In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Laura Basili, the Deck Diva. She shares her journey in the decking industry and the growth of her business, Brazilian Lumber. She discusses the challenges of marketing niche products and the importance of training the marketing team. Laura emphasizes the significance of personal development and staying grounded as a business leader. She also highlights the impact of the economy on the industry and the plans for her business.

Takeaways

• Focus on personal development as a foundation for business success.
• Create training materials and online courses to onboard new team members and share industry knowledge.
• Stay grounded and present to approach challenges with a clear mind.
• Emphasize the importance of good service and building relationships with customers.
• Adapt to market trends and expand product offerings to meet customer demands.

Chapters

00:00 - Origin Story and Deck Diva Name

01:03 - Getting into the Industry

03:46 - Trends in the Decking Industry

05:42 - Business Operations and Team

06:58 - Marketing and Building a Customer Base

08:46 - Challenges in Running the Business

09:58 - Personal and Professional Development

11:14 - Expanding to a Second Location

12:18 - Exciting Aspects of the Business

13:51 - Importance of Being Grounded and Present

16:04 - Impact of the Economy on the Business

20:16 - Approach to Personal and Professional Development

25:32 - Perspective on Life and Business

29:35 - Marketing Advice and Training the Marketing Team

Join the Woodpreneur Network and Community at Woodpreneur.com or Woodpreneurnetwork.com

Connect with Laura at: 

https://www.instagram.com/brazilian_lumber/

https://www.instagram.com/realdeckdiva/

https://brazilianlumber.com