Dennis Oz:

Welcome to Remodeler Success Podcast where we discuss and dive in all about remodeling. Today I have an amazing guest. I’m so excited to introduce him to you in a minute, but just wanted to say Thank you all just for sending all these thank you messages after joining us and tuning in I’m receiving what’s really surprising for me is receiving a lot of thank you notes And, uh, some raving fan emails, , overseas from Europe, from Germany or from France.

That’s, that’s really impressive that I, this is what we are really fueling us here, fueling us up here. And we are so, we are always feeling so excited for the, every single episode that we put over here. So just want to say a special thank you before we dive in. Today with my special guest? Well, yes. Today I, we are, we are joined by a very, very special guest.

Just, I, like, I, I just, I just mentioned Emre . He is a great mastermind in kitchen and bathroom modeling. And, uh, he’s known for his exceptional ability to just merge these innovative, all these innovative design. And, uh, also with the, uh, on the client side, we can talk about his client-centric solutions. So, Emre, here.

Emre, welcome to the show.

Emre Kuzudisli:

Hi Dennis, thanks for reminding me and thanks for your kind words. Uh, I would be happy to, uh, fulfill that words so we can make it more.

Dennis Oz:

Of course. Well, thanks so much. Well, starting at the beginning, we always ask our clients to just to, you know, kind of introduce themselves, but can you share your evolution of your journey in, in the industry, in the kitchen and bath remodeling industry?

How did it started? Certainly.

Emre Kuzudisli:

Uh, so it started with me, uh, actually my dad is a carpenter and he’s a very great artisan and I always worked with him. I learned about this. bad part of the business. It’s like kind of doing things from scratch. Um, this was in Istanbul and he was a very, uh, respected, well respected artisan.

And I always take, take him as my, uh, role model in that way. Um, even though he didn’t have a college education, like he would do 3d handmade designs and everything. Um, it was like a next level from that moment. I, uh, I never wanted to be in that part of the job, but I didn’t know also I would somehow end up involving into the kitchen and bath industry.

When I came to United States to DC, um, I was studying, , for MBA and to do my own business. Oh, I always want to do my own business. Uh, but at the same time, I started working for a kitchen and bath companies. Again, from the scratch, like I had to sometimes like help with the project management part and construction part.

Like I was involved in every aspects, which helped me to understand. what I am selling, what I’m doing. Like I do the design 3d perfect and I presented well, but how is that going to be executed? What are the problems? So that helped me to get great insight and I appreciate my years in that part. Like this, I’m talking about two Uh, 12 years ago, uh, 2011, the first when I, uh, started, uh, now I’m looking back.

I’m very confident with what I’m doing and it evolved me into different, , directions. I worked for Kohler for a while. Uh, by the way, I don’t know if I can give. Brand names.

Dennis Oz:

Of course. No problem. You just go ahead. Feel free. Of course. Yeah.

Emre Kuzudisli:

Yeah. Uh, they have a design team too.

Um, so I learned a lot about plumbing parts and then all the fittings and all the fixtures, different brand names. Um, part of our job is knowing things, you know, like knowing and educating our clients. So like this is a journey for their in their life and then you give them the information and they can take it to wherever they want.

Dennis Oz:

Yes, this is very interesting because since you’re talking about knowing the things is very crucial part of what we are doing today. Um, especially when we are also facing with the client and facing with our next customer, let’s say, uh, we have in order to serve our in order to serve our community and in order to serve our clients better, of course, we have to understand their needs and also their what they’re looking for.

That’s that’s the most important part. We’re going to touch base a couple of different things throughout this session today, but, um, Let’s talk about the ideal client on your definition of ideal client. Who do you consider that your your perfect client that let’s say just gonna ring the phone right now or, uh, you know, let me ask you because there will be another follow up question with that understanding this one help.

How did it help to shape your business? What do you think about this?

Emre Kuzudisli:

Yeah. So my, this is a perfect question, by the way, that’s the question I asked myself. What is my ideal client? What I like most when I, when I do this job, because sometimes I really don’t like some parts of this job, you know, like, I mean, I don’t have to be involved in every aspects of it and what I enjoy most.

