The Novalé Podcast: Behind the Bathrooms Novalé Bathrooms

Novalé Bathrooms has been around for 12 years. The business has actually been around for longer in different shapes and forms. And yet, Steve believes Novalé is just getting started. The team is growing, the office is expanding and the jobs keep flowing. But it's always been intriguing on how and why Steve started the business, as well as his story. How did Steve start Novalé? Was it a smooth transition from tiling? How did he gain success early and use that to grow? How much did his business rely on referrals? How did he build his team? Why did he take his time to grow? 
 
Join Ben and Steve on this episode of the Story of Novalé pt. 1 - Starting the Business.
 
What we discuss in this episode:
- Steve's early career as a tiler
- Working with his father
- Managing jobs at the age of 16
- Learning how to do give a great customer experience from his uncle in war-torn Croatia
- The slow transition to doing bathroom renovations
- Bathroom renovator vs. bathroom renovations company
- How did he learn how to start and run a business?
- What was his team at this point?
- Would he have done it any differently if he could do it again?
- Final words
 
Novale Instagram - @novalebathrooms
Novale Facebook - /novalebathrooms

Growing your business can mean a lot of things. It can be growing in sales. It can be expanding the product and service offerings. It can even be building the team. But how often do you think about the fundamentals? The systems, policies and procedures that enable you to run the business without you needing to be there? Could you take a 7 week holiday to Europe (like Steve did with Novalé Bathrooms) whilst still being able to keep the business running? Our guest on this is episode is Nasser Abdu, a business advisor whom helps organisations grow and expand whilst keeping the operations and fundamentals effectively sound. This episode Nasser will explain why growing your business sustainably means perfecting the fundamentals and building a system, rather than just generating more sales.
 
Join Nasser, Ben and Steve on this episode to learn how to grow your business sustainably.
 
What we discuss:
- Nasser's early career and education
- Why there is no 'perfect' moment to start a business
- When did Nas meet Steve?
- What does a business advisor do?
- What does a business consultant do?
- What does a business coach do?
- What systems, policies and procedures need to be refined in order to grow
- Why you need to document processes
- Final words
 
Novalé Instagram - @novalebathrooms
Novalé Facebook - /novalebathrooms

As contractors, we are always focusing on giving a great customer experience. But how often have we thought about how to give subcontractors the same satisfaction? As subcontractors how do you make sure you're helping out the contractors? And most of all, how can contractors and subcontractors work together to give the customer the best experience? This episode we have glazier Wayne Vassallo from All Points Glass to share his insight on how to keep subbies happy. Wayne has been in the trade for 35 years, taking over his father in the glazing business. Wayne installs shower screens for Novalé Bathrooms as well as more than 100 contractors in NSW. 
Join Wayne, Ben & Steve on this episode to learn about how to keep subcontractors happy.
 
What we discuss with Wayne Vassallo:
- Wayne's early beginnings into glazing
- What is glazing?
- How did Wayne meet Steve?
- What simple things can contractors do to keep customers and subbies happy?
- Mistakes that subbies do on the job
- What to do when things go wrong in a job?
- Why you need to fix things straight away for the customer
- Final words.
 
Novalé Bathrooms Instagram - @novalebathrooms
Novalé Bathrooms Facebook - /novalebathrooms

All business owners are abundant in hard work and passion, but how many are well versed in strategy and metrics? Many just hope they are doing the right thing, but how do you know? How can you calculate the impact of your decisions and processes? How can you forecast future performance? How do know when you're getting your next client? How do you know if you're pricing your work correctly? How do you know if you're growing enough?
Join Ben Le and Steve Novkovic from Novalé Bathrooms, who break down the numbers of running a successful business.
 
Episode Notes:
- Intro;
- The importance of knowing your numbers;
- Using data to forecast future performance;
- Evaluating processes and the value of time over money;
- Sales & Marketing in plain English;
- Conversation rate and required activity;
- Referrals are king;
- Building a job pipeline;
- Grow slowly or lose quality;
- Onboard the team with the process;
- Putting a value on your time;
- Time as a cost;
- Finances in plain English;
- Producing consistent great customer experiences;
- Final words;
- Outro.

Design is not only making your bathroom look beautiful but also ensuring it is a functional space for everyday. It is as much as creating as it is problem-solving. This episode we have a special guest, Interior Design Consultant Catherine Kirwan (Coco Republic, Max Sparrow, Thomas Hamel & Associates & Novalé Bathrooms) who explains how she helps her clients not just 'like' their new bathrooms, but "love" them too.
 
Join Steve, Ben & Catherine as they discuss the role of an interior designer, the design-client relationship, the design process and much more.
 
Episode Notes:
- Intro;
- Catherine's beginnings into interior design;
- Should you go to school to learn design?
- Interior designing for leading furniture companies;
- Catherine's entry into interior design for bathrooms;
- The difference between interior designing & decorating;
- Catherine's design process with a client;
- Design is creative problem solving of functional spaces;
- Designing around technical limitations;
- Look and feel over price for the PC items;
- Understanding the clients' needs and being guided by that;
- The value of hiring a designer;
- Designing for resale or for yourself;
- Final words;
- Outro;

When you start your business you're going to need to decide on which suppliers you work with. This will require you to recognize great suppliers that will enhance your business and create mutually beneficial relationships. But how do you know the value of a supplier? And when you do, how can you maximise the value of that relationship?
Join Ben, Steve and Fred Hawach from Reece to find out.
 
Episode notes:
- Intro
- Fred's bio and how he started working for Reece
- What does Reece do?
- How Reece Group has been a premier supplier in bathroom renovations for 100 years;
- Communication is the key in a supplier relationship
- Delivering on time & well
- The Reece product range and customer experience;
- The importance of value and price;
- How Reece is thinking ahead;
- Closing words
- Outro