Explore every episode of the podcast Smarter Building Materials Marketing

Ask most marketers what's driving demand and you'll get a list of campaigns. When host Zach Williams asked Erin Plummer, CMO of Hancock Lumber, she started somewhere else: customer intimacy and the discipline of deciding what not to do. In this episode she breaks down how a seventh-generation lumber dealer keeps marketing aligned to its mission as it scales, and why saying no is the strategic move she protects most.

How do you attract, retain, and actually connect with the next generation of workers in building materials? Beth sits down with Mike Ellerbrook, Senior Vice President of UFP Site-Built, to talk about what his team learned by going directly to Gen Z, why bridging the gap between tribal knowledge and tech-native skills is a two-way street, and how the launch of Frame Forward Systems turned a product rebrand into a real growth engine. Mike shares the internal playbook behind going all in on brand, the four pillars his sales team leans on, and why being interested might be the most underrated leadership move in the industry.

What does it look like to bring an entirely new product category into residential construction? On this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth talks with Brian Sheng, Co-Founder and CEO of Aquaria, about building a company that delivers clean water to homes by harvesting it from the air. Brian shares how Aquaria found its first customers, why they positioned alongside solar and backup power to accelerate adoption, and what he has learned about balancing hands-on product experiences with AI-powered customer support.

We're bringing this one back for the brand and strategy folks in our audience. Jenny Nail's conversation on how Oldcastle APG is balancing B2B partnerships with a direct-to-consumer push (and putting the homeowner at the center of all of it) has only gotten more relevant as that shift continues to play out across the industry. If you missed it, this is a good one to catch. Enjoy! What does it take to lead growth inside one of the most recognizable names in building products? Beth sits down with Jenny Nail, Chief Revenue Officer at Oldcastle APG, to explore how the brand has evolved beyond masonry into a full outdoor living powerhouse. Jenny shares how Oldcastle APG is balancing B2B partnerships with a growing direct-to-consumer focus, how customer decision-making is shifting, and why internal culture plays a critical role in long-term success.

We're pulling this one out of the archive for the sales folks in our audience. Bradley Hartmann's conversation on value-based selling has only gotten more relevant since it first aired — so we wanted to make sure it got in front of anyone who missed it, and give returning listeners a reason to come back to it. Enjoy! What happens when market conditions shift and your team has to learn how to sell again? In this episode, Beth talks with Bradley Hartmann, CEO of Bradley Hartmann & Co., about how to train sales teams that have grown used to order-taking, how to clearly define sales activity, and why tightening the feedback loop between sales and marketing might be the most underrated growth lever in building materials today.

We're bringing this one back. Karli Slocum's conversation with Beth on digital strategy, self-serve experiences, and brand consistency in the building materials space was packed with insights that hold up ... and then some. If you missed it the first time around, now's your shot. If you caught it already, it's worth a second listen. Enjoy! How do you serve a customer who wants to be hands-on and self-serve—but still expects a high-touch experience when it counts? In this episode, Beth talks with Karli Slocum, Vice President of Marketing and Product at 3form, about building the digital tools designers actually want, translating online behavior into offline sales, and making sure the brand shows up consistently from product sample to project handoff.

In a product category where white is white and red is red, how does a manufacturer stand out? On this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Zach and Beth talk with Brandon Guthrie, Marketing Director at Durasein Solid Surface, about how the company invested in a full-scale rebrand, built a specification-first go-to-market strategy, and created a brand that architects and designers actually want to engage with. They also get into Brandon's take on trade shows, why internal trust matters more than big budgets, and what it means to grow a brand with patience and precision.

Trade shows are one of the biggest line items in a building products marketing budget, but too many manufacturers treat their booths like product showrooms instead of experiences. On this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth talks with Shaun Jennings, Senior Marketing Communications Manager at FastenMaster, about what it actually takes to make a trade show booth work. They cover how to choose the right shows, why product demonstrations outperform displays, how to staff a booth for real conversations, and why the best trade show marketing happens after everyone goes home.

This week’s episode is a little different. Instead of a guest interview, Beth shares a field report from IBS 2026 in Orlando — breaking down what actually stood out on the show floor. From hidden products made visible, to gamified lead capture, to brands repositioning themselves around partnership instead of product, this episode unpacks the booth strategies that felt intentional and the ones that felt forgettable. The strongest brands weren’t just showcasing products. They were designing for decision-making and building ROI directly into the experience. If trade shows are part of your 2026 strategy, this one’s worth a listen.

Acoustic products are technical, customizable, and often overlooked in commercial construction. So how does a manufacturer stand out in a category where performance matters more than aesthetics and complexity can overwhelm buyers? On this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth talks with Cody Martell, Marketing Director at Conwed, about simplifying complex product lines, segmenting massive catalogs, and building brand recognition through better documentation and presentation. It’s a practical look at making highly technical products easier to understand and easier to buy.