So that is where I am most Shine like my most shining moment of my life, right? So my ideal client that are, uh, who dares, you know, who dares to do something different, who dares to use some different colors like that, you know, like does something custom. Want to have boutique feelings, want to have like boutique design, uh, not just construction, not just like investment, but seeing the things that are like, could be very, very, uh, different and like satisfactory to me as well, because I, we don’t like doing something generic over and over again.

Just because it works or something is just because it’s trending. So we want to find that meaningful, uh, meaningful spot for them and for us. And like, then they could be happy.

Dennis Oz:

Right. That was, that was really profound insight. Thanks so much. And since we were talking about the client and understanding there, if they’re ideal or not, if we are a good fit or if they are a good fit for our business.

Uh, so this is, uh, this is, this is very important. Of course, we are also talking about the services and, uh, When you look at it, your portfolio, let’s say your services and also the product that we sell, because you know, we are in the kitchen and bath design and everything comes with the, it’s not like just going to Amazon or order different things.

If we have even a recipe to order different things, we need some sort of like in project management skills over there, at least help our clients. And we are also offering different services at the same time that are. different parts of the design. When you look at home construction, there are different parts and different, different techniques and, uh, different principles when you’re designing.

So just wanted to ask you this, when you look at your portfolio that you offer, which services have not only been the most profitable, but also the most fulfilling for you to, uh, deliver. So,

Emre Kuzudisli:

um, I, I think, uh, in a house, when we think about like in a house, where are the most unique areas, like not the rooms, not the dining room, not the living room, but like there is a place.

that everyone goes in and like there is something going on constantly. It’s people gathers like social area. It’s kitchen. So I love doing kitchens. I love doing a conversational social kitchens, you know, like open spaces. Or closed spaces. It could be, I think a kitchen should be always cozy, you know, like either you use like cold colors or like make it, but like you can add little touches to make it cozy that you go and be happy.

You know, like the time that you spend there with other people, that’s memorable. And I want to be the part of that journey. I want to leave my mark. And again, the kitchen can be very profitable, right? Like it’s not just like, uh,

Dennis Oz:

definitely this is what we are doing for business. Exactly. That’s absolutely right.

Yeah. And also the bathrooms

Emre Kuzudisli:

and it’s a completely opposite, you know, the place you’re alone by yourself. Most of the time, uh, and, and so like, that’s also something that you need to give them that serene spa like feeling, you know, like you, we hear that a lot, like maybe it’s like repeated word, but like, you need to take that to heart and like think, how can I make this serene?

Whatever the space is, like it could be very small, like in DC, in Georgetown, the bedrooms are very small and you have to work with it. And like, you need to make it more unique. Like maybe the floor tile could be a little different or like ball tiles could be a little more unique to give them that feeling.

And people are willing to go to next level. If they feel you’re offering them something different than generate everyday things. That’s, that’s the What I’m aiming for giving them the, the, uh,

unique

idea

Dennis Oz:

that there was, there was an incredibly useful advice. And thank you so much for this one of it, sharing with us, uh, let’s dive.

I would like to dive in a little bit of the stories that you may even experience while you were working in, of course, uh, over a decade. It’s, it’s very important. Uh, this is also a really interesting part of our, our conversation. Every single time that I ask this question to my guests, There are some interesting said that might be some interesting stories behind it.

So just want to ask you any kind of stories that you feel really surprised, but you, let’s say about the things that you learn, learn from, that there’s a, there should be a story that you learn something. And also it may be changed the way that you work in your business. Is there any kind of story? So not one story, it’s

Emre Kuzudisli:

like every project is a story and like I learned from the same thing is repeating.

One thing you disrupt people’s life while doing the process, right? So when I get into their house, so remodeling is not the same as building. Remodeling people not necessarily away from their house and they can be very grumpy. Because you’re disrupting their daily life, their, uh, you know, daily routines.

So. It’s like serving a hungry client, you know, like, you know, restaurant or think about like that, like someone is hungry and like, you’re keeping them waiting for three weeks, two months, three months. It’s just like, every day is a challenge. And like, sometimes, uh, sometimes you see that is like, that person is not that, you know, the same person that you are dealing with in the beginning, you know, so things change.

So what I learned from that is you need to be very respectful while you’re doing the process. That’s like end result is the most important thing. The process is what makes What’s uh, what you give the clients, right? Like you give them a, that’s impression that you live in their house for a couple of months or a couple of weeks.

