How Clearbrook Glass Tripled Their Team of Glass Installers

“We purchased an existing ma and pa operation that we have been turning into a more disciplined, organized enterprise with systems that enable operations,” says Clearbrook Glass President Brent Friesen. It’s a gamble that has paid off for the Abbotsford, BC glass installation company.

“When we purchased the company the owner was using a paper calendar. It was very hard to share information, keep track and move things around or collaborate,” says Brent.

A Pivotal Decision

As they worked to build better systems, a key decision in the direction of the company would have an immediate impact on their growth. “Our move to commercial glass has been growing steadily. We have recently been awarded a $700,000 contract from one of Vancouver’s biggest commercial builders,” says Brent.

If it seems like Brent has uncanny business acumen, he comes by it honestly. His father Bruce, a partner in Clearbook Glass, previously built a successful property management company. The younger Friesen is a Chartered Accountant who worked as a controller in large industrial companies before the two bought Clearbrook in 2014.

Managing the Growing Pains

“One of our biggest problems was scheduling our team,” admits Brent. “Vonigo does a great job in solving that challenge. Vonigo has helped us to become more organized and is giving us reports that help measure outcomes and get control of our business. It has certainly helped us scale up to three times the number of installers without scheduling hassles.”

They’ve also made some key hires. “Our General Manager Paul Tomiuk came to us with deep expertise. He has been instrumental in building a strong installation team and culture. Paul is a friendly, hard-working leader who has high expectations of staff as we move into more complex challenges,” says Brent.

Measurement and Improvement, a Recipe for Success

It is easy to track a whole bunch of metrics with Vonigo which we run month end reports on,” says Brent. “This includes AR (accounts receivable) balances, cash flow for the month, number and volume of quotes by department, the success rate on quotes, revenue per division, # of quotes for each general contractor we work with, and what our success rate is.”

Preparing for More Growth

“We want to be one of the top five commercial installers in Greater Vancouver within the next three years,” claims Brent.

Aside from having reliable systems in place and a keen eye for growth opportunities, Brent says the company’s success comes down to the professionalism of the team. “We are completely trustworthy and reliable to do what we say.”

Software for Installation Companies

Want to learn more about software for installation companies? Want to see what Clearbrook Glass uses to manage their scheduling, invoicing, payments, and reports? Book a free, private demo of Vonigo.