| Web Site Directs Customers to Home Improvement Help By Sarah Toman The State Journal November 30, 2007 According to Richard Quinn, the contracting industry doesn't always have the best reputation. He decided to make a change to get good people in the business a way to advertise in an easy to use, low- cost way. Quinn launched The Home Improvement Network.org to advertise contractors and companies of North Central West Virginia who have gone through an application process that includes proper licensing requirements, adequate insurance qualifications and general reputation. "My goal is to make the names of these organizations household names," Quinn said. As a contractor himself, Quinn was working in homes every day where consumers asked his advice on other services that were in need of home repair. By logging on to the Web site, people can now find businesses that will address their renovation and household repair needs. "The Web site is not set up in a way to make a huge profit margin," Quinn said. "It is there to help keep locally owned businesses in business." Quinn keeps the Web site running through a big donation of his time doing the Web design himself and personally contacting several local businesses to join the site. "Our business has probably doubled or tripled in the number of estimates we've been contacted for and we get nearly 85% of the jobs," said Carrie Russell of Triple S Contracting in Clarksburg. Triple S Contracting, which specializes in kitchen and bathroom renovations, was referred to the Web site by another contracting company. "We all work together as a team," Russell said. "These are all high-end contractors who are established and do good work." The Home Improvement Network now advertises 20 to 25 contracting businesses, Quinn said. As consumers began requesting things outside of the contracting realm, Quinn is now working to expand by promoting locally owned, licensed businesses through the Web site Anything Local.org. Anything Local.org will officially launch when it builds a satisfactory number of members. Members do not have to pay their dues until the site's official launch. The site now promotes 15 to 20 locally owned businesses, Quinn said. "Richard is very proactive in promoting local businesses, said Mandy Steele of Mandy's Artworks of Fairmont. "He reaches people I normally wouldn't reach." Steele said several people have contacted her after she began advertising on the Web site two months ago. "The site is very well-designed and it is easy to get to and search through," Steele said. "It has improved my custom framing business." Quinn and the members of Anything Local.org donate 10 percent of gross member dues to local non- profits. Members of Anything Local.org are currently trying to help the Marion County Humane Society keep its doors open as they only have enough funding to remain open through the end of the year, Quinn said. For more information on how to advertise on either Web site, call Quinn at (304) 290-5597, write P.O. Box 4203, Clarksburg, WV 26302 or visit either Web site for detailed information. |
