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The Huge Insider

The Huge Insider

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Weekly actionable insights that add profit to your bottom lineCopyright 2025 All rights reserved. Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
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  • Episode 22: Adding Revenue Streams with JC Chanowsky

    Episode 22: Adding Revenue Streams with JC Chanowsky
    Aug 11 2025
    In this episode of The Huge Insider Podcast, JC Chanowsky, founder of Patriot Illumination, shares his journey from pressure washing and Navy service to building a $1.2 million Christmas light installation business in Wilmington, North Carolina. JC candidly unpacks the lessons he learned since entering the holiday lighting space in 2016—emphasizing the importance of training, coaching, hiring early, and building systems for growth. He dives into practical sales strategies for service pros looking to add Christmas lights to their offerings, like leveraging existing customer databases, delivering emotional experiences, and never underestimating the power of persistence in landing commercial clients. With anecdotes, real numbers, and tactical advice, JC’s story is a blueprint for turning a seasonal service into a thriving business. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to seven figures, this episode delivers actionable insights for home service pros looking to win the holidays—and their market. Show Notes Featured Guest JC Chanowsky – Founder of The Huge Insider Newsletter Signup The Huge Insider Podcast Downloadable Action Guide Foundations Platform Trial Offer Huge Mastermind Info Page Huge Foundations Facebook Group Transcript:  What's up everybody? My name is JC Chanowsky with Patriot Illumination in Wilmington, North Carolina, and I've been asked to talk about Christmas lights and share my story and experiences in the Christmas light industry. And if you're listening to this, then maybe you're either. Currently a Christmas light installer or considering doing it. And I wanted to just talk to you about some of the wins and struggles that we've experienced since we started doing the Christmas light install business in 2016. And when I started it, I actually attended a trade show. It was for pressure washing. Probably the one, like the huge that you should be attending. And I'll say that I didn't know that this was a service or an option. And 2016 social media was probably a little bit different wasn't as robust and. And everybody's face like it is now. So you really needed to get out there and make yourself vulnerable and talk to people and find information a little bit differently than we do today. But I was grateful for attending this event and I will say that it transformed and changed the future of my business. I was, running a pressure washing business while working full-time with the Navy. So it was really like a, not really a hobby, but it wasn't a full-time commitment. So 2016, started Christmas lights got a little bit of knowledge about it, but didn't get my hand dirty, didn't get training, was able to install a couple houses, and then finally got to do some training the year after that, which highly recommend if you're, looking to install Christmas lights or even if you are currently installing Christmas lights, have never been to a formal training. Being able to see how others are able to install differently, maybe more efficiently will really change the way you view things. We only know what we know and if. I taught myself how to do something, then that's the way I'm gonna do it until somebody shows me a better way. So that's why firm believer on constantly getting yourself out there, attending trainings, talking to people, networking 'cause. We don't wanna reinvent the wheel, but if there's easier, faster, safer, smarter ways to do things, then I'm all about it. And we're gonna jump on board and go ahead and do that. Got the training done 2019, and 2019 I went full-time. I stopped working full-time in the Navy, so I went full-time into pressure washing full-time into Christmas lights. Got my first. Coach Pat Clark was my coach, attended Sales Boost and joined Conquer what used to be Conquer. I don't know what it's now, but without those three things that happened all at once. Literally I think this was January, I signed up for Conquer Sales Boost and had Pat as my coach. I probably wouldn't be having this conversation with you today. Because who knows what path I would've been down. I was on the path of destruction, of knowing only what I know, and that is the best way to do things. That is a completely different mindset from my thought process today. But grateful for that opportunity to, be coached by, one of the greatest in the industry is Pat Clark. And like I said, I went all into my business. I started hiring people, stopped doing everything myself. I got outta my way and made plenty of mistakes along the way. I'll tell you that, that's don't sit here and listen to this and think that he did it right the first time because that's not the case. I did have fun doing it and I do have plenty of things. I look back and I'm like, that was stupid. But the Christmas light thing, it was just. It was a perfect fit for me. I loved Christmas lights. I loved installing lights at my house. So it was an easy transition, had fun doing it. And I think I'm a little different ...
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    19 mins
  • Episode 21: Client Retention with Daniel Dixon

