Posts from — April 2010

Outdoor Hidden Treasures owners, Chuck and Nicole Landry recently finished an entry for the Breaux Bridge Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Center, right next to the historic “Bridge” in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. The entry and steps were a gift from Outdoor Hidden Treasures to the community of Breaux Bridge.

Although Outdoor Hidden Treasures has created several other projects in the area, Chuck commented “This is the first job where Nicole and I have worked together on the concrete engraving. We had a blast and created something lasting for our community.”

As featured in the April 28, 2010 edition of The Teche News, the Breaux Bridge Visitors Center entry was completed just in time to be enjoyed by everyone who will come to The Crawfish Capital of the World for the 50th Crawfish Festival (April 20-May 2, 2010). Or come to other tourist events such as the weekly Zyedeco Breakfast at the Cafe Des Amis where good food and local live music are featured.. Or to pose for photos at the historic old Bridge which was first established in 1799 by Firmin Breaux to offer crossing of the Bayou Teche.

Outdoor Hidden Treasures

Chuck Landry, owner

Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

337-316-0542

Below is an article by the “Template Man” Steve Lee.

by Stephen Lee, Template Master

Part of our recent capital investment includes software that lets us determine, almost to the penny, what it costs to produce each template.

For you this means a significant reduction in price in 95% of all designs.

In addition the great and powerful OZ has given me permission to lower design fees back to 2003 levels for custom designs.

We have made it our goal to become a one stop shop for everyone’s template and stencil needs. With the addition of our brand new equipment we are able to produce extremely detailed templates in virtually any material.

As well, we can still produce traditional sticky back blast mats and calendared vinyl for glass etching, staining, sandblasting, polishing, or any thing else you may need one for.

Make sure you check out our new ConcreteResurrection.com Ecommerce site at least once a week as I will be adding new designs and specials on a regular basis.

Here at Engrave-A-Crete we strive to help our customers not only survive but to thrive in both challenging and good times. Benjamin Franklin once said “We must hang together, gentlemen…else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.”

You can always get me, at 1-800-884-2114 Ext. 107 and my email is steve@engraveacrete.com.

The students at Engrave-A-Crete University for the April 2010 session were a great class.  They learned all aspects of a decorative concrete engraving business including staining, engraving, business finance, marketing and special tips and tricks.

After the seminar, they had plenty to say:

The seminar is a must for beginners in the staining and engraving industry.  The equipment and technology available from Engrave-A-Crete are state-of-the-art; far and away above anything else in the industry.

Warren Swift, Tennessee
Starting a new part time business

This seminar was excellent.  Lots of information.  I and my wife would like to attend again to gain even more skill. Thanks, guys and gals.

David Wiggin, Colorado
Starting a new full time business

Great training! Great Food! Great People!

Chris Scherr, Colorado
Starting a new full time business

The Engrave-A-Crete process is amazing.  Great instructors and a great product. I don’t see how you could go wrong with it.

Andy Faler, Colorado
Starting a new full time business

The instructors are very knowledgeable

James Pryor, Colorado
Starting a new part time business

Seminar was a great experience.  The hands-on was the best with very knowledgeable instructors.

Steven Williamson, Missouri
Starting a new full time business

This was a great experience with lots of useful information and hands-on learning. Great staff to work with.

Bernard Hall, Missouri
Adding engraving to an existing business

The class was well-taught and full of helpful ideas to do many projects. There is no limit to decorating a piece of concrete.  Sign up today!

Troy Fernside, Iowa
Starting a new part time business

Because I am in the business only as a part-timer, this course was great as a refresher for my skill and knowledge.

Chris Maher, New York
Adding engraving to an existing business

The seminar was outstanding; very professional and informative. The crew was always moving fast to minimize down time. The instructors answer every question and told us about real world experiences. I thought the class was fantastic. I have been to dozens of seminars and this one was the most professinally run class I’ve attended. Thank you.

