SPEAKER_00 0:00

So I saw the value in networking right away. Um, I've had some experience with networking in the past. I just love learning their story.

SPEAKER_01 0:13

All right, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we have great conversations with Northern Colorado professionals and find out what makes them so great at business, but also so great at networking. And today we have Ryan Ponto from the Spot Specialist on the show. Ryan, welcome.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Thank you, Andrew. Pleasure to be here.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Ryan, well, uh, thanks for being here. Um, I would love to have you just introduce yourself, share a little bit more about what you do if somebody hasn't networked or met you yet.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Yeah, uh, as I said, Ryan Ponto, the spot specialist, and uh we help give our clients peace of mind, uh, whether it's a wine spill on a white rug, uh, maybe just some dirty, well-trafficked carpet or uh dirty air ducts from the construction process. We're here to provide a total solution for our clients.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

So carpet cleaning is is carpet cleaning all the same? Uh, you know, I can go to Home Depot and rent a uh machine or something like that, or uh is there something that makes you a little extra special?

SPEAKER_00 1:09

Absolutely. Yeah, definitely uh not a one size fits all, and uh those rug doctors just don't have the suction to get a lot of that soap back out. So there's a lot of differences when it comes to uh types of carpet. You've got your polyesters, which are made of plastic, uh and then you've got your high-end wools, uh your natural fibers, and they require a different level of care. And our certifications through the IICRC have allowed us to gain the knowledge to properly clean and address uh some common concerns that happen on our carpets. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

And and I think one you know, a big spill, uh maybe that you're talking about like that red wine, or I got kids, there's this blue crayon that must have melted or something and it's ground in there. Um it's just an eyesore. You walk down, you see it, um, and getting it cleaned up is huge. But what about those carpets that are just kind of worn out or maybe just have a general level of dirt? When is that replace versus uh spruce them up and clean them up? When how would you navigate somebody to make that decision?

SPEAKER_00 2:14

So every situation's a little bit different. Uh, if you've got young children, maybe you've got a brand new puppy to the family, or maybe even a senior animal. And at that point, it really makes more sense just to do the upkeep as accidents happen, uh, as kids being kids, as you mentioned, with uh slime and crayons and everything else that kids are into nowadays, it's inevitable it's gonna get on the carpet. Um, there's definitely a time and a place for replacing carpets. Um, but it really depends upon the dynamic of the family, uh the age of the carpet, whether or not uh you as the homeowner are wearing shoes. Um so it's a great question, but uh it's kind of a multifaceted answer. Depends upon the situation.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

Awesome. Uh so Ryan, your owner operator. So if I call you to hire the spa specialist, you're the you're the person who's actually coming in and and taking care of me. Um what kind of strategic advantage do you feel like that gives you having uh being able to have that personal touch with all your clients?

SPEAKER_00 3:13

Yeah, so it really just creates a different level of trust. Uh our clients know that from the time they hire us, not only are we going to show up, be on time, be professional, but we're ready to help and we're really ready to ask the important questions so that we can understand the expectations and the results that you're looking for, um, so that we can set that proper expectation uh ahead of time so it doesn't become an excuse later after the cleaning is done and we're walking through making sure that uh everything meets your expectations.

SPEAKER_01 3:41

So, how do you how do you balance it all between uh the actually doing the work and then all the admin stuff with the business? Like how do you how do you make it all happen?

SPEAKER_00 3:50

So it is very difficult, and I do wear a lot of the hats being the owner operator, as you mentioned, but you know, it's really figuring out where I can actually uh spend more time working in the business and on the business. And having a wife as a virtual assistant has been a huge asset to take care of the social media, uh take care of some of the calendar scheduling and follow-up on email. But having a website that's very easy to navigate uh also allows our customers to schedule when it's convenient for them.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Yeah. And I imagine customers come in, maybe there was a spill, maybe there's a uh a big party that happened that they're trying to get ready for it, you know, making the carpets look really clean. Um but you offer more than carpet cleaning. There's air duct cleaning. Um how does that sales process go? Or you're getting connected, maybe take care of the initial need, and then educating the client over the other things uh that you do. Um, I guess walk me through your intake and how you uh are able to take care of the customer.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