    Episode 21: Client Retention with Daniel Dixon
    May 26 2025
    Summary On this episode of The Huge Insider Podcast, host Sid Graef dives deep into the most profitable yet overlooked strategy in the home service industry: customer retention. Featuring Daniel Dixon, CEO of SendJim and a 7-figure floor coating business owner, this episode is a goldmine for service providers who want to maximize revenue by focusing on their existing customer base. Daniel Dixon, CEO of SendJim Website Mentioned Tools & Platforms SendJim – client retention and automation platform Jobber – CRM software for home service businesses Housecall Pro – home service software ServiceTitan – field service management software Zapier – automation tool Resources (Mentioned Every Time) The Huge Insider newsletter signup The Huge Insider podcast downloadable action guide The Foundations platform trial offer The Huge Mastermind info page Facebook Group Events The Huge Convention 2025 – August 20–22 in Nashville, TN Tickets: https://thehugeconvention.com/ Transcript Sid Graef: Welcome back to the Huge Insider Podcast. It's Sid Graef and the Huge Insider is the show for home service professionals striving to break the million dollar revenue mark. If that's you, you're definitely in the right place. We want to help you skip the BS and get real wisdom from experienced business builders. So we've gathered wisdom and insight directly from seven and eight figure business owners—people running companies that do anywhere from $2 million to $40 million a year and more. And we bring you their best insights, all focused on a single topic each month. These are real owners—not armchair philosophers or fake gurus. These are the folks quietly building empires behind the scenes. This month, we're focusing on the things you must do to get and keep happy, profitable clients. Things like quality control, reviews, referrals, and long-term retention. Today, the topic is long-term retention. Once you get a customer, how do you keep them forever? Today, you're going to hear from Daniel Dixon. Daniel has a 7-figure floor coating company. He's been in the carpet cleaning industry, and now, in addition to his service business, he’s the CEO of SendJim—a client retention automation and marketing platform. But the episode isn't about SendJim—it's about how to retain clients forever. We also have a downloadable action guide to help you with a retention plan. It’s available at https://www.thehugeinsider.com. Let’s get into it. Daniel Dixon: Hey everybody, this is Daniel Dixon, CEO of SendJim. Today I’m going to talk to you about customer retention. You’ve got these customers—now how do you keep them? How do you sell more to them? And why is this important? The reason is simple: customer retention generates the highest return on investment of any marketing strategy. Selling to existing clients is easier, cheaper, and far more profitable than acquiring new ones. Think about it: they already know you, like you, and trust your company. If you delivered a great experience, there's no reason they would go anywhere else—unless they forget about you. That’s why staying in touch is essential. Let’s say your cost per lead is $45 or more through Google Ads. Compare that with $1–$3 to follow up with an existing customer through a text, postcard, or voicemail. That’s a no-brainer. Daniel Dixon: Here’s how to retain customers: Increase Frequency – Get clients to use your service more often. If they hire you once a year, can they hire you twice or more? Upsell Services – Many customers only know you for the first service they bought. Tell them what else you do—pressure washing, roof cleaning, holiday lights, etc. Stay Top of Mind – Most customers forget your business name a month later. Use automated marketing like texts, emails, and postcards to stay in front of them. You can automate all of this using SendJim. We integrate with CRMs like Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, and anything connected via Zapier. For example, after a job is completed, SendJim can automatically send a thank-you postcard, then a reminder in three months, then a holiday message—all hands-free. If you’re not marketing to your current customers, you’re leaving the most profitable sales on the table. Check us out at https://www.sendjim.com. Hope this was helpful—keep working hard and crushing it. Sid Graef: So after hearing that, it’s pretty easy to understand—selling to your existing clients is the most valuable sale you can make. We’ve set up a 5-page action guide to walk you through building your retention plan. Download it at https://www.thehugeinsider.com. We’ve also got more ways to help you level up your business. Visit the website for: Two free podcasts: The Huge Insider and The Huge Transformation Show A weekly newsletter with actionable insights Our Facebook community And one I’m especially excited about—The Huge Convention, August 20–22 in Nashville. This is our ...
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    14 mins
  • Episode 20: Simple System for Maximum Referrals