Florida Paints has been around for decades, competing in a category where brand loyalty, regional trust, and contractor relationships matter just as much as price. But proving the impact of marketing in that environment isn’t simple. In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth sits down with Santiago Quintero, Director of Marketing at Florida Paints, to talk about how the company approaches measurement, alignment, and accountability in a traditionally hard-to-track industry. Santiago shares how Florida Paints connects marketing activity to real business outcomes, why internal trust matters as much as dashboards, and what it takes to earn buy-in from sales and leadership.

AI is quickly changing how product imagery gets created, edited, and personalized in building materials. In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth and Zach talk with Greg Weyman, Founder and Managing Partner at MarketThrive, about how manufacturers are blending AI and CGI to build scalable visual content libraries. Greg shares how these tools are helping brands visualize complex products, cut down lead times, and produce tailored assets for different marketing channels—all while keeping creative costs in check. It’s a look at how the product imagery workflow is being reimagined from the ground up.

Garage doors are often an afterthought. But the right door can boost curb appeal, improve energy efficiency, and deliver one of the highest ROIs in home improvement. In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Zach and Beth talk with Tina Mealer, Director of Marketing at Haas Door, about why this category deserves more attention. Tina shares how her team is helping builders and dealers rethink garage doors as both a performance upgrade and a design decision.

INTUS Windows designs and manufactures high-performance windows and doors for commercial and multifamily projects. On this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth PopNikolov sits down with Kurtis Perdelwitz, INTUS’s Director of Marketing & Communications, to unpack how the brand has embraced alignment between sales, marketing, and customer service—and the surprising tech that’s helped them grow 30% without adding headcount.

EuroCave invented the first wine cabinet nearly 50 years ago. Now the company is using market intelligence to launch Goguette, a design-forward brand built for modern wine lovers in the U.S. Camille Frey-Syren, Director of Brands at EuroCave Group, joins Beth to share how they turned French heritage into an accessible lifestyle brand and what every manufacturer can learn about entering and winning a new market.

Marketing in the home improvement industry is evolving fast—but consumers still want what they’ve always wanted: speed, clarity, and convenience. On this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth PopNikolov sits down with Josh Churnick, Chief Marketing Officer at Express Flooring, to explore how his team is building a high-volume marketing engine that delivers real results in real time.

What does it take to create a brand-new product in the home building space — and scale it from idea to IPO? On this episode, Beth PopNikolov talks with Galiano Tiramani, co-founder of BOXABL, about the foldable casita that has generated over a billion social views and what it means to turn that attention into sales, distribution, and a long-term strategy for disrupting affordable housing.

Homebuyers don’t fall in love with square footage. They fall in love with moments. In this episode, we explore how one often-overlooked product category can help builders sell more homes. Kurt Stauffacher, Senior National Account Manager at Hearth & Home Technologies (Heat & Glo, Heatilator), shares how to turn fireplaces into model-home centerpieces, adapt to spec and attached housing trends, train sellers on nuance, and protect margins by delivering high perceived value at the best total cost.

How do you bring clarity, consistency, and energy to a category still fighting for mainstream adoption? In this episode, Beth and Zach sit down with Audree Grubesic—Offsite Construction ambassador and founder of Offsite Dirt Network—to talk about what’s really happening inside the modular movement. Audree shares how she went from builder to media creator, how modular has evolved over the past decade, and what building materials companies need to understand if they want to stay relevant as offsite continues to grow.

What does it take to lead growth inside one of the most recognizable names in building products? Beth sits down with Jenny Nail, Chief Revenue Officer at Oldcastle APG, to explore how the brand has evolved beyond masonry into a full outdoor living powerhouse. Jenny shares how Oldcastle APG is balancing B2B partnerships with a growing direct-to-consumer focus, how customer decision-making is shifting, and why internal culture plays a critical role in long-term success.

What do you get when you put four outspoken leaders from the modular world on one mic? A very honest, very unfiltered conversation about what actually works when it comes to social media, sales, and brand presence in construction. In this special episode, guest host Heather Wallace from Momentum Innovation Group leads a follow-up panel discussion with Steve Dubin of Rmax, Merrick Macomber of Modular Maven, and Chad Crosby of Halo Halo. They originally joined Beth on stage at World of Modular to talk about LinkedIn and using social platforms to drive real business. Now they’re bringing that conversation to the podcast—complete with live commentary, strong opinions, and zero fluff.

How do you serve a customer who wants to be hands-on and self-serve—but still expects a high-touch experience when it counts? In this episode, Beth talks with Karli Slocum, Vice President of Marketing and Product at 3form, about building the digital tools designers actually want, translating online behavior into offline sales, and making sure the brand shows up consistently from product sample to project handoff.

