Zach Shrum: The Bearded Finisher

The Woodpreneur Podcast

In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Zach Shrum from Centurion Wood Coatings. Zach shares his journey into the wood coatings industry and how he transitioned from owning a painting business to working for Centurion. He discusses the company's focus on industrial wood coatings and its target market of professional cabinet makers and painters. Zach also talks about the importance of creating opportunities for others and the satisfaction of growing a business. He provides insights into Centurion's product line and their approach to finding and working with distributors. Lastly, he seeks advice on how to break past 10,000 followers on Instagram and improve their marketing efforts. In this conversation, Zach Shrum and Steve Larosiliere discuss the use of hashtags to build community and increase brand visibility. They explore the power of hashtags in reaching a targeted audience and share examples of how hashtags have helped businesses grow. They also discuss the importance of focusing on one's unique ability and delegating tasks to others. The conversation emphasizes the value of surrounding oneself with smart people and leveraging their expertise.

Takeaways

• Zach Shrum's journey into the wood coatings industry started with owning a painting business and eventually led him to Centurion Wood Coatings.
• Centurion Wood Coatings focuses on industrial wood coatings for professional cabinet makers and painters.
• Creating opportunities for others and growing a business can be incredibly satisfying and fulfilling.
• Centurion Wood Coatings offers a range of products, including 2K water-based polyurethane and self-cross-linking acrylic.
• Finding and working with distributors is a combination of organic growth through customer referrals and targeted marketing efforts.
• To improve their Instagram marketing, Centurion Wood Coatings can create a branded hashtag, encourage user-generated content, and engage with their community through a private Facebook group. Hashtags are a powerful tool for building community and increasing brand visibility.
• By using relevant hashtags, businesses can reach a targeted audience and stand out among competitors.
• Tapping into local communities with hashtags can lead to new opportunities and connections.
• Focusing on one's unique ability and delegating tasks to others can increase productivity and success.
• Surrounding oneself with smart people and leveraging their expertise can lead to greater achievements.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Centurion Wood Coatings

01:15Zach Shrum's Journey into the Industry

03:05Taking Over and Growing a Business

04:24Transition to Centurion Wood Coatings

06:47The Responsibility of Creating Opportunities for Others

11:46The Role of Director of Sales and Marketing

18:35Centurion Wood Coatings Product Line

22:55Finding and Working with Distributors

26:26Advice on Instagram Marketing

35:57Using Hashtags to Build Community

39:00The Power of Hashtags

40:20Tapping into Local Communities with Hashtags

44:45Focusing on Your Unique Ability

47:36Surrounding Yourself with Smart People

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

Connect with Zach at:

https://www.instagram.com/thebeardedfinisher/

www.thebeardedfinisher.com