SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is how you handle this, this, this. And basically I can hand a book to someone and say, here, this is how you do your business.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

All right, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we have awesome conversations with Northern Colorado's best networkers and find out about all the amazing connections that they've made that have led to their success. So today I have a unique business, an awesome individual, Jim Ford, on the show. Jim, welcome.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Well, uh, for those uh who haven't met you yet, please share a little bit about what you do.

SPEAKER_00 0:36

I'm Jim Ford with Bison Laser Cleaning. I'm an eco-friendly high-tech surface restoration company. Basically, I use a laser to be able to get rid of rust, paint, stain, oxidation off of metal, wood, concrete, aluminum. So I have all different kinds of projects I can do.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

Really cool. And so uh unique business. I mean, I don't know any other laser cleaners. Uh how did you how did you find that as uh as your main focus?

SPEAKER_00 1:05

Um years ago, I kind of did a lot of research on different types of companies I want to open up. And one of my first loves was this one, but I didn't want to do my first love. So I did 89 different uh franchise searches and eventually I came back to it and uh I decided not to do a franchise and actually open it up on my own.

SPEAKER_01 1:25

Okay. So take me through the journey because I always love talking to entrepreneurs and finding out how they ended up to where they are. So I know you have background in printing and uh a bunch of different things, but take us through the journey that led you to where you are now.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

So I went into business what was unique. Um it's something that a lot of people don't know about, and um I like the fact that it's eco-friendly and I can be so precise on what I can do. Uh my competition, they're a little bit more abrasive, and also it they can make it quite a mess. So that's one thing I really like about the laser cleaning.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Yeah. Um and so I was recently talking with Thomas Kern. He's with Kern Painting. He's but um he I guess you helped him on a classic car project that you did with him. So how do people find you and then uh what kind of things do people hire you for?

SPEAKER_00 2:16

The easy way to find me is uh social media. I do have all of it. I have Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I have a website and everything, and everything's bison laser cleaning. So pretty easy when you go on any of those platforms, just do bison laser cleaning. The all different types of projects that I can do, it's crazy. It's everything from doing car restoration to cabinets and kitchens and cleaning the stain or paint off. Then I've done graffiti, I've done the markings on the street side after you know a construction company has marked up the street, they've moved on. Some people like that stuff cleaned up, so I go out and clean those up real quick. Okay. Um I've done all different types of projects. It's amazing how many I've done so far.

SPEAKER_01 3:02

Really cool. Well, I you know, I'm curious about like if you're doing cabinets or are you getting hired by the end user, or is it another professional that needs you to do what you do so they can do what they do?

SPEAKER_00 3:14

Um it started out, it was the residential. Um they would uh hire me to come in, but lately I've been getting more painters to get more involved because I can actually clean it faster than them sanding it.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

So how do you approach those kind of conversations to network with painters and other the painters?

SPEAKER_00 3:34

Um I I have to usually do a demo. Um they don't trust you to start. Um because it's you know, you see a ton of videos out there and you've I I understand because I'm gonna be working with their customers in product. Sure. So I don't want to I want to make sure they feel comfortable that I'm not gonna damage their product and make it quick and easy for them to be able to turn around and paint it right after I'm done with them.

SPEAKER_01 4:00

There you go. Um so how do how does it work? I'm fascinated with the lasers. Is it something that you hold in your hand? Is there uh like is it like Star Wars? Like what is it, what does it look like?

SPEAKER_00 4:12

So the nice thing is the laser's a about the size of a suitbox or a suit suitcase. Yeah. Um I I have a 300 watt, so it's nice and gentle, and I wanted that because I knew I was gonna be doing a lot of woodworking. Um, for example, I do have done some furniture too. So what happens is it has a fiber optic cable and it goes to a wand. So the nice thing is I I set the settings based on the substrate, the whatever I'm cleaning. It's not I'm it doesn't matter what if I'm cleaning paint or stain, it's more the fact I'm cleaning wood or metal. Okay. So that's why I I have my settings for because you want to set it light enough for wood that you're not burning the wood, but then when you're removing rust, you can turn it up more to clean off the metal.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Really cool. And you've been networking to get the word out. I've seen the some of my events, but I see a lot of places. Um you're a member of Dust Chair, I see you networking in Dust Chair as well. But how is networking really supported you growing bison?

