What if your contractor experience felt more like a five-star hotel stay than a gamble with your calendar and patience? That’s the challenge Cedric Merrills took on when he left wedding photography to build WOW 1 Day Painting in Asheville—a company that pairs speed with hospitality and backs it with systems anyone can understand. We talk about the surprising power of basic promises kept: estimates delivered before leaving the consultation, photo updates during the job, clear walk-throughs at the end, and a team trained to solve problems on the spot without waiting for permission.
Cedric opens up about hiring for character and teaching the craft—why professionalism, trust and ambition beat years of patchy “experience,” and how that approach grows a team clients mention by name in reviews. He breaks down the unit economics behind premium service, from lead costs to labor hours, and shares a simple truth: you can’t deliver excellence if you’re racing to be cheapest. Instead, he borrows moves from luxury restaurants and hotels—crew bios texted before arrival, name tags, small gifts, and a transparent status tracker—because confidence and clarity turn anxious buyers into lifelong fans.
We also dive into his bold next step: a lifetime touch-up guarantee. Once a year, during the slow winter season, his crew returns to refresh scuffs and marks for any interior they painted—for as long as you live in the home. It’s a retention engine disguised as kindness and a smart use of idle capacity. If you’re an entrepreneur or a homeowner who values reliability, communication, and quality that lasts, this conversation is a roadmap for raising both your price and your standards.
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All the best!
Bill

Thanks for listening. Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!

Bill