Yeah, so we we really spend that time up front to get to know the client, um, talk to them about their concerns, but it's not uh a used car salesman type approach when it comes to upselling. We've all had that negative experience, whether it's in a big box store or maybe with another service provider where we feel like uh they're already in the home and now they've come to us and now they're looking to double or triple the price. And you're afraid if you don't say yes, that you're not gonna get that same level of quality. We just offer it up front. We have kind of conversations with our clients and let them know about the other services, but it's not high pressure sales. Uh, we want to make sure that you're educated on the value of the other products that we offer. And if it works today, that's fine. If not, maybe we need uh to budget for it for another month or two out. We're happy to come back.

SPEAKER_01 5:41

Yeah. So the the vent cleaning or the duck cleaning. Um, you know, people don't see what's in there, but uh give me some stories about some stuff you pulled out of the vents or some things you've seen, or maybe the oldest furnace filter that you've ever pulled out of a furnace.

SPEAKER_00 5:56

Yeah, so uh I've got plenty of stories, uh, but some some ones that come to mind right off. Uh, we were doing Marshall Firework in 2022 in Louisville and Superior. Actually pulled out a Pepsi bottle from 1992, and the reason that I know it was from '92 was because there was actually a summer sweepstakes and it expired at the end of September. Uh actually just pulled out a modello bottle from a home in Firestone today, right before this appointment here. And uh the homeowner was very surprised that the contractor uh, you know, would just put that kind of stuff down the vents. When it comes to furnace filters, I think the oldest one that I've ever seen had been in the system for eight years. Uh it was very, very well used and was in need of replacement, and we were able to help out with that at the same time.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

Yeah, jeez. Um, what are some symptoms of like maybe I need to clean the vents? Um, how do you how do you know when it's the right time?

SPEAKER_00 6:52

So if you feel like uh maybe your allergens, um, you maybe you've got asthma, some other respiratory concerns, they just seem to really kind of get triggered and flare up when you're in the home uh or even in your business, uh, we're able to help out in the business aspect as well. And maybe uh you've got some dust on the cold air return covers. Maybe you feel just gosh, I feel like I'm dusting all the time. Every couple of days I'll dust, and then next thing I know, everything is dusty again. Um, those really are some telltale signs. And then furnace uh filters. If you're not replacing them every three to four months, um, you'll start to notice that that buildup is on there. Um, that's usually another good telltale sign.

SPEAKER_01 7:32

There you go. Well, let's talk about uh you're being an entrepreneurial family, right? You said your wife is a virtual how does that work? Uh uh how do you collaborate? Does she does she work for you or alongside you or help you out when you need to? Because she's running her own uh complete business.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

Correct. So yeah, she's very busy. Uh she you know, she's doing her business 40 hours a week. So she's kind of helping me out periodically. Um, it's not a an everyday or set amount of time that she's helping. Um, it's really just kind of whenever I need that extra level of support. But it truly is a balance uh when you've got you know both um parents in the relationship working full-time jobs and uh and being entrepreneurs, um, it takes some creativity to continue to have that spark in the relationship.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

Well, uh, and both of you were networkers. Uh so uh how uh I guess as a carpet cleaner, how did you get into networking? How has it been successful for your business?

SPEAKER_00 8:32

So I saw the value in networking right away. Um I've had some experience with networking in the past, um, with with other jobs that I've had, and I just love kind of connecting with people, learning their story, really kind of what makes them tick. Um, you know, what gives you that motivation to get up and do what you do every day? And there's so many networking events, especially here in northern Colorado, that you've got to be very diligent and um attentive to the time requirement. As you mentioned, uh, you know, my wife does networking, she's kind of part of uh the same circle that I'm in, but she also has some of the women's networking events um that are exclusive to women business owners. And so she's off doing some of those. So sometimes I'm helping out with uh kids sports pickup drop off and um you know, starting off the business. I was doing networking six days a week uh in addition to trying to run the business. I've built the business and the brand now to the point where I don't have to be out doing that level of networking, but I still enjoy getting to meet new business owners and helping them through uh some of the hiccups and just the unknowing um part of of getting to build a business. I like to be there and support.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

Well, one thing I see you do really well, Ryan, is uh you're you you give these like shout-outs and testimonials on social media for the people that you've built a relationship. And what I love about the way that you do it is it doesn't look like you just connected and then you're giving them a big shout-out. It it really comes from a deeper place of you really care about them, you really care about their business, you are professionally endorsing them. Um have you always done that? Has that has it been an intentional part of your strategy? The the shout-outs and the promotion of your referral partners?

