuine connection with your target audience (whether that is a resident, prospective resident, employee, or customer) you’ll want a partner that comprehends the intricacies and nuances of your brand and your industry, and who is interested in fostering not only effective promotional campaigns but also
an enduring relationship. This will lead to a more cohesive, collaborative, and successful partnership that extends beyond the immediate promotional campaign. By choosing the right partner and sticking with them over time, you will have the assurance that those you’ve entrusted with promoting your brand are intimately aware of what that brand represents and how to most appropriately support and promote it.
In the end, working with the right industry partner allows for rich communication and collaboration. You can articulate your vision, provide feedback in real-time, and have a dynamic and interactive working relationship with real people who know your industry and are invested in your success.
The team at Brand Star, a Minnetonka-based promotional support company, understand the importance of having high-quality marketing and promotional materials that make a great first impression on potential clients while respecting your brand identity. Under its parent company Planet Media, Brand Star has been a long-time partner to multi-family vendors and management companies throughout Minnesota. The Brand Star team has the experience and expertise to offer consultative guidance to ensure that your brand is deployed consistently and effectively.
Brand Star offers a wide range of products and services to help businesses create a professional and polished image. Their offerings include apparel, such as branded T-shirts, hats, and jackets, as well as promotional products, such as drinkware, pens, keychains, tote bags, and much more. They also offer printing services for business cards, brochures, flyers, and banners, using high-quality materials and printing techniques to ensure your brand looks its best. One of the company’s most unique offerings is the ability to build your online “company store” where you can offer your branded promotional clothing and items directly to those who need them.
With Brand Star’s expertise and attention to detail, you can trust that your marketing materials will be delivered on time and on budget. Their team of design and printing experts will work closely with you to ensure that your vision is realized and that your brand message is conveyed effectively. According to Scott Holgate, President of Planet Media and its Brand Star channel, “We are committed to quality and outstanding service, and take pride that we go above and beyond to ensure that our clients are happy with the results. We know how valuable a company’s brand is, and we take our role in helping them promote that brand very seriously.” Holgate added, “Brand Star is the most established promotional products provider to multi-family professionals in the Twin Cities metro area. We care about this industry and we care about our clients.”
Visit Brand Star online at www.brandstarsolutions.com. You can reach them directly at 952-460-0305
Custom Company Stores
Planet Media can create an online store specifically for you! We populate your Company Store with your pre-approved merchandise, such as apparel, name tags, promotional items and print products; and provide the online ordering and fulfillment platform. We can set up billing to the recipient or directly to you, and we can even work with purchase allowances.
• Easy Product Selection: No more wading through PDFs and cumbersome back-and-forth with your supplier.
• Easy to Promote: Easy to share with your employees.
• Easy Control, Easy Approval: Choose from pre-approved items with pre-approved artwork.
• Easy to Order!
THANK YOU, VENDORS
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to each of our product/service members for your unwavering support of our association. Your dedication through advertising, sponsorships, product showcases, and other contributions plays a pivotal role in the success of MHA. Your commitment strengthens our community and fosters a collaborative environment.
Thank you for your continued partnership and valuable contributions. We look forward to furthering our collaboration and achieving shared successes together.
