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Think Like an OwnerAuthor: Alex Bridgeman
Exploring how the most ambitious CEOs grow great companies, with a focus in garage door and home services. Hosted by Alex Bridgeman, Co-Owner of Durable Trades Collective. Language: en-us Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What $1M+ Garage Door Owners are Doing Right Now | TLAO x TGDLP
Episode 297
Thursday, 15 October, 2026
Please enjoy this episode where Alex is featured as a guest on The Garage Door Podcast Lab. Andy Felice and Alex Bridgeman explore what garage door business owners earning over $1 million in revenue are experiencing in today's economy, and how they're responding. Bridgeman, co-founder of Durable Trades, brings a fresh perspective to the consolidation trend in the industry, offering an alternative to traditional private equity that emphasizes long-term ownership and sustainable growth across the Pacific Northwest. They discuss: - Why old-school tactics like farmers markets and canvassing are seeing surprising success - How garage door owners can avoid "selling out of their own wallet" and better understand customer psychology - The value of incremental improvements—five yards at a time—over chasing big, complex projects - Why tune-and-lube offers create long-term customer relationships and neighborhood visibility - How handwritten details on mailers and personal touches during service calls lower a customer's guard This episode offers practical insight for operators navigating inflation, rising competition, and shifting consumer behavior in the home services space. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:33) - Alex's background and founding Durable Trades (00:04:37) - Durable Trades vs traditional private equity (00:07:27) - What garage door owners are seeing in 2026 (00:09:09) - Old-school marketing tactics making a comeback (00:11:26) - Economic externalities and business control (00:16:30) - Finding the right next best step (00:18:24) - Five yards at a time: incremental improvements (00:23:30) - Selling with good, better, best (00:26:38) - Building trust and educating homeowners (00:31:42) - The value of tune-ups and canvassing (00:36:12) - Creative sales competitions and team vision (00:41:00) - Industry maturity and best practices (00:44:56) - Lightning round: robots, tech, and micro projects (00:54:29) - Handwritten mail and human connection (00:58:39) - Closing