    Episode 20: Simple System for Maximum Referrals
    May 19 2025
    In this episode of The Huge Insider Podcast, Sid Graef takes you to the mountaintops of his hometown, Missoula, Montana, to frame today’s powerful topic: referrals. Sid shares how you can create a low-cost, high-conversion referral program by simply asking at the right times. From planting the seed during the initial call to reinforcing the ask after the job is done, Sid outlines a step-by-step strategy that took his business from just a few monthly referrals to 3–5 every week. Referrals bring in high-trust, price-flexible customers who are easier to close—making this free marketing method one of the most profitable strategies you can implement. Be sure to download the free action guide at www.thehugeinsider.com to start building your referral system today. Show Notes Resources Mentioned The Huge Insider Action Guide The Huge Insider Newsletter Signup Foundations Platform Trial Offer Huge Mastermind Info Page The Huge Convention Tickets The Huge Insider Facebook Group The Huge Transformations Podcast (Available at thehugeinsider.com) Transcript Sid Graef: Welcome back to The Huge Insider Podcast. I’m Sid Graef, I’m your host, and this is the show for home service business builders who are trying to break the million-dollar mark. And here’s why: we’ve gathered a group of experts who run seven- and eight-figure businesses, businesses doing anywhere from $2 million a year to $40 million a year. We get their best wisdom, their best insights, their best advice, and we give it to you straight—undistilled, no fluff. Just, “Here it is. This is a tactic or strategy you can apply in your business today that will make your business stronger, better, more profitable tomorrow.” That’s why we put out the show—we want to help you grow steadily, quickly, profitably. So today’s topic is referrals. That’s pretty cool. I’m going to show you around, for those of you that are watching this. Right behind me—let me step out of the way—is my hometown: Missoula, Montana. Missoula is a small to medium-sized mountain town. It’s really beautiful here. There’s a river that runs right through it over here, and mountains surround us all the way around. The iconic “M” Mountain is here—it’s got the big “M” on it for the University of Montana. Over here is the “L”—it’s for Loyola High School, a private school. And then you’ve got neighborhoods and people living off in the woods like this. It’s absolutely stunning. Let me spin this a little bit more. Also, we’ve got a lot of wildflowers going on. I’m at the top of a place called Waterworks Hill. So, why do I tell you all that? Here’s why—because this is a part of our community, and no matter where you live, people form communities. You may have a small, tight-knit community, or you may live in a big city, maybe you’re in Minneapolis, but there are community pockets all around within larger metro areas. So that leads me to the topic of referrals. Here’s the thing—people, for as long as time has existed, want to do business with those they know, like, and trust. So how do you get people to know, like, and trust you? There are a lot of ways. Usually, it’s a handshake, eye contact, a great conversation, and doing something good for someone. That’s how you start a relationship and build trust. But in a digital age, how do you build trust quickly? One of the most powerful ways to build trust and gain new customers at literally no cost is referrals. People love to refer businesses they’ve had great experiences with. They talk about great restaurants, good movies, sporting events, cool people they’ve met. So the first part of gaining referrals is being worthy of being talked about. Do business in a way that is so good, people can’t ignore you—they want to talk about you. That’s the baseline for getting referrals. But here’s the catch: people don’t refer as often as they could, because you don’t ask them. If you want to build a deliberate, focused referral program, here’s what we do: Plant the seed when someone calls to schedule. We say: “Hey, are you aware of our Good Neighbor Discount? That means if you’ve got a neighbor who wants to have their windows cleaned on the same day, we’ll give you both a $10 discount. That usually saves you $50 a piece. Sound good?” Remind them in the confirmation message about the Good Neighbor Discount. At the door, when our team shows up, they say: “Mrs. Johnson, our goal today is to do such a great job that we earn your five-star review and you’ll want to tell your friends and family about us.” That’s watering the seed we planted. After the job is done, we ask them to inspect the work, collect payment, and say: “Remember when I said our goal was to earn your five-star review and your referral? How did we do? Did we earn it, or could we do better?” We ask them to leave a review online, and we text them a link to make it easy. We give...
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    8 mins
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