And how good of a roommate you are, how like tidy you are. Because you become friends with these people because you’re

Dennis Oz:

spending a lot of time with them inside, right?

Emre Kuzudisli:

Yes. Like, okay, the end result is important, but like the process, you need to be very, very, very careful. That’s what I learned. I tried to thrive on that part, like try to clean out everything, make, uh, barriers between their life and ours and be respected their hours.

I mean, I may think a lot of things that I don’t want to remember. Usually I just cut them off in my mind because. But end of today, what I tell my clients, this job is a messy job, you know, like constructions, not two plus two, always four. Um, so what I remind myself, just make sure, uh, like end of today and clients to tell my clients, End of the day, you get what you want, but there are things, bumps in the road, because we don’t know what’s behind this wall, we don’t know what’s going on, like, it may take a different approach sometimes, but end of the day, we, it’s, uh, our goal is to make you happy.

Obviously, it’s never gonna be perfect, so we should not set that kind of expectation. Thank you. I mean, I mean, talking about not the end result, but not everyday things will be perfect. That will be a little problems. As long as we solve it, we are golden.

Dennis Oz:

That’s that’s a true really golden piece of nugget.

I would say this one then thanks so much for sharing folks I’m sure you’re listening here today. And uh, you know, it is As you can see emery is looking at things a little bit differently what we are seeing here is building and remodeling are two different things and uh, you know, Just like you’re just you’re gonna you’re gonna be like right there living with these people so you gotta be really You know kind of Adjust that relationship as well.

Uh, just like we talk about that, I’m sure that you get a lot of, uh, insights out of this, uh, answer and I’m sure that it’s gonna be helpful for you to, uh, strive your business and also, uh, you know, for your next visit, let’s say it’s going to be, uh, kind of eyeopening for you. That’s what we are trying to, uh.

Um, and I would like to switch the conversation to business growth because we have a lot of listeners here that are also there are also tuning in to understand some of the growth strategies just like successful business owners just like you. They would like to hear more about this one. Um. Let’s talk about growth.

And I would like to talk about some of the strategic advices that you would like to share with the community. Let’s say for all our listeners there in the kitchen and battery modeling industry, and they really ready for growth. Let’s say what piece of strategic advice would you share based on your own experiences?

Emre Kuzudisli:

So, uh, I would say this is a ongoing. Uh, battle for all of us, like it’s not like sad, uh, growth strategies and not sad for each business. You know, like everyone has different approach to this and mine is more like I would like to be more boutique and like more HGTV, more like design oriented, but also be capable of as a build design center.

We have like six locations throughout DMV. And this Georgetown location, I always wanted to, like, since I came to United States, since I came to, uh, D. C., I always wanted a showroom here. Like, that was my goal. With my partner, like, where are we going to open? Like, open everywhere else. This is my base. Like, I wanted to be in D.

C., in Georgetown. So that was, Like it inspires me, you know, like it feels like Europe, you know, it feels so, uh, my approach before I get out of the subject, my approach is more like, how can I reach my own clients? Who am I first? And who am I? targeting and how can I reach them? So like some people for some people, it could be just online marketing.

Some people would be a magazine, some people for some people that will be a online view, you know, like Instagram, TikTok, it could be anywhere. Like you need to know your audience. You need to know before you get into anything because it’s a lot of money consuming traps are on the way. People, you know, like a lot of marketing agencies trying to get your money.

So you need to be careful. It’s put gum for nothing. So you need to make sure you are advertising on right places for me, for us as a build design center, we have a great, uh, Instagram page people can follow and very professional. Uh, do we get clients from that time to time? But the idea is branding, like what you spend money for.

You need to know what you’re doing. You know, like if I’m expecting direct client from, uh, Instagram, I may be disappointed, but for me as a branding, it works. People get convinced twice. They call me, they ask me where can they see things, they can go to my website, they can go to my Instagram page. So, that works for me.

But like also online marketing. You need to put, I would say as a advice, Don’t put everything in one basket. So diversify your portfolio, you know, like just go anywhere and see what comes.

Dennis Oz:

That’s a great takeaway. Uh, well, just like you said, uh, there are several people claiming that they will be there to just to offer marketing services, this and that, but just like you said, putting the eggs in the different baskets.

