Category Archives: Blog

Following a successful World of Concrete in Las Vegas in January, HMI will be presenting and demonstrating at one the largest trade shows in the World in March.

Annie Baeten

Every three years, North America hosts CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas.

2020 registrations for the show totaled over 130,000 attendees who walked the record 2.7 million-plus net square feet of exhibits featuring 2300-plus exhibitors. Considered one of the “Big 3” construction equipment trade shows globally, with the others held in Germany and France, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE is the largest construction trade show in the western hemisphere.

The 2020 Experience

In 2020 HMI was participating in CONEXPO when it was cut short by the outset of Covid r

The HMI Team Is Excited About January Where We Will Return to World of Concrete in Las Vegas For Our 45th Consecutive Year to See Old Friends.

The HMI Team

From January 17 – 19, 2023 the HMI team will be participating in the World of Concrete in Las Vegas for its 35th year at the event that is the defining display and experience of our industry. We strongly suggest you consider attending.

ANTICIPATE RECORDS WILL BE BROKEN

With the Covid pandemic having an ever-reducing impact on all our lives it anticipated that the show will be bigger and better than ever. The HMI team has plans to break records pumping more foam and doing more demonstrations than ever. More team members will be on site reflecting our growth thanks to the loyalty

SELLING FEAR – IT IS YOUR BUSINESS STUPID!

A 3rd Blog About Marketing Fear by Emphasizing Liability Elimination

Paul DelFino

It is always hoped that shock titles for blogs improves readership by getting attention. So, at the outset I apologize if I have offended anyone. James Carville’s famous quote “it’s the economy – stupid” from 1992 always stuck with me and I have hopes it has helped me get your attention.

This is now my 3rd Blog on Selling Fear. (View my prior blogs in June 2015 and April 2017.) Over recent days I have been doing research on various aspect of the concrete repair industry. I have been looking to assist HMI customers in seeing trends in the industry given tumultuous state of our economy post the Covid

“If You Are Rolling, You Are Losing – If You Are Pumping, You Are Winning!”
Annie Baeten
 

For years now during the HMI Discovery and Training seminar, I have sat in the back of the room and watched Paul DelFino draw circles on a white board and then bellow “if you are rolling you are losing – if you are pumping you are winning!” I have watched many wonder and silently question the emphasis he put on market area and ganging jobs. At last week’s seminar everyone was listening attentively and taking notes. At $5.00 a gallon the point is clear!

With the above in mind, I wanted to remind everyone of some related points and emphasize things concrete lifting contractors could, or should, be doing to improve profit

CONTINUOUS LEARNING- The HMI Curriculum

Paul DelFino & Jesse Swetlik
Know how, expertise and experience are the keys to success in any trade. For the artisans who lift and level concrete this is especially true since every lift in every project is different. Early on HMI realized that the success of their customers would be based on the training and continuous support provided. Over time HMI has created a training curriculum and support mechanism that cannot be matched in the industry which includes:

The Discovery and Training Seminar
HMI University
HMI Advanced Training
On Demand Project Support from an Expert Account Management Team
Crew Shadowing our contracting crew
Engineering Support

The 2 Day Discovery & Training

What Polyurethane System is Right for You?

By: Nick Carriere

You’ve made the decision to attend training and/or begin offering concrete raising, but now you’re faced with the question, “What HMI polyurethane trailer system is right for me?” There are various factors you’ll want to consider when choosing between HMI’s Polypro 20 and Polypro 30 systems. What are the differences and which better suits your goals? A common misconception when considering the equipment options is that a larger system is required to complete larger, heavier lifts. The system being used is nothing more than the equipment needed to heat, pressurize, mix, and deliver the material. The system itself has no bearing on the lifting capabilities. That is deter

Concrete Lifting Season Start up Reminders from the HMI Team

Annie Baeten, Paul DelFino, Jen Mazur, Jesse Swetlik

As the HMI team sat around the conference room table considering the Spring Blog, everyone had something urgent to say. So – we decided get everyone in the game with a bulleted easy to review check list format.

FROM PAUL

Supply – The big question on everyone’s mind is the supply shortages of foam. In anticipation of the current market circumstance HMI made bulk purchases at the end of 2021 and we can aggressively say: “market and sell with confidence - we will be able to supply our customers through 2022.”

Market Forecast – Despite an overall schizophrenic market impacted by: global disorder, economic uncertai

IS IT TIME FOR A CAREER CHANGE – CONCRETE LIFTING?

2021 Saw an Unprecedented Change in Careers and the Trend Is Forecasted to Continue

Annie Baeten

As I observed the individual introductions at the HMI Discovery and Training Seminar last week I was struck by the growing diversity of people exploring our new business opportunity. We always enjoyed a reasonable percentage of dramatic career changers but the contemporary experience is different. Last week I heard people say: "law enforcement is not what it used to be” and “the Covid mandates have cost me my job!”  Over past months I can recall: pilots, ministers, health care workers, chefs and a myriad of people from other vocations attending our seminar to explore a new career.

The r

What You NEED to Know About Concrete Lifting Foams in 2021

By: Nick Carriere

[icon pic="quote-left" circle="true"] Not Every Concrete lifting Foam Is the Same

We have revisited our top blog for a revamp of information!

There are special characteristics you need to look for when deciding what polyurethane foam to use for lifting and leveling concrete. Expansion is important, but what about set-up and cure times or adhesion? In this blog, we are going to explore the truth about polyurethane concrete lifting foam and what questions you need answered before purchasing a foam for this special application.

