We recently connected with Pete Mossman and have shared our conversation below.

Pete, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

I’ve been in the remodeling industry for 10 years now and all companies have a pretty similar business model. Sell a big job, get cheap labor to complete the work, take a large cut off the top. If there is ever sub-par work, you point the finger at the sub-contractor. You’re doing the least amount of work for maximum profit.

This model began to really frustrate me as my desire to hone my craft was growing. So when I found out the only way to make a family supporting income was to “manage” other trades in this model, I was disappointed. It basically says the hands on labor is the lowest of the totem pole. That doesn’t sit right with me.

At this point, I realized I would have to branch off to start my own company if I wanted things to be different. What if the business model wasn’t built around managment but laborers? What if I can get some really skilled and passionate laborers to take pride in their work? What if we could develop a highly personal, custom, bathroom renovation process that honored craftsmanship?

So that’s the journey I am on now. My first hire starts a week from now and I paint this vision to him that we will do our best work together. We take ownership in the work we do, and always innovate. Give constructive criticism to each other. Love the hard work, Take pride in the challenges we overcome. Give encouragement to fine craftsmanship that guides the business we run!

Pete, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

With many options, I decided to name my company Mossman Made. I wanted it to be personal and a little vague. Knowing I have 10 years of experience in bathrooms, but have been building custom wood furniture as well.

The main goal of Mossman Made is to provide the best bathroom renovation experience in Columbus, Ohio. This process is extremely personal, as the homeowner allows a stranger in their house for 1-2 months on these projects.

Most local remodelers wield a business model that is inappropriate for this application. They have 5 different crews of sub-contractors that work in your project. Any given day, you may have 7 different people from 3 different trades in and out of your house. Some days nobody shows up, even though they said they would be there.

This model is just too big of a ship for most smaller- medium sized bathroom renovations. The homeowner wants to develop a relationship with their remodeler. Wants to get questions answered, updates and real-time suggestions, That’s where a smaller company will flourish, meeting the personal needs.

Sure, I’ve loved to continue to challenge myself learning how to install all sorts of different tiles, vanities and shower doors. But what I enjoy the most is getting to know the families and developing a relationship that is more than transactional.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It seems a re-occurring theme in the trades is to “scale your business” so that you will be safe and comfortable and all the hard work is on others. While I admire the ability to set up processes that empower others I want to oppose this business model.

So many local remodelers claim to be the “best” even though a lot of times, work is rushed through by under qualified individuals. We need more ownership not less. More qualified fabricators and installers, not to simplify the job down so anybody can do it. This isn’t corporate America.

I love the business model that the same worker/ crew takes a project from start to finish. So that if they don’t set a shower base level, their tile work will be more difficult. They only hurt themselves by taking shortcuts. They have to think ahead. They are able to take pride in a whole project, knowing they gave it their best!

How’d you meet your business partner?

I am about to bring on my best friend since high school onto my team. I’ve found without persuasion, he has built in to the Mossman Made branding.

Aharon and I were friends in high school, but we both had an experience that deeply impacted our current careers. A short term missions trip to repair houses after hurricane Katrina.

We went 6 years after the hurricane but there was still an overwhelming amount of work to do to rebuild. As 17 year olds, a 2 month trip seemed crazy to us, but it introduced us to a new world. We had the privilege of meeting many grateful people, who got to see their houses rebuilt. We also got to learn new skills that we never had the opportunity to growing up.

When we returned home, we finished out high school and went on our college path. College was a great privilege but we both felt out of place there. Until being introduced back into the trades at entry level jobs for years, we both re-discovered the joy of manual labor.

A decade later we have picked up momentum with Mossman Made. Some days we step back to say “I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this”. The visual reward from working with your hands is hard to put into words. But once you get a taste of it, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else with your career.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Mossman.made
• Facebook: Mossman made

Image Credits
@kelly.Insinga