Below the Surfce / Episode 05
From College Baseball to Building a Business at 38
Shane Leever, The Window Foundry: Shane Leever went from college baseball to launching The Window Foundry. Pricing, setbacks, virtual sales, and family boundaries. Episode 05 of Below the Surfce, the Surfce podcast.
About this episode
Navigating the window industry can feel like a maze for homeowners, but Shane Leever is here to cut through the clutter. In this episode, discover how to make informed decisions about your window investments without getting lost in the jargon or overwhelmed by options. If you’re a homeowner contemplating window replacements or renovations, this episode is a must-listen!
Shane shares his journey from aspiring college baseball player to entrepreneur, detailing how a passion for home improvement led him to launch his own window company during the pandemic. He reveals the common misconceptions homeowners face, such as the confusion between low-cost and high-end options, and why the right choice isn’t always about price. You’ll learn about the importance of choosing quality installations and how to trust local businesses without the fear of being left in the lurch.
You’ll discover:
- The critical factors homeowners must consider when comparing window bids and brands.
- Shane’s personal experiences that shaped his customer-centric approach in the window industry.
- Strategies for balancing family life while launching a business, including setting boundaries and maintaining priorities.
- Insights into the innovative techniques Shane is implementing to simplify the window buying process through virtual sales.
This episode isn’t just about windows; it’s about the entrepreneurial spirit. Shane’s story illustrates the resilience required to pivot and thrive in challenging times. With candid discussions about the stakes of customer satisfaction and the challenges of running a business, listeners gain valuable insights that resonate beyond home renovations.
Perfect for homeowners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to tackle the complexities of home improvement with confidence. Tune in now to learn how to make your next window purchase a breeze!
About Shane Leever
Shane Leever runs The Window Foundry.
What we talked about
- 00:00Why homeowners get overwhelmed by window options
- 01:15Big-box overhead vs local trust and warranty risk
- 01:43Why installation quality matters as much as product choice
- 02:37The story behind starting The Window Foundry
- 03:00From college baseball injury to entrepreneurship
- 04:22Leaving his previous company during COVID and launching again
- 05:21Building a customer experience that covers every step
- 07:26Advice for starting a business without quitting too early
- 08:52Knowing whether your idea should be a business or a side hustle
- 10:09The expensive mistake that nearly sank an early project
- 11:56Why setbacks can make a business stronger
- 13:23How Shane protects family time and sets boundaries
- 16:09Selling windows virtually and scaling beyond in-home visits
- 18:09Building a single platform for estimates, financing, and tracking
- 20:01Why human connection still beats bot-like customer service
- 22:02No shortcuts, and why hard things are usually the right things
- 23:59Shane’s morning process: blueprint, roadmap, and action items
- 24:58Staying healthy, active, and consistent as an entrepreneur
- 27:07Shifting from desperation to service in sales conversations
- 28:33How entrepreneur friends shaped Shane’s mindset and resilience
- 30:24Five-year vision for The Window Foundry and remote sales growth
Sound familiar?
See where your hours go.
Selling big-ticket jobs? Estimates, financing paperwork, and order tracking are where deals slow down and hours disappear. We find where your hours go and where revenue slips through, then build the software that fixes it, so you can take on more work and still get your evenings back. The discovery call and demo build are free, so you see it working before you commit.
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We're always looking for founders and owners with a story worth hearing: how you started, what went wrong, and what you'd do differently. Recording takes about 30 minutes, online.
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