Industry roundup: Best of Houzz 2021 winners announced

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backyard swimming pool and patio design by Randy Angell
North Dallas Modern Backyard
Photo: Randy Angell Designs, Houzz
Houzz Inc. recently announced the Houzz community’s picks for Best Of Houzz 2021.

The organization says the exclusive award recognizes just three percent of the more than 2.5 million active home professionals and interior and architectural photographers on the Houzz platform. 

“The Best of Houzz awards are an emblem of trust and credibility for home professionals across the U.S. and around the world, and we are excited to celebrate this year’s winners,” says Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our critical need as homeowners to feel comfortable before inviting pros into and around our homes, and the Best of Houzz badge is a powerful way to communicate the trust that homeowners have in a pro’s business. It’s just one of many tools on the Houzz platform that help pros convey their unique expertise, and help homeowners find the right professionals for their projects.” 

The organization says the Best of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a professional’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews for projects completed in 2020. Photography badges are awarded to architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular.

A “Best of Houzz 2021” badge, specifying the category won, appears on winners’ profiles to help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals on Houzz locally and around the world. Houzz Pro members can also add the ‘Best of Houzz’ standout tag to their profile, which will appear in their directory listing and convey credibility. Winners have been announced globally. 

To see the most popular home designs, click here.

Virtual HNA announces 2020 awards

Hardscape contractors, producers and designers claimed top honors during the 2020 Virtual Hardscape North America Awards ceremony on January 26 during ICPI's Virtual HNA education event.

Each year, HNA says the awards recognize leading residential and commercial hardscape achievements creating walkways, patios, pool decks, outdoor living kitchens and living spaces and driveways as well as commercial plazas and streets.

landscaped patio with sitting areas, walkways, and pergolasClay Brick - Permeable Winner; Scotts Miracle-Gro Corporate Campus; Project location: Marysville, Ohio; Contractor: Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc.; Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company; Designer: Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc.Photo: ICPI

While conditions in 2020 have been quite different, HNA says these projects proved the pursuit of excellence can prevail.

In addition to product availability, the company says Belgard Design Studio is available to authorized contractors and dealers who are looking to visualize projects for homeowners that encompass both product offerings.

Belgard says it will manufacture Allan Block in the Northeast, and products will be available for purchase in the following states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Greater New York City and the Long Island area.

Belgard expands portfolio by offering Allan Block products

Anchor Concrete Products, an Oldcastle APG company, announced the partnership of Belgard with Allan Block, a leading provider of retaining wall systems for commercial, industrial, roadway and residential projects.

Through this partnership, Belgard says it will manufacture and sell Allan Block products in the Northeast, expanding its Belgard hardscape portfolio, and providing contractors with a full collection for both commercial and residential applications.

driveway with hardscape retention wall and stairsPhoto: Belgard

Belgard says dealers and contractors in select Northeast sites can work alongside Belgard sales associates to select both Belgard and Allan Block offerings, providing options for the most sophisticated projects. Product selection of Allan Block can be made using the Belgard catalog or visiting Belgard.com.

In addition to product availability, the company says Belgard Design Studio is available to authorized contractors and dealers who are looking to visualize projects for homeowners that encompass both product offerings.

Belgard says it will manufacture Allan Block in the Northeast, and products will be available for purchase in the following states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Greater New York City and the Long Island area.

Jobber announces professional development day

Jobber recently announced its virtual conference, Jobber Professional Development (PD) Day, will take place on March 24.

Gary Vee will keynote the event, kicking off a day of sessions led by an array of speakers, including seasoned service professionals and business coaches. The company says the event will provide small business owners and their management teams with valuable lessons around people, profit and process, so that they’re better equipped to tackle day-to-day challenges and improve efficiencies in their service business. Registration for the free event is now open.

Despite the economic uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Jobber says home service, which includes industries such as lawn care, plumbing, HVAC, and contracting, demonstrated resilience throughout 2020.

“Jobber PD Day is yet another way for us to give back to—and celebrate—the people in home service who help keep our communities safe and running,” says Sam Pillar, CEO and co-founder of Jobber. "2021 will be another fast-paced and challenging year for the home service category that is also ripe with opportunity for growth. The tips, resources and tools that Gary Vee and our lineup of expert speakers will share are invaluable for operating an in-demand small business during another year of economic curveballs.”

logo for jobber, a service scheduling software business

Jobber says the opening keynote, “Redefining Leadership: Live with Gary Vee,” will highlight what makes a great leader, how to set up a better definition of success and what it takes to succeed in 2021. As one of the most sought-after public speakers, Jobber says Gary Vee will pull from his own experience of helping his father grow their family business from $4M to $60M in sales.

After the keynote, the company says attendees will follow their own custom-built schedules consisting of workshops that matter the most to them. The process track, for example, will feature a workshop entitled “The Boring Success Formula: How To Create Systems in Your Business For Profitable Growth” presented by Shawn Van Dyke, founder of Built to Build Academy and author of Profit First for Contractors and The Paperwork Punch List.

Other notable speakers include Kristin Hadeed, CEO and founder of Student Maid and author of Permission to Screw Up, who will run a workshop around overcoming personal roadblocks and building a positive and competitive workplace for the people track.

Jobber says the event will also provide live networking opportunities where attendees can connect with other home service professionals to talk shop, share advice and learn from peers.

The company says North American registrants will also be entered to win prizes that support the growing needs of a professional home service business, including vehicle wraps, new team uniforms, computers, tablets and smartphones. 

Jobber says the PD Day is sponsored by Visa. At the event, Jorge Ortega, from the Visa Global Social Impact team, will lead a must-attend session on “Financial Planning for Company Growth,” that will explore best practices for budgeting, planning and goal setting.

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