SPEAKER_00 5:14

So the nice thing about networking, I mean, really getting my name out there because I am such a unique um I've gone through a lot of meetings and getting my name out there, the biggest thing is teaching my customers what I can do for them. Um some of the customers that I ran into or people that I run into in networking, it's getting their brains thinking of like, oh, hey, can you do this? And that has been the greatest thing is getting that phone call and say, hey, I got this, can you clean it? And that's you know, that's where all the business comes from. It's just getting that phone call of getting an idea in someone's head.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

I think that's so good. I I go to a lot of events and there's some people, I'm like, hey, tell me about what you do. And then they tell me, I'm like, I have no idea what they do. Like they're they sound excited, but it's kind of generic or conceptual. Um and I, you know, it's one of those things a lot of people are smiling, nodding. But I love that you highlighted the educating people about what I do. Um how do you how have you refined the way that you do that? So it's becoming simple, easy, and helping somebody who doesn't normally clean stuff or restore stuff to really get a grasp of what you do?

SPEAKER_00 6:26

Aaron Powell The easiest way is actually actually showing them a video. Like booking a demo. Yeah, my or even my phone or my iPad, showing them video. Um then booking a demo or going out there and doing an assessment of their project to see if I can actually do it for them.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

And the lasers, do they do they work differently on different product? I mean, does it is it um I think you were telling me like light-colored stuff doesn't react to the lasers the way the the dark colored stuff too.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

So white paint is my uh nemes.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

It's your kryptonite, huh?

SPEAKER_00 6:59

Yeah, it is because um I can do white powder coating because it has a grit to it and that um it absorbs the light. But a really uh latex white, high gloss, it it struggles with. And I, you know, it takes me probably about four times as long to get through it. But I've been able to figure out settings and I work with other laser um guys in the industry, even across the nation, even around the world. Like there's even a guy in Belgium I talk to every once in a while. But we bounce ideas off each other in settings and try to work together to make sure in the industry that we're moving this industry forward in a um in a professional manner, not you know, giving the industry a black eye.

SPEAKER_01 7:44

So who are some Northern Colorado businesses that you collaborate with uh that you're getting jobs with or referring out or getting referrals from?

SPEAKER_00 7:52

So um home inspectors I've gotten a couple jobs from. I've gotten jobs from realtors, um furniture medic has been one of my biggest ones. Sure. Um that and that's the fun part is um actually doing furniture, restoring furniture. And the crazy thing is that once when they're done with it, I get to see the finished piece. And I that's kind of some enjoyment to actually see how good it looked after I cleaned it and they redid everything.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

They don't they don't build stuff like they used to, like some of those old things bringing it back to life, and then uh especially if it's a family piece or a generational, there's stories that go into it to be able to save something like that.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Yeah, and some of the thing is like the restoration companies, that there's water damage or smoke damage, going in there and cleaning the furniture to bring it back to new life. And that's the you know, that's the blessing of being able to do stuff like this. Being delicate enough that I can clean it for them, then whoever does the finishing can make it look like new.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

Very cool. So, how did you meet furniture medic? How did you set that up? How did you start getting referrals from them?

SPEAKER_00 9:02

Or um, ironically, uh furniture medic came the Fort Collins branch came to the uh desk chair. Oh, okay. We weren't able to do that one because it was wood that was actually water damaged. Okay. Um so it soaked in. But the Centennial Furniture Medic heard about me and said, Hey, let's do some tests. So I went down to Centennial and did some tests for them and did a whole demonstration. I you see it on my Instagram profile. I got guys saying in front of me and I did a whole demonstration for them. So that was a cool thing. Being able to close the deal after you do a demonstration.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Yeah. Well, I think that is especially with a lot of people with their sales process, like the sales process is all about educating the customer, understanding the problem, where you come in. Um and booking a demo is is uh there's no that it doesn't cost them anything, it just costs them their time to take a look at it. But um, how have you refined your sales process uh as you when you first started to where you are now? And any any tips that you would give to another entrepreneur about how to optimize what they would do?

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Um you know, I really haven't changed my sales process much because I'm so new. Um and I man, I've been in sales and printing for so many years and I was a sales manager for a long time. But um the one thing is making sure the customer feels comfortable with you, developing a partnership or relationship with either your vendor that you're working with or the end customer. Um make just making them feel safe that hey, I'm gonna take care of you. Don't worry about it. This is something I can handle for you.

SPEAKER_01 10:45

Okay. And then you've you've said that you've been doing a lot of different franchises or got and then now this is yours. This is something that's shot there. So uh what's the difference between buying a franchise or operating a franchise to uh building the dream that's yours?

SPEAKER_00 11:04

You know, franchises, they have they're great because they have a lot of support. They really um good franchises will help you along the way and help you with marketing and everything. Um unfortunately, the franchise that I looked into for laser just didn't have that. They didn't have the financials behind that to help you out. So um knowing all the different things from doing alpha graphics and quick print and everything like that, and learning those franchise systems, I kind of wanted to implement that with my own company because I do want to open multiple branches. I don't want a franchise, but I do want to open multiple branches. And so I'm really trying to set up this company and making a SOP and everything for this is how you handle this, this, this. And basically I can hand a book to someone and say, here, this is how you do your business.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

Yeah, that operation mindset, uh building the business rather than just you know getting a job. That's that's really, really key. So um well, what's the goal? Where do you see you talked about multiple locations? Um, you know, you're in Colorado and currently out of Loveland, but where do you where's your service area currently and what's the plan uh long term?