Micheal Goldman, New York
Starting a new full time business

Very good information.  A must before entering the world of decorative concrete.

David Lee, Utah
Starting a new full time business

The hands-on experience was awesome.  Engrave-A-Crete has promised not to just train us, but hand an on the field and tech support relationship.

Ronald Washington, Louisiana
Adding engraving to an existing business

I am very pleased with the seminar. It by far exceeded my expectations. Brandon and Chris are masters at what they do; the whole staff is amazing.  The owner, Darrel, is the most humble person I’ve met despite the amazing success he has achieved.

Jose Martinez, Texas
Adding engraving to an existing business

I haven’t been to any other seminars, but if I had, I would hope to be treated with the respect and courtesy that Engrave-A-Crete has done.  I have had a great experience. Everybody makes you feel so welcome.  Thank you so much for the knowledge

Michael Low, Utah
Starting a new full time business

As a second-time attendee, we found seminar to be only getting better! The demonstrations were helpful while the hands-on time and direct real-world presentations were extremely valuable.  I would not hesitate to recommend the seminar to anyone interested in starting a concrete engraving business.

Matt Mitchell, Virginia
Starting a new full time business

The seminar was a first-class operation that is packed with information and hands-on experience. If you are thinking about getting into the decorative concrete business, this seminar is an extremely worthwhile investment.

Frank Thomas, Virginia
Starting a new full time business

To schedule for the next seminar in May, check out the schedule, and call 1-800-884-2114 to register.

Concrete Connections | Marketing Connections

Your customers are connected. You’re connected. Your decorative concrete business is a mutual connection between you and the customers.

CONNECTION is how the internet in conjunction with social media, video, email, and all corresponding little tools work for you.

When you step out the ‘connection door’, remember what your mother said about wearing clean underwear. Because everything shows and almost everyone has something to say about it.

As mere humans, we have no control over when something will be said or where that comment will show up in the search engines.

All is not lost. We can have influence on the results. Your influence “power tool” is to be the wonderful decorative concrete business of your dreams.

As that dream engraver, you’ll produce engraving that will affect what your customers say about you. That will be your strategy. With a little strategy you can control your presence and availability when things go wrong or right.

There is a lot of internet conversation about how critics and issues gain control and just destroy a business.

This is not urban legend; it does happen.

Remember that the connection-road runs both ways. If someone has complimented you on your Facebook page, be sure to acknowledge them with thanks.

Your customers are powerful because of the social media tools available to them. You will be using those same social media tools and more to maintain your connection with them and create new connections with future customers. Connecting through response to their comments shows your appreciation. Recognition and valuable information encourages customers to talk about you to everyone they know, online and off.

All of this “connecting” feeds your N.O.R.M. — Natural Online Reputation Management.

Positive N.O.R.M. will keep pushing your online reputation machine steadily when you connect with your market and treat the members of that market as the valuable parts of your marketing strategy that they are.

Winters in Northeastern Pennsylvania can be rough on concrete.

When the owners of this patio met Butchie Sapici of the decorative concrete company Amberdonia, they were convinced their only option was to keep painting their concrete patio annually.

Every year, the paint would come off by spring and make the patio ugly.

Butchie cleaned the concrete of all paint residue using paint remover and a high pressure washer. He finished the preparation with a treatment from his diamond grinder. Epoxy was used to fill the cracks so they could be incorporated into the final pattern.

The staining provided a natural, attractive effect that coordinates with the other natural colors on the lawn.

Ashlar slate tile as a pattern provides more variety in the appearance of the patio.

The owners were stunned by the beauty of the final project.

The patio has become the favorite part of their property instead of the dreaded paint peeling back door.

The entire neighborhood considers the patio a show piece and was impressed with the fact that the patio needs minimal maintenance.

Amberdonia

Bujar “Butchie” Sacipi

email: amberdoniainc@yahoo.com

484 McDonald Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11218

718-213-6849

Sugarloaf, PA

570-788-7937