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Across the country, there’s a trend afoot when it comes to what people are seeking for their outdoor projects. “They want a natural look that delivers penetrating protection,” says Chris Sullivan, decorative concrete specialist for the American Society of Concrete Contractors and the vice president of sales and marketing for ChemSystems Inc. based in Houston, Texas.
A good marketing strategy was only part of the overall picture. Just as crucial to Bomanite’s long-term franchising game plan was the networking — the sharing of expertise and innovations among the highly diverse and widely dispersed franchisees.
Following the 2018 World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Concrete Decor magazine received a call from management at The Buildings Show in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, asking if it would be interested in hosting an event like Decorative Concrete LIVE! in Toronto inside the show’s World of Concrete pavilion.
For years, Tyler Stephens, owner of Stephens Concrete Sealing in Indianapolis, used to use your typical film-forming sealer on his outdoor concrete projects. “It left a little sheen behind and had nice curb appeal, but it didn’t bead water the way penetrating sealers do,” he says.
Pablo Aviles, who heads Bomanite’s Mexico franchise, testifies to the value of the exchange that takes place between corporation and franchise. “Support from Bomanite has been crucial. It keeps us on the cutting edge and informed,” says Aviles, CEO of Concretos y Pigmentos S.A. de C.V., Mexico City.
The time will come when a general contractor, architect or another flooring contractor will ask you to bid on polishing floors in a new construction project.
Building owners are asking contractors around the country to create decorative outdoor concrete features on areas not normally associated with concrete surfaces such as decks and roofs.
As we kick off Concrete Decor’s 19th year, we are busily preparing to host our third annual Decorative Concrete LIVE! at the 2019 World of Concrete in Las Vegas. At this event’s inception, we were challenged to find ways to include exhibitors in all aspects of the concrete industry. Now its success has led to a new event inside the WOC pavilion at The Buildings Show in Toronto called Concrete Decor LIVE!
There is a famous paperback called “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White. Many writers treasure it as a guide to writing clearly and succinctly while avoiding common grammatical errors. The handbook itself is a model of clarity.
Three more men joined the ranks of the prestigious Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame established in 2010 by Professional Trade Publications, parent company of Concrete Decormagazine. Chris Sullivan and Michael Murray will be inducted and presented plaques.