[icon pic="clock-o" circle="true"] Foam Reaction Time

Reaction time is an important property to consider when choosing the best po

BILL IS NERVOUS ABOUT THE ENGINEERED BIG ONE

Paul DelFino

PREFACE: This Blog is a continuation of “THE LIFE Of BILL” series. Among the most popular blogs in HMI’ history, Bill was first introduced in the February 2019 HMI blog publication. Readers are encouraged to read the initial blog and also the story of; HOW BILL LEVERED BAD WEATHER TO DOUBLE HIS BUSINESS  in April 2019 and “ BILL – A YEAR LATER GRAPPLING WITH THE VIRUS” in April 2020. A review of these past blogs will provide history and context about the character and his progression in the polyurethane lifting business. First envisioned and created as a method to articulate an average day of someone in the trade, Bill has evolved to an almost real relatable frien

Helpful Reminders in a Period of Changing Costs

Annie Baeten & Brian Cvetezar

Anyone who has attended the HMI Discovery and Training Seminar more than likely remembers the correct answer to Paul DelFino’s question – “why did you come here?”  In a fun way the question served as a reminder of why we work. Yes – we aspire for self-actualization and fulfilment in solving someone’s problem but in the end our trailer or mudpump is a tool to generate a profit and provide us and our loved ones with financial security.

We are clearly entering  a period where our primary objective of profit can be eroded by rising costs in: materials, transportation, labor, technology and more. It is prudent to carefully monitor the upward ch

Can Polyurethane Concrete Lifting Really Be A One Person Business?

Brian Cvetezar

The HMI sales department has reported that there has been an increase in inquiries as to whether polyurethane concrete lifting can really be an owner operated one person operation? The answer is an unequivocal YES!

CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Conversations with individuals attending the HMI Discovery and Training Seminars have led me to a number of conclusions about why people are entering the business and reaching out to HMI. This is unscientific but I am confident it is reasonably accurate:

Be there own boss. People are tired of working for others and feeling that someone else is benefiting from their labor while feeling vulnerable to the ebbs and flows o

HMI CONTINUES GREEN INITIATIVE BY SECURING CERTIFICATION TO NSF/ANSI/CAN 61

At the conclusion of each of HMI’s Discovery & Training seminars, every one of our customers is sent off with the famous Paul Delfino’s “Welcome to the family!” As family to us, it is HMI’s utmost priority to keep our family and community safe. As we all have grown increasingly aware of the dangers of contaminating the water that we are consuming, the questions have been rolling in on what we plan to do to verify that when our products are applied we are all still receiving pure and safe water from our systems. Well you asked, and we listened! All of us here at HMI are pleased to announce that we have recently been certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN-61 for our

Marketing In a Covid World – “NOW WHAT?”

Annie Baeten
 

Historically many concrete repair contractors begin their season by booking home shows and other venues where they can kick start their business for the year. It would appear that option will not be available in 2021. This thought had me thinking about other changes in marketing tactics that may be appropriate in the Covid 19 environment we all now live in.

A SAMPLE OF THE TRENDS

At HMI we often talk about the Mega trends and work our way to what lessons can be learned and what tactics we can recommend in the contemporary.

Last week, Red Pointssurveyed consumers throughout the United States, reporting that nearly 60% of those surveyed have increased their online shopping

WRAPPING UP 2020 & REPEATING WHAT IS IMPORTANT

Paul DelFino

In anticipation of writing this blog I went back in history and looked at the HMI end of year blogs. I realized some things are worth repeating so below are some excerpts from blogs of the past. Because many of HMI’s customers are wrapping up the year, due to weather, we have historically used November as a final message knowing that we focus December on looking forward to World of Concrete in January/February. Unfortunately after 43 consecutive years HMI will not be at the World of Concrete in June 2021. The trade show will be another victim of Covid 19.

Many are looking forward to wrapping up the year 2020 and would want to rate it as a bad memory to be forgotten. Uniquely

VIDEO ESTIMATING UPDATE – “A WINNER”

Who Says So? “Our Clients”

Brian Cvetezar

On July 27th I posted a blog sharing our plans to have our contracting arm “Raiserite Concrete Lifting” offer video estimating. http://www.raise-rite.com/virtual-estimate/

Since that time every prospect calling into our Concrete Raising company has been offered the option of participating in the estimating process with video. The market reaction has exceeded our expectations.

To date we have completed 34 video estimates and our closing ratio when the customer is involved has climbed to 62% exceeding our traditional approaches. What is equally interesting is that an unanticipated side benefit has surfaced. Prospects participating are better ed

VIRTUAL ESTIMATING! VISION OR REALITY?

IT’S REALITY AT RAISERITE CONCRETE LIFTING!

Brian Cvetezar

With all the disagreement about everything in our current world, there is one thing that “everyone” agrees on: “things are changing fast.” The forecasts of the futurists of: a predominant work from home labor force and video communication surpassing phone audio interaction are accelerating to a new reality thanks to the Covid 19 virus. Entire segments of the home repair industry are in near shut down as consumers and contractors alike fear interface. The good news is that change is motivating everyone to use technology more. There are few who have not participated in some: Facetime, Zoom, Go To Meeting, Ring Central or other pl

DECORATIVE CONCRETE SPECIALISTS NEED A LEVEL CANVAS

A Synergistic Referral Source in Your Market

Annie Baeten

I was reminded last week at the HMI Discovery and Training Seminar why we always are in the Decorative Concrete Silver Lot at the World of Concrete. A Decorative Concrete specialist attended the seminar and while introducing himself he said; “I make sure I have a perfectly level base before I design our coatings. I’m not letting anyone drill holes through it after my art is done!”

Once in a while it is important to be reminded of the obvious. As a marketing professional I dream of Google Click leads, Facebook Ads, TV promotions and media driven business. BUT in the end they all cost real dollars.

Every market has decora