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Big Birge Plumbing Co. Grows Business in a Competitive Market

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Last week I delivered a talk at the Entrepreneurs Organization in Omaha, Nebraska. I always love working EO events, because members are so enthusiastic about learning new ideas. Since they run their own businesses, they are eager to identify ways to grow.

While at the event, I met Lallenia Birge, who with her husband Brad Birge started Big Birge Plumbing Co. in August 2012. Lallenia uses a wonderful title: “A Plumbers Wife to Big Birge Plumbing Co.”

Big_Birge_PlumbingI just loved checking out the Big Birge Plumbing Co. site. If you run a business in a crowded market, do take a look at how they stand out from the rest.

Personalizing Plumbing on the Web

When the vast majority of plumbers either don’t have a site, or if they do, just a basic one with just the facts that looks like all the rest. Big Birge Plumbing Co. uses fun original photos, has a great design, and showcases a humorous personality.

Here’s how Lallenia introduces herself on the site in the Meet Big Birge page: “Hi! Unlike my husband I do NOT have years and years of plumbing experience nor have I dug ditches in 100-degree weather. Honestly I’m pretty sure my husband has had to use our drain cleaner at our house more than most of his “regular” customers (pun intended). I did not realize you aren’t supposed to flush wax down the toilet or not place all the food scrapes off the plate into the garbage disposal! (Whoops!)”

The fun carries over to the design of their trucks and to their social media presence including Facebook.

Big_Birge_truck_2“We took plumbing that to most people is gross and has a bad public image and we have turned it into something that is fun, catchy, relatable and a little bit flirty,” Lallenia says. “We have not spent much marketing money. The most we spent (besides the wrapping of our vehicles) has been to get the best iPhone I can so we take fun videos, create fun posts with apps, and for photo-shoots where I would get hair and make up done. This has really drawn a lot of attention.”

Growing Business in a Competitive Market

In a crowded market – there are more than 400 plumbing companies in the Omaha area - Big Birge Plumbing Co. has gown very quickly in their less than three years in business.

“Our very first year we received Best of Omaha due to our marketing online via social media and the image we display,” Lallenia says. “This is a major award in our city and we came out of nowhere. We have won it 2 years in a row now.”

Big Birge Plumbing Co. shows that anyone with an iPhone and a focus on reaching buyers online can grow a business even in a very competitive market.