SPEAKER_00 10:22

So it's not something that I've always done. It's really become more in the last couple of years of finding ways to get back to the communities that give so much to ours as small business owners. Um I feel like it's important, especially as we were just saying, about you know, if you're launching a new business, you feel like, oh my gosh, I've got to try and get money coming in to support my family and pay bills. I would love the opportunity to be able to shout out your business and help bring that spotlight to your business, your passion, and allow others to support you. Spotlight from the spot specialist.

SPEAKER_01 10:59

That's right. I like I like that. Uh well, look, talk to me about uh somebody you met at a networking event um and then how you were able to do it from that first meeting into something that is like true collaboration. Um, you know, if you got a specific example or kind of take us through the step-by-step of things that you do with your intentionality.

SPEAKER_00 11:21

Yeah, so the the first person that comes to mind when you ask that question is Melissa Foster, uh, Happy Home Organizing. We built a wonderful relationship, and it really started off as she had a client that she had done some organizing for, and also needed to have uh her upholstered headboard cleaned. Melissa shouted me out right away, said, Hey, you've got to give Ryan a call. Uh, we were over there within a couple of days, got her taken care of. But Melissa and I really continued to foster that relationship where it wasn't just, hey, I referred you, you referred me. We went out, we had coffee. I really got to know Melissa's passion for helping people be more organized. And we have a lot of things in common. Um, it's showing up, it's being professional, the integrity, and just doing what's best for our clients.

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Well, and I could see it definitely as a strategic alliance between a home organizer and a carpet cleaner. How uh by you working together really helps the client. Um both of you are have a different level of trust than maybe some other businesses. Like you're in people's homes, managing people's stuff, uh getting into their lives in a different way uh as being in their homes. But um who else are you looking to network with, like in that home services, or who has been your best referral partners?

SPEAKER_00 12:41

So my best referral partners are typically uh real estate agents, property managers, house cleaners, um, you know, those people that are frequently in the home repeatedly, whether it's monthly, uh quarterly, you know, whatever that frequency is. But I'm really looking to kind of connect um with a plumber. Okay. Um continued uh experience with HVAC technicians, um, so that we can work kind of hand in hand with them taking care of the the tune-ups and you know, maybe adding duct work, we can come in and do the cleaning portion as well.

SPEAKER_01 13:18

There you go. Um well let's uh so we're a couple of places where you network. I've seen you around my ecosystem, but uh you're in a very involved in some other ecosystems too. So why don't you shout out some of the places where you really find a lot of value from networking?

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Yeah, so as you mentioned, in addition to network in action, which has been uh a great referral source for me and uh kind of a new venture in the last year, uh I'm also part of a Wednesday group uh that meets at Centennial Leasing and Sales in Windsor from 9 a.m. to 10. I'm the president of Rooted Connections of Northern Colorado. Uh we've all known each other for well over five years, uh, made it through COVID together as small business owners. So we've really built a strong bond. And then on Thursdays from 10 to 11 at High Point Financial uh is True North Mastermind Networking.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

And how do you fit them all together?

SPEAKER_00 14:11

So it's being diligent and just scheduling that time off uh every week, that consistency. You've got to show up every week and figure out not only what is your personal ask as a business owner and how people can best refer you, but you staying in front of those business owners and finding out how you can best refer them, and it keeps everybody top of mind.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Well, with the rooted connections, you know, you mentioned you're the pres the group president, chapter president. Uh and when you when you sign up for leadership of a of a group, there's instead of focusing about hey, how can I build relationships with me and you, now you really invested in the whole team winning. Um and you said like we went through COVID together, we've been through that. Um we've been through the the the struggle times where we've come out of it and we're there. Um but uh in a in a sense of being the leader of the group, um, does that make you show up different? Uh, you know, I guess talk to me about your mindset of of showing up as a group president.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

It definitely does because I feel like the success or the failure ultimately rides on my shoulders. And I know that it's it's part of the bigger picture. It is leadership as a whole, but I want to make sure that the business owners that are part of our group, or maybe they're just visiting, feel comfortable. They want to be there every week and they continue to see the value of showing up. So we've actually uh worked together as leadership and put out a poll last year of what do our members really want to learn about? What's important? What do you feel uh maybe you're lacking in skill sets personally, professionally? Um, or you know, maybe how do you best integrate AI into your business? That seems to be kind of a buzz topic right now of what is AI and how and how does it fit your business?

