Our company was founded to be a toolbox for independent contractors. We supply easy to maintain and install bathroom materials and we give contractors the training that they need to become successful in the industry.
We have developed sales tools and techniques to guarantee their success. We also help them to develop their online digital presence in order to get leads, effectively.
We are experts in the field because we have built another business solely on these principals and we became so successful that we want to share it with contractors across the US so that they too can have a successful and reputable remodeling business.
The owners of bath network combined have a background in general contracting and marketing and sales and they have developed these tools over the course of the last 3 years. These are proven sales methods using primarily the waterproof wall panel that bath network supplies.
Our company is national and we ship anywhere. We don’t have a physical location other than in the showrooms of our dealers and vendors. We do however provide nationwide install training for new contractors.
- Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements)
The owners are Sara Pereira and Daniel Calahan. Sara has a degree in Advertising and Marketing. Daniel has had over 20 years in the contracting industry and has extensive sales experience as well. Daniel started his own successful remodeling business “Calahan Bath Kitchen and Sunrooms” and Sara helped to develop the sales tools for the business. Bath Network has become a labor of love for the fantastic product that is the FIBO wall panel; which is the main product that Bath Network was founded around. The product gave Calahan BKS so much success that the duo had to make it known to other contractors in the US. They invested their sources in buying a shipping container of FIBO from its manufacturer in Norway and have had so much success and excitement from their customer base that they could not wait to share it across the USA. The product is now available to any contractor or DIYer across the United States. The Sales tools and trainings are also available nationwide to any Bath Network Dealer. There is no fee to become a dealer, you just need to be a licensed contractor. If a contractor has no experience, FIBO is the easiest product to learn how to install and perfect for a one man crew due to it’s light weight.
- What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
The business evolved over the first year as we were met with obstacles and supply chain delays. Originally, we wanted to just sell the material but then we realized that selling an unknown product without any support or training was not a good model. So we decided to turn the company mission into more of a one stop shop for all contractors looking to become successful. And we are qualified to do it because we built our success around this one product; FIBO Wall panels. - What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Don’t be afraid of change: Embrace it. Starting a business is a gamble and sometimes you go in there with one idea and by the time you are in it deep you will have had to change so many things about it because you will have learned with your mistakes. IT may look very different than what you started out with, and that is not a bad thing.
Put in the hard work. If you love what you do, you shouldn’t find this to be very difficult, but sometimes it’s easy to let things slide and take the easy way out. You must be willing to work hard and work long hours to make a successful business. If you don’t stop you won’t fail.
You will never make more money, get more free time, or get more vacation days, working for someone else. Being an entrepreneur is one of the most freeing experiences because you have no limits set by someone else. You can reach for the sky. So if you want freedom, take chances, get uncomfortable, work hard, and you will reach for the stars. - What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Leadership skills; this doesn’t mean boss someone around, but be a team player and have everyone’s best interest at hand.
Perseverance: You don’t stop when you fail, you keep going. Because it is when you fail that you learn your biggest lessons that will fuel your growth.
Financial literacy: You can be very good at what you do, whether your business is as an installer , a baker, an etsy store owner, but if you don’t have the basics of financial literacy, or at least a CFO to guide you, all you hard work may not produce the financial gains you need to keep going. Know your worth. - How many hours do you work a day on average?
12 hour week days and a few hours on the weekends are average. But I don’t mind it when the work I am putting in is bringing me so much joy. - To what do you most attribute your success?
Dan and I (Sara) are great partners. We really pull each other forward and keep the other focused. We each have our own strengths and they are polar opposite but that is why it makes this company work so well. We know what we are good at and we put our best selves forward because of how passionate we are about our work. If we didn’t have one rooting for the other I don’t think we would have become so successful. It’s almost a fun game we play at this point. We have nothing to lose really so we say: “ How amazing can we make this company?” - How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Digital marketing is our go to because this is a product that is to be purchased on our online store www.store.bathnetwork.com So it is fitting that we chose digital. - Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
We funded this company ourselves. We wanted to really build something we believe in so we took our savings and poured it into the company. - What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Stay focused. Don’t give up, even when you think you failed. - Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years? We will be the top online store for bathroom products. We will supply materials to contractors and DIY homeowners alike. Everyone will know about FIBO Waterproof wall panels.
- Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Apple, even though they are a huge company now, they started with one man’s bright idea. And that idea fueled so much change in our entire society. I mean, who doesn’t have an apple product on them or in their home? And to think Steve Jobs failed miserably and was bankrupt before his success. If that doesn’t teach us about perseverance, I don’t know what will. - How important have good employees been to your success?