SPEAKER_00 12:15

So my service area is basically from Cheyenne to Colorado Springs, Fort Morgan to Estes Park. Okay. Um I cover and the reason why I have it so big right now is because I do want to open multiple locations. So when I get more of a need in a certain area, then that's then I know that's a location I want to open up another branch. Um that's the that's the nice thing, but right now it's really pulling me all around and I'm doing a lot of driving. So um it's gonna get to the point that I I will need to uh open up another branch down south. Yeah. Um currently gonna be opening my uh warehouse here uh January 1st, so that's gonna be exciting to uh get that going and get that location kind of settled and moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

So you talk about rust. Is there is there a lot of rust in Colorado? I think you know, we probably with a dry climate that you would see not as much, but uh you know, old farmers got cars in their sh their barns, they bring them out. And uh what kind of things are you bringing back to life?

SPEAKER_00 13:17

You know, that that is the cool thing is um when guys buy uh cars to restore, most of the times they're bringing it in from another state that does have a lot of rust. And you know, the frames, they they rust out pretty easy. So cleaning those up has been it's been fun. It's really cool. Like I did a uh 55 Chevy Camino pickup, and if they would have sandblast it, they would have never seen what I saw. But I was cleaning the back side of the frame and I saw this circle with the S. Well, that's an old uh symbol for square body, and it's square body frame, not square body um the actual body. It's actually talking about the frame. And I didn't know about that, so I had to do a lot of research to learn that. And of course, going to the good guys car show and asking around and learning from you know the guys have been around forever. So it was cool to learn that and see that little you know, the it was just a little um engraving into the metal and it was barely there. But if you would have used any other technology, you wouldn't have never seen it. You would have blasted it right off.

SPEAKER_01 14:23

Yep, exactly. Well, uh that's uh I love I love that. The the cars, the paint. Um for the way that you're generating business, are people finding you like they have a need, maybe they haven't had success cleaning or restoring it in other means, and so they're Googling it. Um, or are you doing a lot of outbound and just saying, hey, I got a solution, I think I could help, and um let's do a demo. Like, what's what's your balance between inbound and outbound?

SPEAKER_00 14:50

It's been 50-50, and that's the cool thing, is some people are like, hey, I'm tired of doing this other method, I'm gonna see if you can do it. Um, that's the nice thing, is those are the ones you usually call on me. Um for me, I do do outbound. I'm old school salesman. Like I go door to door. I love meeting people, I love having a conversation to see how I can solve their problems.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Somebody has something rusty in the shop, they can say, hey, let's throw it on the truck and I'll show you what I got. That's cool.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Yeah, it's really cool. Well, Jim, this has been awesome. I've I've loved seeing your tenacity and your success. Um and you are you are quite the networker. You're you're I've seen you generate referrals, and uh um who are you looking to network with? Who are you looking to build relationships with if they're watching this show?

SPEAKER_00 15:41

So I am looking for painters to network with. I don't only do the kitchen cabinets, but a lot of the railings and the you know, iron and wood getting all those cleaned up because there's you know, sanding that stuff can be difficult, but the nice thing is the laser is kind of like sanding with a light, so I can get into nooks and crannies. Um the automotive restoration guys, I love it. And it's partly because um my last name's Ford. I love cars. Sure. I've always loved cars. So when I get an opportunity to work on an old car, that's a lot of fun for me.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

Really cool. All right. Well, Jim, uh, if somebody wants to see a demo, if they want to follow you on social media, get a hold of you, what's the best way to find out what what you do?

SPEAKER_00 16:25

Best way to get a hold of me is uh my phone number is 970-699-3535. My social media, all my social media accounts is bisonlasercleaning.com. I'm uh website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. Go to uh Instagram and YouTube for the videos. I have a lot of videos out there and I'll be creating a lot more.

SPEAKER_01 16:45

Really cool. And you get some cool before and after photos of like here's what it is rusty, here's all dirty, here's all super clean, and and uh that you clean it with a laser is pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

Well, Jim, thanks so much for coming on Connections That Matter. Totally wish you uh amazing success and uh would love to see you and around all the networking stuff.

SPEAKER_00 17:05

Sounds great. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 17:08

Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships with other Northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh, go in the podcast description. There's a way so that you can see our upcoming schedule. And maybe you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.