What happens when market conditions shift and your team has to learn how to sell again? In this episode, Beth talks with Bradley Hartmann, CEO of Bradley Hartmann & Co., about how to train sales teams that have grown used to order-taking, how to clearly define sales activity, and why tightening the feedback loop between sales and marketing might be the most underrated growth lever in building materials today.

What happens when a family-owned manufacturer known for its values decides to take on modern lead generation? In this episode, Beth sits down with Jake Calhoun, Vice President of Marketing at ProVia, to talk about navigating legacy, managing modern messaging, and bridging the gap between product and service in one of the industry’s most competitive categories.

What if being the first in your category made you the Kleenex of your market? And how do you turn that into a lasting advantage? In this episode, we talk to Dean McIntyre, president of Ayrsonics and CEO of the McIntyre Group, about building a brand that stands out in the competitive world of acoustic products. Dean shares why they diversified, how they pivoted during economic downturns, and how they’re bringing manufacturing back to North America to build a more resilient business.

Architects may be the ultimate influencers in the building process, but winning their specification is only the beginning—and one missed detail or a slow sample delivery can lose you the next project. In this episode, Beth PopNikolov and Zach Williams sit down with Benjamin Glunz, CEO of Anguleris (the company behind Swatchbox and other essential tools for architects and designers). Together, they dive into why shifting your strategy from chasing leads to genuinely supporting architects’ workflows can future-proof your brand and put your products at the forefront of today’s fast-evolving construction landscape.

Navigating today’s unpredictable job market requires more than great products—it demands smart, proactive hiring strategies and transparent leadership. In this episode, Cassie Fosher, President of SnapDragon Associates, shares what building materials manufacturers need to know about recruiting right now. From high-demand sales roles to shifting candidate expectations, you’ll learn what top talent is really looking for—and how your brand can rise to the top, even in uncertain times.

Technology is finally sticking in the building materials industry—and not just with the younger crowd. In this episode, TOOLBX founder Erik Bornstein and VP of Product Brad Cumiskey join us to unpack what’s driving tech adoption among LBM dealers, how builder expectations have changed post-COVID, and why AI might be the “new Internet” moment for this space.

On this episode, Beth PopNikolov sits down with the mother-daughter duo behind Concretti Designs to explore how a manufacturing-forward mindset and radical transparency turn handmade concrete into a beloved brand. They dive into the power of showcasing people, process, and imperfections to build trust and loyalty in today’s design-driven market.

How does a brand-first mindset drive real growth in a traditionally sales-led industry? In this episode, Beth and Zach talk with Dani Zizak, Chief Marketing Officer at National Nail, about why putting brand at the center of everything has been their winning strategy. Dani shares how National Nail's teams work together to shape messaging, build trust with pros and dealers, and navigate the constant evolution of the building materials market.

What if community connections and authentic digital engagement were the secret weapons for building materials growth in a sea of commodity products? On this episode, we talk to the head of marketing for a multi-location dealer in the South East and hear how they are leveraging the power of personal stories and local relationships to drive sales and create deeper customer loyalty.

The building materials industry is evolving, and so are its customers. With younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials becoming key buyers, brands must rethink their marketing strategies to stay relevant. In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Zach Williams sits down with Michael Gabbert, Director of Marketing at Tricam and Gorilla, to discuss how brands can evolve their strategies to meet the expectations of modern buyers. Drawing from his experience at Amazon and Target, Mike shares actionable insights on leveraging social media, video content, influencer partnerships, and data-driven marketing to capture attention, build trust, and drive sales in today’s market.

Thermory USA has redefined what’s possible in the wood industry. In this episode of the Smarter Building Materials Marketing podcast, Zach Williams and Beth PopNikolov are joined by Kevin DeMars, CEO of Thermory USA, to explore how the company’s innovative approach to marketing, transparency, and quality is reshaping the thermally modified wood industry. Kevin shares his perspective on associations, the importance of differentiation, and how down markets can offer unique growth opportunities for manufacturers.

As the building industry faces growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, Gensler is leading the charge with innovative approaches that address material sourcing, collaboration, and transparency. In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Zach Williams and Beth PopNikolov sit down with Erik Barth, Senior Associate Architect and Regional Design Resilience Leader at Gensler, to explore how sustainability has evolved over the past decade. From tackling greenwashing to creating standardized sustainability frameworks, the conversation dives deep into the challenges and opportunities facing architects, manufacturers, and contractors.

As 2025 approaches, building product companies face a year of uncertainty and opportunity, from shifts in the commercial market to heightened competition. In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Zach Williams and Beth PopNikolov sit down with Jim Wueste, VP of Carlisle Waterproofing, to offer their insights into what the future holds for the industry. The conversation delves into market trends, the impact of tariffs and interest rates, and what companies must do to thrive in the competitive year ahead.