It’s going to differentiate your money that you were, you’re spending folks. Just like Emre said, look, we are here talking about an investment here. Your marketing is not your expense. It’s an investment. And then you look at all these things, just like Emre said, you have to differentiate definitely. And, uh, another story that Emre, just a great touch point right there.

Sometimes I get also questions, um, like should we. How many posts should we put on Instagram? How many reels that we put on one day? How many stories? Just like you said, these platforms are not built to just do distribute your content freely to everyone. They will always ask you to promote it. But just like Emre said, you just need one person who look at the quality work that you put in there.

Because they were about to sign the contract. They were just looking for, they were just looking for extra evidence to just to feel really comfortable. When you have that great Instagram page or any kind of social media page or any asset in place that will make them to Go there and sign that contract even pre positioned to buy they will you’re going to make these people feel really comfortable before coming and working with you, so I know it’s it’s really discouraging to get like likes or Like comments from your relatives, right?

You you post something the first thing is going to be your your raving fans is because your your relatives are probably your mom or your aunt or your your your Your uncle, they are the most like, they are appreciating the growth that you put in there. They are, they are your raving fans. Do not expect this same behavior from your future customers.

They are not your raving fans because you haven’t put anything there for yet. Then this is the idea of just like Emre said in the process, the changing these people. To to your raving fans during the process. Yes. That’s the goal. This is the goal. And, uh, your branding is super important, just like Emra underlined and emphasize that on the, on that way.

So it’s a, it’s a really golden nugget. And thank you so much for this, uh, expertise, putting that expertise over there. Just want to talk about some future trends here, because I would like to also talk about some business aspirations too. Uh, there are so many different trends in our industry. And, uh, there are some.

Our, our speakers that I hosted here, they don’t really follow these trends, but sometimes they go really trend, uh, oriented. They run their businesses based on trends and they are really super careful about that. I’m going to ask you the same questions. Uh, do you, like, when you’re talking about trends, what new trends or technologies also is a part of it?

Since we had the, uh, KBs a couple of months ago. Any kind of technologies or trends that you feel a little more excited to integrate into your projects or business strategy. What’s your take on this one? So

Emre Kuzudisli:

for a technology wise, I would say, um, I, when I work for Kohler in Miami and here, I work with a lot of, uh, reknown

Architects, designers, and they tried to implement things they didn’t know necessarily what’s going on in the market again.

We talked about the product knowledge. So new things coming out. You don’t necessarily know if you’re like constantly reading magazines and like going to places and seeing them. Um, that’s what I’m trying to like keeping up with the updated latest technology. For example, uh, they have digital showering system that you can control from your phone.

You can control, uh, from a digital, uh, interface, you know, like these kinds of things. Like in the kitchens, the appliances, I go to appliance stores to see What is the latest, you know, like there are obviously induction cooktops, several years been very popular now, the fridges, like what is the benefit?

Like I, even though I don’t sell those products, I don’t sell anything. Basically, I just sell service of doing the project, but I need to know what I’m offering. So like showering. The digital showering from like, you can control from your phone or, uh, you can control your phone from your phone. Like all the appliances also for my own, uh, benefits, I can use lighter on a phone and 3d, uh, easily measure the place.

Um, and also take a note on my phone. Like I can make this thing easier for myself too. And then there are a lot of, um, new technologies, but there’s also resistance. You know, like, uh, especially an older crowd, like they don’t want to get into those. Like, I don’t know what I’m doing. Don’t tell me, no, I don’t care.

So I, I’m like, uh, relatively younger, uh, than some, but like, I like to keep up and I don’t take, you know, offense from like new things and like learning from younger generation and that’s how we keep young. You know, like I don’t feel like I have like a boxy shape that I can only do this one way. My, uh, junior designer here, like she can teach me things and she can learn and she can teach me.

Like I, I tell her we don’t have to do this in one way, like just read a lot. When I can’t go to the events, when I can’t, like we can go together, let’s just like growing, growing never ends and I like to keep myself updated. I feel younger that way, and I will, uh, hopefully be always that way. .

Dennis Oz:

This is, this is great.