Finding the right people is key in running any business. They are the muscles that move the skeleton of the company. They are vital. - How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
if we have another idea that clearly seems to be better we may ditch the old one. - What motivates you?
The freedom of being my own boss. - How do you generate new ideas?
I am a visual person so I get inspired by what I see. But having conversations with my partner Dan, we normally will bounce ideas back and forth and we evaluate them together. - How do you define success?
When our customers are happy with our product and having successful businesses because of what we taught them. That is success for us. - How do you build a successful customer base?
Trust and Relationship building. People want to do business with someone they can trust and can go to with questions, help, advice. We want our Bath Network Dealers to feel like we have their back. We are not just selling them an amazing product, we will also teach them how to install it, troubleshoot, and help in any way we can. Because their success is our goal. - What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
the relationships we build. People are fascinating. - What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The very first sale we made! It was memorable! - What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Entrepreneurs have freedom. They may work more but they have freedom and will get experiences that shape them and their business. The employee has no freedom, just a job that pays bills. - In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Late nights working but not minding it one bit. - If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I don’t think I would be able to do anything differently because It may not have let me to where I am today. I am where I am today because of all the different experiences and jobs I had in the past. They all taught me something. - How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
It has given me the flexibility to be more involved with my kids’ lives. I don’t need to dread telling my boss that I can’t come in to work because I have a sick child or because I have a school thing. There is no more pressure and worry. - If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Jesus. He is the son of God and has so much to teach us. I would love to have more faith, worry less, hand over my problems to God and let him guide me to make the best decisions for me, my family and the company. - Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Dan, my business partner. He changed my way of seeing corporate America. He pulled me from employee to employer. I trusted him because I saw how much success he had with his company and how he started it with a mere $1000 and now he has a multimillion dollar company. I trust his decisions and he inspired me to take this leap and create Bath Network. - What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I can’t remember how many times I have read it or leafed through it in difficult times. It has been a constant in my life in times of chaos, disorder, fear. It always lifted me up and made me see the world differently. This book changed my entire outlook on life. I was fortunate to read it first when I was 19 so it shaped my adult life very early on. I now live by it. - How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Think before you speak. Wait before you react. Take 24 hours to process important information before reacting. - What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
I do Aerials, I also love to Dance. I am a very active person, so my personality dictates that I must always be moving and doing something different. I love crafts. All kinds of crafts. I will take on a lot of different projects just because I need to let my creativity out.
I also love to read. Fiction and non-fiction. I like to read every night. - What makes you happy?
Traveling. One of the benefits of being an entrepreneur is you don’t have a set number of vacation days. I love to see the world. I traveled a lot as a child with my parents and now as an adult who has no set number of vacation days, I am starting to travel more and really enjoy seeing the world. - What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
At times you have to prioritize a deadline or work instead of a fun event on a weekend. Your extra dollars sometimes have to fund a shipping container vs something that would be more “fun” and for your own personal benefit only. This is all in the beginning as the company grows. Over time these become a thing of the past. - How did this product influence you so much to start a business around it?
I (Sara) am originally from Europe. In Europe, home décor and design is very different than in the USA. Styles are different, buying trends are completely different than in the US. When we first saw the FIBO product, we stumbled upon it because we were trying to find an alternative to tile. When we saw FIBO and learned more about it, we thought this is the next greatest thing since sliced bread. How does no one know about it?
The company, FIBO, in Norway, knew they had a great product, it had been successful in Europe for 70 years, but they couldn’t crack the US market. The first 9 months we couldn’t get a customer to purchase the material. We didn’t know how to sell it. The European methods weren’t working on American consumers. And then, with Dan’s 20 year experience and my (Sara) experience in sales and being European, we figured it out! We developed a sales system that guaranteed that every customer who saw FIBO walls, wanted it for their shower! After that, the only walls we were selling were FIBO and we loved the product so much that we wanted to bring it into the USA ourselves and distribute it. The walls are much lighter than any other stone shower system and easy to carry in the home due to their size. The panels have an aqua lock seal that clicks in place for a completely watertight finish. Our goal is that FIBO will replace the American Standard Acrylic Shower in homes with a much trendier and luxurious look than the plastic Acrylic shower. FIBO is the future of bathrooms in America and in the World.
Link: https://bathnetwork.com/
