Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Nordeen
Hi Tony, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In October 2014, fueled by a shared vision for a superior painting company, my best friend, Max Higgin-Houser, and I laid the foundation for what would become BLUE Painting. With six years of industry experience behind us, we set out to redefine standards and introduce a new era of excellence.
Starting humbly with self-printed flyers, Max’s natural connection with homeowners and my unwavering dedication to the customer experience quickly propelled BLUE into the spotlight. By the end of 2015, a team of over 15 painters had transformed more than 100 homes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It most definitely has not been! We have seen many challenges while scaling BLUE Painting. One thing that is very difficult in the painting industry is the turnover rate due to slow winters. This made it very hard to build a foundation of good employees, which caused many issues with quality and scalability. Through the years we tried many things to retain good talent and have finally landed on a successful formula.
COVID was also very difficult for us to navigate, as I am sure it was for everyone. Initially, painting actually did quite well during this time, which allowed us to grow a lot in a short period of time. We needed to hire a bunch of new employees to keep up with demand. This caused its own set of problems. The added demand put a strain on our labor force and at the same time there was a major paint shortage that made it extremely hard to find the right product for the job.
In the last 3 years we have really got a lock on our business. Not only have we grown the business, we also have increased our customer satisfaction by a lot.
All of these challenges is what taught us how to run a successful business. I am convinced that we would not be where we are today without having had to endure the storm.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about BLUE Painting?
BLUE Painting stands out as a clear leader in both interior and exterior painting services in the Twin Cities / Minneapolis area. Our approach is simple: learn your vision, execute smoothly, and become your Painter for Life. With professionalism at our core, we tackle each project, regardless of size, ensuring attention to detail and lasting quality. Our dedication goes beyond mere paint application; it’s about providing a service that transforms and enhances your space, making BLUE Painting the go-to choice for those seeking excellence in their painting needs.
Our Vision:
At BLUE, we strive to perfect the experience of contracting a painter.
We believe that by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technology we can redefine what it means to hire a painter. Because of this, we are actively building our own proprietary software to enhance every aspect of residential painting, making it more accessible, transparent, and satisfying for our clients.
What the future holds:
Project Portal
Every project will have a portal where a homeowner can add scheduling details, see progress updates and photos, and communicate with all members of our team.
Painter App
We will provide our painters with a mobile app that streamlines painter communication, makes ordering materials more efficient, and gives them the ability to solve problems quicker.
Operating System
Behind the scenes, our whole company will operate using a central platform that allows us to see issues quicker, make decisions faster, optimize our schedules, and streamline the entire painting process from quote to final brush stroke.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Books:
The Lean Startup
E-myth
Atomic Habits
The One Thing
Podcasts:
Huberman Lab Podcast
The Game, with Alex Hormozi
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bluepainting.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bluepaintingco
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/bluepaintingco
- Twitter: https://x.com/bluepaintingco
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bluepaintingco