In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Zach Williams and Beth PopNikolov sit down with Jim Wueste, VP of Carlisle Waterproofing, to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and critical shifts shaping the building materials industry. Discover why focusing on execution over market fluctuations matters, the untapped potential of platforms like Reddit, how generational shifts are reshaping consumer trust, the underutilized power of influencer marketing in our industry, and how companies like Sherwin-Williams and BFS are setting the bar in their respective spaces.

In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing, Beth and Zach explore some key insights into giving customers and clients the kind of experience that will not only bring them to the table, but will build loyalty that will keep them there. Director of B2B Marketing for Techo-Bloc, Alex Cadieux, talks about how they moved from just building great products, to the next level of supporting their customers through education on the way to build things properly. Entering a new phase, they have now been able to go even one step further by helping them learn how to market their business to acquire and retain clients. He talks about a new event Techo-Bloc is hosting as an example of how they are helping their dealers grow their businesses. Zach and Beth will be bringing their digital marketing expertise to the event as featured speakers. 

In this episode Zach talks with Matt Nichols, the founder and owner of Digiwise, about digital transformation. Matt breaks the process down into how to achieve and sell the strategies to digitally transform as a manufacturer as well as how to implement those strategies and hold to the milestones. Zach asks Matt to give the listeners some ideas about how organizations go wrong in this area. They end the episode with talking about what can happen after you achieve the basic steps. 

In this episode Beth and Zach are joined by Grant Farnsworth to talk about the main questions they get asked about the sales and marketing outlook for 2025. They share stats as well as some of their own thoughts to help the listener understand the trends from the past few years following the pandemic, to what they see that will drive decisions in 2025.  The three are joined by Dave King and Sophia Wedeen, experts in the area of marketing research in the industry. From earning contractor loyalty, to DIY longevity forecasts, it’s a jam-packed episode. It’s also a preview of what the Building Products Customer Workshop promises in Nashville on December 3rd and 4th. 

In this episode hosts Zach Williams and Beth PopNikolov dive into the world of innovation and market disruption with Michael Rigney, the CEO and co-founder of Cala Systems. Cala Systems is introducing the first intelligent heat pump water heater for residential use. They are revolutionizing water heating with advanced sensors, software, and hardware to optimize energy efficiency, integrate with solar systems, and much more. Michael shares his 20+ years of experience in energy and climate startups to talk about the challenges of bringing hardware to market,, the importance of macro timing, and the future of home electrification. 

The CEO of SnapDragon, Mark Barnard, and host Beth PopNikolov sit down and talk about the labor market from multiple perspectives. As a recruiting firm, SnapDragon sees the side of both the people being recruited and the company looking for the right candidate. Mark gives some insights into the importance of candidates being introspective about what kind of position they are looking for, as well as doing good research about the company they are interviewing with. He and Beth also discuss the key task of reference checking on the company’s part. 

AI integration in your operations could be the game-changer for your building materials business. From enhancing customer engagement to revolutionizing installation procedures, the future of AI offers untapped potential to streamline processes and outperform competition. In this episode of the Smarter Building Materials Marketing podcast, hosts Zach Williams and Beth PopNikolov discuss some exciting applications of AI with Fran Walker, the Director of Marketing at Trim-Tex. 

You don’t have to “go all in” with AI in order for it to help you create a more efficient workflow that will free you up to spend more time on what really matters. In this episode of Smarter Building Materials Marketing podcast, hosts Zach Williams and Beth PopNikolov follow up their conversation with Fran Walker, the Director of Marketing at Trim-Tex. They talk about how implementing AI in your business can streamline processes, enhance productivity, and level the playing field against competitors with larger budgets.

Beth and Zach reflect on their conversation with Tim Rethlake, recapping the evolving role of the salesperson and why adapting to the changes is crucial for staying competitive in today's market.

Most sales organizations in the building materials industry are failing to equip their teams with the right skills, leading to high turnover and missed opportunities. Learn how a shift from product training to sales story training can transform your team's success and drive your business forward.

Discover the dynamic interplay between customer-driven market demands and strategic pricing in the building materials industry. Learn how these forces shape product availability, influence business strategies and ultimately determine competitive success.

As the construction landscape shifts, unforeseen challenges and innovations are redrawing the blueprint of success. Discover how emerging trends, from artificial intelligence pricing strategies to service-oriented product offerings, are shaping the building materials industry and could redefine your bottom line.

Hear about the latest changes in email deliverability that are set to impact businesses in a big way. Learn about the new requirements from major email providers and how these changes could affect your marketing and sales initiatives.

The evolution of distributor-customer relationships and the impact of online education on consumer behavior are reshaping the building materials industry. Understanding these shifts and adapting your marketing and distribution strategies is crucial for staying ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Discover how building materials manufacturers can become better partners with contractors by understanding their financial needs. Learn how to connect with and support contractors in their financial and business growth, to build trust, improve product adoption and ultimately increase sales.