38: How AKT Runs Payroll, Promotions & A Million-Dollar AR Book (Part 2)

Nik Saija built Redbridge Clothing to $1M in annual sales as a solo distributor with a team of four, no equipment and no in-house production. Then two of his largest clients were acquired within a month of each other, and his first salesperson moved on to start her own distributorship.

Billy McDevitt is back for Part 3. A year after our last conversation, Billy finally has a production manager who has stuck for 16 months, and he breaks down exactly how he got there: the gut feeling he ignored the first time, the four-stage interview and half-day trial that now filter candidates, why he pays close to six figures for the role, and what two mis-hires actually cost.

Alex Mammoser now fully owns Bluewater, the company behind automated reclaim and developing equipment for screen rooms. He walks Bruce and Steven through how it happened, from buying a tiny manufacturer to closing out a year-long acquisition with his longtime partner.

John from Two Two Creative grew a PostNet location into one of the top 50 in the country, then walked away to build his own shop from zero. Today he runs a 16-person team in New Jersey, and vehicle wraps are the front door to everything else he sells. Bruce and Steven dig into what the franchise world teaches (and what it doesn't), how John decides what to bring in-house vs. sub out, why he checks efficiency before he hires, and how $5K and $10K branding packages turn one truck wrap into a one-stop-shop relationship.

This one's a bit different — Bruce breaks down 10 of his favorite takeaways from an interview he listened to on David Senra's podcast with Jason Fried, co-founder of 37signals (the company behind Basecamp) and author of Rework. From "your competition is your cost" to the one-question performance review to why he refuses to plan more than 60 days out, these are lessons Bruce thinks apply directly to running a shop. Full original interview linked below. 🔗 Full David Senra interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdDCtMA1gSw Sponsors: GraphxSource: https://www.graphxsource.com/ Use PRINTAVOPOD for 50% off your first order Easiway: https://www.easiway.com/giveaway Stahls: https://www.stahls.com/ - Use code HUSTLER20 for 20% off your first order!