And it’s a real nice hope. I Exactly. Because yes, uh, we are talking about. Some of the resistance from the different generations. That’s always possible. It’s a change management. That’s, that’s perfectly, you know, that’s something that we need to work on, of course, but especially the things that you shared about, like having the technology implementing our business is really eye opening.

Thank you so much for this one. Since we are talking about this driving, you know, ongoing forward, I just want to ask your your big dreams, like your big plans or your next step in your business. What do you think? So when you

Emre Kuzudisli:

think about growth, usually people thinks about expanding out, right? Like I like to, I mean, I don’t have to have locate.

I would like to have other locations and key areas, but I think growth should be between first and I see what you can grow within yourself. And how can you be better and for next five years? You can offer better things and you can have a small studio, but like the idea here, how can you grow and be different than the others people come to you, even you have a very small shop, which we don’t, but like if I did.

And if I had just like one place that is not even like in a, it’s in a remote area, let’s say, but they come to you. So I want to be that person that people comes and I say, okay, I can help you maybe in a year. I want to be that person instead of like opening places that I cannot even control and like kind of.

Just have our name on it. And then somehow it doesn’t follow the same, uh, ideas. Then you don’t have the brands you need to be consistent with what you’re doing first, then you can implement in different areas. If you can, you have the capacity to do that. So my idea, keep the same pride through other locations, if other people that I’m working with.

It’s just opening another place in the same name that we’ll design center is not going to just like put the same quality to that location. So I’m very conservative in that department want to make sure everything is done. Right. And then. Let’s say what’s going to happen. And we can, as long as we are ready, we can expand into different areas, but I want to be in the magazines for sure.

Like, you know, architectural digest or, uh, home and design magazine, something like

Dennis Oz:

that. Thank you. Thank you for the answer. And I haven’t even thought about that way. So it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s really interesting. Um, I would say a very eyeopening, uh, point of view and thank you so much. Um, just would like to kind of wrap up for today’s conversation because, uh, you know, keeping that informative is the very first goal.

And thank you so much for sharing all your wisdom with us today. One thing that I would like to ask you, because there are, there might be some follow up questions from our audiences. Uh, even some of these follow up questions are really interesting. Uh, just wanted to kind of give you that heads up. And also, you know, um, if anyone would like to.

Get a little more information about the things that we shared today. What is the best way to get back to you? And, uh, would you prefer your website? I don’t kind of, uh, encourage my speakers to share their own cell phone number here since considering thousands of people may be tuning in, especially for this part, but you know, what do you think that you, uh, that’s the best way to get you kind of get the best

Emre Kuzudisli:

way to reach out to us, uh, one is email, uh, my name and Emre.@

design center. com and other way they can just go to our, uh, Instagram page. Uh, they can DM us. Build Design Center, uh, at Build Design Center, uh, they can go and follow us, send their questions. If they want to reach out to me directly, they can get my cell phone number after that, or they can call us. I’m in Georgetown every day.

They can just come by. It’s on Wisconsin Avenue, 1631 Wisconsin Avenue. I’m happy to host anyone that it’s not, it doesn’t have to be related to just like a new project or anything. If they have questions, I like to educate. If anyone wants to be educated about the kitchen and, uh, bathroom, uh, field and remodeling.

I mean, maybe I will become like, uh, in the future, some sort of like a coach or something. I don’t know. Why not?

Dennis Oz:

Why not? Exactly. Because Emre listen, this is very important because our industry is missing these people because You know that I met with a lot of people along the way over a decade and uh The people that really would like to share they are world class people just like you and thank you so much for giving this Guarantee since we are we are local there guys if you are in if you are outside of try like these dc, uh You know DMV area.

It might be a little hard for you to just book the plane ticket and go visit Emre, but you know, you have your guarantee that you’re here in the area. By the way, uh, our podcast listeners may not see that, but the video viewers will see that Emre has a great showroom. He’s there. I’m faking my background with the green screen, but he is a hundred percent real background right there.

So this is amazing. I will really would like to give, uh, give him a visit when I’m in the area. So, uh, Thank you so much. Thank you. This is a great show. I just want to say thank you again for just sharing everything with our community and just be really kind of sharing all your expertise and everything.

That was another episode of Remodeler Success Podcast and thank you so much for tuning in today. We’re going to see you next time. Goodbye.