SPEAKER_01 16:01

Yeah. Well, rooted connections, you know, relationships take time. So if you guys are in year five, there's a different level of trust. Uh, there's a different level of bedrock, like you know, your connections might be, hey, we're 40 referrals in at this point. We've been we've been referring each other for for multiple years. That gives a different level of um like a jumping off point uh than a group that's still trying to figure each other out. Uh what things have you seen in your group that you can do now that when we were first forming or putting it together, maybe you didn't have as much of a handle on?

SPEAKER_00 16:40

I would say, you know, really focusing on those one-to-one meetings, uh, face-to-faces, whatever you want to call it. It's it's the meetings that happen outside of the weekly networking meeting.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:51

Is really where the bread and butter and the magic, if you will, kind of happen. Um is you because you do, you get to know people on a deeper level, you get to know more about their families, and you just want to support good people.

SPEAKER_01 17:05

Awesome. Well, Ryan, uh, you know, and as somebody who's been in the business a long time, who's done a lot of networking, uh, how do you keep it fresh? How do you keep it uh exciting so it doesn't become routine or mundane? Um, how do you keep it new and exciting?

SPEAKER_00 17:19

So just keep looking for opportunities to help others. Um, I mean, that's really the secret sauce, if you will. Um, is coming into a room, maybe you you find that person that isn't used to networking, that's an introverted person. And you go up, you introduce yourself, you make them part of the event. Um, because some of these events are are very large, which is great, but it can be very overwhelming for somebody that is introverted and that isn't used to networking. I like to go out of my way and just welcome them in and kind of get them to open up a little bit more. Maybe I'll introduce them to some people, find out who it is they're looking to meet. What what brought you here? What was your interest?

SPEAKER_01 17:58

Yeah, especially if you you're an original, you know, an OG in a networking circle, seeking out those new people, uh acting as a host and being of a connector is a great way to put it in. And with that experience of being in the group a long time, you're able to make that right connection, um, which goes there. Well, so Ryan, uh, what's next for you? Like, what's your goals? What are you, what are where do you see the the business going um in the next couple years?

SPEAKER_00 18:24

So it's something that's uh, you know, trying to kind of figure it out. Um, I have been a solo peneur for the last five years uh that the spot specialist has been around. I'm trying to figure out if uh this is the right time to hire the right person uh that I can kind of groom into taking over the business, or there might be an opportunity to sell the business to the right uh venture partner. So just want to make sure that whatever we do, it's in the best interest of uh our clients and uh they continue to uh to build the brand with the same level of uh ethics and professionalism uh that I have so far.

SPEAKER_01 18:56

Right on. Well, Ryan, uh I I've really enjoyed getting to know you and having to be a part of the community. Uh I'm feeling a little confronted about like how dirty are my carpets and some of my like when was the last time I did some of the duck cleaning and stuff? So uh if maybe somebody hasn't changed their furnace filter in a year, uh maybe there's that spot in their carpet, or maybe they're just wanting to network with an amazing uh home service professional, what's the best way for people to get a hold of you?

SPEAKER_00 19:23

So you can reach out to me via the social channels, uh Facebook and Instagram at the spot specialist. Uh my phone number 970-829330. You can call, text, uh, connect with me that way, or you can send me an email at Ryan at thespotspecialist.com. Uh so really it's whatever you feel is best, but I'd love to connect.

SPEAKER_01 19:44

Awesome. Well, we'll put all that in the show notes. Ryan, thanks so much for coming on connections that matter, and we'll see you at the next event.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

I appreciate it, Andrew. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

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 you can see our upcoming schedule. And maybe you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.